Clue Scroll OVEXON OSRS Guide – Solving the Hard Cipher

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), clue scrolls are a thrilling part of the Treasure Trails activity, sending players on treasure hunts across Gielinor. Among the many challenges, the hard clue scroll cipher “OVEXON” stands out as a tricky puzzle for adventurers. This guide dives into everything you need to know about solving the OVEXON cipher, from decoding it to reaching the solution NPC, with tips to make your journey smoother. Whether you’re a seasoned clue hunter or new to hard scrolls, read on to master this cipher and claim your rewards.
The OVEXON cipher is a specific clue found in hard clue scrolls, part of the Treasure Trails system in OSRS. Hard clue scrolls are mid-to-high difficulty puzzles that can involve anagrams, ciphers, coordinates, and more, leading to valuable reward caskets. The OVEXON cipher, in particular, is a Caesar cipher that encrypts the name of an NPC you must locate to progress the trail.
Understanding Ciphers in Treasure Trails
Ciphers in OSRS use a Caesar shift, where each letter in the encrypted text is shifted by a fixed number of places in the alphabet. For OVEXON, the goal is to decrypt the cipher to reveal an NPC’s name. Unlike anagrams, which rearrange letters, ciphers require you to decode them by determining the shift, often using patterns like common letters (e.g., ‘E’ in English).
Why OVEXON Is a Hard Clue
Hard clue scrolls, including OVEXON, are more complex than beginner or easy clues. They often lead to remote areas, require specific quests, or involve combat. OVEXON is no exception, as its solution NPC is located in a region locked behind significant quest progress, making preparation key.
Decoding the OVEXON Cipher
Let’s break down how to solve the OVEXON cipher step by step. The cipher points to an NPC, and decoding it correctly is crucial to advancing your clue scroll.
Step-by-Step Decoding Process
To decrypt OVEXON, you need to identify the Caesar shift. Here’s how:
- Count Letter Frequency: Analyze the cipher for the most common letter. In OVEXON, ‘O’ appears twice, but with a short cipher, we rely on trial and error or common shifts.
- Assume a Common Letter: Since ‘E’ is frequent in English, test shifts where a letter in OVEXON might represent ‘E’. For OVEXON, we’ll try mapping letters backward.
- Test the Shift: A Caesar shift moves letters forward or backward. For OVEXON, shifting each letter back by one (O→N, V→U, etc.) gives NUDWLM. Testing further, a shift of five backward reveals the solution.
- Reveal the NPC: After testing, OVEXON decrypts to ELUNED with a backward shift of five (O→E, V→Q, E→I, X→S, O→I, N→I).
Verifying the Solution
Once decoded, OVEXON points to Eluned, an NPC in the elven lands of Tirannwn. To confirm, note that ciphers always resolve to an NPC’s name, and Eluned fits perfectly as a known character tied to hard clues. If the decryption yields gibberish, try another shift, focusing on vowels (A, E, I, O, U, Y), as every English word contains at least one.
Locating Eluned for the OVEXON Clue
After decoding OVEXON to Eluned, you need to find her in-game. This is where the challenge intensifies, as Eluned resides in a quest-locked area.
Where to Find Eluned
Eluned is located in Isafdar, a forested region in Tirannwn, accessible only after progressing through specific quests. She can be found in two spots:
- Lletya: In the elven village, reachable after starting Mourning’s End Part I.
- Forest Clearing: Near the magic trees south of Lletya, where she teleports periodically.
To reach her efficiently, use a teleport crystal (obtained during Roving Elves) or the Charter Ship to Port Tyras with a Tyras Camp teleport scroll.
Quest Requirements for Access
Accessing Tirannwn and Eluned requires quest progress. Here’s what you need:
Quest | Reason |
---|---|
Regicide (Started) | Unlocks Tirannwn and Isafdar access. |
Roving Elves (Optional) | Provides teleport crystal for faster travel. |
Mourning’s End Part I (Optional) | Grants access to Lletya, where Eluned is easier to find. |
Without Regicide started, you cannot enter Tirannwn, so check your quest log before heading out.
Tips for Navigating Isafdar
Isafdar is a dangerous area with traps and aggressive NPCs. Prepare with:
- Food and Antipoison: For traps and potential combat.
- Agility Level (50+): To navigate obstacles like dense forest and traps.
- Teleport Crystal: For quick access to Lletya.
Watch for stick traps and poisoned spears, which can deal significant damage if you’re not cautious.
Completing the OVEXON Clue Step
Once you reach Eluned, the clue step involves interacting with her to receive the next part of your Treasure Trail.
Interacting with Eluned
Speak to Eluned, and she’ll provide either:
- A Challenge Scroll: A simple question (e.g., “How many trees are in Lletya?”). Answer correctly to proceed.
- A Puzzle Box/Light Box: Solve it to unlock the next clue. Puzzle boxes require sliding tiles to form an image, while light boxes involve aligning colors.
- The Next Clue: Rarely, she hands over the next scroll directly.
Have inventory space for these items, and consider bringing a puzzle-solving guide if you’re unfamiliar with boxes.
Common Challenge Scroll Answers
Eluned’s challenge scrolls vary, but some frequent questions include:
- Question: How many fishermen are on the Fishing Platform? Answer: 11
- Question: How many gnomes are on the Gnome Ball pitch? Answer: 6
Check the OSRS Wiki for a full list if you’re stuck, as answers are fixed.
Rewards and Tips for Hard Clue Scrolls
Solving the OVEXON cipher is just one step in a hard clue scroll, but completing the entire trail yields a reward casket with potentially lucrative items.
Possible Rewards from Hard Clue Scrolls
Hard clue caskets can contain:
- Gilded Armour: Rare, worth millions (e.g., Gilded Platebody, 1/10k drop rate).
- Blessed Dragonhide: God-themed armour like Armadyl, valued at 1-2M.
- Rune Items: Common but alchable for decent gold.
- 3rd Age Pieces: Ultra-rare, worth hundreds of millions.
Rewards scale with clue difficulty, so hard clues balance effort and payout well.
Maximizing Efficiency
To breeze through OVEXON and other hard clues:
- Bank Teleport Items: Keep a teleport crystal, games necklace, and Xeric’s Talisman for fast travel.
- Use Plugins: Runelite’s Clue Scroll Helper marks locations and solves puzzles automatically.
- Complete Quests Early: Finish Regicide and Roving Elves to avoid delays when OVEXON appears.
- Carry a Spade: Many hard clues involve digging, so always have one handy.
Farming Hard Clue Scrolls
To get more hard clues like OVEXON, try these methods:
Method | Drop Rate | Location |
---|---|---|
Sarachnis (Boss) | 1/40 | Forthos Dungeon |
Hellhounds | 1/64 (1/32 with Ring of Wealth) | Taverley Dungeon |
Ninja Implings | 1/25 | Puro-Puro |
Sarachnis is ideal for mid-level players, while Ninja Implings suit those with cash to burn.
Solving the OVEXON cipher in OSRS is a rewarding challenge that tests your puzzle-solving skills and game knowledge. By decoding it to Eluned, navigating Isafdar, and preparing for her challenges, you’re one step closer to a hard clue casket’s treasures. Bookmark this guide for your next OVEXON clue, and happy hunting in Gielinor!