Cheap OSRS Prayer Training Guide 2025: Efficient Ways to 99

Prayer in Old School RuneScape is your go-to skill for surviving Gielinor’s toughest fights. I still remember my first Zulrah attempt, sweating buckets while flicking Protect from Missiles, barely making it out alive. That’s when I knew Prayer was a game-changer whether it’s tanking Vorkath, outlasting PKers in the Wildy, or stretching skilling potions. Sure, it can drain your bank, but with budget-friendly methods, you can hit 99 without selling your whole inventory. This guide, loaded with 2025 Grand Exchange prices and Yama expansion updates, breaks down the cheapest and most efficient ways to train Prayer, from F2P basics to endgame grinds. Broke or stacked, I’ve got your back with methods that save gold and get results.

Understanding Prayer Basics

Prayer lets you call on Gielinor’s gods for buffs that make you hit harder, take less damage, or skill longer. You burn Prayer points to use these buffs, and your max points grow with your level (1 point per 4 levels). Run out of points mid-boss, and you’re toast. Here’s the lowdown on how it works.

What is Prayer?

Prayer is one of OSRS’s 23 skills, giving you divine boosts for combat and skilling. It’s like a safety net for bosses or a clutch move in PvP cut damage, boost stats, or heal when you’re one hit from death. I learned this the hard way when I forgot to sip a prayer pot at Cerberus and got smoked. Points are your fuel, so manage them wisely.

Gaining Prayer Experience

You’ve got a few ways to stack Prayer XP, each with its own vibe. Here’s the rundown:

Burying Bones: Kill monsters, grab bones, bury them. Slow but dirt cheap, perfect for F2P or newbies.
Offering at Altars: Use bones on altars like the Ectofuntus or Chaos Altar for 2 to 4 times the XP of burying. Budget-friendly and high gains.
Bonecrusher: Auto-buries bones from undead kills for free XP. A Slayer grinder’s best mate.
Quests: Quick XP from stuff like Restless Ghost or Priest in Peril to kickstart your levels.

Restoring Prayer Points

Keeping points topped up is make-or-break. Here’s how:

Altars: Churches in Varrock or Lumbridge, or your Player-Owned House altar, refill points instantly.
Potions: Prayer potions (8k to 10k GP) give 7 to 25 points per dose. Super Restores (12k to 15k) also heal HP.
Play Smart: Prayers like Piety chug points fast. Toggle them to stretch your supply.

Types of Prayers

Prayers come in three types, each with its own perks:

Protection Prayers: Protect from Melee, Magic, or Missiles (37 to 43) cut damage by 40 to 50 percent. These kept me alive at Vorkath.
Stat-Boosting Prayers: Piety (70) pumps melee, Augury (77) boosts magic, Rigour (74) cranks range.
Utility Prayers: Redemption (49) heals when you’re low, Preserve (55) extends potion timers.

Get these down, and you’re ready to grind Prayer like a seasoned Scaper.

Essential Gear for Prayer Training

The right gear saves gold and time. These are my must-haves after countless bone runs and altar sessions.

Bonecrusher: Around 600k GP or a drop from Dagannoth Kings. Auto-buries undead bones for XP while slaying. I snagged mine after a sweaty Rex fight, and it’s been a lifesaver.
Prayer Potions: 8k to 10k GP each. Stock up for long altar runs or boss fights.
Ardougne Cloak 3 or 4: From Ardougne Diary (Medium or Hard). Adds plus 10 percent XP when burying and teleports to a monastery altar. My go-to for quick bone grinds.
God Books: Saradomin, Guthix, or Zamorak (200k to 1M GP) give plus 2 to 4 Prayer bonus. Illuminated ones are a total flex.
Amulet of the Damned: Around 500k GP, plus 4 Prayer bonus, boosts bone XP at altars. Great for budget runs.
POH Gilded Altar: Build at level 75 Construction (1.2M GP). Add marble burners (600k GP) for plus 100 percent XP. Use a friend’s if you’re broke.

