Ironman Armor Progression OSRS Your Ultimate Guide to Gearing Up

Fellow Ironman! If you’re grinding through Old School RuneScape as an Ironman, you know the struggle of building your account from scratch. No Grand Exchange, no trading, just you and your skills against Gielinor. Armor progression is a huge part of the journey, and I’ve spent countless hours as an Ironman tweaking my gear setups, cursing at RNG, and celebrating those sweet drops. Whether you’re a fresh Iron or a seasoned grinder, this guide breaks down the best armor progression path in OSRS, with tips from my own adventures. Ready to gear up like a pro? Let’s dive in!

When you first start as an Ironman, you’re basically a noob in rags. I remember spawning in Lumbridge, wielding my bronze dagger, and feeling like a hero… until a goblin one-shot me. Early game armor is all about what you can craft, loot, or quest for. Here’s how to get started.

Bronze and Iron Armor

Your first armor sets are Bronze and Iron. You can smith these yourself with Mining and Smithing levels, which is what I did back in the day. Smelt some ore, hammer it out, and you’ve got a full set of Bronze by level 1 Smithing or Iron by level 15.

• Bronze Armor: +4 to +8 defense bonuses, dirt cheap to make.
• Iron Armor: +6 to +12 defense, a slight upgrade.

Pro tip: Mine copper and tin near Varrock, then smelt in Lumbridge. It’s tedious, but it’s the Ironman way. Ever tried smithing your first full set? Feels like a rite of passage!

Steel Armor and Quest Rewards

By the time you hit Combat level 20, Steel armor is your next step. You’ll need 30 Smithing to make a full set, which gives +10 to +18 defense bonuses. I spent hours grinding coal in the Mining Guild for this, and it was worth it for training at Hill Giants. Also, don’t sleep on quest rewards. Completing The Knight’s Sword gets you a free Steel Platebody and a huge Smithing XP boost.

Another gem is the Fremennik Trials quest. It unlocks the Fremennik Helm (+6 defense), which carried me through early Slayer tasks. What’s your favorite early quest for gear?

Mid-Game Armor (Levels 40-70)

Once you’re past the noob phase, the mid-game is where your Ironman starts to shine. This is when I felt like my account was actually coming together, but the grind was real. You’ll want armor that balances defense and offense, especially for Slayer and early bossing.

Mithril and Adamant Armor

Mithril (50 Smithing) and Adamant (70 Smithing) armor are your bread and butter here. Mithril offers +12 to +22 defense, while Adamant bumps it up to +16 to +30. I remember camping the Coal Mines in Barbarian Village to get enough for Adamant Platelegs. It’s a slog, but seeing those shiny green plates made it worth it.

• Mithril Armor: Great for training at Sand Crabs.
• Adamant Armor: Solid for early Slayer tasks like Dust Devils.

Quick tip: If you’re struggling with ores, try Motherlode Mine for a chance at coal bags. It saved me so much time!

Rune Armor The Classic Choice

Rune armor is the holy grail of mid-game Ironman gear. You’ll need 90 Smithing to make a full set, which gives +22 to +40 defense bonuses. I spent weeks grinding for Rune Platelegs, and when I finally equipped them, I felt unstoppable at the Stronghold of Security. If Smithing isn’t your thing, you can get Rune items as drops from monsters like Obor or Bryophyta.

Ever fought Obor with a Mithril set? It’s doable, but Rune makes it a breeze. What’s your go-to spot for Rune drops?

Quest and Diary Gear

Quests and Achievement Diaries unlock some killer armor. Completing Dragon Slayer I gets you the Rune Platebody, which was a game-changer for me at level 60 Combat. The Fremennik Diary (Medium) upgrades your Fremennik Helm to a better version (+9 defense). I also grinded the Ardougne Diary for the Ardougne Cloak, which adds a sneaky +3 Prayer bonus.

These rewards feel so rewarding when you’re an Ironman. Nothing beats the grind, right?

Late-Game Armor (Levels 70-99)

Now we’re talking! Late-game Ironman armor is where you start feeling like a boss. After hundreds of hours, I finally got to this point, and the gear here is worth the grind. You’re aiming for high-defense armor for bossing and Slayer, with some offensive bonuses for DPS.

Barrows Armor

Barrows armor is a mid-to-late game staple. Running Barrows runs was my favorite grind, despite the RNG making me want to pull my hair out. Each brother drops a unique set, and here’s what I recommend:

• Dharok’s Set: +70 defense, great for melee training with low HP.
• Verac’s Set: +65 defense, Prayer bonus for bossing.
• Torag’s or Guthan’s: Solid all-around for Slayer.

I got my first Dharok’s Platebody after 30 runs, and it carried me through Nightmare Zone. What’s your luckiest Barrows drop?

Dragon Armor

Dragon armor is a step up, but it’s drop-only, so you’ll be hunting specific monsters. The Dragon Chainbody (+81 defense) from Dust Devils was my first big drop, and I nearly screamed when it popped up. Dragon Platelegs (+68 defense) from Iron or Steel Dragons are another grind, but they’re worth it for high-level Slayer.

Tip: Use a Slayer ring to teleport to the Slayer Dungeon for Dust Devils. It saved me so much time!

Endgame Armor (Max Gear)

Endgame armor is where you flex your Ironman dedication. These sets are tough to get, but they make you feel like a Gielinor god. I remember my first Theatre of Blood run, wiping over and over, but finally getting that sweet loot made it all worth it.

Bandos Armor

Bandos armor is the melee king, dropped by General Graardor in the God Wars Dungeon. The Bandos Chestplate (+133 defense, +4 Strength) and Tassets (+93 defense, +2 Strength) were my dream items. I spent over 200 kills to get the Chestplate, and equipping it for the first time was pure bliss.

Item	Defense Bonus	Strength Bonus	Drop Source
Bandos Chestplate	+133	+4	General Graardor
Bandos Tassets	+93	+2	General Graardor

Pro tip: Bring a team to God Wars. Soloing is possible, but a clan makes it way smoother.

Justiciar Armor

Justiciar armor is the tankiest set in OSRS, perfect for bossing like Inferno or Theatre of Blood. Dropped by Theatre of Blood, it’s a massive grind. The Justiciar Faceguard (+95 defense) and Chestguard (+130 defense) saved my butt during my first Inferno attempt. I got the Faceguard after 50 runs, and it felt like winning the lottery.

Ever tried Theatre of Blood? It’s brutal, but the loot is unreal!

Tips for Ironman Armor Grinding

Grinding armor as an Ironman is a marathon, not a sprint. Here are my top tips from years of playing:

• Prioritize Quests: Quests like Dragon Slayer and Fremennik Trials give free gear, saving you hours.
• Slayer for Drops: Monsters like Dust Devils and Iron Dragons drop Dragon gear. Get that Slayer level up!
• Join a Clan: Raids like Chambers of Xeric are easier with a team. I found my clan on Discord, and it changed everything.
• Train Smithing Early: Smithing Mithril and Adamant early saves you from buying ores.

One time, I spent three days straight at Barrows, only to get five duplicate Ahrim’s Hoods. RNG can be cruel, but keep at it!

Final Thoughts

The Ironman armor progression in OSRS is a wild ride, from smelting Bronze in Lumbridge to flexing Bandos in God Wars. Every piece you earn feels like a trophy, and the grind teaches you patience. I’ll never forget the rush of my first Bandos drop or the pain of 50 Barrows runs with no luck. Whether you’re just starting or chasing endgame gear, stick with it, and you’ll get there. What’s your favorite armor set to grind for? Drop it in the comments, and happy scaping!