OSRS Mermaid Tears Guide Ultimate Tips for Fossil Island
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), Mermaid Tears are a unique currency found in the underwater section of Fossil Island, offering players a chance to earn rewards while training Agility and Thieving. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about collecting Mermaid Tears, from preparation to maximizing efficiency. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a newcomer to Gielinor‘s depths, these tips will help you make the most of this intriguing activity.
Mermaid Tears are a form of currency exclusive to the underwater area of Fossil Island, obtained by looting chests and clams during the Underwater Agility and Thieving activity. They can be spent at Mairin’s Market on items like the Merfolk Trident, unidentified fossils, seaweed spores, and bowls of fish. Additionally, Glistening Tears, which are collected alongside Mermaid Tears, can be exchanged for Agility and Thieving experience, making this a dual-skill training method with tangible rewards.
What Makes Mermaid Tears Unique?
Unlike other currencies in OSRS, Mermaid Tears are tied to a specific underwater environment, requiring players to manage oxygen levels while navigating obstacles. This adds a layer of strategy, as running out of oxygen causes you to lose 10–20 tears. The tears are also revealed to be pearls, according to Mairin, which explains their durability underwater.
Why Collect Mermaid Tears?
Collecting Mermaid Tears serves multiple purposes:
- Skill Training: Gain experience in Agility and Thieving simultaneously.
- Rewards: Purchase unique items like the Merfolk Trident, useful for drift net fishing.
- Fossils: Occasionally obtain unidentified fossils for the Varrock Museum.
- Profit: Items bought with tears, such as the Merfolk Trident, have a Grand Exchange value, offering potential profit.
Preparation for Collecting Mermaid Tears
Before diving into the underwater area, proper preparation is essential to maximize efficiency and minimize setbacks. Here’s how to get ready.
Requirements
To access the underwater section and start collecting Mermaid Tears, you’ll need:
- Quest Completion: Finish Bone Voyage to unlock Fossil Island.
- Partial Quest: Complete parts of Skippy and the Mogres to obtain flippers from Mogres.
- Skills: While no specific skill levels are required, higher Agility and Thieving (ideally 70+) improve experience rates and success rates when looting.
- Equipment: Fishbowl helmet, diving apparatus, flippers, and optionally a Merfolk Trident.
Recommended Gear and Inventory
Your gear and inventory setup can make or break your efficiency. Here’s a suggested setup:
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Fishbowl Helmet | Allows underwater breathing (removed during activity). |
| Diving Apparatus | Provides oxygen for initial access. |
| Flippers | Increases swim speed, highly recommended. |
| Merfolk Trident | Holds pufferfish charges to restore oxygen. |
| Stamina Potions | Reduces energy depletion while swimming. |
Inventory Tips:
- Bring 1–2 stamina potions to maintain energy.
- Keep space for Mermaid Tears and Glistening Tears.
- Optionally carry a few pieces of food for emergencies, though drowning doesn’t cause death.
How to Collect Mermaid Tears Efficiently
The Underwater Agility and Thieving activity is the core method for gathering Mermaid Tears. It involves navigating an underwater course, looting open chests and clams, and managing oxygen levels. Here’s a step-by-step guide.
Getting to the Underwater Area
- Travel to Fossil Island via the canal barge from the Digsite.
- Head to the north-eastern part of the Mushroom Forest and use the small rowboat to “row out to sea.”
- On the small island, use the bank to grab your gear (fishbowl helmet, diving apparatus, flippers).
- Right-click the rowboat and select “Dive” to enter the underwater area.
- Swim north-east to the activity entrance and speak to Mairin.
- Remove your fishbowl helmet and deposit it in the pile of fishbowls to start.
Mechanics of the Activity
Once inside, the activity revolves around looting chests and clams that open every minute, indicated by a blinking red or yellow arrow on the minimap. Here’s how it works:
- First Search: The initial search of an open chest or clam always yields one Mermaid Tear and one Glistening Tear.
