Long Bone Construction in OSRS: A Comprehensive Guide to Boosting Your Skills

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a variety of unique ways to train skills, and one of the lesser-known but highly effective methods for leveling Construction is through the use of long bones. If you’re looking to enhance your Construction skill without breaking the bank—or simply want to make the most of your monster-slaying adventures—this guide is for you. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into everything you need to know about long bone Construction in OSRS, from how to obtain them to maximizing their potential. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, this method can add a fun twist to your gameplay while helping you progress toward that coveted level 99 Construction.

Long bones are special items in OSRS dropped by monsters that also drop big bones. They’re not your everyday loot—they come with a specific purpose tied to the Construction skill, making them a valuable resource for players looking to level up without the traditional grind of planks and nails. With a universal drop rate of 1/400 from most eligible monsters, they’re rare enough to feel rewarding but common enough to accumulate over time.

How Long Bones Differ from Other Bones

Unlike regular big bones, which are primarily used for Prayer training, long bones have a dual purpose. They can be buried for a modest 15.1 Prayer experience (not recommended), or they can be traded to a specific NPC for coins and Construction experience. This sets them apart from curved bones, their rarer cousins, which offer even more Construction XP but drop at a much lower rate of 1/5,012.5.

Why Use Long Bones for Construction?

Construction is notoriously one of the most expensive skills to train in OSRS, often requiring millions of gold for planks and materials. Long bones provide a semi-passive, low-cost alternative. You can collect them while training combat or Slayer, then cash them in for a significant XP boost—perfect for players who want to multitask their skilling efforts.

How to Obtain Long Bones in OSRS

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Getting your hands on long bones is all about targeting the right monsters. Since they’re tied to the big bone drop table, you’ll need to focus on creatures that fit this category. Let’s break down the best methods and monsters to farm them efficiently.

Best Monsters to Farm Long Bones

Here’s a list of some top monsters known for dropping long bones, along with their locations:

Hill Giants – Found in Edgeville Dungeon or the Giant Pit west of Varrock. Low combat level, easy to kill, and a classic choice.
Moss Giants – Located in the Varrock Sewers or Brimhaven Dungeon. Slightly tougher but still manageable for mid-level players.
Ogres – Scattered across Feldip Hills or the Ogre Enclave. Great for Slayer tasks and consistent drops.
Trolls – Troll Stronghold or Death Plateau. Higher HP but decent loot alongside long bones.
Crazy Archaeologist – A mid-tier boss in the Wilderness with a higher drop rate than standard monsters.

Nightmare Zone: A Passive Farming Option

For a more AFK-friendly approach, consider Nightmare Zone (NMZ). Select bosses like Skeleton Hellhound, Dad, Arrg, or Black Knight Titan—all of which drop big bones and thus have a chance at long bones. These drops stay on the ground for 10 minutes, giving you plenty of time to pick them up between combat rounds. Over a 250-hour NMZ session for max combat stats, you could net around 200 long bones, translating to over 900,000 Construction XP for free.

Additional Sources of Long Bones

Beyond monster drops, long bones can occasionally be looted from zombie impling jars or found as flotsam on Uncharted Isles in The Arc. These are niche methods, but they’re worth noting if you’re exploring these activities already.

Turning Long Bones into Construction XP

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Once you’ve gathered a stash of long bones, it’s time to turn them into Construction experience. This process involves an NPC named Barlak in Dorgesh-Kaan, and there are a few requirements to meet before you can cash in.

Requirements to Trade Long Bones

To make the most of your long bones, you’ll need:

Completed Death to the Dorgeshuun Quest – This unlocks access to Dorgesh-Kaan.
Level 30 Construction – Below this, Barlak will only give you coins, not XP.
A Player-Owned House (POH) – A basic requirement for the Construction lecture.

Where to Find Barlak

Barlak is a cave goblin located in a small room on the west side of the bottom floor in Dorgesh-Kaan. From the bank, head south, turn west, then north through a hallway to reach him. A Dorgesh-Kaan sphere (obtained from Oldak) offers a one-click teleport to speed things up.

Rewards for Trading Long Bones

For each long bone you trade to Barlak, you’ll receive:

1,000 Coins – A nice little bonus.
4,500 Construction XP – Equivalent to about 39,450 coins worth of oak planks, making it a cost-effective option.

Barlak will take all long bones from both your inventory and bank at once, so you can bulk-trade without multiple trips.

Maximizing Long Bone Construction Efficiency

To get the most out of this method, you’ll want to optimize your farming and trading strategy. Here’s how to level up Construction with long bones as efficiently as possible.

How Many Long Bones to Reach Level 99?

Starting at level 30 Construction, you’ll need 13,034,431 XP to hit 99. With each long bone granting 4,500 XP, that’s approximately:

2,897 long bones – A hefty number, but achievable over time with consistent farming.

For comparison, curved bones (6,750 XP each) would take about 1,930 to reach 99, but their rarity makes long bones the more practical choice for most players.

Combining with Other Training Methods

Long bones won’t get you to 99 overnight, so consider pairing them with traditional Construction training (e.g., oak planks or mahogany tables) for faster progress. Use long bones as a supplementary boost while you’re already out killing monsters for Slayer or combat XP.

Tips for Efficient Farming

Use a Cannon – Speed up kills in multi-combat areas like the Giant Pit.
Bank Regularly – Long bones stack up in your bank, so don’t worry about carrying them all.
Track Drops – Use a loot tracker plugin (like RuneLite’s) to monitor your long bone haul.

Pros and Cons of Long Bone Construction

Like any training method, using long bones for Construction has its advantages and drawbacks. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide if it’s right for your OSRS journey.

Advantages of Long Bone Construction

Pros	Description
Cost-Effective	No need to spend millions on planks; you earn XP while doing other activities.
Passive Gains	Collect bones during Slayer or combat training without extra effort.
Bonus Coins	1,000 coins per bone adds up, offsetting other skilling costs.

Disadvantages of Long Bone Construction

Cons	Description
Slow XP Rate	Compared to plank-based methods, it takes longer to accumulate enough bones.
RNG Dependent	The 1/400 drop rate means results vary; you might go hours without a drop.
Quest Requirement	Death to the Dorgeshuun must be completed, which might deter new players.

Is It Worth It?

For Ironmen or players on a budget, long bone Construction is a fantastic option. It’s less viable as a primary method for those rushing to 99, but as a passive supplement, it shines. If you enjoy multitasking skills and don’t mind the RNG, it’s a rewarding way to chip away at Construction.

In conclusion, long bone Construction in OSRS is a hidden gem for players willing to put in the time to farm them. Whether you’re slaying Hill Giants, tackling NMZ, or hunting down trolls, these bones offer a unique, low-cost path to leveling Construction. Pair them with other methods, optimize your farming, and watch your Construction XP climb—all while enjoying the diverse gameplay OSRS has to offer. So grab your weapon, head out into Gielinor, and start collecting those long bones today!