OSRS Agility Course Fail Rates Everything You Need to Know

OSRS Agility Course Fail Rates Everything You Need to Know

Agility training in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a grind that rewards players with faster run energy regeneration, access to shortcuts, and the coveted Graceful outfit. However, failing obstacles on agility courses can slow your progress, drain your hitpoints, and test your patience. Understanding fail rates—how often you’re likely to fail an obstacle and at what levels they decrease—is key to optimizing your training. In this guide, we’ll break down the fail rates of major OSRS agility courses, highlight strategies to minimize failures, and help you plan your path to 99 Agility. Let’s dive into the details of agility course fail rates and how they impact your gameplay.

Failing an obstacle doesn’t just cost you time; it can also deal damage, interrupt your flow, and reduce experience rates. Fail rates are tied to your Agility level relative to the course’s requirements, and they decrease as you level up. Knowing when you’re likely to stop failing—or at least fail less often—helps you choose the right course, manage supplies like food and stamina potions, and avoid frustration. For example, failing the notorious deathslide on the Werewolf Agility Course can hit for over 30 damage, making it a risky choice for low-level players without preparation.

How Fail Rates Work in OSRS

Fail rates aren’t explicitly listed in-game, but they’re influenced by your Agility level and the obstacle’s difficulty. Most courses have failable obstacles that become easier as your level exceeds the course’s base requirement. Weight doesn’t usually affect success rates (except for specific obstacles like the Werewolf Agility Course zip line), but boosts from summer pies or agility potions can temporarily improve your odds. Hardcore Ironmen, in particular, need to be cautious, as failures can deal significant damage, especially in harsh environments like the Agility Pyramid.

Impact on Experience Rates

Failures directly lower your experience per hour (XP/h) by delaying lap completion and forcing you to restart sections of a course. For instance, at lower levels, the Agility Pyramid’s high fail rate can cut your XP/h to 25,000 or less, compared to 44,000 at higher levels with fewer fails. Choosing a course where you fail less often can boost efficiency, even if it offers slightly lower base XP per lap.

Early-Level Agility Courses (Levels 1–40)

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Early agility training focuses on accessible courses with low requirements. Fail rates at this stage can be high, especially if you’re pushing to access courses above your level. Here’s a look at the key courses and their fail dynamics.

Gnome Stronghold Agility Course

Requirement: 1 Agility
XP per Lap: 86.5
Fail Rate: None

The Gnome Stronghold course is a beginner’s dream—it’s impossible to fail. You’ll complete every lap without taking damage, making it ideal for levels 1–10. Expect around 7,500 XP/h with consistent focus. It’s a safe starting point, but the low XP rate means you’ll want to move on once you hit level 10.

Draynor Village Rooftop Course

Requirement: 10 Agility
XP per Lap: 120
Fail Rate: Low to moderate at 10–20 Agility

The Draynor Rooftop Course introduces failable obstacles, but failures are rare even at level 10. By level 20, you’ll almost never fail, netting around 9,360 XP/h. Bring a few pieces of food if your Hitpoints are low, as falls deal minor damage (2–5 HP). This course also spawns Marks of Grace, which you’ll want to collect for the Graceful outfit.

Canifis Rooftop Course

Requirement: 40 Agility
XP per Lap: 240
Fail Rate: Moderate at 40–50 Agility, low at 60+

Canifis is a hotspot for Graceful outfit farming due to its high Marks of Grace spawn rate (15–20 per hour). At level 40, expect occasional fails, especially on the jump gaps, dropping your XP/h to 14,000–16,000. By level 60, failures are minimal, pushing XP/h closer to 19,000. Recent updates removed some failable obstacles, making it smoother than before. Use stamina potions to maintain run energy and pack food for safety.

Mid-Level Agility Courses (Levels 40–60)

Mid-level training opens up more challenging courses with better XP rates but higher fail risks. Strategic course selection and boosts can make a big difference here.

Brimhaven Agility Arena

Requirement: None (20 Agility recommended)
XP per Hour: Up to 30,000 at 20 Agility, 67,000 at 99
Fail Rate: High at 20–40 Agility, low at 80+

The Brimhaven Agility Arena is unique, with players tagging pillars for XP rather than running laps. At level 20, using a summer pie to boost to 25, you’ll fail traps often, requiring food to offset damage. Fail rates drop significantly at 80 Agility, where you can hit 67,000 XP/h with focus. The arena’s recent buffs make it a viable alternative to rooftop courses, and you’ll earn Agility Arena tickets for extra rewards.

