Are Clue Scrolls Worth Doing in OSRS? A Deep Dive for Players

Clue scrolls in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) are one of those things that spark endless debates among players. Are they worth your time? Do they actually pay off, or are you just chasing a wild goose for hours? As someone who’s been grinding OSRS for years, I’ve spent countless hours digging up caskets, solving riddles, and cursing at emote clues that require me to dig through my bank for that one specific item. Let’s break it down and figure out if clue scrolls are worth doing, with some personal stories, tips, and a clear look at the pros and cons.

If you’re new to OSRS, clue scrolls are basically treasure maps that lead you on a scavenger hunt across Gielinor. You get them from killing monsters, pickpocketing NPCs, or even fishing and woodcutting. Each scroll gives you a series of tasks—puzzles, riddles, or emote challenges—that you need to complete to get a casket. Open the casket, and you get rewards ranging from junk to ultra-rare items worth millions of gold pieces.

There are five tiers of clue scrolls: Beginner, Easy, Medium, Hard, and Elite, with Master clues being the toughest. The higher the tier, the better the potential loot, but also the more time and effort you’ll need to invest.

Why I Got Hooked on Clue Scrolls

I still remember my first clue scroll. It was an easy one from a goblin in Lumbridge. I was a total noob, barely understanding how to navigate the game, and I spent an hour running around trying to figure out what “clap in the center of Lumbridge” meant. When I finally opened that casket and got a black platebody and some runes, I was thrilled. Sure, it wasn’t millions, but the adventure felt so rewarding. That’s what got me hooked—the thrill of the chase.

Have you ever done a clue scroll that made you feel like a detective? That’s the magic of it.

Are Clue Scrolls Profitable?

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Let’s get to the meat of it: can you make bank with clue scrolls? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no—it depends on the tier, your luck, and how much you value your time.

The Potential for Big Money

Clue scrolls, especially hard, elite, and master ones, can drop some seriously valuable loot. We’re talking about items like ranger boots, ornament kits, or even the elusive 3rd age gear that can sell for tens or hundreds of millions. I once got a pair of ranger boots from a hard clue, which sold for 30M at the time. That single drop paid for a month of grinding and then some!

Here’s a quick breakdown of potential rewards by tier:

Clue Tier	Average Reward Value	Notable Drops	Time Investment
Beginner	5k-20k	Basic items, low-tier gear	5-15 minutes
Easy	10k-50k	Black armor, runes	10-20 minutes
Medium	50k-200k	Mithril armor, clue-specific items	20-40 minutes
Hard	100k-1M+	Ranger boots, god pages	30-60 minutes
Elite	500k-5M+	Ornament kits, gilded armor	1-2 hours
Master	1M-100M+	3rd age items, dyes	2-4 hours

Note: These are rough estimates based on my experience and community data. Your mileage may vary!

The Reality of RNG

Here’s the catch: clue scrolls are heavily tied to RNG (random number generator). You could do 100 hard clues and get nothing but firelighters and biscuits, or you could hit the jackpot on your first try. I’ve had streaks where I did 20 medium clues and barely broke even, which was frustrating as hell. But then there are those moments—like when I got a gilded scimitar from an elite clue—that make it all worth it.

Question: Have you ever had a crazy lucky drop from a clue? Or are you stuck in RNG hell?

Time vs. Reward

Clue scrolls aren’t always about the gold. If you’re purely focused on GP per hour, there are better methods like killing bosses or flipping items on the Grand Exchange. Clue scrolls can take anywhere from 10 minutes for an easy one to several hours for a master clue, especially if you’re not prepared with the right items or teleports. For me, the time investment is part of the fun, but if you’re all about efficiency, you might find them a bit slow.

Why Clue Scrolls Are More Than Just Loot

Beyond the potential for big payouts, clue scrolls offer something unique in OSRS: variety. Grinding the same boss or skilling for hours can get monotonous, but clues force you to explore, think, and sometimes laugh at how absurdly specific some tasks are.

A Break from the Grind

I remember one late-night session where I was burned out from killing Zulrah for hours. I decided to do a few medium clues to mix things up. One of them had me running to the top of a random tower in Ardougne to perform the “panic” emote. I was laughing my ass off imagining my character freaking out in the middle of nowhere. It was a nice change of pace, and I ended up with a decent 100k reward.

