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How Long Does One Small Favour Take in OSRS
One Small Favour is one of the most iconic quests in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), known for its humorous yet sprawling chain of tasks that take players across Gielinor. If you’re wondering how long this quest takes, you’re not alone—this guide breaks down the time investment, preparation, and strategies to complete it efficiently. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, understanding the quest’s duration and requirements can help you plan your adventure.
Released in 2005, One Small Favour is a quest that starts with a simple request from Yanni Salika in Shilo Village but spirals into a web of favors involving numerous NPCs across the game world. It’s classified as an Experienced quest with a Long length, requiring players to have completed quests like Shilo Village and Druidic Ritual. The quest is infamous for its back-and-forth travel, making preparation key to minimizing time spent.
Why Time Varies for Players
The time to complete One Small Favour depends on several factors, including your familiarity with the quest, access to teleports, and combat readiness. On average, it takes 1.5 to 3 hours for most players, but optimized runs can be as quick as 30–40 minutes, as seen in speedrunning communities.
Factors Affecting Quest Duration
Several elements influence how long One Small Favour takes. Let’s explore the main ones to help you estimate your completion time and prepare effectively.
Teleportation and Travel Efficiency
The quest involves traveling to locations like Shilo Village, Port Sarim, Varrock, Feldip Hills, and more. Without teleports, you’ll spend significant time running. Using items like the Amulet of Glory, Fairy Rings, or Skills Necklace can cut travel time dramatically. For example, Fairy Ring code CKR brings you near Shilo Village, saving minutes compared to chartering ships.
Preparation of Items
Gathering required items beforehand reduces delays. You’ll need:
- 4 Steel Bars
- 1 Bronze Bar
- 1 Iron Bar
- Chisel and Hammer
- Herbs for Guthix Rest: 2 Guam Leaves, 1 Marrentill, 1 Harralander
- 5 Pigeon Cages
- Two of each gem: Opal, Jade, Red Topaz, Sapphire (cut or uncut)
Having these in your inventory or bank before starting prevents backtracking. Mining gems in Shilo Village early (with a chisel to cut them) is a time-saver, though there’s a risk of crushing them.
Combat Encounters
The quest includes two mandatory fights:
- Slagilith (Level 92): Found in the Goblin Cave near the Fishing Guild. Weak to pickaxes and crush attacks, it can be safespotted with Magic or Ranged. The fight typically takes 2–5 minutes with decent gear.
- Dwarf Gang Members (Level 44/48/49): Fought in the Dwarven Mines. These are straightforward and take about 1–2 minutes in a multicombat area.
Combat-prepared players with level 50+ stats in Attack, Strength, or Magic will breeze through, while lower levels may need more time or food.
Player Experience and Quest Familiarity
First-time players often take longer—around 2–3 hours—due to reading dialogue and navigating the quest’s many steps. Veterans or those using a guide (like the OSRS Wiki’s quick guide) can finish in 1–1.5 hours. Speedrunners, leveraging optimal teleports and pre-gathered items, have recorded times as low as 34 minutes.
Step-by-Step Time Breakdown
To give you a clearer picture, here’s an estimated breakdown of the quest’s major segments, assuming moderate preparation and teleport access.
| Quest Segment | Estimated Time | Key Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Starting in Shilo Village to Port Sarim | 10–15 minutes | Shilo Village, Port Sarim |
| Port Sarim to Lumbridge (H.A.M. Hideout) | 15–20 minutes | Draynor Village, Lumbridge |
| Varrock and Barbarian Village Tasks | 15–20 minutes | Varrock, Barbarian Village |
| Dwarven Mines to White Wolf Mountain | 20–25 minutes | Taverley, White Wolf Mountain |
| Feldip Hills and Ardougne | 20–25 minutes | Feldip Hills, Port Khazard, Ardougne |
| Seers’ Village and Final Fights | 15–20 minutes | Seers’ Village, Fishing Guild, Dwarven Mines |
| Return to Shilo Village | 5–10 minutes | Shilo Village |
Total Estimated Time: 1.5–2.5 hours for an average player with teleports and a guide.
Tips to Speed Up Each Segment
- Shilo Village: Use Fairy Ring CKR or an Amulet of Glory to Karamja, then take the cart to Shilo Village (10 coins).
- Port Sarim: Teleport with an Amulet of Glory or Rimmington Tablet to minimize walking.
- Varrock: Varrock Teleport spell or tablet is fastest.
- Feldip Hills: Fairy Ring AKS or Watchtower Teleport gets you close to Rantz.
- Combat: Bring a pickaxe for Slagilith and use a safespot to avoid damage.
Strategies to Minimize Completion Time
If your goal is to complete One Small Favour as quickly as possible, consider these strategies to streamline your run.
Pre-Gather All Items
Before starting, collect all required items and store them in your inventory or a nearby bank (e.g., Shilo Village or Ardougne). This eliminates the need to pause mid-quest to gather materials like steel bars or herbs. If you don’t have the gems, mine them early in Shilo Village with a chisel to cut them immediately, but bring extra in case you crush any.
Optimize Teleportation Routes
Plan your teleports to minimize travel time. A suggested loadout includes:
- Amulet of Glory (charged, for Karamja, Edgeville, Draynor)
- Fairy Ring Access (via Dramen/Lunar Staff)
- Skills Necklace (for Fishing Guild, Mining Guild)
- Varrock and Camelot Teleport Tablets
- Ring of Dueling (for Castle Wars, near Feldip Hills)
Weight-reducing clothing (e.g., Graceful outfit) and Stamina Potions further speed up travel by reducing run energy depletion.
Use a Quest Guide
Following a quick guide, like the one on the OSRS Wiki, ensures you don’t miss steps or waste time on unnecessary dialogue. Print or keep a digital guide handy to stay on track, especially for complex parts like the Seers’ Village weather vane repair or Feldip Hills gem-cutting.
Combat Preparation
For Slagilith, bring a Rune Pickaxe or use Magic/Ranged with a safespot to avoid its max hit of 13. The Dwarf Gang Members are less threatening, but fighting them in a multicombat area means you can dispatch them quickly with area-of-effect attacks like Barrage if you’re high-level.
Rewards and Is It Worth the Time?
After completing One Small Favour, you’ll earn:
- 2 Quest Points
- Two Experience Lamps (10,000 XP each, for skills above level 30)
- Steel Key Ring (to store multiple keys, freeing bank space)
- Access to Slagilith in the Nightmare Zone
The quest also unlocks progress toward quests like Cabin Fever and Recipe for Disaster. For many players, the 20,000 total XP and key ring are worth the effort, especially for ironmen needing bank space. However, the time investment can feel daunting if you’re unprepared for the travel-heavy nature.
Is It Worth Speedrunning?
Speedrunning One Small Favour (under 40 minutes) is a niche goal for advanced players with maxed teleports and pre-stocked inventories. For most, aiming for a 1–2 hour completion is more realistic and still rewarding. The quest’s humor and absurdity—like NPCs dismissing your efforts—make it memorable, even if it tests your patience.
Final Thoughts on Time Investment
One Small Favour typically takes 1.5–3 hours depending on your preparation, teleport access, and familiarity. By gathering items upfront, using teleports like Fairy Rings and Amulets of Glory, and following a guide, you can lean toward the lower end of that range. The quest’s rewards, while modest, are valuable for mid-level players, and its reputation as a classic OSRS experience makes it a rite of passage.
Ready to tackle One Small Favour? Stock up on teleports, grab your chisel, and dive into this wild ride across Gielinor. Share your completion time or tips in the comments below!
