OSRS Prayer Guide 1-99
Build a high-confidence Prayer training plan
Updated June 2026
There is no universal best Prayer method. The right method depends on your risk tolerance, budget, account type, and how quickly you want levels. This page is built as a planning tool: choose a track, lock your target level, then execute with confidence.
Want exact numbers first? Open the Prayer Calculator to see bones, GP cost, and XP/hr from your current level to 99 with live Grand Exchange prices.
What Is Your Best Prayer Method Right Now?
There is no one-size-fits-all best method. Choose the lane that matches your preference, then commit to a clear level target.
Choose Your Planning Track
- Fastest XP, Cost Is FineVarlamore AltarBest XP per bone right now. Great if you value speed and can fund dragon/superior bones.Low risk
- Lowest Cost, Accept Wilderness RiskChaos Altar50% chance to save bones can cut cost almost in half, even after deaths.High risk
- Safe + ConsistentGilded AltarStable and simple loop in POH worlds. Excellent for predictable training sessions.Very low risk
- Budget / Ironman-leaningEnsouled HeadsLower GP/XP than standard bones, slower rates, strong for sustainable progression.Low risk
Alternative Methods Arena
Premium decision moment: compare alternatives side-by-side, then commit to one route for the next level bracket.
- Varlamore200K-350K XP/hrCost: Medium to HighIntensity: MediumUse when: You want top-end XP per boneAvoid when: You have a strict GP budget
- Gilded Altar200K-700K XP/hrCost: HighIntensity: LowUse when: You want safe, repeatable trainingAvoid when: You need the cheapest path
- Chaos Altar200K-400K XP/hrCost: Low to MediumIntensity: HighUse when: You can handle PK risk for savingsAvoid when: You hate high-risk interruptions
- Ensouled Heads50K-150K XP/hrCost: LowIntensity: MediumUse when: You prefer lower GP burnAvoid when: You only care about speed
- Ectofuntus80K-110K XP/hrCost: LowIntensity: HighUse when: You are ironman and have bone stockAvoid when: You value low-click workflows
High-Confidence Training Routes
Milestones That Actually Matter
- 43: Protect from Melee/Range/Mage. Mandatory for most PvM progression.
- 70: Piety. Massive combat quality jump.
- 74 + 77: Rigour and Augury. Endgame account power.
- 99: Optional capstone, usually a later luxury goal.
Execution Checklist
- Pick one route and one stop target.
- Choose method by your risk/budget preference.
- Buy only enough supplies for the next milestone.
- Re-evaluate at each milestone, not every inventory.
Costs by Goal (Dragon Bones Baseline)
| Goal | XP Needed | Bones | Approx Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 50,340 XP | ~200 | ~500K GP |
| 52 | 123,660 XP | ~490 | ~1.2M GP |
| 70 | 737,627 XP | ~2,930 | ~7-8M GP |
| 77 | 1,475,581 XP | ~5,855 | ~15-17M GP |
| 99 | 13,034,431 XP | ~51,720 | ~120-140M GP |
Bone Choice Snapshot
| Bone | Base XP | Gilded XP | GP/XP | Bones to 99 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big bones | 15 | 52.5 | ~15-20 | ~248,000 |
| Dragon bones | 72 | 252 | ~8-10 | ~51,720 |
| Wyvern bones | 50 | 175 | ~10-12 | ~74,500 |
| Lava dragon | 85 | 297.5 | ~11-13 | ~43,800 |
| Dagannoth bones | 125 | 437.5 | ~18-20 | ~29,800 |
| Superior dragon | 150 | 525 | ~6-8 | ~24,800 |
| Hydra bones | 110 | 385 | ~9-11 | ~33,900 |
Dragon bones strike the best balance of cost and speed for most players. Superior dragon bones cut total bones needed by more than half but cost roughly 4x more per XP. Lava dragon bones are a solid Wilderness altar option since you're already risking PK deaths and they offer better XP than regular dragon bones at a similar price.
