How Much XP to 99 in OSRS: A Complete Guide to Reaching Skill Mastery

How Much XP to 99 in OSRS: A Complete Guide to Reaching Skill Mastery


Leveling up to 99 in any skill in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a monumental achievement that showcases dedication, strategy, and patience. Whether you’re aiming for that coveted skill cape or just curious about the grind, one question stands out: how much XP does it take to reach level 99 in OSRS? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the exact experience points (XP) required, explore the exponential growth of the XP curve, and offer insights into what it takes to hit that magic number—13,034,431 XP—for every skill. Let’s dive into the details and help you plan your journey to mastery!

In OSRS, experience points (XP) are the backbone of skill progression. Every skill—whether it’s combat-focused like Attack or peaceful like Fishing—follows the same XP table up to level 99. The amount of XP needed increases with each level, starting small but growing exponentially as you climb higher. This system ensures that reaching 99 is no small feat, requiring millions of XP and often hundreds of hours of gameplay.

How XP Works in OSRS

XP is earned by performing tasks related to a skill, such as chopping trees for Woodcutting or slaying monsters for Slayer. The game awards XP in increments, and once you accumulate enough, you level up. The XP required for each new level is roughly 10% more than the previous one, but this compounds quickly, making higher levels significantly harder to achieve.

The Magic Number: 13,034,431 XP

No matter the skill, reaching level 99 in OSRS always requires exactly 13,034,431 XP. This universal milestone applies to all 23 skills in the game, from Mining to Magic. While the total XP is consistent, the time and methods to get there vary wildly depending on the skill’s training options and your playstyle.

The Exponential XP Curve Explained

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The XP curve in OSRS is designed to start slow and ramp up fast. Early levels fly by with minimal effort, but by the time you’re in the 90s, each level demands a massive XP haul. This exponential growth is why players often say “92 is half of 99”—it’s not just a meme, it’s math!

Why Level 92 Is Halfway to 99

At level 92, you need 6,517,253 XP, which is almost exactly half of the 13,034,431 XP required for 99. This midpoint highlights how the XP requirements double roughly every seven levels after level 30. For example:

  • Level 85: 3,258,594 XP (about one-quarter of 99)
  • Level 92: 6,517,253 XP (halfway mark)
  • Level 99: 13,034,431 XP (the finish line)

This curve means the second half of the journey (92 to 99) takes as much XP as the entire grind from 1 to 92 combined.

Visualizing the XP Progression

Here’s a quick table to show how XP scales at key milestones:

Level Total XP Required XP Difference from Previous Level
1 0 –
2 83 83
30 13,363 1,332
50 101,333 9,730
70 737,627 68,436
85 3,258,594 297,693
92 6,517,253 584,301
99 13,034,431 1,138,760

This table illustrates how the XP gap widens dramatically at higher levels, making those final stretches a true test of endurance.

How Long Does It Take to Get 99?

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While 13,034,431 XP is the fixed requirement, the time to reach 99 depends on the skill, your training method, and your efficiency. Some skills like Firemaking can be blitzed in under 100 hours, while others like Agility might take over 200 hours even with optimal strategies.

Factors Affecting Time to 99

Several variables influence how long it’ll take:

  • XP Rates: Faster methods (e.g., Wintertodt for Firemaking) yield higher XP per hour.
  • Cost: “Buyable” skills like Crafting can be sped up with GP investment.
  • Attention Level: AFK methods (e.g., fishing lobsters) are slower but require less focus.
  • Boosts: Items like skill outfits or temporary XP buffs can shave off hours.

Examples of Time to 99 by Skill

Here’s a rough estimate for some popular skills using efficient methods:

  • Fletching: 3–10 hours (dart fletching, 4M–9M XP/hr)
  • Cooking: 16–27 hours (1-tick Karambwans or wines, 1M XP/hr)
  • Firemaking: 55–65 hours (Wintertodt, 200k–300k XP/hr)
  • Agility: 165–200 hours (rooftop courses, 60k–80k XP/hr)
  • Slayer: 200–300 hours (task-dependent, 80k–100k XP/hr)

These estimates assume dedication and optimal setups—casual play will naturally take longer.

Strategies to Reach 99 Faster

Hitting 13,034,431 XP doesn’t have to feel like an endless slog. With the right approach, you can cut down the grind and make it enjoyable. Here are some proven strategies to speed up your journey.

Questing for Early XP

Quests offer a quick XP boost, especially at lower levels. For example:

Knocking out these quests early can skip hours of grinding and set you up for faster methods sooner.

Choosing High-XP Methods

Opt for training methods that maximize XP per hour, even if they cost more. Examples include:

  • Crafting: Black D’hide Bodies (426k XP/hr)
  • Prayer: Dragon bones on a gilded altar (250k–300k XP/hr)
  • Magic: High Alchemy or Bursting (100k–200k XP/hr)

These methods often require upfront GP, but they save time in the long run.

Leveraging Minigames and Events

Minigames like Wintertodt (Firemaking) or Pest Control (combat skills) offer decent XP alongside rewards. Seasonal events or double XP weekends (if available) can also give you a significant leg up.

Total XP to Max All Skills

If your goal is to max out every skill in OSRS, you’re looking at a colossal undertaking. With 23 skills in the game, each requiring 13,034,431 XP to hit 99, let’s do the math.

Calculating the Max Total

Multiply the XP per skill by the number of skills:

13,034,431 XP × 23 skills = 299,791,913 XP

That’s nearly 300 million XP to reach a total level of 2,277 (99 in all skills). For reference, the maximum XP cap per skill is 200 million, so the theoretical max across all skills is 4.6 billion XP—though few players ever aim that high.

How Long to Max?

Using efficient methods, maxing all skills typically takes 1,500–2,000 hours for dedicated players. Speedrunners like Jcw have done it in as little as 791 hours, but that’s an extreme outlier requiring near-perfect execution. For most, it’s a multi-year journey, often blending active grinding with passive methods like Farming runs.

Rewards of Maxing

Once you hit 99 across all skills, you can buy the Max Cape for 2,277,000 coins. It combines the perks of all skill capes, offers a slick design, and triggers a dazzling red-and-gold fireworks display to celebrate your achievement.

Reaching level 99 in OSRS is a grind, but it’s one that millions of players have embraced since the game’s launch. Whether you’re chasing 13,034,431 XP in one skill or nearly 300 million to max them all, understanding the XP curve and optimizing your methods can make the process smoother. So, pick your skill, set your sights on that skill cape, and start training—Gielinor’s mastery awaits!