Starting a fresh account in Oldschool Runescape (OSRS) can feel daunting. Building up your character and acquiring the necessary resources to explore the vast world and undertake exciting quests often hinges on one crucial element: gold. Money in OSRS dictates your capabilities, from purchasing essential equipment and runes to accessing various in-game content. While some players relish the initial grind, many seek efficient ways to quickly establish a financial foothold.
This guide is designed to provide new players with a range of effective money-making methods in the early stages of Oldschool Runescape. These strategies are primarily aimed at free-to-play (F2P) players, but some options will also be beneficial for those who have membership. Let’s dive into practical techniques to boost your OSRS bank account.
Effective Money Making Methods in OSRS for New Players
1. Completing the Stronghold of Security (Free-to-Play)
The Stronghold of Security is an excellent starting point for any new OSRS account. Located in Barbarian Village, just west of Varrock, this dungeon serves a dual purpose: educating players about online account security and providing a tangible reward. By navigating through the stronghold and answering security-related questions, you’ll reach the final floor and be rewarded with a chest containing 10,000 gold coins. This is a guaranteed and risk-free way to secure a starting capital boost, making it highly recommended for all beginners. The stronghold’s entrance is easily accessible, marked prominently in Barbarian Village.
2. Varrock Shop Runs: Capitalizing on Price Differences (Free-to-Play & Members)
Oldschool Runescape features a dynamic economy with two primary marketplaces: NPC-owned shops and the Grand Exchange (GE). Shops scattered across the world offer items at set prices, while the Grand Exchange in north Varrock allows players to buy and sell items to each other, leading to fluctuating market prices. “Shop runs” exploit the price discrepancies between these two systems.
The strategy is simple: purchase items from NPC shops at their fixed (often lower) prices and then resell them at the Grand Exchange for a profit. Varrock is a prime location for this due to its numerous shops and proximity to the GE. Two noteworthy shops for beginners are the Varrock Staff Shop and the Varrock Rune Shop. These shops often stock items like staves and runes that are in consistent demand at the Grand Exchange.
To execute shop runs effectively:
- Identify Profitable Items: Before purchasing in bulk, check Grand Exchange prices for items sold in Varrock shops. Websites like the official OSRS Grand Exchange Market Watch can be invaluable for real-time price checks.
- Staff Shop: The Staff Shop in Varrock sells various staves. Check the GE price of staves like air staves, water staves, earth staves, and fire staves to see if there’s a profitable margin.
- Rune Shop: The Rune Shop stocks runes. Air runes, mind runes, water runes, earth runes, fire runes, and body runes are commonly traded. Again, verify GE prices to identify profitable runes.
- Price Fluctuation Awareness: Grand Exchange prices are subject to change. Regularly monitor prices to ensure your shop runs remain profitable. Over time, market trends can shift, so adaptability is key.
- Start Small: Begin with smaller purchases to test profitability before investing larger sums of your starting gold.
3. Spinning Flax into Bowstring (Members Only)
For players with membership, spinning flax is a reliable and consistent early-game money-making method that also provides crafting experience. This method becomes accessible after reaching level 10 Crafting, which is easily achievable by crafting leather armor from cowhides obtained near Lumbridge.
The optimal location for flax spinning is Lumbridge Castle. It conveniently houses both a spinning wheel on the second floor and a bank on the ground floor, minimizing travel time between banking and spinning.
Here’s how to profit from spinning flax:
- Purchase Flax: Buy flax from the Grand Exchange. Flax is typically inexpensive.
- Travel to Lumbridge Castle: Teleport or walk to Lumbridge and enter Lumbridge Castle.
- Spin Flax: Use the spinning wheel on the second floor to convert flax into bowstring. Each flax becomes one bowstring.
- Bank Bowstring: Deposit the spun bowstring in the Lumbridge Castle bank.
- Sell Bowstring: Return to the Grand Exchange and sell the bowstring.