Falador Rooftop Course

Requirement: 50 Agility
XP per Lap: 440
Fail Rate: Moderate at 50–60 Agility, negligible at 70+

Falador’s rooftop course offers solid XP (around 22,000 XP/h at level 50, including fails). Failures are common at the minimum level, particularly on the tightrope, but they taper off by level 70. This course is a good middle ground if you’re not ready for riskier options like the Wilderness Agility Course. Marks of Grace spawn here, so it’s worth sticking around until you’ve collected enough.

High-Level Agility Courses (Levels 60–99)

High-level courses offer the best XP rates, but some come with steep fail penalties or environmental risks. Fail rates here are generally lower, especially as you approach 80+ Agility.

Werewolf Agility Course

Requirement: 60 Agility (55 with summer pie boost)
XP per Lap: 540 (plus bonus with stick)
Fail Rate: High at 60 Agility, low at 80+

The Werewolf Agility Course is a beast, offering up to 69,500 XP/h at high levels if you collect the stick for bonus XP. The deathslide is the main culprit for fails, dealing up to 30+ damage and sending you back. At level 60, expect frequent fails; by 72, the deathslide’s fail rate drops, and it’s nearly gone by 93. Boosting with summer pies from level 55 can get you here early, but bring high-healing food and stay alert.

Seers’ Village Rooftop Course

Requirement: 60 Agility
XP per Lap: 570
Fail Rate: Moderate at 60–70 Agility, none at 79

Seers’ Village is a favorite for its balance of XP (54,000–56,000 XP/h with Kandarin Hard Diary) and Marks of Grace. You’ll fail occasionally at level 60, but by 79, it’s a fail-free zone. Completing the Kandarin Hard Diary lets you teleport to the bank, boosting efficiency. This course is ideal for players avoiding high-risk areas like the Wilderness.

Ardougne Rooftop Course

Requirement: 90 Agility
XP per Lap: 793
Fail Rate: Low at 90, none at 95+

The Ardougne Rooftop Course is the pinnacle of rooftop training, offering 59,000–62,300 XP/h and the highest Marks of Grace spawn rate (22 per hour with Elite Ardougne Diary). Failures are rare at 90 Agility and vanish by 95, making it a smooth grind to 99. It’s relaxing and profitable, perfect for endgame training.

Special Cases and Risky Courses

Some courses, like the Wilderness Agility Course and Agility Pyramid, come with unique challenges and fail dynamics that deserve a closer look.

Wilderness Agility Course

Requirement: 52 Agility (47 with boost)
XP per Lap: 571
Fail Rate: High at 52, low at 70+

Located in deep Wilderness, this course offers top XP (up to 45,000 XP/h) but risks PKer attacks. Failures are frequent at 52, especially on the pipe obstacle, requiring boosts if below 49 Agility. By level 70, fails are rare, and you’ll maximize XP. Bring a knife, summer pies, and minimal gear to reduce risk. Hardcore Ironmen should avoid this unless confident.

Agility Pyramid

Requirement: 30 Agility
XP per Lap: 722
Fail Rate: Very high at 30–50, none at 75

The Agility Pyramid is a gold-making machine (up to 260,000 GP/h) but brutal at low levels. At 30 Agility, expect 3–6 fails per climb, dropping XP/h to 25,000. By 60, you’ll fail 1–4 times, and at 75, it’s fail-free, hitting 44,000 XP/h. Desert heat and 10-damage fails make waterskins and food essential. Use the Graceful outfit and stamina potions for efficiency.

Tips to Minimize Failures and Maximize Efficiency

Reducing fail rates isn’t just about leveling up. Here are practical strategies to keep you moving smoothly:

  • Boost Agility: Use summer pies (+5 Agility) or agility potions (+3) to access higher courses early and lower fail rates.
  • Manage Weight: Keep weight at 0 or below with the Graceful outfit or items like Boots of Lightness to conserve run energy.
  • Bring Supplies: Pack high-healing food (e.g., monkfish) and stamina potions to counter damage and maintain run energy.
  • Check Requirements: Avoid courses far above your level unless boosting, as fail rates will be punishing.
  • Use Diaries: Complete diaries (e.g., Kandarin Hard, Ardougne Elite) for XP boosts and better Mark of Grace rates.
Course Level Req XP per Lap Fail Rate at Min Level Level to Stop Failing
Gnome Stronghold 1 86.5 None N/A
Canifis Rooftop 40 240 Moderate 60+
Werewolf 60 540 High 93
Seers’ Village 60 570 Moderate 79
Agility Pyramid 30 722 Very High 75

Agility training in OSRS is a marathon, and fail rates are hurdles you’ll learn to clear. By choosing the right course for your level, boosting when needed, and preparing for failures, you’ll minimize setbacks and maximize gains. Whether you’re chasing 99 Agility or just want the Graceful outfit, understanding fail rates empowers you to train smarter. Which course are you tackling next? Share your tips in the comments and keep running those rooftops!