OSRS F2P Fastest 99 Skills Guide

OSRS F2P Fastest 99 Skills Guide

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) free-to-play (F2P) offers a nostalgic grind, but reaching level 99 in any skill can feel daunting without membership perks. This guide dives into the fastest skills to hit 99 in F2P, focusing on efficiency, cost, and accessibility. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned F2P veteran, these methods will help you achieve that coveted skill cape without breaking the bank or spending months grinding.

In F2P, skill training is slower due to limited methods, gear, and resources compared to pay-to-play (P2P). However, some skills stand out for their speed, affordability, or simplicity, making them ideal for players aiming to max out efficiently. The fastest 99s in F2P are typically buyable skills like Cooking, Firemaking, and Crafting, which rely on Grand Exchange purchases rather than gathering resources manually. This guide prioritizes methods that balance speed, cost, and ease for F2P players.

Top 3 Fastest Skills to 99 in F2P

What Is The Quickest 99 Skill In Runescape Uncover The Speediest Path

Based on experience rates, cost, and accessibility, the following skills are the fastest to reach 99 in F2P. Each method is tailored to minimize time while keeping costs manageable.

Cooking: The Fastest and Cheapest 99

Cooking is the fastest 99 in F2P, taking as little as 24 hours with the right method. It’s also one of the cheapest buyable skills, making it a go-to for F2P players. The best method involves cooking wines from level 35 to 99, which offers high XP rates and low costs.

  • Method: Buy grapes and jugs of water from the Grand Exchange, combine them to make unfermented wine, and wait 12 seconds for them to ferment into wine, granting 200 XP each.
  • XP Rates: 200k XP/hour at level 35, scaling to 480k XP/hour at level 68 when failures stop.
  • Cost: Approximately 4.29M GP for 66,000 grapes and jugs of water, at 0.4 GP/XP.
  • Location: Any bank, as no range or fire is needed.

Tip: Use the Lumbridge bank for minimal lag and quick banking. Avoid 1-tick karambwan cooking, as it’s P2P-exclusive and overly click-intensive.

Firemaking: Quick and Profitable

Firemaking is another fast F2P 99, achievable in around 30–43 hours depending on the method. It’s popular for its simplicity and potential for profit, especially when paired with Woodcutting.

  • Method: Burn logs progressively (normal, oak, willow, maple, yew) using the best logs for your level. Cut and burn logs on the spot to save costs.
  • XP Rates: Up to 400k XP/hour with yew logs at level 90.
  • Cost: 15.5M GP for 63,016 yew logs, or cheaper with maple logs at 14k GP for 1,572 logs.
  • Location: Grand Exchange for crowded worlds or Rogue’s Den for quieter training.

Tip: Collecting ashes while burning logs can offset costs by 60k GP/hour, especially useful for F2P accounts.

Crafting: Profitable but Expensive

Crafting is the third-fastest 99 in F2P, taking around 50–60 hours with the jewelry-making method. While costly, it can yield a profit, making it appealing for players with capital.

  • Method: Make gold jewelry (amulets, necklaces) using gold bars and gems. Sapphire and emerald jewelry are most cost-effective.
  • XP Rates: Up to 65k XP/hour with gold amulets.
  • Cost: 235.7M GP total, with a potential profit of 10.7M GP.
  • Location: Al Kharid furnace for smelting and crafting.

Tip: Complete quests like Sheep Shearer and Goblin Diplomacy for 950 XP to reach level 8 quickly before starting jewelry.

Honorable Mentions for Fast 99s

While Cooking, Firemaking, and Crafting dominate for speed, other skills like Mining and Runecrafting offer viable paths to 99 with unique benefits.

Mining: Click-Intensive but Rewarding

Mining is slower than the top three but can be fast with tick manipulation. It’s ideal for players who enjoy active skilling and want some profit.

  • Method: Power mine iron ore in Al Kharid’s northwestern corner (3 rocks close together).
  • XP Rates: 50k XP/hour at level 41, up to 68k XP/hour with tick manipulation at level 61.
  • Cost: Minimal, as ores are dropped.
  • Location: Al Kharid mine.

Tip: Use a rune pickaxe and complete Doric’s Quest for 1,300 XP to hit level 10 fast.

Runecrafting: Slow but Profitable

Runecrafting is one of the slowest F2P skills, but crafting body tiaras offers decent XP and profit potential.

  • Method: Craft body tiaras in PvP worlds using Lumbridge teleport and Skull Sceptre (i) for quick banking.
  • XP Rates: 47k XP/hour.
  • Cost: 659.3M GP, with a 655.1M GP loss unless selling tiaras.
  • Location: Body altar east of Barbarian Village.

Tip: Stock up on energy potions to reduce downtime.

Comparing Costs and Time

Choosing the right skill depends on your budget and time commitment. The table below summarizes the fastest F2P 99s:

Skill Time to 99 Cost (GP) XP/Hour Profit Potential
Cooking 24 hours 4.29M 200k–480k Low
Firemaking 30–43 hours 14k–15.5M Up to 400k Moderate
Crafting 50–60 hours 235.7M Up to 65k 10.7M
Mining 180–200 hours Minimal 50k–68k Low
Runecrafting 200+ hours 659.3M 47k Moderate

Tips for Efficient F2P Skilling

Maximizing efficiency in F2P requires smart planning and resource management. Here are some universal tips:

  • Complete Quests Early: Quests like Doric’s Quest (Mining) and Sheep Shearer (Crafting) provide quick XP boosts to skip early levels.
  • Use RuneLite Plugins: Plugins like Menu Entry Swapper and Inventory Setups streamline banking and skilling actions.
  • Bank at Grand Exchange: The GE is crowded but offers fast banking and access to resources.
  • Hop Worlds: Switch worlds to avoid competition for resources like iron ore spawns.
  • Monitor GE Prices: Check Grand Exchange prices regularly, as costs for grapes, logs, or gold bars fluctuate.

Conclusion

Achieving a 99 in OSRS F2P is a testament to dedication, especially with the limitations of free-to-play. Cooking stands out as the fastest and cheapest, followed by Firemaking for its balance of speed and profit, and Crafting for those with a bigger budget. Mining and Runecrafting are slower but viable for patient players. By using the methods outlined, leveraging quests, and optimizing with tools like RuneLite, you can hit 99 efficiently. Pick a skill, stock up on supplies, and start your grind today!