Best Way to Level Ranged in Old School RuneScape

Ranged is a core combat skill in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), allowing players to deal damage from a distance using bows, crossbows, and thrown weapons. Whether you’re aiming for level 99 or just looking to boost your Ranged for PvM, PvP, or Slayer, this guide covers the most efficient methods to level Ranged, tailored for free-to-play (F2P) and pay-to-play (P2P) players. We’ll explore training spots, gear, quests, and strategies to maximize experience rates while keeping costs manageable.

Ranged is a versatile skill, crucial for tackling high-level bosses, Slayer tasks, and Wilderness PKing. It shines in safespotting, letting you attack enemies without taking damage, and scales faster than melee, enabling you to punch above your weight early on. A high Ranged level unlocks powerful weapons like the Toxic Blowpipe and Twisted Bow, making it a must for endgame content. Plus, it’s relatively AFK-friendly compared to skills like Agility, offering a balance of efficiency and ease.

Key Benefits of Ranged

• Safespotting: Attack melee monsters from safety, ideal for low-defense accounts.
• Accuracy: Ranged is the most accurate combat style, great for hitting tough enemies.
• Versatility: Essential for PvM (e.g., Zulrah, Vorkath) and PvP scenarios.
• Profit Potential: Training on monsters with good drops can offset costs.

Early Levels (1-40): Questing and Low-Level Training

For new players or those starting fresh, the fastest way to kickstart Ranged is through quests and low-level training. Quests provide significant experience rewards, skipping the slow early grind, while early monsters offer decent XP with minimal gear requirements.

Questing for Quick XP

Completing specific quests can boost you to level 36 Ranged without firing a single arrow. These quests are accessible to F2P and low-level accounts:

Quest	Ranged XP	Level Reached	Requirements
Shadow of the Storm	10,000	1 to 28	30 Crafting
Death to the Dorgeshuun	2,000	28 to 30	23 Agility, 23 Thieving
Horror from the Deep	4,662.5	30 to 32	35 Agility
Temple of Ikov	10,500	32 to 36	40 Ranged (bypass with knives/darts)

Tip: Use knives or darts with ice arrows to bypass the level 40 Ranged requirement for Temple of Ikov, making it accessible earlier.

Low-Level Training: Crabs and Cannons

If questing isn’t your style, train on crabs or use a Dwarf Multicannon for rapid XP. Crabs are AFK-friendly with high hitpoints and low defense, perfect for levels 1-40.

• Ammonite Crabs (Fossil Island): 100 HP, best XP, requires Bone Voyage and Digsite quests. Expect 20-30k XP/hour with mithril darts.
• Sand Crabs (Hosidius): 60 HP, no requirements, but crowded. Use a shortbow with steel arrows for F2P or darts for P2P.
• Dwarf Multicannon: After Dwarf Cannon quest, set up in multi-combat areas like Rock Crabs or Ogres (Combat Training Camp, post-Biohazard). Yields 50-60k XP/hour but costs cannonballs.

Gear Tip: Use leather armor and a shortbow (F2P) or mithril darts (P2P). At level 30, equip Ava’s Attractor (Animal Magnetism quest) to recover ammo.

Mid Levels (40-70): Slayer and Cannon Training

From level 40, combine Ranged with Slayer for efficient XP and loot, or continue using cannons for faster leveling. This range unlocks better gear like dragonhide armor and crossbows, improving your damage output.

Slayer Training for Dual Benefits

Training Ranged via Slayer tasks is cost-effective and varied, as loot often offsets ammo costs. Use a Slayer helmet (i) for a 15% damage/accuracy boost on tasks.

• Recommended Tasks: Kurasks, TzHaar, and Turoth offer high Ranged XP. Use broad bolts for cost efficiency.
• Cannon Setup: For tasks in multi-combat areas (e.g., Dagannoths in Lighthouse), cannons boost kills and XP.
• Gear: Switch to green dragonhide at level 40, red at 60. Use a bone crossbow with bone bolts (P2P) or maple shortbow with steel arrows (F2P).

