Mining is slow, but it's also highly AFK and profitable. By this stage, passive experience gained from Runecrafting helps soften the grind. Once Mining is complete, most of RuneScape gold the worst skills are officially out of the way.
This marks a turning point in the maxing journey.
Utility and Profit Skills
Construction and Crafting are best tackled next due to the immense utility of their skill capes. Construction grants unlimited access to a fully upgraded Player-Owned House, while Crafting provides one of the most convenient bank teleports in the game.
After these expensive skills, profit-oriented options like Thieving and Hunter help rebuild OSRS gold reserves. These skills also prepare players for Prayer and Herblore, both of which can be costly.
Prayer should be completed once resources allow, as it remains crucial for high-level combat and late-game PvM.
The Final Stretch
At this point, only Herblore, Cooking, Smithing, and Fletching remain. Herblore is often completed first due to its high cost, followed by Smithing, which can offer small profits depending on the method used. Cooking and Fletching are among the fastest skills to train and make for a satisfying finish to the maxing journey.
Final Thoughts
Maxing in OSRS is as much a test of patience as it is efficiency. Tackling the slow, mentally draining skills early prevents burnout when the goal is finally in sight. Following a structured order not only saves time and money but also makes the second half of the journey feel dramatically easier.
With the hardest grinds behind you early, the final push toward the Max Cape becomes far more enjoyable-and far more achievable.
OSRS: New Training Methods You Should Know for 2026
Old School RuneScape continues to evolve at a surprising pace, and heading into 2026, players have more training options than ever before. Major updates like Sailing, the Valamore questline finale, and new regions have introduced an unprecedented number of alternative training methods across nearly every skill. Whether you're chasing level 99, pushing an ironman account, or just looking to escape the monotony of traditional grinds, these newer methods offer fresh ways to progress. Having enough OSRS gold can also be very helpful.
Below is a breakdown of some of the most notable training options added recently, what they offer, and where they fit into the broader OSRS training meta.
Combat and Slayer: New Monsters, New Opportunities
One of the standout additions for combat and Slayer training comes in the form of new dragon and griffin variants. Regular griffins, often overlooked compared to their stronger counterparts, offer respectable Slayer experience with relatively low effort. With proper weight management and the right combat style, they're fragile enough to kill quickly and can provide consistent Slayer XP without heavy requirements.
Frost dragons, unlocked through Sailing progression, are another major highlight. Despite lacking a Slayer level requirement, they can still be assigned as tasks by select masters. Their strong elemental weakness to fire makes them ideal for Magic training, especially when paired with fire-boosting gear. Frost dragons strike a strong balance between relaxed gameplay, solid Magic XP, and valuable drops that remain in steady demand.
Prayer: New Bones, Questionable Efficiency
The introduction of new creature types also brought new bones into the game. While these bones technically offer high Prayer experience when used on gilded altars, their current market prices make them inefficient for most players. Traditional dragon bones remain a better balance of cost and XP.
That said, passive Prayer experience through bonecrusher use while killing new monsters provides a steady trickle of XP with no added cost, making it a sensible long-term option rather than a primary training method.
Runecrafting: Faster Astral Access
Runecrafting didn't receive direct new content, but clever optimization has improved existing methods. Using Sailing-based teleports to reach the Astral altar cuts down travel time significantly compared to older routes. With the full Runecrafting outfit and proper teleport management, Astral runecrafting now offers solid experience rates alongside reliable profit, especially appealing given the low cost of essence.
Construction: A Less Click-Intensive Alternative
Construction training received a subtle but impactful option through the introduction of whole parts. Mahogany hole parts, in particular, offer competitive XP rates while requiring far fewer clicks than traditional training methods like mahogany homes. While slightly more expensive per experience point than ultra-budget options, the reduced intensity makes this method attractive for players looking for cheap OSRS GP a balance between efficiency and comfort.
