Best AFK Activities in Old School RuneScape for Easy Progress

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a grind-heavy game, but it doesn’t always demand your full attention. As someone who’s spent countless hours in Gielinor, I’ve learned that Away From Keyboard (AFK) activities are a lifesaver when you’re juggling work, studying, or just want to chill. These methods let you level skills, earn gold, or train combat with minimal clicks, leaving you free to multitask. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player, this guide covers the best AFK activities in OSRS, drawn from my own experience and community insights. Let’s dive into the top ways to progress while barely lifting a finger!

Ever wondered how to keep grinding without staring at your screen all day? AFK methods are the answer. They’re perfect for players like me who love OSRS but have real-life responsibilities. Back when I was studying for exams, I’d set up my character to fish karambwans while I reviewed notes. The beauty of AFK activities is that they let you progress in skills or stack gold without constant focus. Plus, they keep the game fun by avoiding burnout from intense grinding sessions.

Balancing Fun and Efficiency

The key is finding a balance. AFK methods won’t always give the fastest XP, but they’re low-effort and often profitable. Mix them with active gameplay like bossing or quests to keep things fresh. Ready to explore the best options? Let’s break it down by category: combat, skilling, and money-making.

AFK Combat Training Methods

Combat in OSRS can be surprisingly AFK-friendly, especially with aggressive monsters that keep attacking you. Here are my go-to methods for training combat skills with minimal input.

Nightmare Zone (NMZ)

Why it’s great: Nightmare Zone is my favorite for AFK combat training. You fight bosses from quests you’ve completed, earning XP and NMZ points for rewards like imbueable rings. With absorption potions, you can go 20 minutes without clicking!

How it works: Set up a Normal Rumble with bosses like Tree Spirit or Sand Snake. Use absorption potions and high-defense gear like Torag’s or Guthan’s. I usually pop a prayer potion every 10-15 minutes to keep Protect from Melee active. The XP rates can hit 90k per hour for melee skills, but it’s costly due to potion prices.

Personal tip: I once left my character in NMZ for an entire study session, only checking in to sip a potion. By the end, I’d gained 200k Attack XP and enough points for a Ring of Suffering imbue. Just make sure you’ve got the cash for supplies!

Requirements:

• Completed at least 5 NMZ-eligible quests (e.g., Vampire Slayer, Lost City)

• Decent combat stats (60+ recommended)

• Cash for potions and gear

Sand Crabs

Why it’s great: Sand Crabs on Crabclaw Isle are perfect for low- to mid-level players. They’re aggressive for 10-15 minutes, have high HP, and deal almost no damage, making them ideal for AFK melee training.

How it works: Head to Crabclaw Isle (10k coins for the boat) and find a spot with multiple crabs. Wear basic gear like Rune armor and a Dragon scimitar. Click to attack, then chill for up to 15 minutes before resetting aggro by running away and back. You can expect 30-50k XP per hour depending on your stats.

Personal tip: I trained my first account to 70 Strength here while watching Netflix. The crabs’ low damage meant I barely had to heal. Just watch out for other players stealing your spot!

Requirements:

• 10k coins for boat

• Basic combat gear

• 20+ combat stats

Bandits in the Desert

Why it’s great: Bandits in the Bandit Camp (Al Kharid) are a budget-friendly alternative to NMZ. Wearing a Saradomin or Zamorak item makes them aggressive, so you can AFK for up to 20 minutes.

How it works: Equip a god item (like a Saradomin cloak) and melee gear. Bandits (level 74) will keep attacking, giving 40-60k XP per hour. It’s cheaper than NMZ but offers lower XP rates.

Personal tip: I used this method when I was low on gold but still wanted to train. It’s less intense than NMZ and great for mobile players. Just don’t forget your god item, or you’ll be standing there doing nothing!

Requirements:

• 53 Thieving for Rogue’s Den access (optional for banking)

• God-aligned item

• Mid-level combat stats (40+)

Splashing for Magic

Why it’s great: Splashing is the ultimate AFK Magic training method, especially for free-to-play (F2P) players. You cast a spell that misses, letting you AFK for up to 20 minutes.