Cannoning Ice Trolls

After completing The Fremennik Trials, cannon ice trolls north of Jatizso for 60-70k XP/hour. Safespot behind coal rocks, using Telekinetic Grab for loot. Drops like rune items and herbs cover cannonball costs, making it profitable.

Setup: Wear Void Knight armor (Pest Control) for damage boosts, and bring prayer potions for Protect from Melee.

High Levels (70-99): Chinning and Nightmare Zone

At level 70, you gain access to elite methods like chinning and Nightmare Zone (NMZ), offering the fastest XP rates. These are P2P-exclusive and costly but unmatched for efficiency.

Chinning Maniacal Monkeys

Chinning in Kruk’s Dungeon (Monkey Madness II, chapter II) is the fastest way to 99 Ranged, yielding up to 1M XP/hour with black chinchompas at level 90+. Maniacal monkeys have low defense, and chinchompas hit multiple targets in multi-combat.

• Cost: Black chinchompas cost ~2k GP each, totaling 30-40M GP to 99. Red chinchompas are cheaper but slower (~500-700k XP/hour).
• Gear: Elite Void, Salve amulet (ei) for 30% damage/accuracy boost, and a dragonbone necklace for prayer sustain.
• Setup: Use Protect from Melee and Eagle Eye prayer. Monkeys drop prayer potions, extending trips.

Warning: Chinchompas are lost on death, so bring a one-click teleport (e.g., royal seed pod).

Nightmare Zone for AFK Training

NMZ’s customizable Rumble mode is ideal for AFK Ranged training, offering 20-minute sessions with 300-400k XP/hour at level 80+.

• Setup: Use an imbued magic shortbow with rune or amethyst arrows, Void armor, and absorption potions for AFK sustainability.
• Enemies: Choose low-defense bosses like Sand Snake or King Roald for high XP.
• Cost: NMZ points cover potions, and Ava’s Assembler recovers most ammo, keeping costs low.

F2P Ranged Training: Levels 1-99

F2P players face limited gear and ammo options, but efficient training is still possible. Shortbows are the best F2P weapons due to their fast attack speed.

Early to Mid Levels (1-55)

Train on chickens (Lumbridge) or cows (Farming Guild) up to level 20, then switch to hill giants (Edgeville Dungeon, safespottable) or moss giants (Varrock Sewers, Crandor). Use a maple shortbow and steel arrows for optimal XP.

XP Rates: Expect 15-25k XP/hour, depending on your level and gear.

High Levels (55-99)

At level 55+, attack lesser demons (Karamja, Crandor) or ankou (Stronghold of Security, level 4). Safespot ankou over skeletons for 30-40k XP/hour. Use full green dragonhide and adamant arrows if affordable, or stick with steel.

Tip: Lesser demons have high defense, so wait until level 65 Ranged for better accuracy. Their rune drops can fund training.

Tips for Efficient Ranged Training

Maximize your Ranged training with these strategies to save time, GP, and effort:

• Use Rapid Mode: Always select the Rapid attack style for faster attacks and better XP/hour.
• Prayer Boosts: Hawk Eye (level 26) or Eagle Eye (level 44) prayers boost Ranged by 10-15%.
• Ranged Potions: Temporarily increase your Ranged level for higher damage and accuracy.
• Profit from Drops: Train on monsters like ice trolls, moss giants, or ankou for valuable drops to offset ammo costs.
• Join a Clan: Learn optimal setups and get tips from experienced players via clan chats or OSRS Discord.

Gear Progression Table

Level	Weapon	Armor	Ammo	F2P/P2P
1-20	Shortbow	Leather	Bronze/Iron Arrows	F2P/P2P
20-40	Maple Shortbow	Green D’hide	Steel Arrows	F2P/P2P
40-60	Bone Crossbow	Red D’hide	Bone Bolts	P2P
60-70	Toxic Blowpipe	Black D’hide	Mithril Darts	P2P
70-99	Chinchompas	Void/Elite Void	Red/Black Chinchompas	P2P

Reaching 99 Ranged in OSRS is a rewarding journey, whether you’re chinning for speed, AFK-ing in NMZ, or grinding F2P monsters. By combining quests, Slayer, and optimal gear, you’ll hit your goals efficiently. Happy ranging, and may your arrows fly true!