Ultimate OSRS Mining Level Up Table Guide Fastest Path to 99

Grinding mining in Old School RuneScape can feel like chipping away at a mountain with a toothpick, especially when you’re fresh out of Tutorial Island. I remember my first real session, huddled in the Lumbridge Swamp mine, swinging a bronze pickaxe at copper rocks that seemed to laugh at my efforts. Hours blurred into a haze of dings and inventory full messages, but that sweet level up sound? It kept me hooked. As someone who’s capped mining twice now, once on my main account back in 2018 and again on an ironman last year, I’ve learned the ins and outs of turning this skilling slog into something almost enjoyable. Today, I’m breaking down the essential mining level up table, key unlocks, and my go-to strategies to rocket you to 99. Whether you’re chasing that quest cape or just want to bank some runite profits, this guide has you covered.

Let’s start with the basics. Mining isn’t just about swinging a pickaxe; it’s about smart progression. The skill rewards patience with ores that fuel smithing, quests, and serious gold flips on the Grand Exchange. But without a solid plan, you’ll burn out faster than a failed blast mine run. I’ve wasted countless hours on suboptimal spots, so trust me when I say: follow a level up table religiously. It maps out your XP needs and highlights those game-changing unlocks. Ready to dig in?

Every skill in OSRS follows a predictable XP curve, and mining is no exception. The total experience required ramps up exponentially, making early levels a breeze compared to the late-game grind. I always pull up a table like this before a session to track progress. It keeps me motivated, seeing how close I am to that next milestone.

Here’s the full mining level up table, pulled straight from the game’s math. Column one is your level, two is the total XP you’ve earned to reach it, and three is the XP needed to hit the next level. At 99, you’re looking at 13,034,431 total XP. Yeah, it’s a beast, but break it into chunks and it’s doable.

See how the XP to next jumps after 50? That’s when things get real. On my ironman, hitting level 70 felt like climbing Everest because each ding required digging through what seemed like endless granite. But once you grasp this table, you can calculate sessions. For example, from 1 to 30 is just 13,678 XP. A couple hours of copper mining, and you’re there.

Major Unlocks That Change Everything

Nothing stings more than arriving at a rock and realizing your level’s too low. I’ve rage-quit more times than I can count over missed unlocks. That’s why mapping them out is crucial. This table isn’t just numbers; it’s your roadmap to better tools, ores, and activities.

I’ve compiled the key mining unlocks below. Focus on these to avoid dead ends. Some are F2P-friendly, others scream for that membership bond.

These unlocks aren’t just checkboxes; they’re power spikes. Hitting 30 and unlocking Motherlode Mine saved my sanity on that ironman run. Suddenly, I could chill with a podcast while pay-dirt piled up. Pro tip: Prioritize quests like Dig Site for a free bump to 33.

Early Game Unlocks Levels 1-30

Starting out, it’s all about building momentum. Copper and tin are your bread and butter. I spent my first 10 levels in the swamp mine because it’s quiet, no guards hassling you. By 15, coal opens up smithing avenues. Gold at 30? That’s when you start feeling like a real miner, flashing those shiny nuggets.

Ever wonder why so many noobs quit here? The rocks deplete too fast in busy worlds. Switch to a low-pop one, and watch your XP tick up.

Mid-Game Power-Ups Levels 30-60

This stretch is where mining shines or breaks you. Motherlode Mine becomes your second home. I remember banking my first big haul of ores there, thinking, “This is what membership buys you.” Granite at 40 introduces tick manipulation, but don’t sweat it yet. Iron powermining in the Mining Guild post-60? Smooth as butter.

Late-Game Glory Levels 60-99

Runite, amethyst, infernal picks. It’s boss mode. But the XP walls are brutal. From 85 to 99, that’s over 4 million XP. I grinded amethyst solo for weeks, earbuds in, zoning out to music. Unlocks like expert mining gloves (from unidentified minerals) prevent rock depletions, saving you seconds per swing that add up to hours.

My Wild Ride to 99 Mining Twice Over

Picture this: It’s 2018, I’m 17, fresh off a bossing binge, and decide mining needs love on my main. Level 52, staring at that 12k XP to 53. I head to Al Kharid for iron, but the mine’s a warzone. Players everywhere, rocks vanishing before I click. Frustrated, I quested through Dig Site and Giant Dwarf, jumping to 37 in an afternoon. Game-changer.

Fast forward to last year on my ironman. No GE for quick buys, so every pickaxe upgrade meant smithing from scratch. Hitting 61 for dragon pick was a party; I special-attacked a runite rock just to celebrate. But the real grind? 70 to 85 on granite. Tick manip with tar and herbs felt like learning a new language. I’d fumble cycles, drop 10k XP/hour, curse the screen. Then it clicked. 125k XP/hour, baby. I hit 99 during a late-night session, confetti raining, heart pounding. Felt like slaying Vorkath.

Why share this? Because mining teaches resilience. It’s not glamorous like slayer, but that cape? Earned every ding. What’s your worst mining memory? Mine’s dropping a full inv of runite to a PKer in the wilderness.

Fastest Training Methods Broken Down by Level

No one-size-fits-all here. I’ve tested ’em all: AFK for lazy days, tick for speedruns. Pick what fits your vibe. Rates assume optimal gear like prospector kit and celestial ring. Boosts from Varrock armor (10% double ore chance) and mining cape (4% XP) stack nicely.