Clues make you visit parts of the game world you’d never bother with otherwise. Ever been to the Fishing Trawler just for a clue? It’s a vibe.

Skill and Knowledge Growth

Clue scrolls also teach you about the game. When I started, I barely knew how to navigate Gielinor. Doing clues forced me to learn about teleports, shortcuts, and obscure NPCs. Hard and elite clues often require specific quests or skill levels, which pushed me to train skills I’d been neglecting. For example, I finally got around to doing Song of the Elves because I needed access to Prifddinas for an elite clue. That opened up a ton of new content for me.

Quick tip: Keep a clue hunter outfit in your bank. It saves so much time on those annoying “dig here” steps.

The Downsides of Clue Scrolls

Not gonna lie, clue scrolls aren’t all sunshine and rainbows. There are some real frustrations that can make you question if they’re worth it.

The Inventory Struggle

One of my biggest gripes is how much inventory space clues demand. Emote clues often require you to carry specific gear, like a mithril platebody or a spottier cape. If you’re like me and have a bank that looks like a hoarder’s nightmare, finding those items can be a pain. I’ve spent way too long digging through my bank, muttering, “Where the hell is my blue boater?”

The Time Sink

Some clues, especially master ones, can take forever. I once spent three hours on a master clue because I kept failing the lockpick steps (my Thieving level was barely high enough). By the time I got the casket, I was too exhausted to care about the measly 500k I got. If you’re not prepared with teleports, high stats, or a good understanding of the clues, you’ll waste a lot of time.

The Frustration of Bad RNG

I mentioned RNG earlier, but it’s worth repeating: bad luck can make clues feel like a waste. I’ve had friends quit clues entirely after getting nothing but junk for dozens of scrolls. It’s demoralizing when you put in the effort and get a stack of 50 air runes.

Tips for Making Clue Scrolls Worth It

If you’re sold on giving clues a try (or want to make them more efficient), here are some tips from my years of chasing caskets:

Stock up on teleports: Keep a stack of teleport tabs or runes in your bank. Clue scrolls send you all over the map, and teleports save a ton of time.
Use a clue scroll plugin: If you’re on Runelite, plugins like Clue Scroll Solver are a lifesaver. They show you exactly where to go and what to bring.
Focus on hard and elite clues: These have the best balance of time investment and potential rewards. Easy and medium clues are fun but usually not worth it for profit.
Complete key quests: Quests like Monkey Madness II or Song of the Elves unlock areas that make clues easier and faster.
Keep a clue tab: I have a dedicated bank tab for clue items like spades, emote gear, and teleports. It makes starting a clue so much quicker.

Question: What’s your go-to setup for tackling clues? Got any pro tips to share?

Who Should Do Clue Scrolls?

Not everyone will love clue scrolls, and that’s okay. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide if they’re for you:

Casual players: If you enjoy exploring and don’t mind lower profits, easy and medium clues are great for fun.
Mid-level players: Hard clues are perfect if you have decent stats and some quests done. They’re a nice mix of challenge and reward.
Endgame players: Elite and master clues are where the big money is, but they require high stats, lots of quests, and patience.
GP-focused players: If you’re all about maximizing gold per hour, clues might not be your thing unless you’re chasing elite or master rewards.

My Verdict: Are Clue Scrolls Worth Doing?

So, are clue scrolls worth doing in OSRS? For me, absolutely. They’re not the most efficient money-making method, but they add a layer of adventure and variety that keeps the game fresh. The chance of hitting a big-ticket item like a 3rd age piece or a dye keeps me coming back, even after streaks of bad luck. Plus, the feeling of solving a tough clue—like figuring out a master clue’s anagram without looking it up—is unbeatable.

That said, if you’re solely focused on grinding gold or don’t enjoy puzzles, you might find clues more frustrating than fun. It all comes down to what you enjoy in OSRS. For me, the mix of exploration, problem-solving, and the occasional massive payout makes clue scrolls a staple in my gameplay.

Final question: What’s your take? Are you a clue scroll addict, or do you avoid them like the plague? Let me know your thoughts, and maybe we can swap some stories about our best (or worst) clue drops!