OSRS Most Important Quests for Account Progression

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is packed with quests that shape your journey through Gielinor, offering rewards that can transform your account. Whether you’re chasing teleports, gear upgrades, or experience boosts, certain quests stand out as must-dos for their game-changing unlocks. This guide dives into the most critical quests every player should prioritize to maximize progression, from beginners to veterans. Let’s explore the quests that deliver the biggest impact.
Quests in OSRS aren’t just stories—they’re gateways to powerful rewards. Completing them unlocks areas, items, teleports, and skills that make skilling, combat, and travel more efficient. For new players, quests provide early experience boosts to skip tedious grinds. For seasoned adventurers, they offer endgame gear and content. Prioritizing the right quests saves time and sets you up for success across all account types, including mains, pures, and Ironmen.
Experience Rewards for Early Levels
Early-game quests like Waterfall Quest and The Knight’s Sword give massive experience rewards, propelling your combat and skilling levels without hours of training. These are especially valuable for new accounts looking to hit key milestones fast.
Unlocks for Efficient Gameplay
Quests like Fairytale II and Lunar Diplomacy grant access to teleports and spellbooks that streamline movement and combat. These unlocks are game-changers, letting you focus on goals instead of slogging through Gielinor on foot.
Top Quests for Combat and Gear
Combat-focused quests reward you with weapons, armor, and prayers that boost your fighting prowess. These quests are essential for PvM, PvP, and Slayer, giving you an edge in tough encounters.
Dragon Slayer I
Reward: Ability to wear Rune Platebody, Anti-Dragon Shield
This iconic free-to-play quest is a rite of passage. Defeating Elvarg unlocks the Rune Platebody, the best F2P armor, and the Anti-Dragon Shield, crucial for dragon-related content. It’s a must for any account, offering decent Defence experience and access to Crandor.
Fremennik Isles
Reward: Helm of Neitiznot
The Helm of Neitiznot is a standout reward, offering a +3 Strength bonus and solid defensive stats. It’s a go-to for mid-to-late-game PvM and Slayer tasks, making this quest a priority for combat-focused players. The quest also ties into the Fremennik questline, opening more content.
Recipe for Disaster
Reward: Barrows Gloves, Culinaromancer’s Chest
This sprawling questline is a grind but worth it. Barrows Gloves are the best-in-slot gloves for most combat styles, with unmatched stats for their level. The Culinaromancer’s Chest provides food and gear, making this a cornerstone for PvM progression. Start early, as it requires 175 quest points.
Quests for Teleports and Travel
Getting around Gielinor efficiently is a game-changer. These quests unlock teleports and transport methods that save hours of travel time, letting you focus on skilling or bossing.
Fairytale II – Cure a Queen
Reward: Fairy Ring Access
Partial completion of Fairytale II unlocks Fairy Rings, a teleport network that connects obscure locations across Gielinor. From Slayer tasks to clue scrolls, Fairy Rings are indispensable. Finish Fairytale I first for the Magic Secateurs, boosting Farming yields by 10%.
Plague City
Reward: Ardougne Teleport
This beginner-friendly quest unlocks the Ardougne Teleport, a vital spell for accessing a key hub. Ardougne is central for thieving, farming runs, and diaries, making this a quick win for early accounts. It also kicks off the Elf questline, leading to bigger rewards.
Lunar Diplomacy
Reward: Lunar Spellbook
The Lunar Spellbook offers utility spells like Vengeance, NPC Contact, and teleports to remote areas. This quest is a must for Ironmen and PvMers, with spells that enhance efficiency in combat and skilling. The requirements are steep, but the payoff is huge.
Skilling and Utility Quests
Skilling quests unlock tools, areas, and experience that make training smoother. These are critical for Ironmen or anyone aiming to max efficiently.
The Knight’s Sword
Reward: 12,725 Smithing XP
This beginner quest rockets your Smithing from level 1 to 29, saving hours of grinding. It’s a no-brainer for new players, especially Ironmen who need early Smithing for gear. The quest is short and has minimal requirements.
Druidic Ritual
Reward: Herblore Unlocked, 250 Herblore XP
Without Druidic Ritual, you can’t train Herblore. This quick quest unlocks the skill, letting you craft potions for combat, skilling, and profit. It’s essential for self-sufficiency, especially on restricted accounts.
Animal Magnetism
Reward: Ava’s Device
Ava’s Device automatically retrieves arrows and bolts, saving money and time during Ranged training. It’s a must for Slayer and bossing, with upgrades available as you progress. The quest is straightforward, making it an early priority.
Endgame and Story-Driven Quests
For advanced players, these quests unlock elite content and tie up epic storylines. They demand high stats but reward you with access to OSRS’s best areas and gear.
Song of the Elves
Reward: Prifddinas Access, 40,000 XP in 8 Skills
This grandmaster quest unlocks Prifddinas, the Elven city packed with endgame skilling and PvM content. From the Gauntlet to Zalcano, Prifddinas is a hub for maxed players. The quest wraps up the Elf storyline with challenging puzzles and bosses, making it a milestone achievement.
Monkey Madness II
Reward: Royal Seed Pod, Demonic Gorilla Access
The sequel to Monkey Madness I, this quest unlocks the Royal Seed Pod, a one-click teleport usable up to level 30 Wilderness. It also grants access to Demonic Gorillas, a lucrative Slayer task. The quest is tough, with complex puzzles and a brutal final boss, but the rewards are unmatched.
Desert Treasure I
Reward: Ancient Magicks
Unlocking Ancient Magicks gives you powerful combat spells for burst, freeze, and healing effects. This quest is a PvP and PvM staple, with challenging bosses that test your skills. It’s a gateway to high-level content like the Chambers of Xeric.
Quest | Key Reward | Difficulty | Recommended Level |
---|---|---|---|
Dragon Slayer I | Rune Platebody | Intermediate | 40 Combat |
Fairytale II | Fairy Rings | Intermediate | 40 Magic |
Recipe for Disaster | Barrows Gloves | Master | 70+ Combat |
Song of the Elves | Prifddinas | Grandmaster | 70+ All Skills |
The Knight’s Sword | 12,725 Smithing XP | Novice | 10 Mining |
Key Tips for Questing Success
- Follow a Quest Order: Use guides like the OSRS Optimal Quest Guide to minimize skilling requirements. Start with low-level quests like Waterfall Quest for quick gains.
- Prepare Gear: Stock up on food, potions, and teleports before tough quests. Safespotting or flinching can make bosses easier for low-combat players.
- Check Requirements: Use a quest planner to track prerequisites. Quests like Recipe for Disaster need multiple questlines completed.
- Use a POH: A Player-Owned House with portals and a rejuvenation pool speeds up travel and recovery between quests.
- Join a Clan: Clans offer advice and group support for tricky quests, especially for boss fights or puzzles.
These quests form the backbone of OSRS progression, unlocking tools, areas, and stats that make every aspect of the game more enjoyable. Whether you’re a fresh account or chasing a Quest Cape, tackling these first will set you on the fast track to success. Which quest are you starting with? Drop your thoughts below and happy questing!