OSRS Ranged Guide
Build a high-confidence Ranged training plan
Updated September 2026
There is no single best Ranged method for every account. Your ideal path depends on GP budget, attention level, and target milestone. Start by choosing a training lane, then lock your next target level and execute cleanly.
What Is Your Best Ranged Method Right Now?
Pick your lane by cost and attention level first. Then lock a milestone and stick to one route until you hit it.
Choose Your Planning Track
- Fastest XP, High BudgetChinningTop-end XP rates with red/black chinchompas at Maniacal Monkeys.High
- Balanced Main AccountCrabs + CannonSolid XP without full chinning costs. Easy to sustain over long sessions.Medium
- Cheapest PathCrabs with Darts/MSB(i)Very low GP burn. Slower overall but highly affordable and simple.Low
- Low AttentionAFK RangedNightmare Zone and crabs for minimal click intensity over long grinds.Low to Medium
Method Comparison Arena
Compare lanes quickly, then commit. Most wasted time comes from switching methods too often.
High-Confidence Training Routes
Milestones That Matter
- 45: Cannon/chinning setup zone.
- 61: Rune crossbow for practical bossing progression.
- 75: Blowpipe unlock point.
- 90: Raid-ready consistency.
- 99: Final efficiency capstone.
Execution Checklist
- Choose one lane for your next target bracket.
- Set a session budget (GP and time) before starting.
- Upgrade only when the next unlock materially improves XP/DPS.
- Re-evaluate route at 75 and 90, not every level.
Gear Priority (Most Impact First)
- Dwarf Multicannon: speed multiplier for many routes.
- Ava's Devices: major ammo sustain and QoL.
- MSB(i) / Blowpipe: practical budget-to-premium weapon ladder.
- Rigour: huge DPS scaling for high-level ranged.
- Anguish + Archers Ring (i): efficient accuracy/strength upgrades.
Budget Progression Snapshot
Leather to green d'hide to black d'hide, with oak/maple shortbow into MSB(i). Keep upgrades lean until your chosen lane justifies bigger costs.
Quest XP + Unlock Priority
Use quests to skip weak early hours and unlock your key tools (cannon, Ava's, MM2).
| Quest | Ranged XP | Main Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Dwarf Cannon | 750 | Multicannon |
| Animal Magnetism | 1,000 | Ava's device |
| Temple of Ikov | 10,500 | Early XP skip |
| Monkey Madness I | 35,000 | Large XP jump |
| Monkey Madness II | 50,000 | Maniacal Monkeys (chinning) |
🚀Fastest Training Methods
⚠️ Warning: This method costs 50-80M to reach 99 but provides the fastest ranged XP in the game.
Level 1-45: Cannon at Crabs
- •Method: Complete Dwarf Cannon quest, then use cannon at Rock Crabs or Sand Crabs
- •XP Rate: 150,000-200,000 XP/hour with cannon + attacks
- •Cost: ~200 GP per cannonball, need about 5,000 cannonballs
- •Location: Sand Crabs (Hosidius) or Rock Crabs (Rellekka)
Level 45-99: Chinning at Maniacal Monkeys
Method: Throw chinchompas at Maniacal Monkeys in Kruk's Dungeon. This is THE fastest ranged training method in OSRS.
Requirements:
- • Complete Monkey Madness II quest (69 Slayer, 70 Crafting, etc.)
- • 60+ Ranged for Red chinchompas (or 65+ for Black chins)
- • 43+ Prayer for Protect from Melee
- • Monkey Madness II completed for dungeon access
XP Rates & Costs:
- • Red Chinchompas: 500,000-700,000 XP/hour (45-65 Ranged)
- • Black Chinchompas: 700,000-900,000 XP/hour (65-99 Ranged)
- • Cost: ~4-6 GP per XP with black chins (50-70M total to 99)
- • Recommended: Use red chins until 65, then black chins to 99
Pro Tip: Aggro the monkeys using Protect from Melee, lure them into a tight cluster, then throw chinchompas for massive AoE damage. Bring prayer potions and restore them at altar in dungeon.
