Leveling efficiently in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is all about choosing the right methods for your account type, budget, and available time. With updates, refined meta strategies, and shifting resource OSRS gold prices in 2025, players have more options than ever for fast early-to-mid–game progression. This guide breaks down the best skill-training methods to help you advance quickly, whether you're a beginner or a returning player.

1. Combat Training – Fast & Accessible

Combat is foundational in OSRS, unlocking quests, gear, and money-making paths. In 2025, these methods remain the most efficient:

Levels 1–40: Sand Crabs (Zeah)

Zero aggression reset needed

High hitpoints & low damage

Perfect for AFK leveling

Levels 40–70: Experiments (Haunted Woods)

Very high HP for fast XP

Low defense, consistent kills

Great for melee or ranged

Levels 70+: Nightmare Zone (NMZ)

Still the best AFK combat XP

Use Absorption + Overloads

Stack points for Imbues (huge value)

Alternative (Active XP):

Slayer — slower early on, but best long-term combat + money combo.

2. Prayer Training – Fastest & Cheapest Options

Prayer is one of the most expensive skills, but 2025 has efficient pathways:

Fastest (but costly): Gilded Altar

2× XP rates

Requires Dragon Bones or better

Look for open-hosted altars to save GP

Cheapest: Ensouled Heads

Use Arceuus spellbook to res for XP

Great early/mid-game value

Slayer tasks help supply extra heads

3. Magic Training – The 2025 Meta

Early Game: Fire Strike / Fire Bolt

Cheap and reliable while questing.

Mid Game: High Alchemy

Neutral GP if done on profitable items

Great AFK-friendly XP

Works well combined with mobile play

Fastest XP: Burst/Barraging in MM2 Tunnels

Requires Ancient Magicks

Very high XP/hr

Expensive but unmatched

4. Ranged Training – Best Methods

Low Levels: Cannon + Slayer

Fastest starter XP but expensive on cannonballs.

Levels 40–70: Dwarf Cannon + Ogres

Good money from seed drops

Safe spot available

Levels 70+: Chinning (Monkey Madness II Cave)

Red Chins = fast

Black Chins = extremely fast

High GP cost, but top XP/hr

5. Strength, Attack, and Defence

AFK: Sand Crabs → NMZ

Classic zero-stress method.

Fastest (but active): Slayer Training

Master combat accuracy

Earn GP while leveling

Best for long-term accounts

6. Hitpoints Training

Hitpoints will naturally level with combat training.

For pure-focused XP:

Bursting/Barraging is the fastest method in the game.

7. Woodcutting – Efficient Options

1–45: Oak Trees

Great early XP.

45–90: Teak Trees (3-tick method)

Fastest XP for skilled players.

AFK: Yew Trees / Redwoods (90+)

Slow but stress-free, ideal for mobile play.

8. Mining – 2025 Training Methods

1–60: Motherlode Mine (MLM)

Reliable XP

Good starting GP

Unlocks Prospector outfit

60–99: Volcanic Mine

Very fast XP

Requires group activity

Still best XP/hr in 2025

Alternative AFK:

Amethyst — slow XP but profitable.

9. Fishing – Fast & Calm

1–48: Fly Fishing (Barb Village)

Fastest early XP.

48–99: Barbarian Fishing

Strong XP/hr

Trains Strength + Agility passively

Popular from ironmen to mains

10. Cooking – One of the Easiest 99s

1–30: Shrimp/Trout

30+: Wines

Massive XP/hr

Can lose money but extremely fast

Alternative AFK:

Cooking at Rogues’ Den

No burn chance after 90 Cooking.

11. Crafting – Quick but Pricey

Fastest:

Battlestaves → Dragonhide Armor

Cheapest:

Molten Glass Blowing (glassblowing pipe)

Still a strong budget method.

12. Runecrafting – Level Efficiently in 2025

1–77: Guardian of the Rift (GotR)

Excellent XP/hr

Scales with player skill

Huge rewards + outfit pieces

77+: Blood Runes (Blood Altar)

Amazing GP + XP

Still best long-term method in 2025

13. Fletching

Best: Dart Tips / Amethyst Arrows

Fast XP with stable GP loss.

Cheapest: Oak/Willow Longbows unstrung

Much slower but very affordable.

14. Agility

1–10: Gnome Course

10–30: Draynor Rooftop

30–60: Varrock → Canifis

60–90+: Seers’ Village Rooftop

Fastest: Hallowed Sepulchre (high skill required)

15. Thieving

1–20: Men

20–45: Cake Stall

45–99: Blackjacking (fastest)

AFK Alternative: Ardougne Knights

Final Tips for Fast Progression

Prioritize quests (Waterfall, Dragon Slayer, Slayer unlocks)

Train Slayer early for balanced combat

Combine profitable skills (Runecrafting, Mining, Fletching)

Use efficient bank routing + teleports

Track XP with Runelite cheapest OSRS gold plugins (huge time-saver)