OSRS Stronghold of Security Emotes: Unlock Guide and Tips

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a variety of unique activities, and one of the most iconic for free-to-play adventurers is the Stronghold of Security. Located beneath Barbarian Village, this dungeon not only provides combat training and rewards like coins and boots but also unlocks four exclusive emotes: Flap, Slap Head, Idea, and Stamp. These emotes are a fun addition to your character’s repertoire and are tied to completing the dungeon’s four levels. In this blog post, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about the OSRS Stronghold of Security emotes, including how to unlock them, their uses, and tips for navigating the dungeon efficiently.

The Stronghold of Security emotes are four distinct animations that players can unlock by completing each level of the dungeon. These emotes—Flap, Slap Head, Idea, and Stamp—are rewarded as you progress through the Vault of War, Catacomb of Famine, Pit of Pestilence, and Sepulchre of Death. They’re not just cosmetic; they also serve as a badge of accomplishment for tackling this classic OSRS challenge.

Why Emotes Matter in OSRS

Emotes in OSRS are more than just fun animations. They’re a way to express yourself in-game, communicate silently (especially if muted), and even complete specific tasks like the Varrock Achievement Diary, which requires performing all four Stronghold emotes. For free-to-play players, these emotes are some of the easiest to unlock without needing membership, making them a popular early-game goal.

List of Stronghold of Security Emotes

• Flap: A bird-like arm-flapping animation unlocked from the Gift of Peace.
• Slap Head: A facepalm gesture unlocked from the Grain of Plenty.
• Idea: A lightbulb-moment pose unlocked from the Box of Health.
• Stamp: A foot-stomping action unlocked from the Cradle of Life.

How to Unlock the Stronghold of Security Emotes

Unlocking the Stronghold of Security emotes requires navigating the dungeon’s four levels and claiming the rewards at the end of each. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting all four emotes, optimized for both new and returning players.

Preparation for the Journey

Before heading to the Stronghold of Security, ensure you’re prepared:

• Combat Level: Even a level 3 account can complete it, but bring food (e.g., tuna or lobsters) for safety.
• Authenticator: You’ll need the RuneScape Authenticator enabled on your account to claim rewards.
• Location: Head to Barbarian Village, west of Varrock, and climb down the ladder between the coal and tin rocks.

Level 1: Vault of War – Flap Emote

The first level is the easiest, featuring monsters like goblins (level 5-25), wolves (level 11-14), and minotaurs (level 12-27). Answer security questions at the Gates of War to progress. At the end, open the Gift of Peace to receive 2,000 coins and the Flap emote. If your combat level is 26 or higher, you can use the portal to skip directly to the reward.

Level 2: Catacomb of Famine – Slap Head Emote

Descend to the second level, where you’ll face giant rats (level 26), zombies (level 30-53), and flesh crawlers (level 28-41). Navigate the Rickety Doors, answering more security questions. The Grain of Plenty at the end grants 3,000 coins and the Slap Head emote. A combat level of 51+ allows portal use.

Level 3: Pit of Pestilence – Idea Emote

The third level ups the difficulty with spiders (level 24-50), scorpions (level 37-59), and catablepon (level 49-68). Pass through the Oozing Barriers to reach the Box of Health, which restores your stats and rewards 5,000 coins plus the Idea emote. Combat level 76+ unlocks the portal shortcut.

Level 4: Sepulchre of Death – Stamp Emote

The final level is the toughest, home to shades (level 159), skeletons (level 60-85), ghosts (level 76-77), and ankou (level 75-86). Run through the Portals of Death to the Cradle of Life, where you’ll claim the Stamp emote, 10,000 coins total (across all levels), and a choice between Fancy or Fighting Boots. No portal shortcut exists here unless you’ve claimed the reward before.

Tips for Completing the Stronghold of Security

While the dungeon is manageable for low levels, these tips can make your journey smoother and safer, ensuring you unlock all emotes without hassle.

Combat and Safety Tips

Monsters get tougher as you descend, so plan accordingly:

• Bring Food: Lobsters or swordfish are ideal for healing.
• Run Past Aggressors: Toggle run mode to avoid fights, especially on level 4.
• Use Safespots: Level 1 has ranging safespots behind fences for training if desired.

Security Questions Made Easy

The dungeon’s doors require answers to account security questions. Brush up on basics like passwords, PINs, and recovery questions via the RuneScape Customer Support Knowledge Base. Most questions are straightforward if you’ve set up your account properly.

Uses of the Stronghold of Security Emotes

Once unlocked, these emotes have practical and social applications in OSRS, enhancing your gameplay experience.

In-Game Tasks and Achievements

The Varrock Medium Diary requires you to perform all four emotes in the Barbarian Village. This task boosts your Varrock Armour benefits, making it a worthwhile goal for members. Keep the emotes handy for this purpose.

Social Fun and Expression

Whether you’re flapping your arms at the Grand Exchange or stomping in a duel, these emotes add personality to your character. They’re especially useful for muted players who rely on emotes to communicate.

Rewards Beyond Emotes: What Else You Get

The Stronghold of Security isn’t just about emotes—it’s a treasure trove of free-to-play rewards. Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll earn alongside the animations.

Coin Rewards Table

Level	Reward Chest	Coins	Emote
Vault of War	Gift of Peace	2,000	Flap
Catacomb of Famine	Grain of Plenty	3,000	Slap Head
Pit of Pestilence	Box of Health	5,000	Idea
Sepulchre of Death	Cradle of Life	10,000 (total)	Stamp

Boots and Skull Sceptre

The Cradle of Life offers Fancy or Fighting Boots (identical stats, different looks) and the chance to assemble the Skull Sceptre. Kill minotaurs, flesh crawlers, catablepon, and ankou for its four parts. The sceptre provides five teleports to Barbarian Village, upgradable via Varrock Diaries.

With 10,000 coins total, these rewards are a significant boost for new players, while the boots offer a rare free-to-play cosmetic option.

Final Thoughts on Stronghold of Security Emotes

The OSRS Stronghold of Security emotes are a rewarding part of an already engaging dungeon. Whether you’re a level 3 fresh off Tutorial Island or a seasoned player revisiting Barbarian Village, unlocking Flap, Slap Head, Idea, and Stamp is a rite of passage. The journey teaches account security, offers decent loot, and adds flair to your character—all for free. So, gear up, enable your authenticator, and dive into the Stronghold of Security today. Which emote is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!