Best Free-to-Play (F2P) Skills in OSRS: Top Picks for 2025

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers an incredible free-to-play (F2P) experience, allowing players to dive into a vast world without spending a dime. For F2P players, training skills efficiently is key to unlocking the game’s potential, whether you’re aiming to make gold, prepare for membership, or simply enjoy the grind. With only 15 skills available in F2P compared to the 23 in pay-to-play (P2P), choosing the best ones to focus on can make all the difference. In this guide, we’ll explore the best F2P skills in OSRS for 2025, highlighting their benefits, training methods, and why they’re worth your time. Let’s get started!

In OSRS, F2P skills provide the foundation for your character’s growth. They’re accessible to everyone, require no membership, and can be trained to level 99 (except for members-only skills, which cap at 5 in F2P). Focusing on the right skills can help you earn gold, improve combat prowess, or build a solid base for transitioning to P2P. Plus, with the game’s thriving F2P community in 2025, mastering these skills keeps you competitive and ready for anything Gielinor throws your way.

The Appeal of F2P in OSRS

F2P offers a low-barrier entry to OSRS, making it perfect for newbies or casual players. You can explore iconic locations like Lumbridge and Varrock, complete 21 free quests, and engage in combat or skilling—all without a subscription. The best F2P skills stand out for their accessibility, profitability, or utility, making them must-haves for any F2P adventurer.

Top Combat Skills for F2P Players

Combat skills are the backbone of OSRS, especially in F2P, where battling monsters and other players in the Wilderness is a big part of the fun. Here are the top F2P combat skills to prioritize in 2025.

Melee Skills: Attack, Strength, and Defence

Melee combat—comprising Attack, Strength, and Defence—is a powerhouse in F2P. These skills determine your ability to wield weapons, hit harder, and take less damage.

• Attack: Boosts accuracy, letting you equip better weapons like the rune scimitar at level 40.
• Strength: Increases your max hit, making each strike more powerful—crucial for fast XP gains.
• Defence: Reduces damage taken, allowing you to tank tougher foes like hill giants or moss giants.

Training Tip: Start with chickens in Lumbridge, then move to cows, goblins, and eventually giant frogs in the Lumbridge Swamp for decent XP and loot like big bones.

Ranged: Precision from a Distance

Ranged lets you attack safely from afar, a huge advantage in F2P. With a maple shortbow and adamant arrows, you can take down enemies without getting hit.

Training Tip: Train on cows or monks in the Monastery, then safespot hill giants in the Edgeville Dungeon for XP and profit.

Magic: Utility and Power

Magic is versatile in F2P, offering combat spells, teleports, and the game-changing High Alchemy spell at level 55. It’s slower to train but worth it for its utility.

Training Tip: Cast low-level spells like Fire Strike on cows, then switch to alching items like rune med helms for profit and XP.

Best Gathering Skills for Profit and XP

Gathering skills let you collect resources to sell or use, making them some of the best F2P skills in OSRS for earning gold and leveling up passively.

Fishing: Reel in the Rewards

Fishing is a relaxing, profitable skill. At higher levels, you can catch lobsters or swordfish, which sell well on the Grand Exchange.

• Levels 1-20: Shrimp at Draynor Village.
• Levels 20-40: Trout and salmon at Barbarian Village.
• Levels 40-99: Lobsters at Musa Point (Karamja).

Profit Tip: Bank your catches and sell them for steady gold—lobsters fetch around 150-200 GP each in 2025.

Woodcutting: Chop Your Way to Cash

Woodcutting is simple and lucrative. Yew logs, available at level 60, are the best F2P logs and sell for 200-300 GP each.

Training Tip: Start with regular trees, move to oaks at level 15, willows at 30, and yews at 60. Chop near a bank like Edgeville for efficiency.

Mining: Digging for Gold

Mining offers decent XP and great money-making potential. Iron ore at level 15 is a solid earner, while rune essence is a low-effort option.

Training Tip: Mine iron in the Al Kharid mine, or rune essence after the Rune Mysteries quest for a chill grind.

Artisan Skills Worth Mastering

Artisan skills turn raw materials into finished goods, offering XP and profit. These are the top picks for F2P in 2025.

Cooking: Feed Your Fortune

Cooking pairs perfectly with Fishing. It’s fast to train and profitable when you cook high-demand foods like tuna or pizzas.

Training Tip: Cook shrimp early on, then tuna at level 30 near the Al Kharid range for minimal burn rates.

Crafting: From Leather to Gold

Crafting boosts your gear and bank balance. Making gold jewelry at level 6+ with gems is a standout F2P money-maker.

Training Tip: Craft leather items to 20, then smelt gold bars and cut gems in Edgeville for jewelry to sell.

Utility Skills to Boost Your F2P Experience

These skills don’t directly earn gold or fight monsters but enhance your gameplay, making them some of the best F2P skills in OSRS.

Firemaking: Light Up Your Levels

Firemaking is the fastest F2P skill to 99. Burn logs from Woodcutting for quick XP and a cozy vibe.

Training Tip: Use willows or maples at the Grand Exchange—bring a tinderbox and bank nearby.

Prayer: Buffs and Bones

Prayer offers combat boosts like +15% Strength at level 31 (Ultimate Strength). It’s slow and costly but impactful.

Training Tip: Bury big bones from hill giants or giant frogs—stockpile them for efficient training.

F2P Skill Training Table: Quick Reference

XP/Hour (High Level)

Skill	Best Training Method	Profit Potential
Strength	Giant frogs (Lumbridge Swamp)	Low (big bones)	30k-40k
Ranged	Hill giants (safespot)	Moderate (big bones)	25k-35k
Magic	High Alchemy	High (depends on items)	60k-70k
Fishing	Lobsters (Musa Point)	High (150-200 GP each)	20k-30k
Woodcutting	Yews (Edgeville)	High (200-300 GP each)	20k-25k
Cooking	Tuna (Al Kharid)	Moderate	80k-100k
Firemaking	Willows (Grand Exchange)	None	100k-150k

Note: XP rates and profits vary based on levels, gear, and market prices in 2025.

Final Thoughts on the Best F2P Skills in OSRS

The best F2P skills in OSRS for 2025 depend on your goals. Want combat dominance? Focus on Melee, Ranged, and Magic. Looking to stack gold? Fishing, Woodcutting, and Crafting are your go-tos. For a quick 99 or utility, Firemaking and Prayer shine. Mix and match these skills to suit your playstyle—whether you’re a casual grinder or aiming to buy a bond for membership (around 9M GP in 2025).

Start small with chickens and shrimp, then scale up to yews and lobsters. Every level you gain in these skills brings you closer to mastering F2P OSRS. What’s your favorite F2P skill? Let us know, and happy skilling!