Your cart is empty
Best Way to Make Money Ironman OSRS

Making money as an Ironman in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a unique challenge due to the mode’s restrictions. Unlike regular accounts, Ironmen cannot use the Grand Exchange to trade items for coins, requiring creative and self-sufficient methods to generate gold. Whether you’re in the early, mid, or late game, this guide explores the best ways to make money as an Ironman in 2025, tailored for all skill levels and playstyles. From low-effort skilling to high-reward bossing, we’ll cover strategies to boost your gold stack efficiently.
Ironman mode demands self-reliance, with no trading or Grand Exchange access except for bonds. Coins are essential for expenses like Managing Miscellania, construction training, and buying supplies such as spirit shards. Most methods rely on activities that directly generate coins or items that can be alched or sold to NPC shops. High Level Alchemy (unlocked at 55 Magic) is a cornerstone for converting items into gold, often paired with other activities like farming or agility training for efficiency .
Key Restrictions to Consider
- No Grand Exchange: You can’t sell drops like a tanzanite fang for millions; instead, you’re limited to its High Alchemy value (e.g., 66,000 coins for a fang) .
- Limited Trading: Trading is only allowed in specific quests like Shield of Arrav .
- Self-Sufficiency: All resources must come from your own efforts, such as gathering, skilling, or PvM.
Early-Game Money-Making Methods
For new Ironmen, early-game money-making focuses on low-skill requirements and minimal risk. These methods help fund initial gear, runes, and kingdom management while building essential skills.
Thieving: Pickpocketing and Blackjacking
Thieving is one of the best early-game money-makers due to its low requirements and decent profits. Start with pickpocketing men/women (Level 1 Thieving) for small coins, then progress to more lucrative targets.
- Blackjacking (45 Thieving, The Feud quest): After completing The Feud, blackjack bandits in Pollnivneach for up to 100,000 GP/hour. It’s click-intensive but offers great Thieving XP .
- Ardougne Knights (55+ Thieving): With the Rogue’s Outfit (doubles loot) and Ardougne medium diary, pickpocketing knights yields 270,000–280,000 GP/hour at 95 Thieving. It’s less intensive than blackjacking and ideal for mid-to-late game .
Agility Pyramid
The Agility Pyramid (30 Agility) is a fantastic early-game option, offering consistent cash with minimal risk. Located in the Kharidian Desert, players climb the pyramid to collect a pyramid top, which Simon Templeton buys for 10,000 coins each.
- Profit: Up to 200,000 GP/hour with 50+ Agility and the Graceful outfit .
- Tip: Complete the medium Desert diary for faster banking via Nardah teleport.
Collecting Spawns in the Wilderness
For the daring, the Lava Maze (Level 40–45 Wilderness) offers steel platebodies and earth staves that respawn regularly. Sell platebodies to Horvik’s Armour Shop in Varrock for 1,200 coins each.
- Requirements: A slash weapon (e.g., knife) to cut webs, no gear to minimize PK risk.
- Profit: 50,000–100,000 GP/hour, depending on competition .
- Risk: High due to PKers, so Hardcore Ironmen should avoid this unless cautious.
Mid-Game Money-Making Strategies
Once you’ve unlocked High Level Alchemy and have moderate combat and skilling levels, mid-game methods offer higher profits. These often combine gold generation with skill training for efficiency.
Crafting Gold Jewelry
Mine gold ore at Al Kharid, smelt it into bars, and craft gold necklaces or amulets. Sell these to Grum’s Gold Exchange in Port Sarim or alch them for profit.
- Requirements: 6+ Crafting, access to a furnace (Al Kharid is ideal).
- Profit: 50,000–100,000 GP/hour, plus Crafting XP .
- Tip: Use the Crafting Guild for faster mining if you have 40 Crafting.
Gem Cutting
Buy uncut sapphires and emeralds from gem shops (e.g., Ardougne or Port Sarim), cut them, and sell them back for profit. This method is low-effort and pairs well with Crafting training.
- Requirements: 20 Crafting (27 for emeralds).
- Profit: Up to 90,000 GP/hour, though shop stock limits sustainability .
Wintertodt
Wintertodt is a Firemaking minigame that’s excellent for early-to-mid game Ironmen. It provides coins, logs, gems, and herbs while training Firemaking and Woodcutting.
- Requirements: 50 Firemaking, warm clothing.
- Profit: ~30,000 GP/hour, plus 300,000 Firemaking XP/hour .
- Tip: Use rewards to stock up on supplies rather than focusing solely on coins.
Late-Game Money-Making Methods
High-level Ironmen with advanced skills and gear can access the most lucrative methods. These often involve PvM or high-skill requirements but yield substantial rewards.
Slayer and PvM
Slayer at 70+ levels becomes a goldmine due to alchable drops like adamant and rune items. Bosses like Vorkath and Zulrah offer high-value alchables and resources.
- Gargoyles (75 Slayer): Drop alchables worth 30,000+ coins per task, plus noted bars for Smithing .
- Vorkath (high combat, Dragon Slayer II): Yields dragon bones, hides, and alchables for 1M+ GP/hour when alched .
- Tip: Use Konar for Slayer tasks to get clue scrolls and extra alchables .
Crafting Blood Runes
At 77 Runecrafting and 73 Agility, craft blood runes by mining dense essence, chiseling it, and running to the Blood Altar. Sell the runes to Ali Morrisane for 200 coins each.
- Profit: ~330,000 GP/hour, plus Runecrafting XP .
- Tip: Use the Raiments of the Eye outfit to boost rune output.
Corrupted Gauntlet
The Corrupted Gauntlet (Song of the Elves quest, 80+ combat stats) is a high-skill, high-reward method. Loot includes crystal armor seeds and alchables.
- Profit: ~1M GP/hour with practice .
- Tip: Optimize gear and inventory to minimize prep time.
General Tips for Maximizing Profits
To make the most of your Ironman money-making, incorporate these strategies into your routine.
Tip | Description |
---|---|
Unlock High Alchemy Early | Reach 55 Magic to alch items during downtime activities like farm runs or Agility training . |
Prioritize Quests | Complete quests like Throne of Miscellania and Royal Trouble to unlock kingdom management for passive resources . |
Train Thieving and Agility | High Thieving and Agility unlock efficient methods like pickpocketing and Agility Pyramid . |
Use Drops Wisely | Save alchable drops for High Alchemy rather than selling to shops unless urgent . |
Conclusion
Making money as an Ironman in OSRS requires creativity and persistence due to the mode’s restrictions. Early-game methods like Thieving and Agility Pyramid provide steady income, while mid-game strategies like gem cutting and Wintertodt balance profit with skill gains. Late-game players can rake in millions through Slayer, blood rune crafting, and bossing. By unlocking High Alchemy, prioritizing quests, and training key skills, you’ll build a sustainable gold stack to fund your Ironman journey. Start with methods that match your level, and scale up as you progress for maximum efficiency.