The profit margin comes from the price difference between flax and bowstring. While prices fluctuate, bowstring generally sells for significantly more than the cost of flax. This method offers a steady income stream and concurrently trains your Crafting skill, which is beneficial for future game progression.
4. Gathering Cowhides and Tanning Leather (Free-to-Play & Members)
Another accessible method, suitable for both free-to-play and members, involves collecting cowhides and processing them into leather. Cowhides can be acquired in two ways:
- Killing Cows: Lumbridge is home to cow farms, particularly north of Lumbridge and east of Lumbridge Swamp. Killing cows yields cowhides as drops.
- Purchasing Cowhides: Cowhides can be bought directly from the Grand Exchange.
Once you have a stack of cowhides, head to Al Kharid, located east of Lumbridge. Within Al Kharid, you’ll find a tanner shop, marked by a brown shirt icon on the world map. The tanner NPC will tan your cowhides into leather for a small fee per hide.
The process is as follows:
- Gather Cowhides: Obtain cowhides by killing cows or buying them from the GE.
- Travel to Al Kharid: Go to Al Kharid and locate the tanner shop.
- Tan Hides: Speak to the tanner and pay to have your cowhides tanned into leather.
- Bank Leather: Bank the leather at the Al Kharid bank.
- Sell Leather: Sell the leather at the Grand Exchange.
Profitability arises from the price difference between raw cowhides and tanned leather. Leather consistently fetches a higher price than cowhides, creating a profit margin. This method can be scaled up by tanning dragonhides (green dragonhide, blue dragonhide, etc.) for higher profits, although this requires more starting capital and access to dragonhide.
5. Stealing Wines of Zamorak (Free-to-Play)
For free-to-play players seeking a slightly riskier but potentially faster money-making method, stealing Wines of Zamorak is a popular choice. This method utilizes the Telekinetic Grab spell, requiring a Magic level of 33.
The Wines of Zamorak are located in the Chaos Temple in Asgarnia, south of Falador. To perform this method effectively, you’ll need:
- Telekinetic Grab Spell: Ensure you can cast this spell (level 33 Magic).
- Staff of Air: Equipping a Staff of Air provides free air runes, reducing rune costs.
- Law Runes: You’ll need law runes to cast Telekinetic Grab.
- Wizard Mind Bombs (Optional): Wizard mind bombs temporarily boost your magic level, potentially aiding in spellcasting success, especially at lower magic levels.
The strategy involves using Telekinetic Grab to steal Wines of Zamorak from the temple altar. Monks within the temple will become aggressive if they see you stealing.
Two approaches exist, depending on your total level:
- Low Total Level (<500): Enter the temple, cast Telekinetic Grab on the wine, and immediately exit the temple after each successful steal to avoid monk attacks. Re-enter once the wine respawns.
- High Total Level (500+ & Zamorak Monk Robes): Players with a total level of 500 or higher can wear a full Zamorak monk outfit and access the upstairs area of the temple via a ladder. Upstairs, a Wine of Zamorak spawns in a less guarded location, making stealing significantly easier and safer from the lower-level monks.
Wines of Zamorak are consistently in demand, making them a reliable source of income. While this method can be faster than others, it carries a small risk of being attacked by monks and requires a minimum Magic level.
Conclusion: Building Your OSRS Fortune
These methods provide a solid foundation for building your wealth in Oldschool Runescape during the early game. Whether you prefer the risk-free Stronghold of Security, strategic shop runs, consistent flax spinning (for members), leather tanning, or the more active Wine of Zamorak stealing, there’s a method to suit different playstyles and account types.
Remember that consistency is key. Regularly engaging in these money-making activities will steadily grow your gold pile, allowing you to purchase better equipment, train skills more effectively, and ultimately enjoy more of what Oldschool Runescape has to offer. Experiment with these guides, find what works best for you, and embark on your journey to OSRS riches!