Prayer Level Unlocks & Milestones
Each Prayer milestone unlocks critical PvM or PvP capabilities. Target these levels in order — don't skip ahead unless you know why you're rushing a specific unlock.
| Level | Unlock | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Protect from Melee | Block 100% of melee damage. Minimum requirement for nearly all bossing and PvM content. Also unlocks Protect from Missiles at 44 and Protect from Magic at 45. |
| 52 | Smite | Removes 1 Prayer point from your opponent for every 4 damage dealt. Essential for PvP — forces opponents to lose their +1 protected item when their Prayer drains to zero. |
| 70 | Piety | Best melee prayer: +25% Attack, +25% Strength, +25% Defence. Requires Knight Waves Training Ground miniquest. The single biggest combat upgrade in the game — essential for all melee PvM. |
| 74 | Rigour | Best ranged prayer: +25% Ranged, +25% Defence. Requires Dexterous prayer scroll from Chambers of Xeric (~60-80M). Essential for ranged bossing (Vorkath, Zulrah, CoX). |
| 77 | Augury | Best magic prayer: +25% Magic, +25% Defence. Requires Arcane prayer scroll from Chambers of Xeric (~60-80M). Essential for magic-based PvM (Zulrah, Kraken, ToB). |
Most accounts follow the path 43 → 70 → 74/77. Stop at 43 if you're budget-constrained; push to 70 for Piety as soon as possible. Rigour and Augury are luxury upgrades — only worth rushing if you're actively farming bosses that benefit from them.
Varlamore Method — Best XP Per Bone (New 2026)
The Varlamore Prayer method, unlocked by completing Children of the Sun, is currently the best XP-per-bone training method in OSRS. By offering blessed bone shards at the Teomat altar, you get significantly more XP per dragon bone than any other method — making it the new meta for players who value speed and efficiency.
How It Works
- Dragon bones: ~290-340 XP per bone (vs. 252 at gilded altar).
- Superior dragon bones: ~690-805 XP per bone (vs. 525 at gilded altar).
- Requirements: Children of the Sun quest, blessed bone shards (made by using bones on the altar in the Teomat), jugs of wine.
- Process: Create blessed bone shards → offer at Teomat altar → receive boosted XP. Each shard consumes 1 jug of wine.
Should you use it? If you've completed Children of the Sun, this is strictly better than gilded altar for XP per bone. The wine cost is minimal compared to GP saved on bones. This method especially shines when using superior dragon bones — the XP multiplier makes them significantly more worthwhile than at other altars.
Gilded Altar Method — Step by Step
The gilded altar remains the most reliable, AFK-friendly method for training Prayer. With both incense burners lit, you get a 3.5x XP multiplier on each bone offered. No PKers, no risk — just a predictable loop you can do while watching a stream.
How to Use a Gilded Altar (6 Steps)
- 1.Join the “07 Altar” clan chat. This clan hosts gilded altars 24/7 in Rimmington. Check the pinned message for the current host's name — these dedicated players keep both incense burners lit so you get maximum XP.
- 2.Bring noted dragon bones + coins. Take one inventory of noted dragon bones, coins for your butler (roughly 10K GP per 26 bones un-noted), a house teleport tablet, and weight-reducing gear. You don't need any combat equipment.
- 3.Teleport to Rimmington (World 330). Use a house tablet or the Rimmington teleport. Right-click the host's name in the clan chat and select “Visit house” to enter their Player-Owned House where the gilded altar is located.
- 4.Un-note bones with the butler. Use your noted dragon bones on the house butler to exchange them for unnoted bones. Each trip costs ~10K GP for 26 bones. The butler returns quickly so you can maintain a smooth rhythm.
- 5.Offer bones at the gilded altar. Click each bone on the altar. With both burners lit, each dragon bone gives 252 XP. You can offer them in rapid succession — there's no cooldown or delay between offerings.
- 6.Repeat until you hit your milestone. The loop is simple: un-note with butler → offer at altar → repeat. A full inventory takes roughly 1-2 minutes. Plan for 8-12 hours of this loop for 1-99 using dragon bones.
