The Old School RuneScape meta constantly evolves with new updates, content releases, and community discoveries. Here's your complete guide to the best training methods in 2026, optimized for efficiency, cost, and player preferences.

What's Changed in 2026?

Before diving into specific methods, here's what makes 2026 training different:

New Content Impact

• Recent boss releases offer new training opportunities
• Updated drop tables affect method profitability
• New areas provide alternative training locations
• Equipment updates shift meta strategies

Price Changes

• Some materials are more affordable than previous years
• Popular methods see price adjustments
• New money-making methods change opportunity costs

Community Optimization

• Better understanding of efficient techniques
• Improved guides and route planning
• Community tools enhance training

Combat Skills (Attack, Strength, Defence)

Levels 1-60: The Foundation

Optimal Path:

1. Complete combat-related quests first

   • Waterfall Quest (30K Att/Str XP)
   • Fight Arena (12.2K Att/Str XP)
   • Tree Gnome Village (11.5K Att XP)
   • Grand Tree (18.4K Att/Str XP)

2. Sand Crabs (60-90K XP/hr)

   • Very AFK
   • Free method
   • Great for mobile players

3. Slayer (variable rates)

   • Early Slayer levels
   • Build points for later
   • Profitable from the start

Calculator Tip: Use our Combat Calculator to see how these quests impact your combat level.

Levels 60-90: Building Power

Primary Method: Slayer (50-80K XP/hr)

• Most recommended for mains
• Profitable throughout
• Builds Slayer level simultaneously
• Use cannon on appropriate tasks

Alternative: Nightmare Zone (70-100K XP/hr)

• Pure AFK with Dharok's (high HP)
• Good for specific builds
• Less profitable than Slayer
• Better XP rates when focused

Aggressive Method: Chinning (300K+ XP/hr)

• Expensive but very fast
• Good for Defence training
• Requires Monkey Madness II
• Best in Maniacal Monkey area

Levels 90-99: The Final Push

Slayer Continues (60-90K XP/hr)

• High-level tasks (Hydra, Cerberus)
• Excellent profit (50M+ to 99)
• BiS gear significantly helps
• Boss tasks are most efficient

Nightmare Zone Alternative (80-110K XP/hr)

• Consistent AFK option
• Lower profit than Slayer
• Better when you can't focus
• Dharok method requires high HP

Cost Analysis:

• Slayer: Profit 50-100M (90-99)
• NMZ: Break even or small profit
• Best in Slot: Initial investment, faster rates

Ranged

Early Levels (1-60)

Quest Rush:

• Animal Magnetism
• Temple of Ikov
• Big Chompy Bird Hunting
• Combine for ~35K free XP

Sand Crabs (20-40K XP/hr)

• Cheap ammo (iron arrows)
• Very AFK
• Free alternative

Power Leveling (60-90)

Slayer with Cannon (50K XP/hr combined)

• Cannonballs cost ~200 gp each
• Worthwhile on multi-combat tasks
• Build Slayer level

Chinning at Maniacal Monkeys (400-600K XP/hr)

• 10-15 GP per XP
• Fast but expensive
• Requires quest completion
• Active method

Amethyst Arrows at Sand Crabs (35-45K XP/hr)

• More affordable than chinning
• AFK option
• Break even or slight profit

High Levels (90-99)

Slayer (50-70K XP/hr)

• Profit-focused
• Boss tasks (Vorkath, Zulrah practice)
• Consistent gains

Chinning (500-700K XP/hr)

• Fastest method
• ~35M total cost (90-99)
• 15-20 hours to 99

Use our Experience Calculator to see exact costs and times for your level range.

Magic

Fastest: Expensive Methods

Levels 1-55:

• Fire Strike to 35 (45K XP/hr)
• High Alch from 55 (80K XP/hr)

Levels 55-99:

• Stun Alching (180K XP/hr, 4-6 GP/XP)
• Bursting/Barraging (250-350K XP/hr, 5-7 GP/XP)

Profitable: Patient Methods

High Alchemy (60-80K XP/hr)

• Can profit 1-3 GP/cast
• Use our Alchemy Calculator for profitable items
• Very AFK option

Plank Make (90K XP/hr, break even)

• Mahogany planks most efficient
• Moderate profit possible
• Less click-intensive than combat

Charging Air Orbs (50K XP/hr, 400K GP/hr profit)

• Profitable magic training
• Great for low-budget accounts
• Requires 66 Magic

Recommended: Balanced Approach

Slayer with Magic (35-50K XP/hr)

• Break even on costs
• Build Slayer simultaneously
• Use Slayer staff for free casts
• Good for Ironmen

Prayer

Budget Training (1-70)

Ensouled Heads (~3 GP/XP)

• Cheapest method
• More active (requires combat)
• Ironman-friendly
• 50K+ XP/hr possible

Dragon Bones at Gilded Altar (~6-7 GP/XP)

• Faster than heads
• More AFK
• Standard method for mains
• World 330 (house party world)

Efficient Training (70-99)

Superior Dragon Bones (~9 GP/XP)

• Fastest XP rates
• Most expensive
• 400K+ XP/hr
• Only if budget isn't concern

Hydra Bones (~7-8 GP/XP)

• Good middle ground
• From Alchemical Hydra
• Farm while doing Slayer
• Ironman option

Total Costs (1-99):

• Ensouled heads: ~50M GP
• Dragon bones: ~150M GP
• Superior dragon bones: ~200M GP

Herblore

Ironman Approach

Use our Ironman Herblore Calculator for personalized plans:

• Passive herb farming
• Kingdom of Miscellania
• Slayer herb drops
• Birdhouse runs for nests

Main Account Fastest

Prayer Potions (profits vary)

• Usually profitable or break even
• Check current GE prices
• Good XP rates

Super Combat Potions (350K XP/hr)

• Expensive but fast
• ~12-15 GP/XP
• Levels 90-99

Cost Reduction Tips

1. Buy herbs, not finished potions
2. Use Amulet of Chemistry
3. Do herb runs between training
4. Consider cleaning grimy herbs for profit

Expected Costs (1-99):

• Budget methods: ~60M GP
• Mid-tier methods: ~100M GP
• Fastest methods: ~150M GP

Cooking

Fastest to 99

Levels 1-30: Quests (free XP)

• Cook's Assistant
• Gertrude's Cat
• Big Chompy Bird Hunting

Levels 30-99: Wines of Zamorak (450K XP/hr)

• Fastest cooking XP
• Slight profit possible
• Very low requirements
• Repetitive clicking

Levels 90-99: Manta Rays (600K XP/hr with gauntlets)

• Excellent profit
• Requires Cooking Gauntlets
• Banking at Myths' Guild
• Recommended method

Most Profitable

Karambwans with Hosidius Range (250K XP/hr, 200K GP/hr profit)

• Great AFK method
• 1-tick cooking possible
• Low burn rate with 99
• Very popular method

Smithing

F2P Method

Iron Platebodies (40K XP/hr, small loss)

• Best F2P XP
• Decent profit at high volume
• Requires 48 Smithing

P2P Gold (literally)

Gold Bars with Goldsmith Gauntlets (400K XP/hr)

• Fast XP rates
• ~1-3 GP/XP
• AFK at furnace
• Standard method

Dart Tips (500K+ XP/hr)

• Fastest smithing XP
• More expensive
• Active method
• Good for fast 99

Profitable Alternative

Blast Furnace (variable rates)

• Profit while training
• Requires minimal attention
• Good for ironmen
• Community needed

Efficient Training Mindset

The 80/20 Principle

For most skills:

• First 80 levels: 20% of time and cost
• Last 19 levels (80-99): 80% of time and cost

Recommendation: Stop many skills at 85-90 unless needed for:

• Achievement diaries
• Specific content access
• Personal goals (max cape)

Passive Gains

Never Skip:

• Herb runs (5 minutes = 50K+ profit)
• Birdhouse runs (2 minutes = 20K profit + XP)
• Kingdom of Miscellania (invest 750K weekly)
• Farm runs (tree runs for massive daily XP)

Calculate Passive XP:

• Farm runs: 100-300K XP/day for 5-10 minutes
• Herb runs: 1-2M GP/day for 20 minutes total
• Combined: Massive gains over months

Smart Slayer Training

Slayer is the foundation of efficient training:

• Trains 4 combat stats
• Generates profit
• Unlocks bossing
• Provides materials (herbs, seeds, etc.)

From 1-99 Slayer you'll likely gain:

• ~90+ Attack/Strength/Defence
• 100M+ profit
• Boss access
• Useful drops

Tools to Optimize Your Training

Use Our Calculators

1. Skill Calculators - Plan exact actions needed
2. Combat Calculator - Optimize combat level
3. Best in Slot Finder - Upgrade gear effectively
4. Achievement Diary Tracker - Plan skill requirements

Third-Party Tools

• Runelite plugins for efficiency tracking
• GE price trackers for cost optimization
• XP rate trackers for personal benchmarks

Common Training Mistakes

1. Training Skills Separately

❌ Train skills one at a time ✅ Use Slayer to train multiple combat stats + make money

2. Ignoring Opportunity Cost

❌ Choose fastest method regardless of cost ✅ Calculate GP/hour at your favorite money maker vs. training cost savings

3. Not Using Boosts

❌ Train without XP bonuses ✅ Use outfit pieces, bonus weekends, diary rewards

4. Poor Planning

❌ Start training without checking requirements ✅ Quest first, use calculators, plan the route

5. All-or-Nothing Mentality

❌ Only aim for 99s ✅ Set realistic milestones (base 70s, base 80s, etc.)

2026-Specific Tips

New Player Advantages

If you're starting fresh in 2026:

• Community guides are better than ever
• More efficient routes discovered
• Cheaper materials (some methods)
• Better tools available

Returning Player Catch-Up

Been away for years? Good news:

• Many skills faster now
• New training methods
• Better profit opportunities
• Useful QOL updates

Update Impact

Stay current:

• Follow official OSRS updates
• Check our blog for tool updates
• Adjust methods as meta shifts
• New content may change rankings

Conclusion

The best training method depends on your goals:

For Speed: Pay for fast methods (chinning, dart tips, expensive food) For Profit: Slayer, profitable skills, smart method selection For AFK: Sand crabs, NMZ, cooking fish, woodcutting For Balance: Mix methods, use calculators, plan efficiently

Whatever your goal, OSRS Toolkit's calculators help you:

• Compare methods accurately
• Calculate exact costs and times
• Track progress effectively
• Make informed decisions

Start Planning Now

1. Check your current stats
2. Set your next goal
3. Use our calculators to plan
4. Start training efficiently!

Useful Resources

• All Calculators - Plan any skill
• Combat Calculator - Plan combat builds
• About Us - How we maintain accuracy
• Blog - Latest updates and guides

Questions about training methods? Contact us or check individual skill calculators for detailed breakdowns!

Good luck on your journey to max cape! 🎉