How Many Casts Per Hour in OSRS: A Detailed Guide to Magic Training

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a variety of ways to train skills, and Magic is one of the most versatile and rewarding. Whether you’re splashing, alching, or casting combat spells, understanding how many casts per hour you can achieve is key to optimizing your training. In this blog post, we’ll break down the mechanics of casting spells in OSRS, explore different methods, and provide actionable insights to maximize your Magic experience per hour. Let’s dive into the world of Gielinor’s spellcasting!

Before calculating casts per hour, it’s essential to grasp the foundation of OSRS mechanics: the game tick. Every action in the game operates on a 0.6-second tick cycle, and spellcasting is no exception. The number of ticks a spell takes directly impacts how many times you can cast it in an hour.

What Is a Game Tick?

A game tick in OSRS lasts 0.6 seconds. Most Magic combat spells take 5 ticks (3 seconds) to cast when using autocast, while non-combat spells like High Alchemy or Teleport spells vary in their tick duration. This tick system governs how quickly you can perform actions, making it the backbone of our casts-per-hour calculations.

How Ticks Translate to Casts Per Hour

With 3,600 seconds in an hour and a 5-tick spell taking 3 seconds per cast, you can theoretically perform 1,200 casts per hour (3,600 ÷ 3 = 1,200). This assumes perfect timing and no interruptions—conditions rarely met in practice due to banking, movement, or clicking delays. For non-combat spells like High Alchemy (3 ticks, 1.8 seconds), the maximum rises to 2,000 casts per hour (3,600 ÷ 1.8 = 2,000).

Splashing: Low-Effort Magic Training

Splashing is a popular AFK (away-from-keyboard) method for training Magic in OSRS. By wearing gear that reduces your Magic attack bonus to -64 or lower, your spells “splash” (miss), dealing no damage but still granting base experience. Let’s explore how many casts per hour you can expect with splashing.

Splashing Mechanics and Casts Per Hour

Splashing uses combat spells on a 5-tick cycle. With perfect execution, you can achieve 1,200 casts per hour. However, since splashing requires you to interact with the game every 20 minutes to avoid logout, real-world rates often drop slightly due to these breaks. Here’s a breakdown of common splashing spells:

• Wind Strike (Level 1): 5.5 base XP, 6,600 XP/hour
• Fire Strike (Level 13): 11.5 base XP, 13,800 XP/hour
• Fire Bolt (Level 35): 21.5 base XP, 25,800 XP/hour
• Fire Blast (Level 59): 34.5 base XP, 41,400 XP/hour
• Fire Wave (Level 75): 42.5 base XP, 51,000 XP/hour

Optimizing Splashing Efficiency

To hit that 1,200 casts-per-hour mark, use an elemental staff to autocast and wear gear like full iron armor, snakeskin boots, and vambraces. Target low-level NPCs like rats or spiders in safe areas. While XP rates are modest, the low effort makes splashing ideal for casual players.

High Alchemy: Profit and Experience Combo

High Level Alchemy (High Alch) is a fan-favorite for training Magic while making gold. This non-combat spell turns items into coins, offering 65 XP per cast. But how many casts can you squeeze into an hour?

High Alchemy Casts Per Hour

High Alch operates on a 5-tick cycle (3 seconds), matching combat spells. However, with optimal clicking and banking, players often report 1,000–1,200 casts per hour. The theoretical maximum is 1,200, but practical rates account for inventory management:

Activity	Casts Per Hour	XP Per Hour
Focused High Alching	1,200	78,000
Alching While Skilling	800–1,000	52,000–65,000

Tips for Maximizing High Alch Casts

Use a staff of fire to save runes, keep your inventory stocked with noted items (e.g., yew longbows), and bank efficiently. Pair High Alch with activities like Agility or Fishing to multitask, though this lowers your casts per hour slightly.

Combat Spell Training: Active Magic Gains

For players who prefer active training, casting combat spells on monsters offers higher XP rates. The casts per hour remain tied to the 5-tick cycle, but your efficiency depends on the method and monster.

Casts Per Hour in Combat

Like splashing, combat spells max out at 1,200 casts per hour. Real rates vary based on factors like monster respawn times, movement, and safe-spotting. Here’s how it breaks down for popular methods:

• Rock Crabs (Fire Bolt): ~1,000 casts/hour, 25,000–30,000 XP/hour
• Sand Crabs (Fire Blast): ~1,100 casts/hour, 35,000–40,000 XP/hour
• NMZ with Burst Spells (Ice Burst): ~900 casts/hour, 50,000–60,000 XP/hour

Boosting Combat Cast Efficiency

Safe-spot monsters to avoid interruptions, use the best spell your level allows, and wear gear like Chaos Gauntlets (for Fire Bolt) to boost damage. Nightmare Zone (NMZ) with multi-target spells like Ice Burst or Barrage can push XP rates higher, though rune costs increase.

Teleport Spells and Other Non-Combat Methods

Non-combat spells like teleports or Superheat Item offer alternative training options. These methods often have different tick rates, affecting casts per hour.

Teleport Spells Casts Per Hour

Teleport spells like Camelot Teleport (Level 45, 55.5 XP) take 3 ticks (1.8 seconds), allowing up to 2,000 casts per hour theoretically. In practice, players achieve 1,800–1,900 casts/hour due to clicking delays, yielding 90,000–100,000 XP/hour.

Superheat Item Casts Per Hour

Superheat Item (Level 43, 53 XP) also runs on a 3-tick cycle, maxing at 2,000 casts/hour. With banking and ore management, expect 1,600–1,800 casts/hour, or 85,000–95,000 XP/hour, plus Smithing XP as a bonus.

Choosing the Right Non-Combat Method

Teleport spells are great for pure XP, while Superheat Item suits players wanting profit or dual-skill training. Stockpile runes and use presets at banks to maintain high cast rates.

Conclusion: In OSRS, casts per hour depend on the spell’s tick duration and your efficiency. Splashing and combat spells cap at 1,200 casts/hour (5 ticks), High Alch hits 1,000–1,200 with focus, and 3-tick spells like teleports or Superheat reach 1,800–2,000. Whether you’re after AFK gains or active XP, tailoring your method to your goals—XP, profit, or both—will optimize your Magic training. Experiment with these techniques, track your progress, and watch your Magic level soar in Gielinor!