Binding

Binding is Tideward's summoning trade — renamed from "Summoning" in May 2026 because that name was too tied to RuneScape's familiars system. The mechanic: gather spirit shards (drops, Mining), combine with a charm + a tertiary ingredient, charge the resulting binding pouch at a binding altar, and summon a familiar for combat assistance or skill help. The connector skill that touches almost every other trade.

How Binding works

Binding has a long supply chain. Spirit shards drop from many sources (Mining specific rocks, certain Quarry assignments, the binding altar itself for low tiers). Combine 1 charm + 1 tertiary ingredient + N spirit shards at a binding altar to create N "pouches" of that familiar — each pouch summons one familiar for a fixed duration of in-game time.

Familiars come in two flavors: combat (deal damage, tank hits, scout enemies) and skill (boost gathering speed for Mining/Woodcutting/Fishing, automate item collection from drops, store items in their inventory). The mid-tier familiar that auto-collects bird nests from Woodcutting is one of the most quietly useful unlocks in the entire game.

For active play, combat familiars during boss windows substantially shift fight outcomes. For AFK, skill familiars passively contribute to whatever you're training. A maxed Binding character has a familiar active for nearly every session.

Tips for training Binding

1. The "Beast of Burden" tier familiars carry extra inventory — extends every gathering session by 50%+.
2. Stockpile pouches before a long AFK session. Each summon lasts a fixed duration; multiple pouches per session.
3. Some recipes use rare tertiary ingredients (golden feathers, dragon claws). Check the Almanac before grinding for them.
4. Combat familiars can hold their own against tier-equivalent enemies. Boss-window damage stacks with prayers and potions.
5. A few familiars auto-loot drops — useful for keeping AFK clean of inventory full alerts.

Skills that pair with Binding

The 23 trades aren't isolated. Binding works best alongside these:

Frequently asked about Binding

Why renamed from Summoning?

"Summoning" is Jagex-specific (their familiars system). The May 2026 rebrand changed the name to "Binding" — same mechanic of creating and using familiars, new name to avoid trademark cluster.

How long does a familiar last?

Each pouch summons a familiar for a fixed duration of in-game time (often 30-60 minutes per pouch). When the familiar despawns, summon another from your pouch stack.

What's the best familiar to start with?

A low-tier Beast of Burden — extra inventory space pays back instantly across every gathering session. Combat familiars come later, once you have the spirit shards to spare.