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New to OSRS? Here’s the Best Way to Start in 2026

Starting Old School RuneScape for the first time can honestly feel overwhelming.

There are hundreds of quests, skills, bosses, items, and money makers to learn. Unlike most modern games, OSRS does not really hold your hand or tell you exactly what to do next.

That freedom is part of what makes the game so fun, but it can also confuse newer players.

If you’re starting OSRS in 2026, this guide will help you avoid common beginner mistakes and show you the best way to progress your account early on.

Why OSRS Still Has So Many Players

Even after all these years, Old School RuneScape continues to attract massive numbers of players every day.

One reason is because no two accounts progress the exact same way.

Some players focus on:

- PvM and bossing

- Skilling

- Questing

- Flipping

- Raids

- PvP

- Collection logs

- Ironman mode

OSRS gives players a huge amount of freedom compared to many other MMORPGs.

That’s one reason people keep coming back to it year after year.

Focus on Quests Early

One of the biggest mistakes newer players make is ignoring quests.

Quests unlock huge parts of the game and save countless hours of grinding later on.

Some early quests worth focusing on include:

- Waterfall Quest

- Witch’s House

- Fight Arena

- Tree Gnome Village

- The Grand Tree

- Priest in Peril

Many quests provide massive XP rewards early on, allowing you to skip slow low-level training.

Questing also unlocks important areas, transportation methods, and gear upgrades.

Train Combat Early

Combat progression is one of the most important parts of OSRS.

Higher combat stats unlock:

- Better money makers

- Slayer

- Bossing

- Raids

- Stronger gear

- Faster progression overall

Most players focus on training:

- Attack

- Strength

- Defence

- Magic

- Ranged

- Prayer

early on to make the rest of the game easier.

Start Building GP Early

GP is extremely important in OSRS.

Having more gold allows you to:

- Buy gear upgrades

- Train skills faster

- Purchase supplies

- Unlock better methods

- Progress more efficiently

Newer players should focus on learning simple money makers early.

Some beginner-friendly GP methods include:

- Collecting resources

- Killing low-level bosses

- Slayer

- Flipping items

- AFK skilling

As your account improves, better GP methods become available.

If you want more ideas, check out our Top 10 Best Money Makers OSRS 2026 guide.

Don’t Ignore Slayer

Slayer is one of the best long-term skills in OSRS.

It helps train combat while also making GP at higher levels.

Many players eventually spend most of their time doing Slayer because it combines:

- Combat training

- Profit

- Bossing unlocks

- Variety

Higher Slayer levels unlock some of the best monsters and money makers in the game.

Upgrade Your Gear Slowly

New players often waste GP buying random upgrades too early.

Instead of buying expensive cosmetic items or unnecessary gear, focus on upgrades that actually improve progression.

Good investments usually include:

- Weapons

- Prayer gear

- Teleports

- Supplies

- Utility items

Efficient upgrades make leveling and money making much faster.

Don’t Burn Yourself Out

A lot of new players quit OSRS because they try progressing too fast.

The game is massive and designed around long-term progression.

You do not need to max immediately or compare yourself to players with thousands of hours played.

The best approach is setting smaller goals such as:

- Unlocking Barrows gloves

- Completing quests

- Building your bank

- Getting fire cape

- Reaching certain skill levels

Small milestones make progression feel much more rewarding.

Use AFK Methods When Possible

Not every activity in OSRS needs full focus.

Many players use AFK methods while:

- Watching YouTube

- Working

- Studying

- Relaxing

Popular AFK activities include:

- Fishing

- Woodcutting

- Mining

- Certain combat methods

If you enjoy lower intensity gameplay, our Best AFK Money Making Methods OSRS guide covers some strong options.

Learn the Grand Exchange Early

The Grand Exchange is one of the most important systems in OSRS.

Understanding item prices and flipping can help newer players build wealth much faster.

Even simple flips can slowly grow your bank over time.

Many experienced players make millions daily simply by understanding the economy properly.

Buying Gold Has Become More Common

As OSRS has become more efficiency-focused, many players now value time much more heavily.

Instead of spending hundreds of hours grinding early GP, some players choose to buy OSRS gold to speed up progression and enjoy higher-level content faster.

This has become increasingly common as endgame gear prices continue rising.

Final Thoughts

Starting OSRS in 2026 can feel overwhelming at first, but that’s also part of what makes the game so rewarding.

The best thing new players can do is focus on steady progression, avoid burnout, and enjoy the journey.

Questing, combat training, Slayer, and learning basic GP methods will help your account grow much faster over time.

OSRS is a game built around long-term goals, and every upgrade slowly adds up.

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