Runecrafting has changed a lot in Old School RuneScape over the past year. New runes, balance changes, and updates to the Guardians of the Rift minigame have made the skill much more rewarding than before. Whether you’re chasing 99 for the prestige, for profit, or for completion goals, 2025 is the best time to train in Runecrafting.

Recent Updates

In early 2024, Jagex introduced Sunfire Runes. They quickly became one of the most profitable runes to craft, reaching over a million gold per hour. Later that year, Aether Runes were added and completely changed the training meta. With runners, players can now achieve up to 500,000 XP per hour, making it possible to reach 99 Runecrafting in around 35 hours if you have enough OSRS gold to spend.

In late 2024, Guardians of the Rift also received several quality-of-life improvements. These updates made the minigame smoother to play and more profitable overall, keeping it as one of the best ways to train the skill.

Why Train Runecrafting

Runecrafting used to be one of the slowest and least popular skills in the game, but now it’s both profitable and practical. At level 77, you can craft True Blood Runes for around two million gold per hour. At level 95, Wrath Runes can earn up to 2.5 million gold per hour. The skill also provides passive experience in Mining, Crafting, and Magic, depending on your chosen methods.

It’s also an important skill for progression. You’ll need 60 Runecrafting to complete Desert Treasure II and to earn the Quest Cape, and 91 Runecrafting for the Achievement Diary Cape. Several quests also have Runecrafting requirements, so training it is valuable no matter your goals.

Important Unlocks

There are a few key items and unlocks that make Runecrafting faster and easier. Essence pouches are essential since they let you carry more essence per trip. You can get them from Abyssal creatures or as rewards from Guardians of the Rift. They can be repaired by talking to the Dark Mage in the Abyss or by using the NPC Contact spell.

The Colossal Pouch is another major upgrade. It’s created using the Abyssal Needle and combines all other pouches into one. At level 85 Runecrafting, it can hold up to 40 essence, giving you more XP per run.

The Rayments of the Eye outfit is also worth getting. It’s obtained from Guardians of the Rift and increases the number of runes crafted by up to 60% when wearing the full set.

Finally, Dayalt Essence is a great resource for training. It’s unlocked after completing Sins of the Father and requires 60 Mining. Dayalt Essence gives 50% more XP than normal essence and works well with semi-AFK training methods like the Ourania Altar or Lava Runes.

Fast Training Methods

The fastest way to reach 99 Runecrafting is by using runners to craft Lava and Aether Runes. With runners, you can get up to 500,000 XP per hour, reaching 99 in about 35 hours. However, it’s very expensive, costing around 2.8 billion gold in total.

If you’re training solo without runners, you can still use Lava Runes from level 23 all the way to 99. This method takes about 137 hours and costs around one million gold in materials. XP rates are slower, but it’s still one of the most efficient solo methods available.

Recommended Training Methods

Guardians of the Rift remains one of the best all-around methods for both XP and profit. It’s unlocked after completing the Temple of the Eye quest at level 27 Runecrafting. During the game, you mine fragments, craft runes, and help defend the Great Guardian. You can expect around 20,000 to 70,000 XP per hour along with 200,000 to 800,000 gold in profit. It also gives a small amount of Mining and Crafting XP.

The Ourania, or ZMI Altar, is another solid option. It doesn’t have a level requirement but works best with the Lunar Spellbook and high Defense. When combined with Dayalt Essence, you can earn between 70,000 and 115,000 XP per hour while making up to 300,000 gold.

At higher levels, crafting Blood and Soul Runes on Zeah is an excellent semi-AFK choice. Blood Runes become available at level 77 and Souls at 90. Both provide steady profit, with Bloods offering up to a million gold per hour and Souls slightly less but with better XP rates.

Profitable Methods

If you’re focusing on money, True Blood Runes, Aether Runes, and Wrath Runes are the best choices. Blood Runes can earn one to two million gold per hour, while Wrath Runes are the highest profit at around 2.5 million per hour. Double Astral Runes, available at level 82, also offer a consistent 800,000 gold per hour with decent XP.

Ironman Tips

For Ironman accounts, collecting essence is the biggest challenge. The best sources are the Guardians of the Rift minigame, the Zeah essence mine, and certain boss or Slayer drops. Iron players can use the same training methods as main accounts once they have enough essence, though progress will naturally take longer.

Early Level Training

Start by completing Rune Mysteries and the Enter the Abyss miniquest to reach around level 9. You can then use an XP lamp from a quest to reach level 10. Completing Temple of the Eye will take you from level 10 to around 27 and unlock the Guardians of the Rift minigame. If you prefer manual training, crafting tiaras up to level 23 is also a quick way to get started.

Best Paths to 99

If you want the fastest route possible, Lava and Aether Runes with runners are unmatched. For solo players, Lava Runes are the best option. For those who prefer AFK training, crafting Blood and Soul Runes on Zeah is ideal, offering both profit and relaxed gameplay. Dayalt Essence, combined with the Ourania Altar provides a nice balance of XP and OSRS GP, while Guardians of the Rift offers the most engaging experience with good rewards.

Final Thoughts

Runecrafting is no longer the slow, painful grind it used to be. With the new runes, faster XP methods, and improved minigames, it’s become one of the most profitable and flexible skills in OSRS. Whether you want to reach 99 quickly, earn gold along the way, or just play at your own pace, there’s now a Runecrafting method that fits your style perfectly.