I used a mate’s POH altar to hit 70 Prayer and saved a fortune. Grab these if you can.

Best Cheap Prayer Training Methods for 2025

Here’s the heart of the guide: the cheapest ways to train Prayer, updated with 2025 GE prices and mechanics from OSRS Wiki and Reddit. These methods keep costs low while pushing you to 99. XP and costs assume you’re playing smart.

1. Burying Bones

The cheapest starter method, perfect for F2P or low levels. Kill monsters, bury bones, get XP. It’s slow but won’t break your bank.

Best Spots: Hill Giants in Edgeville Dungeon for Big Bones, Chaos Druids in Taverley for mixed bones, or green dragons in the Wilderness for Dragon Bones (watch for PKers).
How-To: Kill, loot, bury. Ardougne Cloak adds plus 10 percent XP. Bank nearby for fast cycles.
XP and Costs:
- Regular Bones: 4.5 XP, 100 GP, 45k XP/hour at 1M GP/hour.
- Big Bones: 15 XP, 200 GP, 150k XP/hour at 2M GP/hour.
- Dragon Bones: 72 XP, 4k GP, 720k XP/hour at 40M GP/hour (not cheap but included for comparison).
Tip: I grinded Big Bones at Hill Giants to hit 43 Prayer as a noob. It’s chill and affordable. Stick to Big or Regular Bones if you’re broke.

2. Ectofuntus

The ultimate budget method. High XP, super low cost, but a bit of a grind. Needs Ghosts Ahoy quest and buckets of slime.

Setup: Grind bones into powder, mix with slime from Port Phasmatys, offer at the Ectofuntus altar. Gives 4 times XP versus burying.
How-To: Use Morytania Legs 3 for teleports. Bring 13 bones and buckets per trip, mix, offer, repeat. Earn Ecto-tokens for extras.
XP and Costs: Dragon Bones give 288 XP each, 400k XP/hour at 5M GP/hour. Big Bones give 60 XP, 200k XP/hour at 800k GP/hour.
Tip: I used Ectofuntus when I was skint. Tokens paid for my prayer pots. Stock slime buckets to save hours.

3. Bonecrusher with Slayer

Free XP while grinding combat or Slayer. Needs Bonecrusher and undead targets.

Best Spots: Catacombs of Kourend (skeletons, spectres, dragons) or Slayer tasks like ankous. Drops include Big or Dragon Bones.
How-To: Equip Bonecrusher, kill undead, let it auto-bury for half bury XP (e.g., 36 XP per Dragon Bone). Pair with prayer potions.
XP: 50k to 100k XP/hour, free if slaying.
Tip: I hit 52 Prayer doing Slayer in the Catacombs. Pick bone-heavy tasks like ankous for zero-cost gains.

4. Chaos Altar in Wilderness

Risky but dirt cheap, with 3.5 times XP versus burying and a 50 percent chance to save bones. In level 38 Wilderness.

Setup: Bring noted Dragon Bones, un-note at Elder Chaos Druid in level 13 Wilderness. Offer at the altar, tele out if PKers show. Scout with an alt.
XP and Costs: Dragon Bones give 252 XP each, 600k XP/hour at 7M GP/hour (less with saves). Big Bones give 52.5 XP, 200k XP/hour at 400k GP/hour.
Tip: I nearly died to a PKer but banked 500k XP in an hour. Go early mornings, risk only what you can lose.

5. POH Altar (Shared)

Use a friend’s Gilded Altar for fast XP without building one. World 330 is your spot.

Setup: Join World 330 for public altars. Bring bones, offer at lit burners for plus 100 percent XP (2 times base).
How-To: Tele to Rimmington via House Portal or Amulet of Glory to Edgeville. Offer 26 bones per trip, repeat. Tip hosts with bones.
XP and Costs: Dragon Bones give 252 XP, 700k XP/hour at 14M GP/hour. Big Bones give 52.5 XP, 200k XP/hour at 800k GP/hour.
Tip: I hit 70 Prayer at a World 330 house party. Free burners saved me millions. Check OSRS Discord for hosts.

