Old School RuneScape (OSRS) remains one of the most popular MMORPGs in 2025, with millions of active players worldwide. This Old School RuneScape guide covers the essential information new and returning players need to progress efficiently. From character creation to gold-making strategies, the sections below break down each major aspect of the game. Whether someone just downloaded the game or returned after years away, this guide provides clear direction for building a strong account.
Key Takeaways
- This Old School RuneScape guide helps new and returning players progress efficiently through character creation, skill training, and gold-making strategies.
- Start with Tutorial Island, complete early quests like “Cook’s Assistant,” and enable two-factor authentication immediately to secure your account.
- Focus on leveling combat skills (Attack, Strength, Defence) to 40-50 early, and don’t neglect Agility—it saves countless hours of travel time.
- Train Slayer starting around combat level 50, as it unlocks profitable bosses and unique drops later in the game.
- Make gold efficiently at each stage: loot the Wilderness early, use Blast Furnace mid-game, and farm bosses like Vorkath or Zulrah for 2-4M GP per hour late game.
- Join a clan, use the OSRS Wiki for accurate information, and set realistic goals to avoid burnout and enjoy long-term success.
Getting Started as a New Player
Every Old School RuneScape guide should begin with the basics. New players spawn on Tutorial Island, where the game teaches fundamental mechanics like combat, fishing, cooking, and mining. This tutorial takes about 15-20 minutes and provides a solid foundation.
After completing Tutorial Island, players arrive in Lumbridge. Here are the first steps to take:
- Talk to NPCs: The Lumbridge Guide and other characters offer useful starting quests.
- Complete “Cook’s Assistant”: This quick quest rewards cooking experience and introduces the quest system.
- Explore the area: Lumbridge Castle, the general store, and nearby goblins all serve as learning tools.
Players should also claim their starter kit from the Lumbridge Guide. It includes basic supplies that help during the first few hours of gameplay.
Account security matters from day one. Enable two-factor authentication and set a bank PIN immediately. Account theft happens frequently in OSRS, and recovery can take weeks. A few minutes of setup prevents major headaches later.
The free-to-play (F2P) version offers plenty of content for beginners. But, members unlock significantly more skills, quests, and areas. Most players recommend trying F2P first, then upgrading once the game clicks.
Essential Skills to Level First
Old School RuneScape features 23 skills, which can feel overwhelming. This Old School RuneScape guide recommends focusing on a few key skills early.
Combat Skills
Attack, Strength, and Defence form the melee triangle. Training these to level 40-50 opens up better weapons and armor. Ranged and Magic also deserve attention, as certain bosses and quests require specific combat styles.
Gathering Skills
Mining, Woodcutting, and Fishing provide raw materials. These skills generate income while training and supply other skills. Mining copper and tin to make bronze bars teaches the smithing loop effectively.
Production Skills
Cooking and Smithing turn raw materials into useful items. Early cooking levels come fast, burn rates decrease as the skill improves. Smithing requires significant resources but produces valuable equipment.
Agility
Many players skip Agility initially, but this creates problems later. Higher Agility levels restore run energy faster and unlock shortcuts across the map. Training Agility to 50-60 early saves countless hours of walking.
Quest Requirements
Some quests unlock critical content and require specific skill levels. “Dragon Slayer” needs 32 Quest Points and combat readiness. “Recipe for Disaster” requires dozens of skill and quest prerequisites but rewards the best gloves in the game. Planning skill training around quest requirements maximizes efficiency.
Combat Training and Progression
Combat defines much of OSRS gameplay. This section of the Old School RuneScape guide explains how to train effectively.
Early Combat (Levels 1-40)
Goblins, cows, and chickens near Lumbridge provide safe training. Cows drop cowhides worth decent gold, making them a popular choice. At level 20-30, players can move to the Stronghold of Security for better experience rates.
Mid-Level Combat (Levels 40-70)
Sand Crabs on Zeah offer excellent AFK training. These creatures have high HP, low defence, and minimal aggression after the first hit. Ammonite Crabs serve as an upgraded alternative for members with Fossil Island access.
Slayer becomes viable around combat level 50. This skill assigns specific monsters to kill and provides both combat experience and unique drops. Many profitable bosses require high Slayer levels, making early investment worthwhile.
Advanced Combat (Levels 70+)
Nightmare Zone (NMZ) provides fast experience for players who completed certain quests. This minigame lets players fight quest bosses repeatedly while earning points for useful rewards.
At higher levels, bossing becomes the primary activity. Barrows, Giant Mole, and the Dagannoth Kings offer good entry points. Each boss requires different gear and tactics, so researching specific strategies helps.
Gear Progression
Gear upgrades follow predictable patterns:
- Bronze → Iron → Steel → Mithril → Adamant → Rune → Dragon
- Fighter Torso from Barbarian Assault provides free best-in-slot body armor
- Barrows equipment offers affordable mid-tier options
Making Gold Efficiently
Gold (GP) drives progress in Old School RuneScape. This Old School RuneScape guide covers reliable money-making methods for different account stages.
Early Game (Under 1M GP Goal)
Looting the Wilderness yields surprising profits for new accounts. Player deaths leave items on the ground, and quick looters can grab valuable drops. Tanning cowhides in Al Kharid turns a steady profit with minimal requirements.
Mid Game (1M-10M GP Goal)
Blast Furnace produces steel and mithril bars at high profit margins. The minigame requires Coal Bag from Motherlode Mine but generates 500K-800K GP per hour.
Runecrafting becomes profitable around level 44 with nature runes. The skill demands attention but pays well. Many players train Runecrafting specifically for the gold.
Late Game (10M+ GP Goal)
Bossing generates the highest consistent income. Vorkath and Zulrah each produce 2-4M GP per hour for skilled players. Both require quest completion and significant gear investment.
Flipping items on the Grand Exchange creates passive income. Buy items at low prices, sell at higher prices. This method requires market knowledge and starting capital but scales infinitely.
Bonds
Players can buy membership with in-game gold through Bonds. Current Bond prices hover around 7-8M GP. Establishing a money-making method that covers Bond costs allows indefinite free membership.
Tips for Long-Term Success
Sustainability matters more than speed in Old School RuneScape. This Old School RuneScape guide concludes with advice for the long haul.
Set realistic goals. Maxing an account takes thousands of hours. Breaking progress into smaller milestones, completing a quest, reaching a skill level, defeating a boss, keeps motivation high.
Join a clan. Social connections make grinding enjoyable. Clans offer advice, group activities, and accountability. The official forums and Reddit host active recruitment threads.
Use the wiki. The OSRS Wiki contains detailed information on every game element. Bookmark it. The wiki answers questions faster than asking in-game and provides accurate data on drop rates, experience calculations, and quest guides.
Don’t burn out. Many players grind intensely, quit for months, then repeat the cycle. Sustainable play beats marathon sessions. Taking breaks prevents the game from feeling like work.
Avoid scams. If something sounds too good to be true, it is. Common scams include trust trades, wilderness lures, and fake giveaways. Never drop valuable items or follow strangers into dangerous areas.
Track progress. Third-party tools like RuneLite display experience rates and track achievements. Seeing concrete progress reinforces continued effort.