Pro tip: Building your own gilded altar costs 30M+ in Construction supplies plus a high Construction level. For most players, using the free hosted altars via World 330 or the “07 Altar” clan chat is far more cost-effective.
Chaos Altar Method — Highest XP, Higher Risk
The Chaos Altar in the Wilderness (levels 11-13, north of Edgeville) gives the same base XP as a gilded altar but with a 50% chance to not consume each bone when offered. This effectively doubles your bone supply, making it the cheapest method in the game — provided you can survive the PKers.
The Suicide Method (Minimise PK Losses)
- Bring ONLY noted bones and a house tab. No gear, no armour, no extra items. If you get PKed, you lose nothing but your unnoted bone inventory — the noted stack is safe.
- Fill inventory with unnoted bones, offer them rapidly. Click each bone on the altar as fast as you can. With the 50% save chance, an inventory of 26 bones typically lasts for ~52 offerings.
- When you run out, let a PKer kill you. This is faster than running back to Edgeville bank. Respawn in Edgeville, withdraw more noted bones, un-note at the general store, and repeat.
- Use a burning amulet for fast returns. Teleports you directly to the Lava Maze entrance, just steps from the altar.
- Play on off-peak hours (weekday mornings, late night) for fewer PKers. Avoid weekends and peak evening times.
Is it worth it? Even with regular deaths, the Chaos Altar saves 30-40% on total Prayer costs compared to gilded altar. Budget-conscious mains and ironmen who don't mind a few interruptions should strongly consider this method. If you get frustrated by PKers, fall back to gilded altar — the extra cost is worth your sanity.
Ensouled Heads Method — Ironman & Budget
Ensouled heads are reanimated using the Arceuus spellbook, granting both Prayer and Magic XP simultaneously. This is the cheapest Prayer method and the best option for ironmen who can't easily buy thousands of dragon bones. Kill monsters on-task, collect their ensouled heads, then reanimate them at the Dark Altar in Arceuus.
| Head Type | Prayer XP | Approx Cost | GP/XP | Magic Req |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ensouled goblin head | 130 | ~100 gp | 0.77 | 1 Magic |
| Ensouled monkey head | 182 | ~150 gp | 0.82 | 1 Magic |
| Ensouled imp head | 286 | ~400 gp | 1.40 | 12 Magic |
| Ensouled minotaur head | 364 | ~600 gp | 1.65 | 16 Magic |
| Ensouled bloodveld head | 1,040 | ~2,000 gp | 1.92 | 34 Magic |
| Ensouled dragon head | 1,560 | ~3,500 gp | 2.24 | 51 Magic |
Ironman tip: Focus on dragon, bloodveld, and demon heads from Slayer tasks. These provide the best XP per head and are the most efficient for long-term Prayer progression. Goblin and monkey heads are too small to be worthwhile past early levels.
Ectofuntus Method
Niche but valid for ironman supply usage. High click intensity and low comfort, but can convert stored bones efficiently.
F2P Reality Check
F2P Prayer remains a slow grind. Use it for short-term unlocks, not full progression plans.
- Big bones to 31 is reasonable for early utility.
- 43 in F2P is possible but inefficient for most accounts.
- Membership multiplies your options and speed dramatically.
Quest XP Jumpstart
Quests still provide the cleanest early boost before spending large GP on bones.
| Quest | Prayer XP | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Restless Ghost | 1,125 | None |
| Priest in Peril | 1,406 | None |
| Holy Grail | 11,000 | 20 Attack |
| Rum Deal | 7,000 | 42 Crafting, 40 Fishing |
| Spirits of the Elid | 8,000 | 37 Ranged, 33 Magic |
Finalize Your Prayer Plan
Choose one method for your next milestone, buy only what you need, then execute. Use the calculator to lock exact supplies and avoid overbuying.
Prayer Training Pro Tips
Use '07 Altar' CC for free gilded altars 24/7. Building your own costs 30M+ in Construction and isn't worth it unless you're training Construction anyway.
Dragon bones are the best value. Superior dragon bones are only 2x faster for 4x the cost — stick with dragon bones unless GP is no object.
