OSRS 99 Prayer Cost Guide

OSRS 99 Prayer Cost Guide

Prayer is one of the most valuable skills in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), offering powerful combat buffs like protection prayers, Piety, and Rigour. However, reaching level 99 Prayer is notoriously expensive and time-consuming. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the costs, methods, and strategies to achieve 99 Prayer, helping you plan your journey efficiently. Whether you’re a main account, Ironman, or free-to-play (F2P) player, we’ve got you covered with the cheapest and fastest methods.

Achieving 99 Prayer unlocks the prestigious Prayer skillcape and provides access to all prayers, including high-impact ones like Piety (level 70), Rigour (level 74), and Augury (level 77). These prayers significantly boost combat performance in PvM, PvP, and bossing scenarios. Additionally, a higher Prayer level increases the amount of Prayer points restored by potions, making it a crucial skill for prolonged fights.

Key Milestones Before 99

  • Level 43: Unlocks all protection prayers, essential for quests and PvM.
  • Level 70: Grants Piety, a must-have for melee-focused accounts.
  • Level 77: Unlocks Augury and Rigour, ideal for magic and ranged builds.

Cost of Reaching 99 Prayer

The cost of training Prayer to 99 depends on the method and bones used. The most common approach involves offering bones at a gilded altar or Chaos Altar, with dragon bones and superior dragon bones being the go-to choices. Below, we’ll analyze the costs based on current Grand Exchange prices (as of May 2025) and the number of bones required.

Total Experience Needed

To reach level 99 Prayer from level 1, you need 13,034,431 experience points. If starting from level 30 (achievable via quests), you’ll need approximately 12,872,918 XP. The number of bones or ensouled heads required varies by method and item used.

Cost Breakdown with Dragon Bones

Dragon bones are the most popular choice due to their balance of cost and experience. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Method XP per Bone Bones Needed (1-99) Cost per Bone Total Cost
Burying 72 181,034 2,500 GP 452,585,000 GP
Gilded Altar (2 burners) 252 51,724 2,500 GP 129,310,000 GP
Chaos Altar 504 (avg.) 25,862 2,500 GP 64,655,000 GP

Note: Chaos Altar costs assume no deaths or losses due to PKers. Prices are approximate and based on current market trends.

Fastest Methods to Train Prayer

Speed is often a priority for players aiming for 99 Prayer. The following methods offer the highest experience rates, though they come with varying costs and risks.

Gilded Altar in Player-Owned House

Offering bones at a gilded altar with both incense burners lit provides 350% of the base XP per bone (e.g., 252 XP for dragon bones). This is the fastest method, yielding up to 600,000 XP per hour with dragon bones or 1,300,000 XP per hour with superior dragon bones.

  • Requirements: 75 Construction (boostable) or access to World 330 Rimmington for public altars.
  • Cost: Approximately 120M GP with dragon bones, 210M GP with superior dragon bones.
  • Tip: Manually use bones on the altar for faster XP rates (up to 600K vs. 270K auto-offering).

Chaos Altar in Wilderness

Located in level 38 Wilderness, the Chaos Altar offers the same XP as a gilded altar but with a 50% chance to save each bone, effectively doubling XP to 504 per dragon bone on average. It’s the most cost-efficient method but carries significant risk due to PKers.

  • XP Rates: 300,000–450,000 XP/hour (dragon bones), 700,000–900,000 XP/hour (superior dragon bones).
  • Cost: Around 64M GP with dragon bones, 147M GP with superior dragon bones.
  • Tip: Bring small inventories, use Protect Item, and train during off-peak hours to minimize PKer encounters.

Superior Dragon Bones for Maximum Speed

Superior dragon bones (requiring 70 Prayer) offer 150 base XP, translating to 525 XP at a gilded altar or 1,050 XP at the Chaos Altar. They’re the fastest way to 99 but are significantly more expensive.

  • Cost: ~7,000 GP per bone, totaling 210M GP at gilded altar.
  • XP Rate: Up to 1.3M XP/hour at gilded altar.

Cheapest Methods for Budget Players

If you’re looking to save gold, there are slower but more affordable methods to reach 99 Prayer. These are ideal for Ironmen or players with limited funds.

Ensouled Heads with Arceuus Spells

Reanimating ensouled heads using Arceuus spells is a cheaper alternative, offering decent XP and additional Magic/combat XP. Ensouled dragon heads are the most efficient but still cost less than gilded altar methods.

  • XP Rates: 145,000–343,200 XP/hour (ensouled dragon heads).
  • Cost: ~4,000 GP per head, ~6.46 GP/XP, totaling ~90M GP for 99.
  • Requirements: 93 Magic for dragon heads, access to Arceuus spellbook.

Varlamore Prayer with Blessed Bone Shards

Introduced with Varlamore, this method involves converting bones into blessed bone shards and offering them at the Teomat’s Libation bowl. It’s slower but safer and cost-effective, especially for Ironmen.

  • XP Rates: ~232,000 XP/hour with dragon bones and sunfire wine.
  • Cost: Comparable to gilded altar but requires time to prepare shards.
  • Requirements: Level 30 Prayer, access to Varlamore.

Questing for Early Levels

Completing quests like The Restless Ghost (1,125 XP), Priest in Peril (1,406 XP), Recruitment Drive (1,000 XP), Holy Grail (11,000 XP), and Spirits of the Elid (8,000 XP) grants 14,531 XP, boosting you to level 30 for free. This saves significant costs early on.

Tips to Optimize Your Prayer Training

Maximizing efficiency and minimizing costs requires careful planning. Here are some practical tips to streamline your journey to 99 Prayer:

Use Experience Calculators

Tools like OldSchool.tools or RSbandb’s Prayer Calculator help estimate the number of bones or heads needed for your target level. This prevents overbuying and keeps your budget in check.

Farm Bones as an Ironman

Ironmen can kill green dragons or camp Forthos Dungeon for bones and ensouled heads. The Chaos Altar is particularly effective for Ironmen, as it reduces bone consumption.

Minimize Wilderness Risks

For Chaos Altar training, equip cheap gear, use Protect Item, and carry a burning amulet for quick teleports. Suicide at the Chaos Fanatic to return to Lumbridge if low on bones, reducing risk.

Combine Methods for Efficiency

Use ensouled heads for mid-levels, switch to gilded altar for high XP rates, and consider Varlamore for Ironmen or low-risk training. Mixing methods balances cost and speed.

Final Thoughts

Reaching 99 Prayer in OSRS is a significant investment, but the combat advantages make it worthwhile. The gilded altar offers the fastest XP, while the Chaos Altar and ensouled heads provide cheaper alternatives. For budget-conscious players, Varlamore’s bone shards and questing are excellent options. Plan your method based on your gold, time, and risk tolerance, and use calculators to stay on track. With dedication, you’ll be flaunting that Prayer skillcape in no time!