Bone Types and Their Experience Values

Picking the right bones is key to staying cheap. Here’s the 2025 breakdown, checked with GE prices.

Bone Type	Bury XP	Gilded Altar XP	Chaos Altar XP	GE Price	Notes
Regular Bones	4.5	15.75	15.75	100 GP	Low-level NPCs, cheapest
Big Bones	15	52.5	52.5	200 GP	Hill Giants, budget pick
Monkey Bones	15	52.5	52.5	150 GP	Karamja monkeys, cheap
Dragon Bones	72	252	252	4k GP	Dragons, less budget but good value
Wyvern Bones	50	175	175	2k GP	Fossil Island wyverns
Frost Dragon Bones	80	280	280	15k GP	Endgame, too pricey for budget
Sacred Bones	24	84	84	500 GP	God Wars Dungeon tasks

Tip: Stick to Big Bones or Regular Bones for cheap grinds. I grabbed Regular Bones at 80 GP during a GE dip.

Using Altars for Efficient Prayer Training

Altars are your best bet for fast, cheap Prayer gains. They boost XP and cut costs compared to burying. Here’s the scoop.

Types of Altars

Regular Altars: In churches like Varrock or Lumbridge. Restore points, give base XP.
Gilded Altar: POH exclusive, doubles XP with lit burners. Use a friend’s on World 330 if you can’t build one.
Chaos Altar: Level 38 Wilderness, 3.5 times XP, 50 percent bone save chance. Risky but super cheap.
Ectofuntus: Port Phasmatys, 4 times XP with slime and ground bones. The ultimate budget method.

Efficient Altar Strategies

POH Gilded Altar (Shared): Join World 330, bring 26 bones, use lit burners for plus 100 percent XP. Amulet of Glory for quick banking. Hits 200k XP/hour with Big Bones at 800k GP/hour.
Chaos Altar: Tele to level 13 Wilderness with Burning Amulet, un-note bones, offer, escape with Glory. Scout with an alt to dodge PKers. 200k XP/hour with Big Bones at 400k GP/hour.
Ectofuntus: Grind bones, mix with slime, offer in Port Phasmatys. Morytania Legs 3 speed up trips. 200k XP/hour with Big Bones at 800k GP/hour.
House Parties: World 330 for free Gilded Altars. Hosts often light burners; tip bones to keep it going.

Tip: I hit 77 Prayer at a World 330 house party using Big Bones. Saved millions on burners. Check OSRS Discord for hosts.

Benefits of High Prayer Levels

High Prayer levels transform your gameplay. Here’s why the grind pays off.

Bossing: Protect prayers (37 to 43) make Vorkath or Cerberus doable. Piety (70) boosts DPS for faster kills.
PvP: Vengeance (94) reflects 75 percent damage, flipping Wildy fights. Smite (52) drains enemy Prayer.
Skilling: Preserve (55) stretches potion timers for Herblore or Mining. Rapid Heal (22) saves food on Slayer.
Raids: Redemption (49) or Soul Split (92, Ancients) supports teams in Chambers of Xeric or Theatre of Blood.
Questing: Protect prayers ease fights in quests like Monkey Madness II. I tanked Glough with just Protect from Melee and one prayer pot.

I hit 70 Prayer and Cerberus became a cakewalk. Level to 70 plus for the best perks.

Prayer Book and Unlockable Prayers

The Prayer Book is your hub for activating prayers, found in the Prayer tab. Each prayer burns points at different rates, so use them smartly.

Prayer Types

Protective: Protect from Melee, Magic, or Missiles (37 to 43) cuts damage by 40 to 50 percent. Key for bosses or PvP.
Combat: Piety (70), Augury (77), or Rigour (74) boost attack, defense, or accuracy. Chivalry (60) is a solid mid-tier pick.
Utility: Redemption (49) heals at low HP, Preserve (55) extends boosts, Rapid Restore (19) speeds stat recovery.

