How to Get Varrock Armour in Old School RuneScape A Complete Guide

How to Get Varrock Armour in Old School RuneScape A Complete Guide

If you’ve been grinding in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and want to boost your mining or smithing skills, Varrock Armour is a game-changer. It’s a reward from the Varrock Diary, and trust me, it’s worth the effort. As someone who’s been playing OSRS for years, I’ve gone through the grind to unlock all tiers of this armour, and I’m here to share everything I’ve learned. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player, this guide will walk you through how to get Varrock Armour, what you need, and why it’s a must-have for your adventures in Gielinor. Let’s dive in!

Varrock Armour is a set of chest pieces you earn by completing the Varrock Diary, a series of achievement tasks centered around Varrock, the bustling capital of Misthalin. There are four tiers—Varrock Armour 1, 2, 3, and 4—each tied to the Easy, Medium, Hard, and Elite tiers of the diary. The higher the tier, the better the rewards, especially for mining and smithing.

Why should you care? This armour gives you a 10% chance to mine two ores at once or smelt two bars at once at the Edgeville furnace, depending on the tier. It’s like having a cheat code for resource gathering! Plus, it has decent combat stats and weighs less than comparable platebodies, making it a favorite for pures and low-level players. I remember equipping Varrock Armour 1 as a low-level pure and feeling like a pro when I mined double coal in the Mining Guild.

Why Bother with Varrock Armour?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about why this armour is worth your time. Here’s a quick rundown:

  • Mining Boost: A 10% chance to mine two ores at once, up to different ores depending on the tier (coal for Armour 1, mithril for 2, adamant for 3, and any ore for 4).

  • Smithing Perk: Smelt two bars at once at the Edgeville furnace, saving time and boosting XP.

  • Combat Stats: Each tier matches a platebody (steel for 1, black for 2, mithril for 3, adamant for 4) but weighs less.

  • Other Perks: Daily discounted battlestaves from Zaff, access to the Cooks’ Guild bank, and teleport tweaks.

  • Free to Reclaim: Lose it? No worries! Toby in Varrock gives it back for free.

So, is it hard to get? Not really, if you plan ahead. Let’s break down each tier and how to unlock them.

Getting Varrock Armour 1 Easy Diary

The Easy Varrock Diary is where you start, and it’s super beginner-friendly. I remember doing this as a fresh account, and it felt like a fun scavenger hunt around Varrock. You’ll need to complete a set of tasks, and once done, you can claim Varrock Armour 1 from Toby, who’s chilling just south of the Varrock General Store.

Requirements for Easy Diary

Here’s what you need to tackle the Easy Diary:

Skill

Level

Items Needed

Mining

15

Pickaxe

Agility

13

None

Crafting

8

Soft clay

Runecrafting

9

Earth tiara/talisman

Thieving

5

None

Fishing

20

Fly fishing rod, ~5 feathers

Other

None

Bones, normal log, 150 gp, hatchet, cup of tea, 5k for house change

Quests: Rune Mysteries, Digsite.

Key Tasks

My Experience

When I first did the Easy Diary, I was a level 30-ish noob with barely any gear. The toughest part was getting 15 Mining, but I powered through by mining copper and tin near Lumbridge. The tea stall theft felt like a cheeky win, and I laughed when I grabbed a cup of tea for free. Pro tip: bring an Amulet of Glory for quick teleports to Edgeville to make tasks faster.

Rewards: You get Varrock Armour 1, which has steel platebody stats but only needs 1 Defence and weighs 1 kg. It gives a 10% chance to mine two ores up to coal and smelt two bars up to steel. Plus, you get 15 battlestaves daily from Zaff for 7,000 coins each and an antique lamp worth 2,500 XP.

Getting Varrock Armour 2 Medium Diary

Ready to level up? The Medium Varrock Diary steps things up a bit, but it’s still manageable for mid-level players. I did this one when I was around combat level 60, and it felt like a natural progression after the Easy Diary.

Requirements for Medium Diary

Skill

Level

Items Needed

Thieving

25

None

Agility

30

None

Combat

40

None

Firemaking

40

10 willow logs, tinderbox

Farming

30

Limpwurt root

Herblore

10

Red spider eggs

Magic

49

1 law rune, 3 air runes, 1 fire rune

Quests: At least 32 quest points, Digsite, A Soul’s Bane, Enlightened Journey, Garden of Tranquility.

Key Tasks

  • Plant a limpwurt root in the Edgeville farming patch.

  • Burn willow logs in Varrock.

  • Cast Varrock Teleport (level 25 Magic, but you need 49 for another task).

  • Complete a lap at the Canifis Agility Course (requires 30 Agility).

  • Finish A Soul’s Bane quest for a task.

My Experience

The Medium Diary was where I started to feel like I was making real progress in OSRS. The A Soul’s Bane quest was a bit spooky, but it’s not too tough if you’ve got decent combat stats. I struggled a bit with the 49 Magic requirement since I was a melee-focused player, but I trained by casting low-level alchemy on junk items. Also, keep an eye on your inventory—those red spider eggs for the Herblore task can be a pain to gather if you don’t know the spawns in Varrock Sewers.