- Subsequent Searches: Additional searches have a 1/8.5 success rate, potentially granting more tears and a chance for 5–24 numulites or an unidentified fossil (roughly 1 per 20 tears).
- Oxygen Management: Looting may reduce oxygen slightly. Use air bubbles (5% oxygen every few seconds) or pufferfish (15% instant restore) to stay alive.
- Drowning Penalty: If oxygen hits 0%, you’ll lose 10–20 Mermaid Tears and return to the surface island.
Tips for Maximizing Tear Collection
To gather 170–230 tears per hour, follow these strategies:
- Use Flippers: They significantly increase swim speed, letting you reach open chests and clams faster.
- Prioritize Oxygen: Always catch pufferfish or use air bubbles before your oxygen drops below 20%.
- Focus on Active Targets: Ignore closed chests and clams; only loot when the arrow indicates an open one.
- Charge the Merfolk Trident: Store up to 10 pufferfish in the trident for convenient oxygen restoration.
- High Levels Pay Off: At 99 Agility and Thieving, you can achieve up to 38k Agility and 145k Thieving XP per hour, alongside better loot success rates.
Spending Mermaid Tears at Mairin’s Market
Once you’ve collected Mermaid Tears, head to Mairin’s Market to spend them. Here’s a breakdown of the rewards and their value.
Available Items and Costs
| Item | Cost (Mermaid Tears) | Purpose/Value |
|---|---|---|
| Merfolk Trident | 400 | Aids drift net fishing; worth ~2.2M coins on Grand Exchange. |
| Unidentified Small Fossil | 100 | Used at Varrock Museum for Kudos/XP. |
| Unidentified Medium Fossil | 200 | Higher Kudos/XP value. |
| Unidentified Large Fossil | 300 | Best for museum rewards. |
| Seaweed Spores | 20 | Used for Farming giant seaweed. |
| Bowl of Fish | 30 | Contains random fish; value depends on Fishing level. |
Best Items to Buy
Your choice depends on your goals:
- Merfolk Trident: Best for profit, as it’s worth approximately 5,557 coins per tear based on Grand Exchange prices.
- Fossils: Ideal for Ironmen or players seeking Varrock Museum Kudos and XP.
- Seaweed Spores: Useful for Farming training, especially at higher levels.
- Bowl of Fish: A gamble, as the fish received scales with Fishing level but often yields low value.
Exchanging Glistening Tears
Glistening Tears can be traded to Mairin for experience. At level 99, the rates are:
- Both Skills: 196 Agility and 718.5 Thieving XP per tear (most efficient).
- Agility Only: 294 Agility XP per tear.
- Thieving Only: 1,077.8 Thieving XP per tear.
Pro Tip: Choose both skills for the best overall XP value, as Agility trains slower than Thieving. You can exchange up to 700 tears at once, but excess tears are discarded, so bank them regularly.
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
The underwater activity can be tricky, but these tips will help you avoid pitfalls.
Managing Oxygen Levels
Running out of oxygen is the biggest risk. To prevent drowning:
- Keep an eye on your oxygen meter at all times.
- Catch pufferfish early and store them in your Merfolk Trident.
- Swim to air bubbles when oxygen drops below 50% to conserve pufferfish.
Dealing with RNG
The activity is somewhat RNG-based, as chests and clams open randomly, and subsequent searches have a 1/8.5 success rate. To stay efficient:
- Stay focused and move quickly to the next open target.
- Accept that some sessions may yield fewer tears due to bad luck.
- Use high Thieving levels to improve search success rates.
Buggy Indicators
Some players report issues with the minimap arrow pointing to the wrong chest or clam briefly. If this happens:
With these strategies, you’ll be well-equipped to dive into the underwater world of Fossil Island and collect Mermaid Tears like a pro. Whether you’re chasing profit, XP, or museum rewards, this guide has you covered for a smooth and rewarding experience.