Unlocking Prayers

Standard Prayers: Start with basics like Thick Skin (plus 5 percent Defence) or Protect from Magic at level 1.
Advanced Prayers:
- Chivalry (60): King’s Ransom quest, 65 Defence. Melee boost.
- Piety (70): King’s Ransom, 70 Defence. Top melee prayer.
- Augury (77): Desert Treasure, 70 Magic. Magic boost.
- Rigour (74): 70 Defence, Chambers of Xeric points. Range boost.
- Preserve (55): 52 Prayer, no quest. Extends boosts.

Tip: Learn prayer flicking to save points. I practiced on goblins before taking on Zulrah.

Cost-Effective Prayer Training Methods

These methods are tailored for broke players looking to level Prayer without spending much.

1. Bonecrusher with Slayer

How-To: Equip Bonecrusher, kill undead like skeletons or ankous in Catacombs. Auto-XP, no cost.
XP: 50k to 100k XP/hour, free if slaying. Dragon Bones give 36 XP per kill.
Tip: I hit 43 Prayer on Slayer tasks without spending a dime. Pick bone-heavy monsters like ankous.

2. Ectofuntus

How-To: Grind bones, mix with slime, offer at Port Phasmatys. Needs Ghosts Ahoy.
XP and Costs: Big Bones give 60 XP, 200k XP/hour at 800k GP/hour. Regular Bones give 18 XP, 100k XP/hour at 400k GP/hour.
Tip: Stock slime buckets to save time. Tokens funded my prayer pots early on.

3. Low-Cost Bones

Options: Regular Bones (100 GP, 4.5 XP), Big Bones (200 GP, 15 XP), Monkey Bones (150 GP, 15 XP).
How-To: Bury while training combat or buy in bulk for altars. Ardougne Cloak adds plus 10 percent XP.
Tip: I buried Big Bones early on. Grab Regular Bones at 80 GP during GE dips.

4. POH Altar (Shared)

How-To: Use a friend’s Gilded Altar on World 330. No build cost, just bones.
XP and Costs: Big Bones give 52.5 XP, 200k XP/hour at 800k GP/hour.
Tip: Tip hosts with bones to keep the party going. Saved me millions to 70.

5. Clan Events

How-To: Join OSRS clans for bone-sharing or altar parties. Check Discord or forums.
Benefits: Free bones, shared burners, or Zeal from Soul Wars for XP.
Tip: I got 200k XP free from a clan event. Networking is gold.

Using Prayers in Combat

Prayers can flip fights in your favor. Here’s how to use them like a pro.

Prayer Types in Combat

Defensive: Protect from Melee, Magic, or Missiles (37 to 43) cuts damage. Swap based on enemy attacks.
Offensive: Piety (70) or Rigour (74) boosts DPS. Use for high-damage phases like Vorkath’s fireball.
Utility: Vengeance (94) reflects damage, Redemption (49) heals at low HP.

Managing Prayer Points

Replenish: Carry 2 to 4 prayer potions for bosses. Altars in Catacombs or POH for refills.
Drain Rates: Piety burns about 1 point every 3 seconds. Flick to save points by toggling on hit, off after.
Tip: I learned flicking the hard way at Zulrah. Practice on goblins to nail the timing.

Combat Strategies

Bossing: Match prayers to attack styles, like Protect from Magic for Cerberus’s ghosts. Toggle Piety for DPS bursts.
PvP: Smite (52) drains enemy Prayer, Vengeance catches PKers off-guard. Swap protects based on their weapon.
Prayer Flicking: Toggle prayers per hit to stretch points. Takes practice but doubles uptime.

I flipped a Wildy fight with Vengeance, reflecting 60 damage and teleporting out. Timing is everything.