How it works: Equip gear with negative Magic attack (like iron armor) and cast a low-level spell like Fire Strike on a monster (e.g., a rat in Lumbridge). The spell “splashes” (misses), and you keep casting automatically. XP rates are low (10-20k per hour), but it’s zero-effort.

Personal tip: I splashed to 55 Magic on my F2P account while working on assignments. It’s slow, but I didn’t care since I was barely paying attention. Use RuneLite’s idle timer to avoid logging out.

Requirements:

• Magic level 1+

• Runes and staff

• Negative Magic attack gear

Method	Skill	XP/Hour	AFK Time	Cost
Nightmare Zone	Melee	60-90k	20 min	High (potions)
Sand Crabs	Melee	30-50k	10-15 min	Low
Bandits	Melee	40-60k	20 min	Low
Splashing	Magic	10-20k	20 min	Very low

AFK Skilling Methods

Skilling is the heart of OSRS, and many methods let you level up passively. These are perfect for when you’re doing chores or studying. Here’s what I’ve found works best.

Fishing Karambwans

Why it’s great: Fishing karambwans is one of the most AFK fishing methods. The spots don’t move often, letting you fish for 4-5 minutes per inventory.

How it works: After completing Tai Bwo Wannai Trio, fish karambwans in Karamja. A fish barrel from Tempoross doubles your AFK time by storing extra fish. Expect 20-40k XP per hour and 150-250k GP per hour from selling karambwans.

Personal tip: I fished karambwans while prepping dinner, checking in every few minutes to bank. The fish barrel made it so I could go longer without banking, and I made a tidy profit selling the fish for PKing supplies.

Requirements:

• 65 Fishing

• Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest

• Fish barrel (optional)

Woodcutting Redwoods

Why it’s great: Redwoods in the Woodcutting Guild are a dream for AFK woodcutting. You can chop for up to 25 minutes without moving if you’re lucky.

How it works: At 90 Woodcutting, chop redwoods in the guild for 60k XP per hour and some Firemaking XP if using an Infernal Axe. The guild’s +7 Woodcutting boost helps, and the bank is nearby.

Personal tip: I hit 99 Woodcutting with redwoods while working from home. I’d chop during meetings, only clicking when the tree despawned. It’s not the most profitable, but it’s relaxing and great for Ironmen.

Requirements:

• 90 Woodcutting

• Access to Woodcutting Guild (60 Woodcutting)

Mining Shooting Stars

Why it’s great: Mining shooting stars is the ultimate AFK mining method. You can mine for up to 25 minutes per star, earning 20-30k XP per hour and Stardust for rewards like the Celestial Ring.

How it works: Use a shooting star tracker (Google “OSRS shooting stars tracker”) to find a star’s location. Hop to the right world, mine, and AFK. Relocating takes 10-25 seconds every 40-60 minutes.

Personal tip: I mined stars from 87 to 99 Mining during a busy work month. I’d set up at a star, mine while answering emails, and hop worlds when it despawned. The Stardust paid for a Celestial Ring, which boosted my mining later!

Requirements:

• 10 Mining

• Access to star locations (no specific quests)

Runecrafting at ZMI Altar

Why it’s great: Runecrafting is rarely AFK, but the ZMI (Ourania) Altar offers a semi-AFK method with decent XP and profit.

How it works: After Lunar Diplomacy, craft runes at the Ourania Altar on the official world. Use an item on a player running to the altar to follow them, giving you 25-30 seconds of AFK time per run. Expect 30-50k XP per hour and some profit from random runes.

Personal tip: I used ZMI to train Runecrafting while catching up on podcasts. The AFK time isn’t huge, but it’s way less click-intensive than other Runecrafting methods. Use GPU mode on RuneLite for longer render distance to extend AFK time.

