OSRS Clue Scrolls Guide: Master Treasure Trails Like a Pro

OSRS Clue Scrolls Guide: Master Treasure Trails Like a Pro


Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is packed with exciting activities, but few match the thrill of hunting treasure with clue scrolls. Whether you’re a free-to-play newbie or a seasoned member chasing rare loot, this comprehensive OSRS clue scrolls guide will walk you through everything you need to know to conquer Treasure Trails. From beginner clues to master-level challenges, we’ll cover how to obtain scrolls, solve clues, and maximize your rewards—all while keeping it fun and efficient.

Clue scrolls are the heart of the Treasure Trails activity in OSRS, offering players a treasure-hunting adventure across Gielinor. Dropped by monsters, earned through skilling, or looted from implings, these scrolls lead you on a journey of puzzles, riddles, and exploration. Completing a trail rewards you with a casket containing loot ranging from basic items to ultra-rare cosmetics like 3rd Age gear.

Types of Clue Scrolls

OSRS features six difficulty tiers, each with unique challenges and rewards:

  • Beginner: Free-to-play friendly, 1-3 steps, simple tasks.
  • Easy: Members-only, 2-4 steps, modest rewards like black armor.
  • Medium: 3-5 steps, includes coordinate clues, offers mithril gear.
  • Hard: 4-6 steps, combat encounters, rune items, and rare drops.
  • Elite: 5-7 steps, high skill requirements, valuable loot like 3rd Age.
  • Master: 6-8 steps, toughest challenges, top-tier rewards.

Why Bother with Clue Scrolls?

Besides the adrenaline rush, clue scrolls offer a chance at exclusive items, from trimmed armor to millions in gold value. They’re also a fantastic break from grinding, blending exploration, problem-solving, and luck into one addictive package.

How to Get Clue Scrolls in OSRS

50 Master Clue scrolls OSRS YouTube

Obtaining clue scrolls is the first step to treasure-hunting glory. Here’s how to snag them across all tiers.

Beginner Clue Scrolls

Perfect for free-to-play players, these drop from low-level monsters like goblins (1/64 chance) or minotaurs (1/60). Skilling methods like fishing (clue bottles), mining (clue geodes), or woodcutting (clue nests) also work, with higher levels boosting drop rates.

Easy Clue Scrolls

Members can pickpocket H.A.M. members in Lumbridge (1/50 chance) or kill thugs in Edgeville Dungeon with a Ring of Wealth (i) for a 1/64 drop rate in the Wilderness. Implings like baby (1/50) or young (1/25) are pricey but fast options.

Medium, Hard, and Elite Clue Scrolls

  • Medium: Kill guards in Falador post-diary (1/106) or loot eclectic implings (1/25).
  • Hard: Slayer monsters, Skotizo (100% drop), or Dagannoth Kings (1/42).
  • Elite: Barrows chests (1/33), Zulrah (1/75), or Vorkath (1/65).

Master Clue Scrolls

These are unique—you can’t farm them directly. Trade one of each lower-tier scroll (easy, medium, hard, elite) to Watson in Hosidius, or get lucky with a 1/50 chance from completing an easy scroll.

Solving Clue Scrolls: Tips and Tricks

Once you’ve got a scroll, it’s time to crack the clues. Each tier introduces new mechanics, but these strategies will keep you on track.

Understanding Clue Types

Clues vary by difficulty but fall into these categories:

  • Anagrams: Scrambled NPC names (e.g., “orchestra” = “carthorse”). Talk to the NPC for the next step.
  • Ciphers: Caesar-shifted letters (e.g., “ZCZL” = “ADAM”). Decode and find the NPC.
  • Coordinates: Dig at specific map locations (e.g., “04 degrees 00 minutes north”). Bring a spade!
  • Emote Clues: Perform emotes at locations, often requiring specific gear.
  • Map Clues: Visual guides to dig spots or searchable objects.
  • Puzzle Boxes: Slide puzzles to unscramble images.

Essential Gear and Preparation

To breeze through clues, stock up on:

  • Teleportation Items: Jewelry (glory, dueling), tablets, or spells.
  • Spade: For digging at coordinate and map spots.
  • Combat Gear: Needed for hard+ tiers with wizard or guard fights.
  • Clue-Specific Items: Check requirements (e.g., emote gear like leather boots).

Hidey-holes (built with Construction) near clue spots can store items, saving inventory space.

Step-by-Step Solving Guide

  1. Read the Clue: Right-click “check” to see steps completed.
  2. Identify the Type: Match it to the list above.
  3. Travel Smart: Use fairy rings, spirit trees, or teleports to minimize run time.
  4. Solve It: Dig, talk, or emote as needed. For puzzles, focus on edges first.
  5. Prepare for Fights: In higher tiers, wizards (hard) or guards (elite) may spawn—bring food and prayer.

Best Rewards from Clue Scrolls

The loot is what keeps players hooked. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect.

Tier-by-Tier Reward Highlights

Tier Average Value Notable Rewards
Beginner ~5,000 GP Jester cape, shoulder parrot
Easy ~10,000 GP Black (t) armor, wizard robes (g)
Medium ~50,000 GP Ranger boots, mithril (t)
Hard ~100,000+ GP Rune (g), god pages, 3rd Age
Elite ~500,000+ GP 3rd Age armor, gilded gear
Master Millions 3rd Age druidic, dyes

Rare Drops and Their Value

The real jackpot lies in rares like:

  • 3rd Age Items: Armor pieces (5M–65M GP), weapons (hundreds of millions).
  • Dyes: Shadow dye (~1.2B GP) or blood dye (~500M GP).
  • Cosmetics: Gilded armor, clue-specific hats, and capes.

Even lower tiers can surprise you—completing 500 easy clues earns a large spade, while 600 beginner clues unlock the “Explore” emote.

Pro Tips to Maximize Efficiency

Ready to dominate Treasure Trails? These advanced tips will save time and boost your haul.

Farming Efficiently

  • Stack Scrolls: Since 2015, you can hold one of each tier—keep them flowing.
  • Use Rings of Wealth: Double clue drop rates in the Wilderness (e.g., thugs at 1/64).
  • Combat Achievements: Completing easy/medium tiers boosts drop rates by 5%.

Navigating Challenges

Higher tiers get tricky—here’s how to handle them:

  • Wilderness Clues: Protect from Magic against Zamorak wizards; watch for PKers.
  • Puzzle Boxes: Practice with online solvers to speed up.
  • Quests: Start Fairy Tale II for fairy rings; quest access opens clue areas.

Avoiding Pitfalls

  • Death in Deep Wilderness: Above level 20, unprotected scrolls vanish—use a clue box.
  • Entrana Trick: Open easy caskets on Entrana for higher god page odds (no armor rolls).
  • Ironman Woes: Some emote clues (e.g., adamant boots) are blocked—plan alternatives.

With this OSRS clue scrolls guide, you’re equipped to tackle any Treasure Trail. Start with beginner clues to get the hang of it, then chase those elite and master rewards. The thrill of unearthing a casket—and maybe striking it rich with 3rd Age—awaits. Happy hunting!