Rush 70 Prayer for Piety before investing in expensive gear. The +25% melee boost from Piety is worth more DPS than a 100M weapon upgrade.
Complete Knight Waves Training Ground BEFORE buying bones for 70. You need the miniquest completed to actually use Piety, and the XP reward helps.
Rigour and Augury require scrolls. Budget 60-80M each for Dexterous and Arcane prayer scrolls from Chambers of Xeric. Don't train to 74/77 unless you own the scrolls.
Use ensouled bloodveld and dragon heads on Slayer tasks. These are the two most efficient heads — they build Prayer passively while you train Slayer.
Check bone prices on the GE before buying. Prices fluctuate 10-15% weekly. Buy during off-peak hours (Tuesday/Wednesday morning) for the best deals.
For F2P, stop at 31. Big bones to 31 Prayer gives you Protect Item for the Wilderness. Further F2P Prayer training is painfully slow and not worth the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
01What's the best prayer training method?
The NEW Varlamore method (Children of the Sun) is now the best, giving 290-340 XP per dragon bone. If you haven't done that quest, use gilded altar in player houses (252 XP per dragon bone). For budget training, use the Chaos Altar in Wilderness (risky but cuts costs in half).
02How much does 99 Prayer cost?
With dragon bones at gilded altar: 120-140M GP. With Chaos Altar (risky): 60-70M GP. With ensouled heads: 40-50M GP (but much slower). Prices vary based on GE market prices.
03Should I use the Chaos Altar?
If you're on a budget and don't mind the risk, yes. The Chaos Altar saves ~50% of your bone costs due to the 50% chance to not consume bones. You WILL get PKed, but even accounting for deaths, you'll save 30-40% overall. Use suicide runs (no gear, just bones) to minimize losses.
04What prayer level should I aim for?
Minimum: 43 for Protect prayers (essential for PvM). Recommended: 70 for Piety (huge combat boost). End-game: 77 for Rigour/Augury (best ranged/magic prayers, but requires expensive prayer scrolls). Most players stop at 70-77 unless going for 99.
05Which bones should I use?
Dragon bones are the best value (8-10 GP/XP). Big bones are slower and not much cheaper. Superior dragon bones are faster but only marginally better GP/XP. Stick with dragon bones unless you're rich and want to save time with superior dragon bones.
06Is the Ectofuntus worth it?
Not really. The Ectofuntus gives 4x XP (slightly more than gilded altar's 3.5x) but is extremely slow and tedious. It's only worth it for ironmen who have excess bones and can't access gilded altars easily. Most players avoid this method.
07Should I train prayer as an ironman?
Yes, but it's slower. Kill dragons for dragon bones, use them at the Wilderness Chaos Altar (risky but efficient), or use ensouled heads from slayer. Ironmen can also use the Ectofuntus, but it's very slow. Aim for 43 first, then work towards 70-77 over time.
08How long does 1-99 Prayer take?
With dragon bones at a gilded altar, expect 8-12 hours of active training for 1-99. The Chaos Altar can be slightly faster (due to the bone-save chance meaning fewer banking trips), but PK interruptions may extend total real-world time. Ensouled heads take significantly longer (30-50+ hours) but cost far less GP.
09Is the Varlamore method better than gilded altar?
Yes, for XP per bone. The Varlamore method (unlocked via Children of the Sun quest) gives ~290-340 XP per dragon bone vs. 252 at gilded altar — roughly 15-35% more XP per bone. The wine cost is negligible compared to bone savings. If you've completed the quest, use Varlamore over gilded altar every time.
📚 Related Guides
Sources & methodology
XP rates, requirements, and drop data in this guide are cross-checked against the OSRS Wiki and verified against in-game behaviour. Grand Exchange prices move daily, so treat GP/hr figures as estimates and confirm current prices with the OSRS Wiki price tracker before committing to a method.
Darren started playing the original RuneScape 2 back in the day and came back when Old School RuneScape launched. He's played on and off over the years and built OSRSToolkit to give players a single place to find reliable tools, calculators, and guides — all informed by real in-game experience.