Advanced Cheap Prayer Training Techniques

For high-level players on a budget, these methods max out XP while keeping costs low.

1. Chaos Altar Optimization

Setup: Use noted Big Bones, un-note at Elder Chaos Druid in level 13 Wilderness. Offer at the altar, tele out if PKers show.
XP: 200k XP/hour with Big Bones at 400k GP/hour (less with saves).
Tip: I banked 500k XP in a few hours here. Scout with an alt to stay safe.

2. Bonecrusher in Catacombs

Setup: Slayer tasks in Catacombs (ankous, skeletons). Bonecrusher auto-buries for 50k to 100k XP/hour.
Tip: Dust Devils drop bones and Slayer XP. Free and efficient.

3. Soul Wars

How-To: Play Soul Wars, earn Zeal, trade for XP or bones. 100k XP/hour with good games.
Tip: Join active clans for faster matches. I traded Zeal for 500k XP over a weekend.

4. Daily Activities

Options: Worship at Wildy altar off-peak, claim Fossil Island prayer lamps, or join seasonal events like Halloween or Christmas.
XP: 10k to 50k XP per activity, stacks over time.
Tip: I got 20k XP from a Fossil Island lamp. Small but adds up.

5. Prayer-Boosting Gear

Items: Ardougne Cloak (plus 10 percent XP), God Books (plus 2 to 4 Prayer), Amulet of the Damned (plus 4 Prayer).
Tip: Stack these for max XP. Saved me 5 percent on bones.

Tips for Maximizing Cheap Prayer Gains

Here are 10 ways to level fast while staying broke-friendly.

Join Altar Parties: World 330 for free Gilded Altars. Tip hosts with Big Bones to keep burners lit.
Use Cheap Bones: Big Bones (200 GP, 52.5 XP at altar) or Regular Bones (100 GP, 15.75 XP) for budget grinds.
Ritual Site on Fossil Island: Turn bones into prayer potions for XP and supplies. Needs Fossil Island access.
Prayer Gear: Ardougne Cloak, God Books, Amulet of the Damned for small XP boosts.
Quest XP: Restless Ghost (1125 XP), Priest in Peril (1406 XP), Animal Magnetism (1000 XP) for early levels.
Events and Minigames: Bonus XP weekends or Pest Control add 10 to 20 percent XP. Check OSRS news.
Familiar Boosts: Spirit Terrorbird (level 52 Summoning) carries bones, extends trips.
Bury vs. Offer: Bury for low levels, offer at altars for 43 plus. Altars are 2 to 4 times faster.
Plan Sessions: Spend 1 to 2 hours daily on altars. Breaks keep it fun.
GE Bargains: Buy bones in bulk when prices drop, like Regular Bones at 80 GP during slumps.

I hit 77 Prayer mixing Ectofuntus and Slayer. Kept it cheap and didn’t go broke.

FAQ

What’s the cheapest Prayer method?
Bury Big Bones (200 GP, 15 XP) or use Ectofuntus with Regular Bones (100 GP, 18 XP). Chaos Altar is also budget-friendly.

How long to 99 Prayer on a budget?
About 150 to 200 hours with Ectofuntus and Big Bones. Quests and Bonecrusher cut 10 to 20 hours.

What’s the best F2P method?
Bury Big Bones from Hill Giants. 150k XP/hour at 2M GP/hour. Slow but cheap.

Can I train Prayer for free?
Yep, Bonecrusher on undead Slayer tasks gives 50k to 100k XP/hour free.

Conclusion

Prayer training doesn’t have to empty your bank. From burying Big Bones in Edgeville to grinding Ectofuntus or risking it at the Chaos Altar, these cheap methods get you to 99 efficiently. With 2025 GE prices, plan your buys to save big. Check our blog for more OSRS guides on money-making or bossing, or compare gold prices if you need a quick stack. Keep praying, and may your drops be blessed!

Last Updated: September 22, 2025