Levels 1-15 Copper and Tin Powermining

Stick to basics. Lumbridge Swamp or Varrock East Mine. Drop ores to keep inventory light.

• XP Rate: 5k-8k/hour
• Profit: Break-even, maybe 50k/hour if you smelt bronze.
• Tips:
  • Upgrade to iron pick at 5.
  • Worlds 300+ for peace.
  • Quest Doric’s for 1,800 free XP.

Short and sweet: This phase flies by. I did it in under two hours.

Now, for a deeper dive. Quests are your secret weapon here. String together Doric’s Quest (1,800 XP), Dig Site (15,300 XP), and a few others like Plague City. Boom, level 33 without swinging once. On my main, this shaved weeks off. But if you’re F2P, pure powermining it is. The swamp’s goblins are pushovers; just wear full iron to tank hits.

Levels 15-45 Iron Ore Grind

Iron’s the workhorse. Triangle spots like Legends’ Guild Mine for multi-rock efficiency.

• XP Rate: 40k-55k/hour (60k+ with tick manip)
• Profit: Low, drop for speed.
• Locations: Al Kharid, Mining Guild (post-60).
• Gear: Rune pick by 41, Varrock armor 1.

I’ve logged hundreds of hours here. One trick: Use stamina pots for endless runs. Ever tried 3-tick iron? Herbs + tar, click like a maniac. Sounds insane, but 80k XP/hour? Worth the wrist strain. For casuals, just drop and repeat.

This method’s forgiving. Iron respawns quick, and it’s F2P viable. But watch your hitpoints; scorpions in Varrock mine pack a punch. Stock bandages.

Levels 30-72 Motherlode Mine AFK Bliss

Enter the golden goose. Pay-dirt to hopper, collect nuggets for upgrades.

• XP Rate: 50k-65k/hour (62k at 90)
• Profit: 300k-500k/hour
• Tips:
  • Unlock upper level at 72.
  • Prospector kit for 2.5% XP boost.
  • Falador elite diary for double ores.

My go-to for Netflix sessions. Load up, hop pay-dirt, bank every 10 minutes. On ironman, those random gems funded my next 20 levels of smithing. Question: How many nuggets till you splurge on the coal bag? I held out too long, regret city.

Long story short, MLM’s low-effort king. But clean pay-dirt actively; idling drops rates. Pair with shooting stars for variety.

Levels 45-99 Granite Cannon

Tick manipulation central. Bandit Camp Quarry, drop granite 500s.

• XP Rate: 80k-130k/hour (134k max)
• Profit: None, pure power.
• Setup: Infernal pick, expert gloves, desert amulet.
• Heat Protection: Waterskins or circlet of water.

This broke me first time. Cycles: Mine, drop, tar, herb, repeat. Miss one? XP tanks. But once fluent, it’s hypnotic. I hit 99’s last 2 million here, averaging 120k. Pro: Passive smithing from infernal burns.

For non-tick folks, Volcanic Mine at 50 offers 40k XP + points for rewards. Team up; solo’s punishing.

High-Level Alternatives 70-99

Bored of granite? Mix it up.

• Amethyst (70+): Mining Guild, 20k-25k XP/hour, 300k profit. AFK-ish.
• Gem Rocks (55+): Shilo Village, 50k XP, gem bag essential.
• Blast Mine (45+): Risky, 60k XP, dynamite profits.
• Shooting Stars (10+): AFK star mining, 20k-40k XP, stardust rewards.

I rotated these on my iron. Amethyst for profit, stars for chill. Blast Mine? Once, lost everything to a misclick. Lesson learned.

Pro Tips from a Seasoned Digger

After two 99s, here’s what I’d tell my newbie self. These aren’t fluff; they saved me gp and sanity.

• Gear Up Smart: Celestial ring (+4 boost) from two hours of stars. Cheap power.
• Diaries Matter: Varrock easy for armor 1, elite for doubles everywhere.
• Ironmen Hack: Quests first, then MLM for ores. Gem bag from Blast Mine at 45.
• Avoid Crowds: Low worlds for mines, hop if rocks empty.
• Burnout Buster: Alternate methods. Granite one day, stars the next.

Strong emphasis: Always carry a charged amulet of glory. Gems roll more often, turning grinds profitable.

What if you’re F2P? Iron to 60 in Varrock, then runite for cash. Slower, but doable. I respect F2P grinders; my first 60 was bond-free.

One weird tip: Dwarven stout from stout-trading boosts +1 mining. Niche, but clutch for runite rocks.

Pitfalls That’ll Bury Your Progress

We’ve all been there. Full inv, rock depletes, inventory overflow. Common traps:

1. Ignoring quests. Free 27k XP to 37? Don’t sleep on it.
2. Wrong worlds. Busy mines = zero rocks.
3. No boosts. Skip prospector kit, lose 2.5% forever.
4. Banking everything. Powermine drops for speed.
5. Tick without practice. Watch a guide first; fumbling wastes hours.

I once mined coal at 20 thinking it’d profit. Nope, inventory clogged, XP crawled. Switched to drops, doubled rates.

Wrapping Up Your Pickaxe Path

There you have it: Your blueprint to mining mastery. From that humble bronze pick swing to infernal flames, 99’s within reach. I’ve poured my heart into this because mining shaped my OSRS love affair. It’s meditative, lucrative, essential. Grab your pick, check that table, and start swinging. What’s your target level this week? Drop a comment; maybe I’ll share more ironman secrets. Happy digging, Gielinor.