OSRS Cold War Quick Guide

The Cold War quest in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a thrilling adventure that takes you into the world of penguin espionage. As the first quest in the penguin quest series, it combines humor, strategy, and a touch of spy intrigue, making it a fan favorite. This quick guide will walk you through the steps to complete the Cold War quest efficiently, covering requirements, items, and key actions. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to OSRS, this guide ensures you’ll navigate the iceberg like a pro and thwart those sneaky penguins.
Cold War begins at the Ardougne Zoo, where a paranoid zookeeper named Larry suspects the penguins are up to no good. Your mission is to help him uncover their plans on a remote iceberg in the Lunar Sea. The quest requires specific skills and items, so let’s break it down.
Skill Requirements
- 10 Hunter: Needed to interact with penguins.
- 30 Agility: For navigating the Penguin Agility Course.
- 30 Crafting: To craft the penguin suit and bongos.
- 34 Construction: For building the lookout.
- 15 Thieving: To steal a cowbell.
- Access to Crafting Table 3: Found in a player-owned house (POH).
Item Requirements
Prepare these items before starting to save time:
Item | Quantity | How to Obtain |
---|---|---|
Oak Planks (unnoted) | 10 | Buy from Sawmill or Grand Exchange |
Steel Nails | 10 | Buy from Grand Exchange or smith |
Hammer | 1 | General store or toolbelt |
Spade | 1 | General store or Farming shops |
Plank | 1 | Barbarian Outpost or Grand Exchange |
Silk | 1 | Steal in Ardougne or buy from Grand Exchange |
Clockwork or Steel Bar | 1 | Grand Exchange or smithing |
Swamp Tar | 1 | Lumbridge Swamp or Grand Exchange |
Feathers | 5 | Kill chickens or buy from Grand Exchange |
Mahogany Plank | 1 | Buy from Sawmill or Grand Exchange |
Leather | 1 | Craft from cowhides or Grand Exchange |
Raw Cod or Ring of Charos (a) | 1 | Fish or quest reward |
Recommended Items: Weight-reducing clothing, stamina potion, food, weapon/armor for fighting level 51 Icelords, and teleports (Ardougne cloak, Lumbridge runes).
Starting the Quest
Head to the Ardougne Zoo and speak to Larry at the southern entrance. He’s obsessed with penguins and needs your help to build a lookout to observe them. If you have the required items (10 oak planks, 10 steel nails, hammer, spade), tell Larry you’re ready, and he’ll teleport you to the pier northeast of Rellekka. If not, gather the items and meet him there (Fairy Ring code DKS is handy).
Building the Lookout
- Talk to Larry on the iceberg.
- Use an oak plank on the firm snow patch to build a hut.
- Use the spade on the hut to cover it with snow.
- Enter the snowy bird hide and observe the penguins’ emotes (write them down, as they’re unique to your game).
- Talk to Larry again to discuss the suspicious behavior.
Crafting the Penguin Suit
Larry suggests creating a clockwork penguin suit to infiltrate the penguin base. You’ll need to craft it using a Crafting Table 3 in a POH.
Steps to Craft the Suit
- Travel to a POH with a Crafting Table 3 (use Teleport to House if your POH has one).
- If you don’t have a clockwork, use a steel bar on the table to make one.
- Select “Clockwork Toy” then “Clockwork Penguin” to craft the suit using the plank, silk, and clockwork.
- Return to Larry at the Rellekka dock (take the boat from the pier).
- Read the clockwork book Larry gives you for instructions.
Infiltrating the Penguin Base
With the penguin suit ready, it’s time to go undercover:
- Speak to Larry at the dock and travel back to the iceberg.
- Wear the penguin suit and head northwest to the KGP agent near the avalanche.
- Perform the three emotes you noted earlier in order, then say the password “cabbage.”
- Enter the avalanche to access the penguin outpost.
Uncovering the Penguin Plans
Inside the outpost, you’ll need to gather intel and navigate challenges to uncover the penguins’ war plans.
Getting Past the Guard
- Head straight to the large doors and speak to the KGP agent in the booth. He’ll deny entry due to missing clearance.
- Go southeast to the room with Ping and Pong, who want a cowbell and penguin bongos.
- Exit the outpost and talk to Larry at the dock. He’ll suggest stealing a cowbell and crafting bongos.
- Travel to Lumbridge or southeast Rellekka, steal a cowbell from a dairy cow, and craft bongos using a mahogany plank and leather.
- Return to the iceberg, enter the outpost, and give Ping and Pong the items. A cutscene plays, distracting the guard.
- Exit the room, head north, and operate the controls to open the large doors.
Navigating the War Room
- Enter the War Room to the east. A cutscene reveals the penguins’ plans, but you’re caught and thrown into a cage with level 51 Icelords.
- Kill 1–3 Icelords (ranged attacks, so bring armor/food if low combat).
- Exit the cage through the western ice gate, then climb the chasm to the east to escape.
- Return to Larry near the bird hide and report your findings. A final cutscene shows a giant clockwork penguin!
Rewards and Tips
Congratulations, you’ve completed the Cold War quest! Here’s what you earn:
- 1 Quest Point
- 5,000 Agility XP
- 2,000 Crafting XP
- 1,500 Construction XP
- Penguin Suit: Wear it by talking to Larry at the zoo, pier, farm, or iceberg.
- Penguin Agility Course Access: Requires 30 Agility.
- NPC Contact Spell: Contact Larry remotely.
- Penguin Hide and Seek: Earn 2 points for select penguins.
Pro Tips for Success
- Use Teleports: Ardougne cloak, Lumbridge teleports, or Fairy Ring (DKS) save time.
- Note Emotes: Write down the penguin emotes or screenshot them, as they’re critical for infiltration.
- Combat Prep: Bring food and armor for Icelords if your combat level is low.
- Fairy Ring Access: Partial completion of “A Fairy Tale Part II” unlocks DKS for quick travel to Rellekka.
- Surefooted Aura: Makes the agility course easier if you have it.
The Cold War quest is a fun mix of espionage and humor, with rewards that boost your Agility and Crafting skills. The penguin suit and agility course access are great perks for future adventures. If you enjoyed this quest, consider tackling other penguin series quests or exploring more OSRS content. Happy spying, and watch out for those penguins!
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