How Many Hours to Max in Old School RuneScape
Maxing in Old School RuneScape (OSRS)—reaching level 99 in all 23 skills—is a monumental achievement that showcases dedication, strategy, and patience. For many players, the question isn’t just how to max, but how long it will take. The time required varies widely based on playstyle, efficiency, and resources. In this guide, we’ll break down the hours needed to max in OSRS, explore factors that influence the grind, and provide tips to optimize your journey to the coveted max cape.
In OSRS, maxing means achieving level 99 in every skill, totaling a maximum skill level of 2,277 (99 × 23 skills). Each skill requires 13,034,431 experience points to reach level 99, making the total experience needed to max a staggering 299,791,913. But time isn’t just a function of experience—it depends on how you approach training, your access to in-game wealth, and whether you prioritize efficiency.
Why Players Aim to Max
Maxing unlocks the max cape, a prestigious item with practical perks like teleports and skill boosts. Beyond that, it’s a personal milestone, a testament to mastering every aspect of Gielinor’s challenges. For some, it’s about bragging rights; for others, it’s the satisfaction of completing a long-term goal.
Skills Required to Max
OSRS has 23 skills, each with unique training methods:
- Combat Skills: Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Magic, Hitpoints, Prayer
- Gathering Skills: Mining, Fishing, Woodcutting, Farming, Hunter
- Artisan Skills: Smithing, Cooking, Firemaking, Crafting, Fletching, Construction, Herblore
- Support Skills: Agility, Thieving, Slayer, Runecrafting
Each skill’s training speed varies, with some like Fletching being relatively fast and others like Runecrafting notoriously slow.
Factors Affecting Time to Max
The hours to max in OSRS aren’t set in stone. Several variables influence the total time, from your starting point to how much you’re willing to spend—both in-game gold and real-world effort.
Starting Level and Experience
If you’re starting from a fresh account (level 3), you’re looking at a longer grind than someone with mid- or high-level skills. For example, a player with multiple skills already at level 70 has a significant head start, as the experience required per level increases exponentially.
Efficiency vs. Casual Play
Efficient players who use optimal training methods, plan their routes, and minimize downtime can max in far fewer hours than casual players. For instance, tick-manipulating Woodcutting yields faster experience rates than AFK chopping trees, but it demands intense focus.
In-Game Wealth
Wealthier players can afford “buyable” skills like Construction, Herblore, or Prayer, which involve purchasing expensive materials to train quickly. A player with billions in gold can shave hundreds of hours off skills that poorer players must grind slowly.
Double XP Events and Bonuses
Unlike RuneScape 3, OSRS doesn’t have official Double XP weekends, but temporary events like leagues or bonus XP from quests can accelerate progress. Completing quests like Monkey Madness or Dragon Slayer II grants chunks of experience, reducing grinding time.
Estimated Hours to Max in OSRS
Based on community data, guides, and player reports, the average time to max in OSRS ranges from 2,000 to 5,000 hours. Highly efficient players have reported maxing in as little as 1,500–2,000 hours, while casual players may take 5,000 hours or more. Let’s break it down by skill type.
Fast Skills (Under 100 Hours)
Some skills are quick to max due to high experience rates or low effort:
- Fletching: Dart-making or bow-stringing yields up to 700k XP/hour, maxing in ~20–30 hours.
- Cooking: Cooking fish at high levels gives 300k–400k XP/hour, taking ~40–50 hours.
- Firemaking: Wintertodt or burning logs hits 300k XP/hour, maxing in ~50 hours.
Moderate Skills (100–200 Hours)
These skills balance speed and effort:
- Combat Skills: Slayer or Nightmare Zone training averages 50k–100k XP/hour, with each skill (e.g., Attack, Strength) taking ~100–150 hours.
- Construction: Mahogany furniture with sufficient gold hits 800k XP/hour, maxing in ~100 hours.
- Farming: Tree and herb runs yield bursts of XP, taking ~150 hours with consistent runs.
Slow Skills (200+ Hours)
The slowest skills are often click-intensive or have low XP rates:
- Runecrafting: Even with optimal methods like lava runes, expect 30k–50k XP/hour, totaling ~300–400 hours.
- Agility: Rooftop courses give 40k–60k XP/hour, requiring ~200–250 hours.
- Mining: 3-tick granite or volcanic mine hits 60k XP/hour, needing ~200–300 hours.
Sample Time Breakdown
Here’s a table estimating hours for each skill based on moderately efficient methods:
| Skill | Estimated Hours | XP/Hour (Average) |
|---|---|---|
| Fletching | 25 | 500k |
| Cooking | 45 | 350k |
| Firemaking | 50 | 300k |
| Construction | 100 | 700k |
| Combat (per skill) | 120 | 80k |
| Runecrafting | 350 | 40k |
| Agility | 220 | 50k |
| Total (Average) | ~2,500 | – |
Note: Hours vary based on efficiency, wealth, and method. Combat skills are averaged; total includes all 23 skills.
Tips to Max Faster in OSRS
While maxing is a marathon, you can streamline the process with smart strategies. Here are actionable tips to reduce your hours without burning out.
Prioritize Quests for Early XP
Quests like Waterfall Quest (Attack/Strength XP) or The Grand Tree (Agility XP) provide massive early boosts, saving hours of grinding. Aim to complete quest cape requirements early, as they unlock efficient training methods and XP rewards.
Use Efficient Training Methods
Research optimal methods for each skill:
- Runecrafting: Craft lava runes or use the Ourania Altar.
- Slayer: Cannon tasks in multi-combat areas for faster XP.
- Herblore: Make potions in bulk during bonus XP events.
Leverage In-Game Wealth
Invest in buyables early if you have the gold. Spending 200M on Construction or Prayer can save hundreds of hours compared to grinding bones or logs. Flip items on the Grand Exchange to fund these skills without real-world purchases.
Balance Efficiency and Enjoyment
Hyper-efficient methods like tick manipulation can lead to burnout. Mix AFK skills (e.g., Fishing) with active ones (e.g., Slayer) to keep the grind sustainable. Enjoying the process is key to staying motivated for thousands of hours.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Maxing is daunting, and mistakes can add unnecessary hours. Here’s what to watch out for.
Inefficient Training Methods
Using outdated or slow methods—like mining iron ore instead of volcanic ash—wastes time. Check community resources like the OSRS Wiki for current meta strategies.
Neglecting Quests
Skipping quests delays access to unlocks like the Fairy Ring network or high-XP rewards. Plan your questing route early to avoid backtracking.
Burning Out
Grinding one skill for too long (looking at you, Runecrafting) can sap motivation. Rotate skills and set short-term goals, like hitting level 80 in multiple skills before pushing to 99.
Overlooking Community Resources
OSRS has a vibrant community. Join clans, watch YouTube guides (e.g., Oziris or Settled), or use tools like RuneLite plugins to track XP rates and optimize methods.
Maxing in Old School RuneScape is a journey that tests your resolve, but the sense of accomplishment is unmatched. Whether it takes you 2,000 or 5,000 hours, the key is finding a pace that suits your playstyle. Plan smart, train efficiently, and enjoy Gielinor—the max cape will be yours in time. How many hours are you into your grind? Share your progress below!