OSRS Dragon Bones Gilded Altar: The Ultimate Prayer Training Guide

OSRS Dragon Bones Gilded Altar: The Ultimate Prayer Training Guide


Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players know that training Prayer can be a grind, but using dragon bones on a gilded altar offers one of the most efficient and popular methods to level up fast. Whether you’re aiming for level 43 Prayer for protection prayers or pushing all the way to 99, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about using dragon bones with a gilded altar. From costs and experience rates to step-by-step instructions, we’ve got you covered with practical tips to optimize your training. Let’s dive into why this method is a game-changer and how you can make the most of it!

Dragon bones are a staple for Prayer training in OSRS due to their balance of accessibility, cost, and experience yield. When paired with a gilded altar, they become even more powerful, offering a fast track to higher Prayer levels without breaking the bank as much as rarer bones like superior dragon bones.

The Appeal of Dragon Bones

Dragon bones drop from all adult dragons (except baby dragons, lava dragons, and Elvarg), making them relatively easy to obtain through combat or purchase on the Grand Exchange. They grant 72 Prayer experience when buried, but when offered at a gilded altar with both incense burners lit, that jumps to an impressive 252 XP per bone. This multiplier makes them a go-to choice for players seeking efficiency.

Cost vs. Experience Efficiency

Compared to cheaper options like big bones (52.5 XP with both burners lit) or more expensive ones like superior dragon bones (525 XP), dragon bones strike a sweet spot. As of April 2025, their Grand Exchange price hovers around 2,500-3,000 GP each, meaning you’re spending roughly 10-12 GP per XP at a gilded altar. This is significantly cheaper than superior dragon bones (around 48 GP/XP) while still offering solid XP rates.

How the Gilded Altar Boosts Your Prayer XP

OSRS The Best Prayer Altar Locations F2P P2P FandomSpot

A gilded altar is the crown jewel of Prayer training in a player-owned house (POH). It’s a construction project requiring level 75 Construction, but you don’t need to build one yourself—thanks to the OSRS community, you can use someone else’s!

Understanding Gilded Altar Mechanics

When you use bones on a gilded altar, you get 250% of the base Prayer XP (e.g., 180 XP for dragon bones). Lighting one incense burner with marrentill herbs bumps this to 300% (216 XP), and lighting both burners maxes it out at 350% (252 XP). The message “The gods are very pleased with your offering” confirms both burners are active, ensuring you’re getting the full bonus.

Why Gilded Altar Outshines Other Methods

Compared to burying bones (72 XP) or using the Ectofuntus (288 XP), the gilded altar offers speed and convenience. The Chaos Altar in the Wilderness provides 700% XP on average due to a 50% chance of not consuming bones, but its high risk of PKers makes it less practical for most. The gilded altar, especially in World 330 house parties, delivers consistent XP without the danger.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using Dragon Bones on a Gilded Altar

Ready to start training? Here’s how to use dragon bones on a gilded altar efficiently, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player looking to optimize.

Preparation Checklist

Before you head out, gather these essentials:

  • Noted Dragon Bones: Buy from the Grand Exchange—calculate how many you need based on your XP goal.
  • Coins: 5 GP per bone to un-note them (e.g., 50,000 GP for 10,000 bones).
  • Teleport Method: House teleport tablets or a Rimmington teleport (e.g., via skills necklace to Crafting Guild).
  • RuneLite Client (Optional): Use the Menu Entry Swapper plugin to swap “bury” to “use” for faster clicks.

Finding a Gilded Altar Host

World 330 in Rimmington or Yanille is the go-to spot for open gilded altars. Here’s the process:

  1. Teleport to Rimmington (House teleport if your POH is there, or walk from Falador).
  2. Join the “07 Altar” clan chat or check the house advertisement board for hosts with a “Y” under “Gilded Altar.”
  3. Right-click the house portal, select “Friend’s House,” and enter the host’s name.

Offering Bones Like a Pro

Once inside the host’s POH:

  1. Ensure both incense burners are lit (ask the host if not).
  2. Use your un-noted dragon bones on the altar—your character will auto-offer them.
  3. When you run out, exit the house, go to Phials in the Rimmington general store, and use noted bones on him (press “3” to un-note all).
  4. Return to the host’s house via “Visit-Last” on the advertisement board and repeat.

Pro Tip: With focus, you can offer around 1,000-1,200 bones per hour, netting 252,000-302,400 XP/hr.

Cost and XP Breakdown for Dragon Bones on Gilded Altar

Let’s crunch the numbers to see what you’re investing and gaining. This section includes a handy table for quick reference.

Total Cost to 99 Prayer

From level 1 to 99 Prayer, you need 13,034,431 XP. Using dragon bones at 252 XP each, that’s approximately 51,724 bones. At 3,000 GP per bone, the total cost is around 155 million GP, plus 258,620 GP for un-noting (5 GP x 51,724). Grand total: ~155.3 million GP.

XP Rates and Time Investment

Here’s a breakdown of XP per hour and time to 99:

Method Bones/Hour XP/Hour Hours to 99
Standard (Auto-Offer) 1,000 252,000 ~52
Focused (Manual Use) 1,200 302,400 ~43
1-Tick (Advanced) 2,550 642,600 ~20

Note: 1-tick training involves using bones on the same tick as the offering animation, doubling your speed but requiring intense focus and practice.

Tips to Maximize Efficiency and Save GP

Training Prayer doesn’t have to drain your bank or your patience. Here are some insider tips to get the most out of your dragon bones and gilded altar sessions.

Optimizing Your Workflow

  • Use a Bone Runner: Trade 27 noted dragon bones for 26 un-noted ones with a runner in the house—saves trips to Phials but costs slightly more.
  • Bank Nearby: In PvP worlds, use the Camelot bank chest for faster un-noting (safe zone, close to a teleport).
  • Alt Account Trick: Have an alt light burners or run bones, boosting rates to 780,000 XP/hr with dragon bones.

Saving Gold and Staying Safe

  • Buy in Bulk: Purchase dragon bones when prices dip on the Grand Exchange—track trends with GE Tracker.
  • Avoid Wilderness Risks: Stick to gilded altars over the Chaos Altar unless you’re confident in escaping PKers.
  • Donate to Hosts: A small tip (e.g., 100k GP) keeps hosts motivated to maintain their altars.

Alternative Bones Comparison

While dragon bones are ideal, here’s how they stack up:

  • Big Bones: 52.5 XP, ~200 GP each, 3.8 GP/XP—cheap but slow.
  • Wyvern Bones: 252 XP, ~2,800 GP each, 11 GP/XP—similar to dragon bones, slightly cheaper at times.
  • Superior Dragon Bones: 525 XP, ~25,000 GP each, 48 GP/XP—fastest but pricey.

Dragon bones remain the best all-around option for most players.

Training Prayer with dragon bones on a gilded altar is a proven method that balances speed, cost, and accessibility. Whether you’re a casual player or a maxing enthusiast, this approach gets you to your Prayer goals efficiently. Stock up on bones, find a World 330 host, and watch your Prayer level soar—happy training!