✅Recommended Training Path
This balanced approach provides good XP rates without breaking the bank. Suitable for most players.
Level 1-40: Quests & Basic Training
- •Complete ranged quests (Dwarf Cannon, Animal Magnetism, Temple of Ikov, etc.)
- •Train at low-level monsters (Cows, Chickens, Goblins) with shortbow
- •XP Rate: ~20,000-40,000 XP/hour
Level 40-75: Sand/Ammonite Crabs
Method: Train at Sand Crabs (Hosidius) or Ammonite Crabs (Fossil Island) using MSB with mithril/adamant darts.
- • Sand Crabs: 60 HP each, very common, less crowded than Rock Crabs
- • Ammonite Crabs: 100 HP each, requires Fossil Island access
- • XP Rate: 50,000-70,000 XP/hour
- • Cost: Very cheap (1-3M total)
- • Very AFK - crabs auto-aggro for 10 minutes
Level 75-99: Cannon at Dagannoths
Location: Waterbirth Island or Lighthouse basement. Cannon the Dagannoths while attacking with ranged.
- • XP Rate: 120,000-150,000 XP/hour
- • Cost: ~200 GP per cannonball, use 1,000-1,500 per hour
- • Total 75-99: ~15-25M depending on efficiency and gear
- • Bonus: Collect dagannoth bones for prayer XP or profit
Alternative: Mix cannon training with Slayer tasks for variety and profit. Use cannon on cannonable tasks like Kalphites, Bloodvelds, and Fire Giants.
💰Cheapest Training Methods
Level 1-99: Crabs with Mithril Darts
Method: Train exclusively at Sand/Ammonite Crabs using mithril darts and MSB(i). This is the absolute cheapest path to 99.
- • XP Rate: 50,000-70,000 XP/hour
- • Cost: ~1-2M total to 99 with mithril darts
- • Time: ~200-250 hours
- • Extremely AFK and relaxing
Budget Breakdown:
- • Mithril darts: ~0.1 GP per XP
- • Magic shortbow (i): One-time cost ~500K
- • Black d'hide armor: One-time cost ~50K
- • Total: 1.1M - 1.5M for 1-99
Alternative: Slayer-Only Training
Train ranged exclusively through Slayer tasks. This path is profitable (makes money) but takes much longer.
- • XP Rate: 25,000-50,000 ranged XP/hour
- • Profit: Make millions from Slayer drops while training
- • Time: 400-600 hours to 99 ranged
- • Bonus: Level Slayer simultaneously
😴AFK Training Methods
Nightmare Zone (NMZ)
Method: Use NMZ with Absorption potions and Ranged gear. Extremely AFK once set up.
- • XP Rate: 60,000-80,000 XP/hour (MSB with rune arrows)
- • Can AFK for 15-20 minutes at a time
- • Requires: Some quests completed for NMZ access
- • Bonus: Earn NMZ points for imbues (Archers ring, etc.)
- • Setup: Protect from Melee (optional), Overloads, Absorption potions
Sand/Ammonite Crabs
Method: Crabs are very AFK. They auto-aggro for 10 minutes, so you only need to click once every 10 minutes.
- • XP Rate: 50,000-70,000 XP/hour
- • Click once every 10 minutes to reset aggro
- • Very cheap training method
- • Can be crowded during peak hours
Slayer Tasks (Semi-AFK)
Some Slayer tasks are very AFK with ranged. Good for multitasking.
- • Bloodvelds, Fire Giants, Jellies: Very AFK tasks
- • Skeletal Wyverns: Semi-AFK, profitable (500k+ GP/hour)
- • Use cannon for faster tasks if desired
⚡Training for Pures
1 Defence Ranged Pures
For players keeping 1 Defence for PvP, ranged is your primary combat skill.
Recommended Path:
- 1. Complete ranged quests (avoid Defence XP rewards!)
