RuneScape 25th Anniversary celebrations are packed with nostalgia, cosmetics, and time-limited rewards, and at the center of it all is Hans, the iconic NPC found in the Lumbridge Castle courtyard. Through Hans, players can access the 25th Anniversary task list, earn the prestigious 25th Anniversary Cape, collect inverted skillcapes, and take part in festive balloon drops and cake rewards. This SEO-ready guide breaks down everything you need to know about Hans’s tasks and the surrounding anniversary activities so you don’t miss out before the event ends.

How to Start Hans’s 25th Anniversary Tasks

To begin, simply speak to Hans in the Lumbridge Castle courtyard. He will provide players with the 25th Anniversary task list, which contains a variety of celebratory objectives designed to commemorate RuneScape long history.

The tasks can be completed in any order, making the event flexible for both casual and veteran players. Once all tasks are finished, return to Hans to receive the 25th Anniversary Cape, a cosmetic reward symbolizing participation in this milestone event.

Importantly, these tasks remain available until the end of 2026, giving players plenty of time to complete them without pressure.

Inverted Skillcapes: How the Shard System Works

One of the most sought-after rewards tied to Hans is the ability to earn inverted skillcapes. During the anniversary event, players can talk to Hans to select one mastered skill at a time as their focus. While training that skill, players can gather inverted skillcape shards.

If the player is eligible for the master cape in that skill, they can also earn inverted master skillcape shards simultaneously.

Requirements to Earn Shards

To gain shards, players must:

Train the focused skill.

Wear a cape of Accomplishment for that skill.

For example, when focusing on Agility, any of the following qualify:

Agility cape

Agility cape (t)

Hooded Agility cape

Hooded Agility cape (t)

Agility master cape

Cosmetic overrides and expert capes of Accomplishment do not count. If you attempt to train without the correct cape, the game will warn you that shards cannot be earned.

Trading Shards for Inverted Skillcape Tokens

Shard totals matter, as they can be exchanged with Hans for tokens:

990 inverted skillcape shards → Inverted skillcape token

1,200 inverted master skillcape shards → Inverted master skillcape token

Once obtained, these tokens must be taken to the corresponding skill master, unlocking the ability to purchase the inverted skillcape for that skill.

There are a few important limitations:

Tokens are skill-specific and cannot be used elsewhere.

Players may only earn tokens for four different skills per anniversary year.

Tokens must be used before switching focus to another skill.

Switching focus will delete any unclaimed shards, so planning ahead is essential. Exchanging shards for a standard inverted skillcape token removes your current focus, but you can re-focus on the same skill afterward to continue earning master shards without losing progress.Enhance your OSRS gaming experience with high-quality OSRS gold from RSgoldfast! Trust RSgoldfast for unbeatable prices and top-notch service!

Shard collection is available until 31 January 2026, marking the hard deadline for inverted skillcape progress.

Balloon Drops: Dates, Locations, and Rewards

Another highlight of the 25th Anniversary celebration is the balloon drop events, which took place on 4 January and 13 January 2026.

Every 30 minutes—on the hour and half past—Purple, Silver, and Yellow Balloons dropped near most lodestones across Gielinor. The exceptions were:

City of Um

Fort Forinthry

Prifddinas

Two minutes before each drop, players received a chat message announcing Party Pete’s balloon drop, accompanied by a festive confetti effect around affected lodestones.

Players could pop up to 50 balloons per day, with each balloon granting a random reward. Any balloons left unpopped would disappear one minute after landing. Interestingly, players who stayed logged in across the daily reset could exploit a reset bug by logging out later, allowing them to pop more than 50 balloons in a single day.

Balloon Drop Rewards

Balloon drops offered a wide variety of items, mostly cosmetic or consumable, including:

Anniversary balloon

Balloon animals (cat, dog, goat, sheep)

Bonus XP stars (small)

Celebration cake and candles

Coins (200–5,000)

Fireworks and firecrackers

Food items like pizza, chocolate cake, and cabbages

Small XP lamps (event)

While many rewards are untradeable and not sold on the Grand Exchange, they add to the fun and festive atmosphere of the event.

Players who logged in before the game update on 5 January 2026 automatically received the RS Anniversary cake, provided they didn’t already own one. It could also be claimed from Party Pete during that time.

After the update on 5 January 2026, the cake became permanently reclaimable from Hans or Party Pete, ensuring noplayer misses out on this classic anniversary item.

Hans’s tasks are the backbone of RuneScape 25th Anniversary celebrations, offering long-term goals, exclusive cosmetics, and a strong sense of nostalgia. Whether you’re chasing the 25th Anniversary Cape, grinding shards for inverted skillcapes, or popping balloons for festive rewards, this event rewards both dedication and casual participation.

With tasks available until the end of 2026 and shard collection open until 31 January 2026, now is the perfect time to visit Hans in Lumbridge and make your mark on RuneScape history.