Spirit tree
- This article is about the transportation method. For the random event, see Tree spirit.
Spirit trees are a gnomic method of transportation. Limited access to the network is granted upon completion of the Tree Gnome Village quest. The spirit tree in the Tree Gnome Village serves as a hub, from where players may travel to any other spirit tree. From the other trees, one can only travel back to Tree Gnome Village. From there they may travel on to another spirit tree.
If the player has finished the The Grand Tree quest the spirit tree in the Tree Gnome Stronghold will become a hub as well. After completing The Path of Glouphrie the player can travel freely between any two spirit trees.
Spirit tree locations
- Battlefield of Khazard - just south of West Ardougne - near Ourania altar.
- North-east of the Grand Exchange in Varrock - closest to a bank.
- Mobilising Armies - useful way to access Mobilising Armies and the Feldip Hills area.
- The Tree Gnome Village - hub
- The Tree Gnome Stronghold - hub (after completion of The Grand Tree)
- Canyons east of Poison Waste - west of Castle Wars (tree unlocked during The Path of Glouphrie). This tree is called Incomitatus, which is Latin for 'alone'.
- One player-grown spirit tree can be planted at 83 Farming. Before it is usable, the player must check the health of the tree. They can be grown in one of these locations:
- With a farming level of 86 and after completing The Prisoner of Glouphrie the player can have a total of two spirit trees planted at the time. It is possible to use a boost to plant the second spirit tree.
One of the fastest ways to access a spirit tree is to teleport to Mobilising Armies or use a Ring of duelling - the player will arrive within a few squares of the tree. If one has an Ardougne Cloak, they can teleport to the Monastery and use the Khazard Battlefield tree just to the west. When the player has completed the Easy Varrock Tasks, they can teleport to the Grand Exchange and use the spirit tree there. Finally, when the player has completed the Medium Lumbridge Diary and has a spirit tree planted in the Port Sarim farming patch, they can use the Port Sarim Lodestone or the cabbage-port on the Explorer's Ring to teleport near the tree.
Evil tree
Spirit trees can be extremely useful for the Evil Tree, a Distractions and Diversion. This event can be done twice a day and helps players train their Woodcutting, Firemaking, and Farming skills. Players who have completed Tree Gnome Village can find out where an evil tree is by talking to a spirit tree for a hint. The spirit tree north-east of the Grand Exchange is used the most because many players regularly go the Exchange. If there are no Evil Trees sprouting, the spirit trees will not provide any hints.
Normal dialogue
Spirit tree: If you are a friend of the gnome people, you are a friend of mine. Do you wish to travel, or do you wish to ask about the evil tree? Choices: Travel, Evil tree, Nothing.
- If Evil tree is chosen, one of the following responses will be given:
- The taint of the evil tree is not currently on the land.
- There won't be another evil tree for over an hour.
- There won't be another evil tree for over half an hour
- There will be another evil tree in just under half an hour.
- There will be another evil tree in less than 15 minutes
- Another strange sapling is about to sprout. (lasts about 4 minutes)
Alternate dialogue
Do you wish to travel, or are you interested in the strange sapling? (lasts until the sapling is nurtured through 3 growth stages)
- I can help you find the sapling, but my knowledge of your human geography is limited.
- It can be found... (See Evil Tree Locations & Hints)
When an Evil Tree becomes fully grown in a particular world (after 3–5 minutes of sprouting), the Spirit tree dialogue changes: Spirit tree: Do you wish to travel, or are you here to help dispatch the evil tree? Choices: Travel, Evil tree, Nothing.
- If Evil tree is chosen the Spirit tree will ask: Would you like me to teleport you directly there? Choices: Yes Please; What is this 'evil tree'?; or I've changed my mind, I want to stay here.
Farming
Players can grow their own spirit tree from a spirit tree seed once they reach level 83 (boosts can be used) in the Farming skill. Spirit tree patches can be found in:
After completing The Prisoner of Glouphrie and with a Farming level of 86, the player can have a total of two spirit trees planted at the same time. However, it's not possible to move a spirit tree without having to replant it.
The growing time for a spirit tree is about 61 hours and 20 minutes, or 2.5 days. Growing a spirit tree yields 19,501.3 Farming experience, which is the sum of planting (199.5 XP) and checking health (19,301.8 XP).
Spirit trees cannot be cut down, so one simply uses a spade on the tree to remove it. They do not yield roots when removed.
Since spirit seeds are not tradeable, players rarely encounter them. They are occasionally obtained from bird nests (also from nests obtained by Managing Miscellania), or as an Evil Tree reward. It is also possible to get them as a drop from a Ganodermic beast, they drop them rather frequently (1-5/hour). A more reliable source is Mrs. Winkin, who sells players spirit seeds at a price of 55,000 Vinesweeper points each.
Payment
Spirit trees may be tended by gnome gardeners for 5 Monkey nuts, 1 Monkey bar, and 1 Ground Suqah tooth. Given the rarity of the seed and the length of time it takes to mature, having a gardener tend the growing plant is strongly recommended. Players are now animated when planting spirit trees as of 9 November 2009.
Boosting
Spirit trees cannot be grown by using the Assist System. However, a player is able to plant it using Farming boosts, as early as level 77 with a spicy stew. It is recommended that the player also brings a Compost mound to raise their Farming again if the spicy stew lowers it. A far more reliable method would be to wait until level 79, and then use a Stranger plant. Players with a Farming level of 80 may also use garden pies for a boost of 3 levels. The 86 Farming requirement for two trees can also be achieved with boosts.
Once fully grown and the health of the tree(s) checked, spirit tree(s) will appear as an option to travel to from other spirit trees.
Location analysis
Here is a table which might help people choose the location where they might want to put their spirit tree:
| Tree location | Nearby activities | Alternative transportation methods |
|---|---|---|
| Etceteria |
|
|
| Brimhaven |
|
|
| Port Sarim |
|
|
The Etcetaria spirit tree is further away from Advisor Ghrim than the fairy ring. However, it is much closer to the bush patch and a tool leprechaun. Players who wish to keep their approval at 100% may wish to choose this option, because the spirit tree places the player near access to a rake or watering can to top up their rating at the nearby patch. Alternatively, if players visit Advisor Ghrim more often than boosting their rating, then another spirit tree location may be more desirable.
The Brimhaven patch is where most choose to plant their tree since there is no common alternative teleport that leads to the attractions in Brimhaven. Of course, players who have access to Karamja gloves 3, a house in Brimhaven (or those who have completed Love story and use Brimhaven tablet), or can tolerate an Ardougne teleport and ship ride may want to consider a different spirit tree location.
The Port Sarim spirit tree may not seem appealing at first, but this location may be of higher value if the other locations can easily be accessed by an alternative method of teleportation. This patch is often not used because the Explorer's ring 3/4 has a teleport to the nearby cabbage field. One advantage of this patch is that it connects several different teleportation systems including the explorer's ring, spirit trees and the charter ships. It can also be a viable fast option for creating law runes, via the following approach:
- Ring of duelling to Mobilising Armies
- Bank
- Spirit Tree to Port Sarim
- Take ship to Entrana
- Craft law runes
- Use Ring of duelling again and repeat.
In the end, almost all spirit trees are practically void of use if one has achieved enough in RuneScape. It is therefore recommended to place the spirit tree according to what you plan to do most, even if there is an alternative teleport method close. By using the spirit tree, the few seconds saved periodically will add up to save a lot of time in the long run, not to mention a hefty chunk of coins spent in runes!