Old School RuneScape for beginners can feel overwhelming at first glance. The game drops players into a massive open world with dozens of skills, hundreds of quests, and very little hand-holding. But that’s exactly what makes it special. OSRS rewards patience, curiosity, and smart decision-making. This guide breaks down everything new players need to know, from character creation to earning their first gold stack. Whether someone just downloaded the game or they’re returning after years away, this starter guide will help them hit the ground running.
Key Takeaways
- Old School RuneScape for beginners works best with a regular account—save Ironman modes for after you’ve learned the game.
- Complete early quests like Cook’s Assistant and Sheep Shearer to unlock content and gain quick experience rewards.
- Focus on a few core skills first: train combat (Attack, Strength, Defence), gathering skills (Mining, Fishing, Woodcutting), and support skills (Cooking, Firemaking).
- Collect cowhides near Lumbridge and sell them at the Grand Exchange for reliable early gold.
- Avoid scams by never dropping items during trades, ignoring “double your gold” offers, and staying out of the Wilderness with strangers.
- Join a clan or community group—OSRS rewards players who connect with others for advice, group content, and faster progression.
What Is Old School RuneScape?
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game originally released in 2013. It’s based on a 2007 backup of the original RuneScape game, preserved because players demanded a return to the classic version they loved.
The game features a medieval fantasy setting where players complete quests, train skills, fight monsters, and interact with thousands of other players. Unlike many modern MMOs, OSRS doesn’t hold your hand. There’s no linear storyline forcing players down a specific path. Instead, they choose their own adventure.
OSRS runs on a free-to-play model with optional membership. Free players access a solid chunk of content, while members unlock additional skills, quests, and areas. The game works on PC, mobile devices, and tablets, so players can grind skills anywhere.
What sets Old School RuneScape apart is its player-driven development. Jagex, the game’s developer, polls the community before adding major updates. If a proposed change doesn’t receive 75% approval, it doesn’t make it into the game. This keeps OSRS feeling authentic to its roots while still growing.
Getting Started: Creating Your Character
Creating a character in Old School RuneScape takes about five minutes. Players pick a name, customize their appearance, and complete a short tutorial on Tutorial Island.
Tutorial Island teaches the basics: how to move, interact with NPCs, and use core skills like fishing, mining, and combat. Don’t rush through it. The tutorial provides free experience points and helpful context for new players.
After leaving Tutorial Island, characters arrive in Lumbridge, the game’s main starting town. Here’s where the real adventure begins. New players should talk to NPCs, explore buildings, and pick up early quests.
Choosing a Game Mode
OSRS offers several account types:
- Regular accounts can trade freely and access all content
- Ironman accounts cannot trade with other players and must gather all items themselves
- Hardcore Ironman adds permadeath to the challenge
- Ultimate Ironman removes banking entirely
For Old School RuneScape beginners, a regular account makes the most sense. Ironman modes appeal to experienced players seeking extra challenge.
Early Quests to Complete
Quests unlock content and provide substantial experience rewards. New players should prioritize:
- Cook’s Assistant (unlocks the Lumbridge kitchen)
- Sheep Shearer (easy crafting experience)
- Romeo and Juliet (solid quest point reward)
These quests require minimal stats and introduce players to different game mechanics.
Essential Skills Every Beginner Should Train
Old School RuneScape features 23 skills, but beginners shouldn’t try training them all at once. Focus on a few core skills first.
Combat Skills
Attack, Strength, and Defence form the melee combat triangle. Higher Attack increases accuracy. Strength boosts damage. Defence reduces incoming hits. Most beginners should train these together by fighting goblins, cows, and eventually stronger monsters.
Ranged and Magic offer alternative combat styles. Ranged uses bows and crossbows. Magic requires runes but deals powerful elemental damage. Each combat style has advantages depending on the situation.
Gathering Skills
Mining, Fishing, and Woodcutting generate raw materials. These skills pair well with production skills and provide steady income for new players. Fishing is particularly beginner-friendly, players can fish shrimp at level 1 with just a small net.
Useful Support Skills
Cooking turns raw fish into food that heals during combat. Firemaking lets players cook fish almost anywhere. These skills level quickly and support combat training directly.
For Old School RuneScape beginners, a balanced approach works best. Train combat to fight monsters, gathering skills to earn gold, and support skills to stay self-sufficient.
Tips for Making Gold as a New Player
Gold (GP) drives everything in Old School RuneScape. Better gear costs gold. Supplies cost gold. Even some quests require gold. New players need reliable money-making methods.
Low-Level Money Makers
Cowhide collecting remains one of the best early methods. Kill cows near Lumbridge, collect their hides, and sell them at the Grand Exchange. Each hide sells for around 150-200 GP. A full inventory takes minutes to gather.
Mining and selling ore provides steady income. Iron ore sells well, and players can mine it at level 15 Mining. The Varrock east mine sits close to a bank.
Fishing and cooking generate food that always sells. Cooked fish helps other players train, creating consistent demand.
The Grand Exchange
The Grand Exchange in Varrock is OSRS’s central marketplace. Players list items for sale or place buy orders. Prices fluctuate based on supply and demand. New players should check current prices before selling anything, some items are worth more than they appear.
Avoid Get-Rich-Quick Schemes
Scammers target new players constantly. If someone offers a deal that sounds too good, it probably is. Never drop items during trades, and ignore players promising to “double your gold.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Old School RuneScape beginners often make the same errors. Avoiding these saves time and frustration.
Ignoring quests is a big one. Quests unlock teleports, areas, and equipment. They also provide experience faster than grinding. Some of the best gear in OSRS comes from quest rewards.
Buying expensive gear too early wastes gold. Low-level equipment works fine for early training. Save gold for useful unlocks like house teleports or skill-boosting items instead.
Training inefficiently slows progress. Many players train at the wrong locations or ignore experience-boosting items. Quick guides and community wikis explain optimal training methods for every skill level.
Falling for scams happens to almost everyone eventually. Common tricks include fake item doubling, trust trades, and wilderness lures. Never follow strangers into dangerous areas, and keep valuable items secure.
Trying to do everything alone limits growth. OSRS has an active community. Joining a clan provides advice, group content, and social connections. The official forums and Reddit communities help players find groups.