OSRS Skills - Classes Guide - Combat, Gathering & Crafting

There is a big number of OSRS skills, which can be daunting to newcomers. 23 different skills will cover all your combat or gathering needs, so it’s natural to wonder which are the most important to your gameplay style, and what you should be training first. 15 of them are free for everyone, while the other 8 are only accessible with a premium Old School Runescape membership (that you can also get without paying by following our guide).

Every skill in OSRS can get up to level 99, or at some cases boosted even further with special potions or prayers. The Cape of Accomplishment can also get your skill cap to 100, but there are no real benefits in doing so.

Skills in Old School Runescape are divided in 4 different categories, Combat, Gathering, Artisan & Support. We are going to explain how each one works in detail, and also provide links to our OSRS guides for each particular skill, so that you can level it faster, as well as discover popular money making methods.

Note: this guide is not for ironman accounts.

Combat Skills

Attack (free)

Accurate Attack Style, Old School Runescape

This skill is one of the three melee skills which are combat skills allowing you to fight in melee status. In general, combat skills have the highest priority to train first. That’s because you will mostly need them to start the early quests and fight monsters.

Training your Attack will increase your accuracy, which means the higher level you have, the higher chance you can hit. You will also be able to use better weapons, which in general give you higher accuracy and damage. To start gaining EXP in Attack, you should set your attack style to the Accurate style.

Strength (free)

Aggressive Attack Style, Old School Runescape

This skill is the second skill of the three melee skills, it’s importance is the same as Attack. But it has a higher priority to train, as it gives you strength bonus that increases your max hit.

Training your Strength will increase your max hit, which results in higher EXP gained in all of the other melee skills while training them. It also makes you able to use some Agility shortcuts and some better weapons as you level up. To start gaining EXP in Strength, you should set your attack style to the Aggressive style.

Defence (free)

Defensive Attack Style, Old School Runescape

This skill is the third skill of the three melee skills, it’s importance is slightly less than Attack and Strength. That’s because in combat, you will need higher damage and accuracy rather than higher defence. Which also makes its priority lower than both of them.

But in general, it’s very important to train Defence, as it gives you access to better armor and shields. High level in Defence means better defence points. That means the chance of getting damaged will be reduced. But keep in mind that it won’t reduce the max hit of your opponent.

To Start gaining EXP in Defence, you should set your attack style to the Defensive style.

Ranged (free)

This skill is one of the three combat classes, which allows you to fight from distance. It is classified as the highest DPS (damage per second) combat class in the game. And it allows you to use various ranged weapons and gaining access to certain armor. It is used most of the time against monsters with high Defence level, such as bosses since it has very high DPS. And that’s why most of the players prefer this skill to be maxed out first.

To gain Ranged EXP, all you have to do is to fight using one of the ranged weapons. You can boost your EXP by using a Dwarf Cannon in certain places. But that requires the completion of Dwarf multicannon quest.

Dwarf Cannon, Old School Runescape

There are 3 attack styles available when you wield a ranged weapon. The First one is the Rapid style, it increases your attack speed by 1 tick and gives Ranged EXP. The second one is the Accurate style, it increases your accuracy and damage and gives Ranged EXP. The third one is the Longrange Style, it increases your range by 2 tiles and gives Ranged EXP + Defence EXP.

Ranged Attack Styles, Old School Runescape

Note: you should always use Accurate style during the low levels, and Rapid during the high levels.

Hitpoints (free)

Hitpoints EXP Gaining, Old School Runescape

It is the only skill that starts with level 10 and it simulates your health. The higher your level, the higher your health and the more you handle the damage dealt to you. So it’s very important to train your Hitpoints alongside your combat skills.

Training Hitpoints is usually hard, as there are only two ways to gain EXP. The first one is while training the combat skills by dealing damage to your opponent, every damage point dealt gives you 1.33 experience. The second one is by completing certain quests that gives you Hitpoints EXP.

Magic (free)

In OSRS, there are three combat classes, which are Magic, Ranged and Melee. Magic is a very important processing skill alongside being a very powerful combat skill. You can use it to craft items or even enchant them. Also, it gives you access to certain teleports around the map. Which makes it easier for you as a beginner to travel through the map instead of walking and wasting time. So it’s always better to train it until at least 40s to save you some time.