Requirements:

• Lunar Diplomacy quest

• 20+ Runecrafting

• Pure essence

Skill	Method	XP/Hour	AFK Time	Profit
Fishing	Karambwans	20-40k	4-5 min	150-250k GP
Woodcutting	Redwoods	60k	Up to 25 min	Low
Mining	Shooting Stars	20-30k	Up to 25 min	Stardust
Runecrafting	ZMI Altar	30-50k	25-30 sec	Moderate

AFK Money-Making Methods

Who doesn’t love passive gold? These methods combine AFK potential with profit, perfect for stacking GP while you’re busy.

Cooking Sharks

Why it’s great: Cooking sharks in the Rogues’ Den or Hosidius Kitchen is highly AFK and profitable. With 94 Cooking, you rarely burn them, ensuring steady income.

How it works: Cook a full inventory of raw sharks (1 minute 7 seconds per inventory) for 100-150k GP per hour. The Rogues’ Den fire is right next to a bank, making it super efficient.

Personal tip: I cooked sharks to fund my first Abyssal Whip. I’d cook a few inventories while doing laundry, and the profits added up fast. Hosidius Kitchen reduces burn rates, so it’s worth the trip if you have the favor.

Requirements:

• 94 Cooking (lower works but burns more)

• Raw sharks

• Access to Rogues’ Den or Hosidius Kitchen

Fletching Broad Arrows

Why it’s great: Fletching broad arrows is simple, profitable, and can be done anywhere, making it ideal for mobile players.

How it works: Combine arrow shafts and broad arrowheads for 100-200k GP per hour. It takes about 50 seconds per inventory, so you click every minute or so.

Personal tip: I fletched broad arrows while on long calls. It’s mindless, and the profits helped me buy better ranged gear. Check Grand Exchange prices before starting, as margins can vary.

Requirements:

• 52 Fletching

• Arrow shafts and broad arrowheads

Passive Income: Birdhouse Runs

Why it’s great: Birdhouse runs aren’t AFK in the moment, but they’re passive income. Set up birdhouses every 50 minutes for valuable bird nests and Hunter XP.

How it works: After Bone Voyage, place birdhouses on Fossil Island. Each run takes 2-3 minutes and yields nests worth 50-100k GP. You can AFK between runs.

Personal tip: I do birdhouse runs during breaks from work. It’s like a quick dopamine hit, and the nests fund my herb runs. Use high-level birdhouses for better rewards.

Requirements:

• Bone Voyage quest

• 5 Hunter

• Birdhouses and seeds

Tips for Maximizing AFK Efficiency

Want to make the most of your AFK time? Here are some tricks I’ve picked up:

• Use RuneLite: Plugins like idle timers and entity hiders keep you from logging out or getting distracted.

• Mobile Play: Most AFK methods work great on OSRS Mobile. I’ve fished karambwans on my phone while commuting.

• Bankstanding Skills: Cooking, fletching, and herblore are perfect for AFK bankstanding. I often mix potions while watching YouTube.

• Avoid Distractions: If you’re studying, stick to “true AFK” methods like shooting stars or redwoods. I learned the hard way that semi-AFK tasks like ZMI can pull you away from work.

Mixing AFK with Active Play

AFK methods are awesome, but don’t let them dominate your OSRS experience. I used to grind redwoods for hours, but I started feeling like a bot. Mixing in quests like Recipe for Disaster or bossing (like Vorkath) keeps the game exciting. Use AFK for tedious skills, then dive into Gielinor’s adventures for fun.

Community Favorites and Final Thoughts

What’s the community saying? Reddit threads and OSRS forums love shooting stars, karambwans, and NMZ for their AFK potential. One Redditor mentioned mining stars from 87 to 99 while working, which matched my experience perfectly. Another swore by fletching longbows for profit on mobile. The key is finding what fits your goals and playstyle.

So, what’s the most AFK activity for you? It depends on your levels and budget. If you’re low-level, try Sand Crabs or Rune Essence mining. For high-level players, redwoods or NMZ are hard to beat. As someone who’s maxed several skills this way, I can say AFK methods make OSRS accessible no matter how busy life gets. Pick one, set it up, and let Gielinor work its magic while you handle real-world tasks. Happy grinding!