The Best XP Quests in OSRS: Level Up Fast in Old School RuneScape

If you’re diving into Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and looking to level up your skills quickly, quests are your secret weapon. Unlike grinding, quests offer massive XP rewards, engaging stories, and access to new content—all in one go. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, knowing the best XP quests in OSRS can save you hours and catapult your account to new heights. In this blog post, we’ll explore the top quests for XP gains, breaking them down by skill and accessibility. Let’s get started!
Quests in OSRS aren’t just about lore—they’re a goldmine for experience points. Many provide XP rewards that rival hours of traditional training, especially for early-game players or those tackling slow skills like Prayer or Slayer. Plus, they often unlock useful items, teleports, or areas, making your journey through Gielinor smoother. The quests below are hand-picked for their high XP rewards, low-to-moderate requirements, and overall value.
Top Combat XP Quests in OSRS
Combat skills—Attack, Strength, Defence, and Hitpoints—are essential for tackling bosses, Slayer tasks, and PvP. These quests deliver huge XP boosts to get you fighting fit fast.
Waterfall Quest: A Beginner’s Combat Boost
Waterfall Quest is a must-do for new players. With no skill requirements, it’s accessible right out of Tutorial Island. You’ll navigate a scenic dungeon and face minimal combat, making it perfect for low levels.
- XP Reward: 13,750 Attack XP, 13,750 Strength XP
- Requirements: None
- Length: Short (20-30 minutes)
- Why It’s Great: Jumps your Attack and Strength to level 30 instantly, skipping early grinding.
The Grand Tree: Massive Attack Gains
The Grand Tree offers a hefty chunk of Attack XP and introduces you to the Gnome storyline. It’s slightly longer but still manageable for beginners.
- XP Reward: 18,400 Attack XP, 7,900 Agility XP, 2,150 Magic XP
- Requirements: 25 Agility
- Length: Medium (1-2 hours)
- Why It’s Great: Boosts Attack to nearly level 40 and unlocks Gnome Gliders for travel.
Dragon Slayer: F2P Combat Glory
Dragon Slayer is the pinnacle of free-to-play quests, pitting you against Elvarg. It’s a rite of passage for F2P players and offers solid combat XP.
- XP Reward: 18,650 Strength XP, 18,650 Defence XP
- Requirements: 32 Quest Points, ability to fight a level 83 dragon
- Length: Medium (1-2 hours)
- Why It’s Great: Unlocks Rune Platebody equipping and gives a huge combat boost.
Monkey Madness I: Mid-Level Combat Power
Monkey Madness I is a P2P classic with a generous XP split. It’s tougher but worth it for the rewards and Dragon Scimitar access.
- XP Reward: 35,000 Attack XP + 35,000 Defence XP (or 35,000 Strength XP + 35,000 Hitpoints XP), plus 20,000 in the other pair
- Requirements: The Grand Tree, Tree Gnome Village
- Length: Long (3-4 hours)
- Why It’s Great: Massive XP flexibility and unlocks Ape Atoll.
Best Skilling XP Quests in OSRS
Not all skills are combat-focused. Skilling quests can jumpstart your progress in tough-to-train skills like Prayer, Slayer, or Agility. Here’s where to focus.
The Restless Ghost: Early Prayer XP
The Restless Ghost is a quick F2P quest that gives a rare Prayer XP boost, a skill notoriously slow to train.
- XP Reward: 1,125 Prayer XP
- Requirements: None
- Length: Short (15-20 minutes)
- Why It’s Great: Boosts Prayer from level 1 to 9, saving you early gold on bones.
Haunted Mine: Strength and Prayer Combo
Haunted Mine combines combat and skilling XP, with a hefty Strength reward and a bonus item.
- XP Reward: 22,000 Strength XP
- Requirements: 15 Agility, 35 Crafting, ability to defeat a level 95 boss
- Length: Medium (1-2 hours)
- Why It’s Great: Big Strength boost and unlocks the Salve Amulet for undead slaying.
Monkey Madness II: Slayer and More
Monkey Madness II is a grandmaster quest with multi-skill XP rewards, perfect for mid-to-high-level players.