Rewards: Varrock Armour 2 has black platebody stats and boosts your mining and smithing perks to mithril ores and bars. You also get 30 battlestaves daily, the ability to toggle Varrock Teleport to the Grand Exchange, and a 7,500 XP lamp.

Getting Varrock Armour 3 Hard Diary

Now we’re getting serious. The Hard Varrock Diary is a step up, requiring higher skills and more quests. I tackled this one when I was deep into my OSRS grind, and it felt rewarding to finally wear Varrock Armour 3.

Requirements for Hard Diary

Skill

Level

Items Needed

Hunter

66

2 dashing kebbit furs

Woodcutting

60

Any axe, yew seed/sapling

Magic

54

2 law runes, 1 fire rune, 1 air rune

Firemaking

60

Tinderbox

Farming

68

Spade

Prayer

52

None

Agility

51

None

Construction

50

25,800 gp

Quests: A Tail of Two Cats, Demon Slayer, Desert Treasure, Hazeel Cult, In Aid of the Myreque, Making History, Merlin’s Crystal, Observatory Quest, Priest in Peril, Rune Mysteries, Shield of Arrav, Temple of Ikov, The Dig Site, The Grand Tree, What Lies Below, Curse of the Empty Lord, 153 Kudos at Varrock Museum.

Key Tasks

  • Hunt a dashing kebbit in the Falconry area.

  • Plant a yew tree in Varrock’s tree patch.

  • Cast High Alchemy on an item.

  • Complete the Curse of the Empty Lord miniquest.

  • Earn 153 Kudos at the Varrock Museum (do the Natural History Quiz and clean specimens).

My Experience

The Hard Diary was a grind, no lie. Getting 153 Kudos at the Varrock Museum took me a couple of evenings, but the Natural History Quiz is a free 28 Kudos if you answer all the questions correctly. The Curse of the Empty Lord miniquest was a fun lore dive, but it’s long, so grab a coffee. I used a Ring of Wealth to teleport to the Grand Exchange, which saved me tons of time running around. The 66 Hunter requirement was the toughest for me since I’m not a big skiller, but falconry was oddly relaxing.

Rewards: Varrock Armour 3 matches a mithril platebody, boosts mining and smithing to adamant, and lets you wear it instead of a chef’s hat to enter the Cooks’ Guild. You also get 60 battlestaves daily, access to the Cooks’ Guild bank, and a 15,000 XP lamp.

Getting Varrock Armour 4 Elite Diary

The Elite Varrock Diary is the big leagues. This one’s for high-level players, but the rewards are insane. I felt like a legend when I finally got Varrock Armour 4—it’s a flex and a half.

Requirements for Elite Diary

Skill

Level

Items Needed

Herblore

90

Super attack (4), super strength (4), super defence (4), torstol

Magic

86

20 nature runes, 40 astral runes, 300 earth runes

Cooking

95

Raw summer pie

Smithing

89

Runite bar, hammer

Fletching

81

20 mahogany logs, 10 feathers

Runecrafting

78

25 rune essence

Quests: Dream Mentor, The Tourist Trap.

Key Tasks

My Experience

The Elite Diary was a marathon. I spent weeks grinding Herblore to 90, using lamps and potions to boost where I could. The 95 Cooking requirement was no joke either—I baked hundreds of pies to get there. But when I finally claimed Varrock Armour 4 from Toby, it was worth it. The 10% chance to mine two of any ore (even Amethyst!) is a massive time-saver, and it acts as a Prospector Jacket for extra mining XP and clue scroll steps. I use it all the time at the Mining Guild.

Rewards: Varrock Armour 4 has adamant platebody stats, boosts mining and smithing for any ore or bar, and gives 120 battlestaves daily, a 50,000 XP lamp, and Cooks’ Guild access without a chef’s hat.

Tips and Tricks from My Grind

Here are some tips I wish I knew when I started:

  • Plan Your Quests Early: Quests like Desert Treasure and Dream Mentor take time, so knock them out early.

  • Use Boosts: Temporary skill boosts (like spicy stews) can help meet requirements.

  • Leverage Teleports: Rings of Wealth, Amulets of Glory, and Varrock Teleport save so much time.

  • Museum Kudos: Don’t skip the Varrock Museum tasks for the Hard Diary—they’re tedious but necessary.

  • Train Smart: Focus on skills like Mining and Smithing early, as they tie into the armour’s perks.

Common Questions About Varrock Armour

Does Varrock Armour stack with other mining gear?
No, it doesn’t stack with the Prospector outfit’s XP boost, but Varrock Armour 4 acts as a Prospector Jacket for XP and clue steps.

Can I lose Varrock Armour?
Yes, but you can reclaim it for free from Toby in Varrock.

Is it worth it for pures?
Absolutely! Varrock Armour 1 only needs 1 Defence, making it perfect for pures who want mining or smithing perks.

Final Thoughts

Getting Varrock Armour in OSRS is a journey, but it’s one worth taking. From the easy-peasy tasks of the Easy Diary to the grind-heavy Elite Diary, each tier builds your skills and rewards you with gear that makes mining and smithing a breeze. As someone who’s worn all four tiers, I can say the effort pays off—especially when you’re banking double ores without breaking a sweat. So, what’s stopping you? Grab your pickaxe, head to Varrock, and start your diary adventure. Which tier are you aiming for first? Let me know in the comments!