Leveling efficiently in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is all about choosing the right methods for your account type, budget, and available time. With updates, refined meta strategies, and shifting resource prices in 2025, players have more options than ever for fast early-to-mid–game OSRS gold progression. This guide breaks down the best skill-training methods to help you advance quickly, whether you're a beginner or a returning player.
1. Combat Training – Fast & Accessible
Combat is foundational in OSRS, unlocking quests, gear, and money-making paths. In 2025, these methods remain the most efficient:
Levels 1–40: Sand Crabs (Zeah)
Zero aggression reset needed
High hitpoints & low damage
Perfect for AFK leveling
Levels 40–70: Experiments (Haunted Woods)
Very high HP for fast XP
Low defense, consistent kills
Great for melee or ranged
Levels 70+: Nightmare Zone (NMZ)
Still the best AFK combat XP
Use Absorption + Overloads
Stack points for Imbues (huge value)
Alternative (Active XP):
Slayer — slower early on, but best long-term combat + money combo.
2. Prayer Training – Fastest & Cheapest Options
Prayer is one of the most expensive skills, but 2025 has efficient pathways:
Fastest (but costly): Gilded Altar
2× XP rates
Requires Dragon Bones or better
Look for open-hosted altars to save GP
Cheapest: Ensouled Heads
Use Arceuus spellbook to res for XP
Great early/mid-game value
Slayer tasks help supply extra heads
3. Magic Training – The 2025 Meta
Early Game: Fire Strike / Fire Bolt
Cheap and reliable while questing.
Mid Game: High Alchemy
Neutral GP if done on profitable items
Great AFK-friendly XP
Works well combined with mobile play
Fastest XP: Burst/Barraging in MM2 Tunnels
Requires Ancient Magicks
Very high XP/hr
Expensive but unmatched
4. Ranged Training – Best Methods
Low Levels: Cannon + Slayer
Fastest starter XP but expensive on cannonballs.
Levels 40–70: Dwarf Cannon + Ogres
Good money from seed drops
Safe spot available
Levels 70+: Chinning (Monkey Madness II Cave)
Red Chins = fast
Black Chins = extremely fast
High GP cost, but top XP/hr
5. Strength, Attack, and Defence
AFK: Sand Crabs → NMZ
Classic zero-stress method.
Fastest (but active): Slayer Training
Master combat accuracy
Earn GP while leveling
Best for long-term accounts
6. Hitpoints Training
Hitpoints will naturally level with combat training.
For pure-focused XP:
Bursting/Barraging is the fastest method in the game.
7. Woodcutting – Efficient Options
1–45: Oak Trees
Great early XP.
45–90: Teak Trees (3-tick method)
Fastest XP for skilled players.
AFK: Yew Trees / Redwoods (90+)
Slow but stress-free, ideal for mobile play.
8. Mining – 2025 Training Methods
1–60: Motherlode Mine (MLM)
Reliable XP
Good starting GP
Unlocks Prospector outfit
60–99: Volcanic Mine
Very fast XP
Requires group activity
Still best XP/hr in 2025
Alternative AFK:
Amethyst — slow XP but profitable.
9. Fishing – Fast & Calm
1–48: Fly Fishing (Barb Village)
Fastest early XP.
48–99: Barbarian Fishing
Strong XP/hr
Trains Strength + Agility passively
Popular from ironmen to mains
10. Cooking – One of the Easiest 99s
1–30: Shrimp/Trout
30+: Wines
Massive XP/hr
Can lose money but extremely fast
Alternative AFK:
Cooking at Rogues’ Den
No burn chance after 90 Cooking.
11. Crafting – Quick but Pricey
Fastest:
Battlestaves → Dragonhide Armor
Cheapest:
Molten Glass Blowing (glassblowing pipe)
Still a strong budget method.
12. Runecrafting – Level Efficiently in 2025
1–77: Guardian of the Rift (GotR)
Excellent XP/hr
Scales with player skill
Huge rewards + outfit pieces
77+: Blood Runes (Blood Altar)
Amazing GP + XP
Still best long-term method in 2025
13. Fletching
Best: Dart Tips / Amethyst Arrows
Fast XP with stable GP loss.
Cheapest: Oak/Willow Longbows unstrung
Much slower but very affordable.
14. Agility
1–10: Gnome Course
10–30: Draynor Rooftop
30–60: Varrock → Canifis
60–90+: Seers’ Village Rooftop
Fastest: Hallowed Sepulchre (high skill required)
15. Thieving
1–20: Men
20–45: Cake Stall
45–99: Blackjacking (fastest)
AFK Alternative: Ardougne Knights
Final Tips for Fast Progression
Prioritize quests (Waterfall, Dragon Slayer, Slayer unlocks)
Train Slayer early for balanced combat
Combine profitable skills (Runecrafting, Mining, cheapest OSRS gold Fletching)
Use efficient bank routing + teleports
Track XP with Runelite plugins (huge time-saver)