OSRS Elite Clue Requirements Your Guide to Mastering Treasure Trails

OSRS Elite Clue Requirements Your Guide to Mastering Treasure Trails

Elite clue scrolls in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) are among the most challenging and rewarding Treasure Trails, offering players a chance to uncover valuable loot like third-age items or rare dyes. These scrolls, which span 5 to 7 steps, demand a mix of high-level skills, specific quests, and access to unique items. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a new treasure hunter, understanding the requirements for elite clues is key to success. In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about OSRS elite clue requirements, including skills, quests, items, and strategies to tackle these complex trails.

Elite clue scrolls are the second-highest tier of Treasure Trails in OSRS, sitting just below master clues. They involve 5 to 7 steps, often requiring players to solve puzzles, fight enemies, and travel across Gielinor, sometimes venturing into the dangerous Wilderness. Completing an elite clue rewards a reward casket (elite), which can contain items worth millions, such as gilded armor or rare dyes. However, their complexity and requirements make preparation essential.

Why Pursue Elite Clues?

Elite clues are popular for their high-value rewards and engaging gameplay. Here’s why players chase them:

  • Lucrative Rewards: On average, elite clue caskets are worth around 399,761 coins, with potential for items like third-age gear or blood dye worth billions.

  • Variety of Challenges: From anagrams to coordinate clues, elite clues test your knowledge, combat skills, and puzzle-solving abilities.
  • Prestige: Completing elite clues is a badge of honor, showcasing your mastery of OSRS mechanics.

Skill Requirements for Elite Clue Scrolls

Elite clue scrolls require specific skill levels to complete certain steps, particularly for emote clues, Sherlock challenges, and wielding required items. While temporary skill boosts can be used for most non-combat challenges, having the base levels saves time and resources. Below is a table summarizing the highest skill requirements for elite clues, excluding quest-related skills.

Skill Level Purpose
Attack 70 Wield dragon weapons or black salamander
Defence 60 Wear dragon med helm or dragon boots
Ranged 70 Wear black dragonhide armor or wield rune crossbow
Magic 70 Cast Level-5 Enchant for Sherlock challenges
Agility 56 Navigate dense forest in Tirannwn (boostable with summer pie)
Prayer 60 Wear stoles for emote clues
Thieving 72 Sherlock skill challenges
Crafting 63 Sherlock skill challenges

Note: Ironman accounts may need additional skills (e.g., 70 Smithing for crafting items) if they lack certain items like the amulet of glory (t) or black d’hide chaps from hard clues.

Sherlock Skill Challenges

Sherlock, located between the Sorcerer’s Tower and Keep LeFaye, assigns skill-based tasks for elite clues. These may include:

Temporary boosts, like spicy stews or potions, can help meet these requirements if your base level is slightly lower.

Quest Requirements for Elite Clue Scrolls

Many elite clue steps require access to specific areas or NPCs locked behind quests. Some clues only need partial quest progress, while others demand full completion. Below is a list of key quests that may be required, along with their relevance:

Pro Tip: Completing quests like The Grand Tree, Shilo Village, and Legends’ Quest also helps by unlocking travel routes and areas like the Kharazi Jungle. Having 150+ quest points is highly recommended for smoother elite clue completion.

Partial Quest Requirements

Some clues only require starting a quest to access an area. For example:

Check the OSRS Wiki for specific clue steps to confirm whether full or partial completion is needed.

Item Requirements for Elite Clue Scrolls

Elite clues, especially emote clues, require players to equip specific items, often with skill prerequisites. These items are stored in STASH units (Store Things And Stuff Here) to save bank space. Below are some commonly required items and their purposes:

STASH Units: There are 107 STASH units across Gielinor, with elite clues requiring specific quantities of items (e.g., one pair of dragon boots or primordial boots). Check the OSRS Wiki for a full list of emote clue items.

Ironman Considerations

Ironman players face additional challenges, as they must craft or obtain items themselves. For example, without an amulet of glory (t) from hard clues, they may need 70 Crafting to make one. Similarly, black d’hide chaps require 70 Ranged and crafting materials. Plan ahead by completing hard clues to stockpile these items.

Combat and Wilderness Challenges

Elite clue scrolls often involve combat, particularly for coordinate clues, where players must dig at specific locations. Digging in the Wilderness or other areas may spawn a level 97 Armadylean guard (uses Ranged, immune to melee) or a level 125 Bandosian guard (uses Melee). Here’s how to prepare:

Wilderness Tips: For clues near level 36 Wilderness, use the waka canoe (requires 57 Woodcutting) to avoid player-killers. Carry a clue box to protect your scroll if you die above level 20 Wilderness.

Recommended Gear Setup

A versatile gear setup for elite clues includes:

Keep STASH units stocked near clue locations to quickly equip emote clue items.

Strategies for Efficient Elite Clue Completion

To maximize efficiency when tackling elite clues, consider these strategies:

  • Use Teleports: Carry a rune pouch with Law, Air, and Nature runes for quick teleports. The Xeric’s talisman and master scroll book are also handy but bank them for Wilderness steps to minimize risk.

  • Complete Elite Combat Achievements: This increases elite clue drop rates by 5% from most sources (except implings).

  • Farm Clues Efficiently: Kill bosses like Vorkath (1/65 drop rate) or Zulrah (1/75) for consistent elite clue drops. Alternatively, pickpocket Elven clan workers in Prifddinas (requires 85 Thieving and Song of the Elves).

  • Skip Puzzles: Use puzzle-skipping tickets (obtainable from elite clues) to bypass celtic knots or puzzle boxes.

Common Clue Types

Elite clues feature various step types, including:

  • Anagrams: Rearrange letters to identify an NPC’s name, often leading to a challenge scroll or puzzle box.

  • Coordinate Clues: Dig at specific coordinates, often requiring combat.

  • Emote Clues: Perform emotes while wearing specific gear at designated locations.

  • Scan Clues: Search an area for a dig spot, with color-coded distance indicators (gold for 6 paces, silver for 12).

With the right preparation, elite clue scrolls can be both fun and profitable. Focus on meeting skill and quest requirements, stock up on necessary items, and use efficient strategies to conquer these Treasure Trails. Happy hunting, and may your caskets be filled with riches!