- XP Reward: 25,000 Slayer XP, 20,000 Agility XP, 15,000 Thieving XP, 15,000 Hunter XP, plus two 50,000 XP lamps (combat skills)
- Requirements: Monkey Madness I, 69 Slayer, 70 Crafting, 60 Hunter, 55 Agility, 55 Thieving
- Length: Very Long (5-6 hours)
- Why It’s Great: Huge XP across multiple skills and unlocks the Demonic Gorilla loot table.
Low-Requirement XP Quests for Newbies
New to OSRS? These quests have minimal requirements but pack a punch in XP rewards, making them ideal for fresh accounts.
Cook’s Assistant: Cooking Kickstart
Cook’s Assistant is often the first quest players tackle, offering a small but useful Cooking XP boost.
- XP Reward: 300 Cooking XP
- Requirements: None
- Length: Very Short (5-10 minutes)
- Why It’s Great: Quick and easy intro to Cooking, plus access to the Lumbridge range.
Imp Catcher: Magic for Beginners
Imp Catcher is a simple F2P quest that gives a decent Magic XP reward for little effort.
- XP Reward: 875 Magic XP
- Requirements: None
- Length: Short (15-20 minutes)
- Why It’s Great: Boosts Magic to level 8 and provides an Amulet of Accuracy.
Doric’s Quest: Mining Made Easy
Doric’s Quest is another F2P gem, perfect for early Mining XP without the grind.
- XP Reward: 1,300 Mining XP
- Requirements: None (15 Mining recommended)
- Length: Short (15-20 minutes)
- Why It’s Great: Jumps Mining to level 10 and unlocks Doric’s anvils.
High-Level XP Quests Worth the Grind
For players with some levels under their belt, these quests offer massive XP rewards but require more preparation and skill.
Song of the Elves: Endgame XP Haul
Song of the Elves is a grandmaster quest with jaw-dropping XP rewards, ideal for late-game players.
- XP Reward: 20,000 XP in 8 skills (Agility, Attack, Defence, Hitpoints, Mining, Smithing, Strength, Woodcutting), plus four 40,000 XP lamps
- Requirements: 70 Agility, Construction, Farming, Herblore, Hunter, Mining, Smithing, Woodcutting
- Length: Very Long (6-8 hours)
- Why It’s Great: Unlocks Prifddinas and provides a huge XP spread.
Recipe for Disaster: Combat and Utility
Recipe for Disaster is a sprawling questline with big combat XP and one of the best items in OSRS.
- XP Reward: 28,000 Cooking XP, 20,000 Combat XP (varies by subquest), plus lamps
- Requirements: 175 Quest Points, various skills (e.g., 70 Cooking, 48 Agility)
- Length: Very Long (8-10 hours total)
- Why It’s Great: Unlocks Barrows Gloves, a best-in-slot item.
XP Quest Comparison Table
Here’s a quick overview of the best XP quests to help you plan your next adventure:
Quest | Main XP Reward | Requirements | Length |
---|---|---|---|
Waterfall Quest | 13,750 Attack, 13,750 Strength | None | Short |
The Grand Tree | 18,400 Attack | 25 Agility | Medium |
Dragon Slayer | 18,650 Strength, 18,650 Defence | 32 Quest Points | Medium |
Monkey Madness II | 25,000 Slayer, 50,000 Combat Lamps | High (69 Slayer, etc.) | Very Long |
Song of the Elves | 20,000 in 8 Skills, 40,000 Lamps | 70 in 8 Skills | Very Long |
Final Thoughts on the Best XP Quests in OSRS
Whether you’re a free-to-play newbie or a members-only veteran, OSRS quests offer some of the fastest ways to gain XP and progress your account. Start with low-requirement quests like Waterfall Quest and The Restless Ghost to build your foundation, then tackle heavy-hitters like Monkey Madness II and Song of the Elves as you grow. Pair these with efficient training methods, and you’ll be maxed out in no time. Which quest are you starting first? Drop your thoughts below, and happy questing in Gielinor!