For many adventurers in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), pets are the ultimate badge of honor. These loyal companions don’t offer combat advantages, but their rarity, aesthetic appeal, and status make them highly coveted. Whether you’re chasing a skilling pet, a boss pet, or simply want a cuddly follower by your side, the good news is that obtaining pets in 2025 has never been easier thanks to updates, new methods, and smarter strategies. Let’s dive into how you can make pet hunting more efficient than ever.

Why Pets Are Special in OSRS

Pets in OSRS are miniature versions of bosses, skilling creatures, or unique companions that follow you around. Unlike cosmetic outfits, pets are rare drops or achievements, which makes them status symbols. Owning pets like the Tzrek-Jad, Skotos, or Phoenix is a clear signal to other players that you’ve conquered tough content or dedicated countless hours to skilling.

Since their introduction, pets have grown into one of the most sought-after collection goals in the game. For completionists, the All Pets collection is a milestone achievement. For casual players, even one pet adds personality and pride to their RuneScape journey.

Skilling Pets Made Easier

One of the biggest barriers to pet hunting used to be sheer grind time. Skilling pets often required hundreds or thousands of hours. However, recent updates and quality-of-life changes have made them more accessible.

1.Skilling Rates and Buffs

Over time, XP rates for many skills have increased due to new methods, gear, and updates. Since most pets are tied to XP gained in their respective skill, faster XP means faster pet rolls.

2.Efficient Training Methods

Agility: Training at the Hallowed Sepulchre not only gives top-tier XP but also improves your chances for the Squirrel pet compared to traditional rooftop courses.

Fishing: Barbarian Fishing and Tempoross provide steady XP with extra rolls at the Heron pet.

Mining: The Rock Golem is easier to hunt at places like the Mining Guild with prospector gear boosting your XP.

Firemaking: Wintertodt massively improves pet chances for the Phoenix while also being profitable.

3.Pet Insurance

Thanks to Probita in Ardougne, skilling pets are insured. This means if you lose your pet, you can reclaim it for a small fee. This safety net makes grinding feel less stressful.

Boss Pets: Conquer and Collect

Boss pets remain the most exciting part of pet hunting. They’re tied to specific PvM encounters and drop at varying rates. With improvements to gear and accessibility, they’re more obtainable than ever.

1.Improved Gear and Power Creep

The introduction of new weapons and armor has made bosses easier to kill, increasing the number of attempts per hour and therefore pet chances. A player farming General Graardor today can clear kills much faster than years ago.

2.Group Bossing and Masses

Events and group fights allow lower-level players to participate in boss kills, giving everyone a chance at pets like Kraken or Zulrah. Even if you’re not the main DPS, pets are still on the table.

3.Nightmare, TOA, and TOB Pets

While raids pets like Lil’Zik and Tumeken’s Guardian are rare, more players have access to raids due to community guides, learner-friendly groups, and accessibility updates. This has made even the most prestigious pets more achievable.

4.Boss Event Rotations

Community-driven events and Jagex-run boss rotations have boosted the availability of certain bosses, making farming sessions more structured and efficient.

New Content Means New Pets

Every major update seems to bring a new pet into the game. For example, Guardians of the Rift added the Rift Guardian, while Tempoross gave us a skilling/boss hybrid pet. By diversifying content, Jagex has given players more opportunities to earn pets across different playstyles.

In 2025, new expansions and minigames are expected to include pets, ensuring that pet hunting stays fresh and engaging.

Tips to Maximize Your Pet Chances

Go for Profitable Grinds: Instead of chasing a single pet, target activities that generate gold while rolling for pets, like Wintertodt, Zulrah, or raids.

Don’t Burn Out: Pet hunting is a marathon. Rotate between skilling and bossing to keep the grind enjoyable.

Use Efficient Gear: The better your gear, the more kills or XP you earn per hour, which translates into more pet rolls.

Track Progress: Tools like RuneLite plugins help track how many kills or XP you’ve done, giving perspective on drop rates.

Join the Community: OSRS communities often host pet hunting events, races, and competitions, making the grind more fun.

The Social Value of Pets

Beyond personal pride, pets play a big role in OSRS’s social culture. Standing in the Grand Exchange with your Olmlet or Hellpuppy is a flex that sparks conversations, trade offers, or admiration. Pets aren’t just companions—they’re statements of skill, patience, or luck.

Final Thoughts

Hunting for pets in OSRS will always carry an element of RNG, but today’s game makes the journey far less daunting than it used to be. With better training methods, stronger gear, more community support, and an ever-growing list of obtainable pets, securing a loyal companion has never been easier.

Whether you’re grinding XP for a skilling pet, farming a boss for hundreds of kills, or just hoping for that one lucky drop, every pet is a story worth telling. In 2025, OSRS players have more opportunities than ever to make those stories a reality—and to share them with a pet proudly following at their heels.