For magic, use Fire Strike to begin, and upgrade gear to RuneScape gold Wizard Robes or Mystic gear for better spellcasting. Having enough RuneScape gold can also enhance your spellcasting ability.

Early Combat Training Spots

Free-to-play players can start at cows, goblins, or chickens near Lumbridge. Around level 20, move on to the frogs in Lumbridge Swamp, then the Flesh Crawlers in the Stronghold of Security. At level 50+, train on Spiders deeper inside the Stronghold, or farm Ogress Warriors for profit.

Members should complete Waterfall Quest immediately - it boosts both Attack and Strength to level 30 instantly. Afterward, train at Rock Crabs (Rellekka) or Sand Crabs (Zeah). Once you reach level 50–60, transition to Slayer, which combines combat XP with valuable loot.

Quests and Progression

Quests are central to progression in OSRS. While not mandatory, they unlock crucial features, teleports, and gear. The Quest Helper plugin in RuneLite is invaluable - it literally guides you step-by-step.

Key quests for beginners:

Waterfall Quest: Huge Attack/Strength XP boost.

Cook's Assistant: Unlocks early Cooking experience.

Druidic Ritual: Unlocks the Herblore skill.

Rune Mysteries: Unlocks Runecrafting.

Aim to complete Recipe for Disaster over time - finishing it grants Barrows Gloves, one of the best early-game items.

Skills and Training

OSRS features 23 skills - from combat to gathering and artisan skills. Free-to-play skills include Mining, Fishing, Smithing, Woodcutting, Firemaking, Crafting, and Runecrafting. Member-exclusive ones like Agility, Herblore, Slayer, and Construction add even more depth.

Each skill maxes out at level 99, requiring 13 million XP. Most players train skills to unlock money-making methods or content access.

Examples:

Mining + Smithing: Smelt and forge armor.

Fishing + Cooking: Catch and prepare food for combat.

Agility: Run longer distances and unlock shortcuts.

Slayer: Train combat efficiently while earning profits.

Farming: Plant herbs and crops for steady, passive income.

Making Money Early

RS gold is essential for gear, teleportation, and supplies. Early methods include:

Collecting Cowhides (sell at the Grand Exchange).

Thieving from stalls for cash and items.

Fishing for Lobsters and cooking them for food sales.

Crafting Jewelry (especially gold amulets or rings).

Farming Herbs – one of the best low-effort money makers.

Use the OSRS Wiki or dedicated money-making guides to find the best method for your stats.

Your First Major Goals

In your first weeks of play, aim to:

Complete essential quests (Waterfall, Druidic Ritual, Rune Mysteries).

Unlock key teleports and travel items.

Begin Slayer training once your combat stats hit 50+.

Earn your first Barrows Gloves and Dragon Defender.

Explore mini-games like Barbarian Assault, Pest Control, and Wintertodt.

Once you're confident, you'll progress naturally into mid-game activities - bossing, minigames, and quest chains that unlock higher-tier gear. Eventually, the endgame offers Raids, Grandmaster Quests, and high-level achievements for dedicated adventurers.

Final Thoughts

Old School RuneScape's beauty lies in its freedom. You can become a skilled crafter, a fierce boss slayer, or a collector of pets and capes. There's no "wrong" way to play - only goals to chase and milestones to celebrate.

Whether you're slaying goblins or earning your first Fire Cape, every achievement feels earned. So grab your bronze pickaxe, head to Lumbridge, and start your journey across Gielinor - one tick at a time.

Old School RuneScape's upcoming Sailing skill continues to generate excitement, and the latest developer blog dives into how Slayer will tie into this new skill. Packed with new creatures, gear, and mechanics, the update promises to refresh mid- and high-level Slayer content while introducing unique items that fill long-standing gameplay gaps. Here's a detailed breakdown of what's coming.

Griffins: A Mid-Level Slayer Task with a Twist

One of the standout additions is the Griffin, a new Slayer creature tied to the Tortugan questline. Unlocking them requires 45 Sailing, 60 Combat, and 51 Slayer. These aerial predators attack with melee and are weak to Magic-especially Air spells, which fits their flying nature.

Their unique mechanic revolves around player weight: if a character is too light, the Griffin knocks them back, dealing unavoidable damage. This creates an unusual requirement to carry heavier gear or items. Lightweight setups, such as mage robes, may need creative solutions-such as donning bulkier equipment-to counter this. Having a lot of RuneScape gold can help you a lot.

Defeating Griffins rewards Griffin Feathers, which charge the Horn of Plenty, a new Hunter off-hand item. When charged, it grants an invisible +4 Hunter boost and has a 10% chance to double catches (similar to Rada's Blessing for Fishing), although the extra catch doesn't provide additional XP. This makes the Horn a strong utility tool for players farming Chinchompas and other high-value Hunter targets.

Shellbane Griffin: The New Slayer Boss

For the first time, OSRS is adding a low-level Slayer boss. At only 51 Slayer, the Shellbane Griffin is the most accessible Slayer boss to date. Like its regular counterpart, it is weak to Magic but also susceptible to melee strategies.

Its unique drop is the Gleaming Rapier, a tradeable weapon requiring 65 Attack. Despite being slower (five ticks instead of four), its stats place it close to the Zamorakian Hasta, making it a valuable mid-game stab weapon. For Ironmen especially, this fills a gap where previously the only realistic progression was grinding out a Hasta. Now, the Gleaming Rapier provides an alternative route for mid-level PvM.

Aquanites Return

Veterans of RS2/RS3 will recognize the Aquanites, which now make their way into OSRS with a fresh twist. They require 86 Slayer and 73 Sailing, making them a higher-level addition.

Found in multi-combat areas, Aquanites are cannonable and venator-bow friendly, meaning they'll likely become a popular task for Slayer XP. Their superior variant, the Elder Aquanite, adds mechanics that test prayer-switching skills, giving higher-level players something more engaging.

Their notable drop is the Aquanite Hopper, an off-hand item for crossbows. It offers a 10% chance to fire an additional bolt, albeit at reduced damage and accuracy. While not a replacement for buy OSRS gold the Twisted Buckler, this hopper provides a long-needed mid-tier ranged off-hand option, particularly useful for Ironmen who lack alternatives.