Actually, Magic is used to create gold coins, by converting items into gold coins using High Level Alchemy spell. Which makes it a large source of gold coins. Also, It gives you access to many other combat spells which are very powerful and useful in combat. In addition to that, it allows you to fight from distance.

T to cast any spell, you need runes, each spell requires different runes setup.

Magic Spells, Old School Runescape

To train Magic, all you have to do is cast spells. Any spell will give you Magic EXP, but if your spell isn’t dealing damage, such as teleports, then you won’t gain Hitpoints EXP.

There are 2 attack styles in addition to 3 melee attack styles available when you wield a staff. The first one with a shield icon is an auto-cast style, it gives Magic EXP + Defence EXP. The second one with a book icon is an auto-cast style, it gives Magic EXP only. The other 3 options are for training melee.

Defensive Auto-Cast Style, Old School Runescape

Magic Auto-Cast Style, Old School Runescape

Melee Styles, Old School Runescape

Training Magic will increase your magic damage and your magic defense. The magic defense is based on 2 skills, the Defence level (30%) and the Magic level (70%).

OSRS Magic Guide

Prayer (free)

Praying Protect From Melee, Old School Runescape

Prayer is a very important skill in combat for mediocre/high players. As a beginner, you don’t really need to give it a high priority over the other skills. Prayer gives you access to certain buffs or prayers which help you in combat by boosting your combat skills and/or Hitpoints.

Better buffs are unlocked as you level up, and to level up you can use various ways. One of them is burying monster’s bones or using them on an altar.

Keep in mind while using the buffs/prayers, you are consuming your prayer points which equal your current Prayer level. If your points reach 0, then your buffs will be turned off. So to recharge them, you can pray at an altar, or use certain potions such as Prayer potions.

Gathering Skills

Mining (free)

Mining List, Old School Runescape

This skill is similar to Crafting, it’s not very hard to train and generally used to make money. But you will need Mining to complete certain quests and dairies. Beginners shouldn’t give a high priority to train this skill.

Mining allows you to get Ores and Gems from mining rocks in the various mines around the map. Then you can sell them at the Grand Exchange, or use it through Smithing.

To start training it, you will need a Pickaxe, then go to one of these mines around the map and start mining the rocks over there. If you are willing to mine a certain ore, then right click on the rock and choose Prospect Rocks to know which Ore you can get from this rock.

You can check which Rocks you can Mine by left-clicking on the skill to open a Mining list.

Keep in mind the better Pickaxe you have, the faster you mine the rocks. So always use the highest possible Pickaxe for your level.

OSRS Mining Guide

Woodcutting (free)

Woodcutting List, Old School Runescape

Woodcutting is not a very important skill for beginners. But you can use it to get some logs and sell them at the Grand Exchange to make some money. This skill allows you to cut and chop various trees for Logs. These Logs are used in Firemaking and also in Fletching and Construction.

To start training, you need any kind of Axe and one of the regular trees around the map. You don’t need to equip the Axe, just be sure it is in your inventory.

Higher level Woodcutting makes you able to use better Axes to cut the trees faster, also it allows you to cut better trees.

The most important thing for you as a beginner is unlocking the Canoes. They will allow you to travel between Lumbridge and Varrock along the Lum river. You will only need to reach level 42 to unlock Stable Dugout which allows you to travel for 3 stops. That makes you can reach further spots in a short time.

To check which trees you can chop, you can left-click on the skill to check the Woodcutting list.

OSRS Woodcutting Guide

Fishing (free)

Fishing List, Old School Runescape

This skill is similar to the other moneymaking skills, it’s not very important for a beginner to train it. But If you are willing to make money using it, you can keep training until a high level.

Fishing allows you to catch various fishes from many fishing spots around the map. The higher your level, the different ways of fishing you access to. And the better the fishes you can catch, the more money you can make.

In general, fishes are used to make food, by using the Cooking skill. But some players just sell the raw fishes for gold.

To start fishing you will need certain equipment for each kind of fish that you are willing to catch. These types of equipment are such as Nets, Fishing rods, and Baits.

You can check which the required types of equipment for each fish by left-clicking on the skill to open a Fishing list.

