How Long Does It Take to Get Full Prospector in OSRS? Your Ultimate Guide

How Long Does It Take to Get Full Prospector in OSRS? Your Ultimate Guide


If you’re an Old School RuneScape (OSRS) player looking to boost your Mining experience, the Prospector Kit is a must-have. This experience-boosting set, available from the Motherlode Mine, grants a 2.5% Mining XP bonus when fully equipped. But the big question remains: how long does it take to get full Prospector in OSRS? In this detailed guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know—time estimates, strategies, and tips to make the grind as efficient as possible. Whether you’re a casual player or an Ironman, we’ve got you covered!

The Prospector Kit is a four-piece outfit in OSRS that enhances your Mining experience. It’s purchased from Prospector Percy’s Nugget Shop in the Motherlode Mine using golden nuggets, which you earn by mining and cleaning pay-dirt. The full set costs 180 golden nuggets and includes:

  • Prospector Helmet – 0.4% XP boost (40 nuggets)
  • Prospector Jacket – 0.8% XP boost (60 nuggets)
  • Prospector Legs – 0.6% XP boost (50 nuggets)
  • Prospector Boots – 0.2% XP boost (30 nuggets)

When worn together, these pieces provide a total of 2.5% extra Mining XP, making it a valuable asset for anyone training the skill. Plus, it’s required for certain achievements, like the Hard Falador Diary, adding to its appeal.

Why Get the Full Prospector Kit?

Beyond the XP boost, the Prospector Kit offers practical benefits. It reduces waterskin usage in the desert (similar to desert robes) and looks pretty stylish too! For Ironmen or players aiming for 99 Mining, that 2.5% bonus can shave hours off your grind.

How Long Does It Take to Get Full Prospector? Time Estimates

The time to acquire the full Prospector Kit depends on several factors: your Mining level, efficiency, focus, and a bit of luck with nugget drops. On average, it takes 10 to 20 hours of Motherlode Mine (MLM) grinding to collect the 180 golden nuggets needed. Let’s break it down.

Average Nugget Drop Rate

Golden nuggets are a random reward from cleaning pay-dirt in the Motherlode Mine. The drop rate is approximately 1 nugget per 36.5 pay-dirt cleaned, though this can vary due to RNG (random number generation). To get 180 nuggets, you’ll need to mine and clean around 6,570 pay-dirt on average.

Mining XP and Time Breakdown

At the Motherlode Mine, your Mining XP per hour depends on your level and whether you’re using the upper or lower level:

  • Level 30-40: ~15,000–20,000 XP/hour (lower level)
  • Level 40-57: ~25,000–30,000 XP/hour (lower level)
  • Level 57+: ~35,000–40,000 XP/hour (upper level, unlocked with 100 nuggets)

Most players start at level 30 (the minimum requirement for MLM) and aim to get the kit by level 65–70. Here’s a rough estimate:

Starting Level Ending Level XP Gained Hours (Approx.)
30 65 418,000 15–20
40 65 350,000 12–15
57 (Upper) 70 300,000 8–10

These estimates assume semi-focused mining. If you’re fully AFK or multitasking (e.g., watching Netflix), expect the upper end of these ranges.

Factors That Affect the Time to Get Full Prospector

Several variables can speed up or slow down your journey to the full Prospector Kit. Understanding these can help you optimize your grind.

Your Mining Level

Higher Mining levels mean faster pay-dirt mining and cleaning, increasing your XP and nugget rates. Starting at level 30 is viable, but waiting until level 40 or 57 (for the upper level) can save time.

Efficiency and Focus

Are you actively banking pay-dirt and cleaning it, or are you AFK-ing between clicks? Focused players can hit 30+ nuggets per hour, while AFK players might get 15–20. Using shortcuts (requires 54 Agility with Medium Falador Diary) also boosts efficiency.

Upper Level Access

Unlocking the upper level of MLM costs 100 nuggets but increases XP rates and AFK time (veins last longer). If you prioritize this upgrade first, the remaining 80 nuggets for the kit will come faster—potentially cutting total time to 12–15 hours.

Luck with Nuggets

RNG plays a role. Some players get lucky and snag 180 nuggets in under 10 hours, while others might need 20+ hours if the drops don’t favor them. There’s no way to boost nugget chance (Prospector armor doesn’t affect it), so patience is key.

Strategies to Get Full Prospector Faster

Want to minimize the grind? Here are some proven strategies to speed up your Prospector Kit acquisition.

Start at the Right Level

Begin at level 40 Mining for a decent XP rate (25,000–30,000/hour). You’ll hit level 65ish by the time you have 180 nuggets, netting you around 350,000 XP and 12–15 hours of playtime.

Prioritize Upper Level Access

Spend your first 100 nuggets on the upper level unlock. The improved XP (35,000–40,000/hour) and longer AFK periods make the remaining 80 nuggets quicker to earn. This shaves a few hours off the total grind.

Use the Best Pickaxe

Always equip the highest-tier pickaxe you can use:

  • Bronze–Steel: Levels 1–20
  • Mithril: Level 21+
  • Adamant: Level 31+
  • Rune: Level 41+
  • Dragon: Level 61+ (5.88% faster than Rune)

A better pickaxe speeds up mining cycles, increasing pay-dirt per hour and thus nuggets.

Optimize Your Route

Use the agility shortcut (54 Agility + Medium Falador Diary) to cut travel time between veins and the hopper. Pair this with stamina potions and weight-reducing gear (like Graceful) for maximum efficiency.

Buy Expensive Pieces First

When spending nuggets, start with the jacket (60 nuggets) and legs (50 nuggets). This maximizes your XP boost early, slightly speeding up the remaining grind. The full order could be: Jacket > Legs > Helmet > Boots.

Tips for Ironmen and Casual Players

Your account type and playstyle can influence how you approach the Prospector Kit grind. Here’s tailored advice.

For Ironmen

Ironmen often rely on MLM for ores anyway, so the Prospector Kit is a natural goal. Start at level 30–40 and treat it as a dual-purpose grind: nuggets for the kit and ores for Smithing. You’ll likely hit 65 Mining and 180 nuggets in 15–20 hours, with a bonus of 1–2 Smithing levels from fixing struts (12,000+ XP).

For Casual Players

If you’re not in a rush, MLM’s semi-AFK nature is perfect. Mine while watching videos or chatting—expect 15–20 nuggets/hour and 15–20 hours total. The profit (1–2M GP from ores) is a nice perk too!

Alternative: Volcanic Mine

You can buy the kit from Petrified Pete’s Ore Shop at the Volcanic Mine for 120,000 points, but this takes longer (20–30 hours) and requires 50 Mining + 150 Kudos. Stick to MLM unless you’re already grinding Volcanic Mine.

Final Thoughts

So, how long does it take to get full Prospector in OSRS? For most players, it’s a 10–20-hour journey, depending on your starting level, efficiency, and RNG luck. With the right strategy—starting at level 40, unlocking the upper level, and using the best gear—you can hit the lower end of that range. The 2.5% XP boost is worth it for serious miners, and the process doubles as decent training and profit. Ready to start? Head to the Motherlode Mine, grab your pickaxe, and get digging!

Have questions or tips of your own? Drop them below and let’s keep the OSRS community thriving!