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How Long Does It Take to Max in OSRS? A Detailed Guide
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game that thrives on its grind-heavy nature, offering players a sense of accomplishment unlike any other MMO. One of the ultimate goals for many players is to “max”—reaching level 99 in all 23 skills, earning the coveted Max Cape. But just how long does it take to max in OSRS? The answer depends on efficiency, playstyle, and resources. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the time required, explore the fastest methods, and provide tips to help you on your journey to maxing.
Maxing in OSRS refers to achieving level 99 in every skill, totaling a maximum level of 2,277 (99 x 23 skills). This unlocks the Max Cape, a prestigious item sold by Mac for 2,277,000 GP. Each skill requires 13,034,431 experience points to hit 99, meaning you’ll need a grand total of 299,791,913 XP across all skills. It’s a monumental task that tests dedication, strategy, and sometimes your wallet.
Why Maxing Matters
For many, maxing is the pinnacle of OSRS achievement. It opens up end-game content, boosts bragging rights, and lets you flex that iconic Max Cape emote. But the journey isn’t quick—let’s dive into the numbers.
Factors Affecting Time to Max
The time it takes to max in OSRS varies wildly based on several factors. Whether you’re a casual player or a hardcore grinder, these elements will shape your timeline.
Playtime Per Day
A player grinding 10 hours a day will max far faster than someone playing 2 hours daily. The more time you invest, the quicker you’ll reach your goal.
Efficiency and Methods
Using tick-manipulation techniques (e.g., 3-tick mining) or expensive buyables (e.g., superior dragon bones for Prayer) can slash hours off your grind. Casual methods, like AFK fishing, take longer but require less focus.
Wealth and Resources
Gold is power in OSRS. Skills like Construction, Prayer, and Herblore can be “bought” with fast, costly methods—assuming you’ve got millions of GP to burn.
Skill Order and Multitasking
Smart players train combat skills alongside Slayer or pair Agility with Barbarian Fishing to save time. Planning your skilling order is key to minimizing wasted hours.
How Long Does It Take to Max? The Numbers
Let’s get to the heart of it: how many hours does maxing take? Estimates vary depending on efficiency, but here’s a breakdown based on real data and community insights.
Fastest Recorded Time
The fastest recorded max in OSRS was achieved by He Box Jonge in 771 hours of in-game time. This speedrun used hyper-efficient methods, tick manipulation, and massive GP investments. Jcw, another pioneer, maxed in 791 hours, setting the original benchmark. These times represent the human limit—most players won’t come close.
Average Efficient Player
For an average player using efficient (but not extreme) methods, maxing takes around 2,000–2,500 hours. This assumes a mix of AFK and active training, with some GP to speed up buyables. At 5 hours a day, that’s 400–500 days—or roughly 1.5 years.
Casual Player Estimate
Casual players using slower, cheaper methods might need 3,700–4,000 hours. If you play 2 hours daily, you’re looking at 5–6 years. This reflects a more relaxed pace, prioritizing fun over efficiency.
| Player Type | Estimated Hours | Time at 5 Hours/Day |
|---|---|---|
| Speedrunner (Max Efficiency) | 771–791 | 154–158 days |
| Average Efficient Player | 2,000–2,500 | 400–500 days |
| Casual Player | 3,700–4,000 | 740–800 days |
Breaking Down the Skills: Time per Skill
Not all skills are created equal. Some, like Farming, can be trained in mere hours with enough gold, while others, like Agility, demand relentless grinding. Here’s a look at the fastest methods and their time costs, assuming maximum efficiency.
Fastest Skills to Max
- Farming: 5–6 hours (Tree runs with expensive seeds like magic trees)
- Prayer: 10 hours (Superior dragon bones on a gilded altar)
- Fletching: 15–20 hours (Making dart tips, e.g., dragon darts)
- Cooking: 20–25 hours (Cooking karambwans with spam-clicking)
Slowest Skills to Max
- Agility: 165–214 hours (Rooftop courses or Hallowed Sepulchre)
- Runecrafting: 150–200 hours (Lava runes with tick manipulation)
- Mining: 130–150 hours (3-tick granite mining)
- Fishing: 120–140 hours (Barbarian Fishing or tick-manipulated methods)
Combat and Slayer
Combat skills (Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Hitpoints) and Slayer can be trained together efficiently. Using a cannon and optimal Slayer tasks, you can max these six skills in ~310 hours combined. Hitpoints often maxes naturally during this process.
Total Skill Time
Adding up the fastest methods across all 23 skills, you get around 1,488.5 hours (per OSRS Guide calculations). This includes overlapping XP (e.g., Barbarian Fishing giving Agility XP). However, maintaining this level of efficiency is near-impossible for most, pushing realistic times closer to 2,000+ hours.
Tips to Max Faster in OSRS
Ready to start your maxing journey? Here are actionable tips to shave hours off your grind and make the process smoother.
Prioritize Money-Making
Gold accelerates buyable skills like Construction (mahogany tables), Herblore (potions), and Prayer. High-level money-makers like Vorkath or Zulrah can fund these, cutting hundreds of hours.
Use Tick Manipulation
Mastering 2-tick or 3-tick methods for Woodcutting, Mining, and Fishing boosts XP rates significantly. It’s click-intensive but worth it for speed.
Multitask Skills
Train Slayer with combat to knock out multiple 99s at once. Pair Barbarian Fishing with Agility, or high-alch while running Agility courses.
Leverage AFK Methods
For casual play, AFK methods like redwood cutting (Woodcutting) or monkfish fishing save effort, though they extend total hours.
Plan Your Route
Start with combat and Slayer, then tackle buyables with your profits. Leave slow skills like Runecrafting and Agility for last when you’re committed.
- Pro Tip: Use tools like Crystal Math Labs or HoursToMax.com to track progress and estimate time remaining.
Join a Community
Clans and forums offer advice, motivation, and sometimes resources. Learning from maxed players can reveal shortcuts you’d otherwise miss.
Maxing in OSRS is a marathon, not a sprint. The fastest players clock in under 800 hours, but most will spend 2,000–4,000 hours depending on their approach. Whether you’re chasing efficiency or enjoying the ride, the Max Cape is a testament to your dedication. How long will it take you? That’s up to your grind—and maybe a little luck with RNG. Happy skilling!