OSRS Fishing Guide

Farming (member)

Farming List, Old School Runescape

Although Farming is not very important for beginners. It is one of the best moneymaking skills in the game. It’s very important for high levels in Raids in general. The best thing about this skill is that you can train it while being AFK. Because usually, it takes hours for a plant to be fully grown. So training it as a beginner is not a bad idea, but not very important.

Farming allows you to plant different trees, herbs, vegetables, and hops around the map, which requires many teleports. For that, you better start unlocking different teleport systems around the map such as the Fairy Rings system.

While farming, It is better to use composts on the patches as it decreases the chance of getting some plants killed. Composts are also used to increase the production of certain plants. At each patch, you will find Gardeners that you can pay them to watch over your plants.

Each plant requires different seeds, Farming levels and has a specific patch. You can check the Farming list by left-clicking the skill.

OSRS Farming Guide

Hunter (member)

Hunter List, Old School Runescape

Hunter is not important for beginners at all. It’s generally used to gain some rewards and make money. It allows you to catch various creatures around the map, and get some rewards by doing that. You will also need to train it to complete certain quests and dairies.

Each creature requires a different Hunter level, and they are located at various spots. To check the required level and the location, you can left-click the skill to check the Hunter list.

OSRS Hunter Guide

Artisan (Production) Skills

Firemaking (free)

Firemaking List, Old School Runescape

This skill is not very important for beginners unless you need it for certain quests. Firemaking generally used to make Campfires, which is important for Cooking. Also, Firemaking can be combined with Woodcutting to train both of them at the same time.

Firemaking will be mostly required for questing. Which means you can train it from time to time, and it’s easy to train anyway.

To make a Campfire, you need any kind of Log and a Tinderbox. The better the Log you burn, the higher the Firemaking EXP you gain.

You can check the required levels for each Log through the Firemaking list by left-clicking the skill.

OSRS Firemaking Guide

Cooking (free)

Cooking List, Old School Runescape

This skill is similar to the other moneymaking skills. It’s not very important skill for a beginner. You can just train it until the 30s, or until a very high level if you are willing to make money using it.

Cooking is one of the fastest skills to train, as it doesn’t require much to start training it. It allows you to cook raw food, converting them into food for combat. You can then sell them at the Grand Exchange.

To start cooking, you will need to use your raw food on a Cooking Range or a Campfire. The food can be burnt, but Cooking Ranges have less chance of burning food. The chance of burning the food also depends on your Cooking level. That means the higher the level, the more profits.

Meals require different ingredients to be cooked. To check the required ingredients for each meal, you can left-click on the skill to open a Cooking list.

OSRS Cooking Guide

Smithing (free)

Smithing List, Old School Runescape

This skill is similar to Mining and Crafting, which means it is generally used to make money. But you will need it to complete certain quests and dairies. Smithing is a complementary skill for Mining. You can use the mined Ores to make Metal bars by smelting them in a Furnace that you can find many of them around the map. Then you can use the Metal bars at any Anvil around the map to create various Armour, Weaponry and much more.

You can check which items you can smith by left-clicking on the skill to open a Smithing list.

So if you are not going to use it as a moneymaking skill, then you can totally ignore it until you reach high levels in the rest of your skills.

OSRS Smithing Guide

Crafting (free)

Crafting List, Old School Runescape

Crafting is a good moneymaking skill and it’s not very hard to train. But as a beginner, you shouldn’t really give it a high priority, unless it is required for a certain quest. This skill allows you to create various items through different processes. These processes are such as Spinning, Weaving, Glassblowing, Pottery, Armour crafting, and Jewellery crafting.

You can check which items you can craft by left-clicking on the skill to open a Crafting list.

If you are not going to make money through this skill, then you can just train it to reach the level required in any quest you are willing to complete.

OSRS Crafting Guide

Runecraft (free)

Runecrafting List, Old School Runescape

It is a very time-consuming skill when it comes to training it. In general, players prefer to not spend much time training it. Which means they may leave it at the 30s or 40s to be enough for certain quests as a quest requirement.

Beginners shouldn’t really care about Runecrafting unless it’s required for a quest or dairy. Otherwise, you can just buy runes from the Grand Exchange.

This skill allows you to craft runes to use it as a fuel for the magic spells. Also, it is considered as a good moneymaking skill once you reach a high level. And that’s because almost all the players will need runes to cast magic spells.

