How Much Does It Cost to Get 99 Prayer in OSRS? Your Complete Guide

Reaching level 99 Prayer in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a major milestone for any player. Prayer offers powerful combat boosts, protection prayers, and utility effects that make it a must-have skill for PvM, PvP, and even skilling. But how much does it really cost to hit that coveted 99? In this guide, we’ll break down the costs, methods, and strategies to get 99 Prayer, whether you’re a main account, an Ironman, or a free-to-play (F2P) player. Let’s dive into the numbers and options to help you plan your journey!

Prayer is unique in OSRS because it’s primarily trained by offering bones or ashes at altars, with a few alternative methods like ensouled heads or passive XP. The cost to 99 depends heavily on the method you choose, your budget, and how fast you want to get there. From cheap F2P options to expensive pay-to-play (P2P) speed runs, there’s a path for everyone.

Why Train Prayer to 99?

Before we crunch the numbers, let’s look at why 99 Prayer is worth it:

• Unlocks All Prayers: Access to powerful options like Piety, Rigour, and Augury.
• Combat Advantage: Boosts damage, defense, and survivability in boss fights.
• Skillcape Perk: The Prayer cape offers a handy prayer point boost.

Total XP Needed for 99 Prayer

To reach level 99 Prayer, you need 13,034,431 XP. Starting from level 1, this is a fixed amount regardless of your method. The cost comes down to how much XP per bone or offering you get and the price of those items on the Grand Exchange (GE).

Popular Methods to Train Prayer

OSRS offers several ways to train Prayer, each with its own cost and efficiency. Below, we’ll explore the most popular methods and their associated costs as of April 2025, based on current GE prices.

Burying Bones (F2P and Low Budget)

Burying bones is the simplest method, available to all players, including F2P. However, it’s slow and inefficient compared to P2P options.

• Regular Bones: 4.5 XP each, ~200 GP each.
• Total Cost: 13,034,431 XP ÷ 4.5 XP = ~2,896,540 bones × 200 GP = 579,308,000 GP.

This method is impractical for most players due to its high cost and slow XP rate, but it’s an option for F2P or early-game players.

Gilded Altar (P2P Budget Option)

Using a Gilded Altar in a player-owned house (POH) with two lit burners gives 3.5x the base XP of burying bones. This is the go-to method for most P2P players balancing cost and speed.

• Dragon Bones: 72 XP base × 3.5 = 252 XP each, ~1,800 GP each.
• Total Cost: 13,034,431 XP ÷ 252 XP = ~51,724 bones × 1,800 GP = 93,103,200 GP.

Dragon bones are the sweet spot for cost-efficiency, but cheaper options like big bones (52.5 XP each, ~200 GP) can lower the cost to around 50M GP at a slower pace.

Chaos Altar (Wilderness Option)

The Chaos Altar in the Wilderness offers 3.5x XP like a Gilded Altar but with a 50% chance to save bones, effectively doubling your XP per bone. It’s riskier due to PKers, but it’s cheaper.

• Dragon Bones: 252 XP each (with savings factored in), ~1,800 GP each.
• Total Cost: 13,034,431 XP ÷ 252 XP = ~51,724 bones ÷ 2 = ~25,862 bones × 1,800 GP = 46,551,600 GP.

This method cuts costs significantly, but you’ll need to be prepared for potential interruptions.

High-End Methods for Fast 99 Prayer

If speed is your priority and money isn’t an issue, these methods offer the fastest XP rates in OSRS.

Superior Dragon Bones

Superior dragon bones, dropped by Vorkath, give massive XP when used at a Gilded Altar or Chaos Altar.

• Gilded Altar: 150 XP base × 3.5 = 525 XP each, ~11,000 GP each.
• Total Cost: 13,034,431 XP ÷ 525 XP = ~24,828 bones × 11,000 GP = 273,108,000 GP.
• Chaos Altar: ~12,414 bones (with savings) × 11,000 GP = 136,554,000 GP.

This is pricey but cuts training time drastically, making it ideal for high-level players.

Ensouled Heads

Ensouled heads are reanimated with the Arceuus spellbook and killed for Prayer XP. They’re slower but viable for Ironmen or players with Slayer tasks.

• Ensouled Dragon Head: 1,560 XP each, ~4,500 GP each (including runes).
• Total Cost: 13,034,431 XP ÷ 1,560 XP = ~8,356 heads × 4,500 GP = 37,602,000 GP.

This method is niche but cost-effective if you’re already training Slayer.

Cost Comparison Table

Here’s a quick breakdown of the costs and XP rates for the main methods:

Method	XP per Offering	Cost per Offering	Total Cost to 99	Notes
Burying Bones	4.5	200 GP	579M GP	F2P, very slow
Gilded Altar (Dragon Bones)	252	1,800 GP	93M GP	Best budget P2P
Chaos Altar (Dragon Bones)	252	1,800 GP	47M GP	Risky, cheapest P2P
Gilded Altar (Superior Dragon Bones)	525	11,000 GP	273M GP	Fastest, expensive
Chaos Altar (Superior Dragon Bones)	525	11,000 GP	137M GP	Fast and cheaper
Ensouled Dragon Heads	1,560	4,500 GP	38M GP	Slower, Slayer synergy

Tips to Reduce Costs and Maximize Efficiency

Getting to 99 Prayer doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some strategies to save GP and time:

Use the Chaos Altar Wisely

The Chaos Altar’s bone-saving mechanic can halve your costs. Bring only what you can afford to lose, use a looting bag, and bank frequently to minimize risk.

Farm Bones Yourself

For Ironmen or budget players, killing dragons (green, blue, or Vorkath) can supply bones. This takes longer but eliminates GE costs.

Combine with Slayer

Using ensouled heads during Slayer tasks kills two birds with one stone, saving money and boosting overall account progress.

Buy Bones in Bulk

Monitor GE prices and buy bones when they dip. Dragon bones fluctuate between 1,700–2,000 GP, so timing your purchase can save millions.

Final Thoughts on Getting 99 Prayer

The cost to get 99 Prayer in OSRS ranges from 38M GP (ensouled heads) to 579M GP (burying regular bones), with most players settling around 47M–93M GP using dragon bones at the Chaos Altar or Gilded Altar. Your choice depends on your budget, playstyle, and tolerance for risk.

For the average player, the Gilded Altar with dragon bones (93M GP) offers a solid balance of cost and speed. If you’re on a budget, the Chaos Altar (47M GP) is unbeatable. And if you’re rushing to 99, superior dragon bones (137M–273M GP) are the way to go. Whatever method you pick, plan ahead, track GE prices, and enjoy the journey to that Prayer skillcape!

Have a favorite Prayer training method or a cost-saving tip? Let me know in the comments below!