- 2. Sand Crabs 1-50 with oak/maple shortbow
- 3. Cannon spots 50-75 (Rock Crabs, Experiments)
- 4. Chinning 75-99 at Maniacal Monkeys (MM2 required)
- • Alternative: Stay at crabs if you don't have MM2 completed
Quest Recommendations for Pures
Safe Quests:
- ✅ Dwarf Cannon (750 Ranged XP, no Defence)
- ✅ Animal Magnetism (1,000 Ranged XP, no Defence)
- ✅ Temple of Ikov (10,500 Ranged XP, no Defence)
- ✅ Monkey Madness I & II (Ranged XP, no Defence if careful)
Quests to AVOID (give Defence XP):
- ❌ Nature Spirit, Olaf's Quest, Heroes' Quest (Defence rewards)
⚠️F2P Reality Check
F2P Ranged is very limited. You're restricted to shortbows, crossbows, and basic arrows/bolts. No cannon, no chinchompas, no blowpipe, and much slower XP rates (15-30K XP/hr max). Training is tedious and getting to 99 takes 400+ hours. Consider membership for efficient training.
F2P Training Path (Very Slow)
Use shortbows at Lumbridge chickens or cows. Collect feathers/cowhides for profit. Very slow (5-10K XP/hr).
Train at Hill Giants in Edgeville Dungeon with oak shortbow. Collect big bones and limpwurt roots for profit (15K XP/hr).
Flesh Crawlers in Stronghold of Security with maple shortbow. Good herb drops for profit. AFK but slow (20-25K XP/hr).
Train at Deadly Red Spiders in Varrock Sewers with yew shortbow. Decent profit from herb drops but takes 400+ hours to 99.
Why Get Membership for Ranged?
- •25x Faster XP: Chinning offers 700K+ XP/hr vs F2P's 25K XP/hr maximum
- •Dwarf Multicannon: Essential training tool that doubles your XP rates at crabs, dagannoths, and during Slayer
- •Best Weapons: Toxic Blowpipe, Twisted Bow, Armadyl Crossbow, Dragon Crossbow - all members-only
- •Chinchompas: Multi-target throwing weapons for fastest ranged training in the game
- •Better Training Spots: Sand Crabs, Ammonite Crabs, Maniacal Monkeys, Nightmare Zone - all AFK and efficient
- •Profitable Training: Train through Slayer and make 500K-2M+ GP/hr while leveling ranged
Time to 99: F2P = 400+ hours | Members = 40-60 hours (chinning) or 100-150 hours (mixed)
Finalize Your Ranged Plan
Pick your lane, set your next milestone, and calculate supplies before you start. Avoid switching methods every few levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
01What's the fastest way to train Ranged?
Chinning at Maniacal Monkeys (requires Monkey Madness II) is the fastest method at 700-900k XP/hour with black chinchompas. It's expensive but incredibly fast.
02How much does 99 Ranged cost?
It depends on your method. Chinning to 99: 50-70M. Cannon + crabs: 15-25M. Crabs only with mithril darts: 1-2M. Training through Slayer: Profitable (makes money).
03Should I use a cannon?
Yes, if you can afford it. The cannon significantly increases your XP rates and is essential for efficient ranged training. It's especially good at crabs, dagannoths, and during Slayer tasks.
04What ranged level do I need for bossing?
75+ Ranged is recommended for most bosses (unlocks blowpipe). 90+ Ranged is ideal for efficient bossing and raids. Some bosses like Vorkath are best killed with ranged at 85+.
05Should I train Ranged through Slayer?
Yes! Training ranged through Slayer is very efficient. You'll level both skills simultaneously and make money from drops. Use cannon on cannonable tasks for faster XP.
06What's better: MSB(i) or Blowpipe?
Blowpipe is faster XP and better DPS, but more expensive to use. MSB(i) with amethyst arrows is more affordable and still gives good XP rates. Use MSB(i) for budget training, blowpipe for speed.
07Where should I train at low levels?
Sand Crabs (Hosidius) or Rock Crabs (Rellekka) are best for levels 1-75. They have high HP, are AFK, and respawn quickly. Ammonite Crabs on Fossil Island are even better if you have access.
📚 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.