To start training it, the first you will need is to complete Rune Mysteries quest, which gives you access to the Rune Essence Mine. Inside the Mine, you can mine Rune Essence or Pure Essence, both are needed to craft runes. But keep in mind that Pure Essence is only for members.

You can check which Runes you can craft by left-clicking on the skill to open a Runecrafting list.

Overall it’s up to you if you are willing to spend time on training it, whether for money or questing and dairies.

OSRS Runecrafting Guide

Herblore (member)

Ingredients List, Old School Runescape

This skill is not very important for beginners at all. But you will need it in the long term for huge money making methods such as Raids. It is not very hard to train it, but you may better train something else as a beginner. Herblore allows you to make potions from the combination of herbs and other materials.

To start training it, you’ll need to complete Druidic Ritual quest. After that, you can use simple methods as a beginner such as cleaning herbs. But at a higher level, you can start making full potions for profits.

To check out each potion and it’s ingredients, you can left-click on the skill to check the ingredients list.

OSRS Herblore Guide

Fletching (member)

Fletching List, Old School Runescape

Fletching is a P2P skill, it’s a skill that you can totally ignore as a beginner unless you need it for a quest. It is used for making money, as you can create different types of Ammunitions and Ranged weapons.

Training this skill can be very fast, but you will spend huge money on it. At higher levels, you can start making a decent amount of money by fletching Ammunitions.

To start training it, you will need logs and different materials. To check what you can create and it’s requirements, you can left-click on the skill to check the Fletching list.

OSRS Fletching Guide

Construction (member)

Construction List, Old School Runescape

Construction is not very important as a beginner. Just like Fletching, you can ignore it unless you need it for a quest. But once you account reaches a high level, you better start training Construction. As it makes traveling so easy by using different teleports you can build inside your house.

To start training it, you need to buy your house for 1000 coins from the Estate Agents. After that, you can start building various furniture to level up your Construction. Each thing you can build requires different materials, you can check them by left-clicking the skill.

You can also be a host for other players to use your house and they can pay you tips for that.

OSRS Construction Guide

Support Skills

Agility (member)

Agility Courses List, Old School Runescape

If you are a member, then you better start training it from time to time. As this skill is very important for your run energy and accessing many shortcuts around the map. The higher your Agility level, the slower your run energy is drained. Also, each shortcut requires a specific Agility level, so a higher level will always be awesome.

Agility is maybe the most boring skill to level up in the game, but in the long term, it is worthy. You can start training it by using the Agility courses around the map. By completing each course you gain a certain amount of Agility EXP. You may also bring Stamina potions with you to repeat the course faster.

You can check each course and the required level by left-clicking the skill then choose “courses”.

OSRS Agility Guide

Thieving (member)

Thieving List, Old School Runescape

Thieving is not important for beginners. But at a higher level, it can be used to make money. It allows you to steal items and gold coins from various NPCs around the map and be able to unlock traps.

To train it, you can start pickpocketing various NPCs, the higher NPC level, the better EXP you gain. There is a chance to fail and the NPC will start attacking you. But the higher the Thieving level you are, the less likely to fail. Also, there are many items that give you success bonus such as Gloves of silence. So you better have these to gain more EXP per hour.

You can check out which NPC you can steal from by left-clicking the skill to check out the Thieving list.

OSRS Thieving Guide

Slayer (member)

Slayer is a very important skill, even for a beginner player. You better start training it as it unlocks various profitable monsters around the map. That you also can make huge money by killing them.

To start training Slayer, you must assign for tasks based on your Combat level. You can do that from a Slayer Master. The task asks you to kill certain monsters located around the map. While killing these monsters you are gaining EXP in combat skills and also Slayer EXP after finishing the task.

Slayer points are the reward for each task, which can be used to buy certain items from any Slayer Master. Items like Slayer Ring or Slayer Helmet are examples of what you can buy. As a beginner, you should get your tasks from Turael located southeast Burthorpe. That’s because It will give you low-level tasks to complete.

Turael Location, Old School Runescape

By left-clicking the skill, you will be able to check the Slayer list.

Slayer List, Old School Runescape

That’s all, hope this guide helped you to get to know the different skills. Also, knowing which skills are important in terms of priority. Feel free to ask any question through the comments and stay tuned for the next guide!