The introduction of Sailing to Old School RuneScape brought with it a new, highly coveted companion: Soup the Seagull. This lively pet, obtained purely through the training of the Sailing skill, has become a symbol of dedication and luck on the high seas. While the drop is ultimately governed by chance, certain activities and strategies can dramatically increase your chances per hour, making your grind for this feathered friend significantly more efficient.

Understanding Soup's Mechanics: The Roll System

Before plotting your course, you must understand how Soup is obtained. Unlike boss pets tied to a specific kill count, Soup has a chance to drop whenever you gain Sailing experience.

The core mechanic is a "virtual roll" system. Every time you complete an action that grants Sailing XP, the game performs a hidden roll to determine if you receive the pet. The formula for your chance is:

Chance = (Your Sailing XP gained from the action) * (Pet Rate Modifier)

The Pet Rate Modifier is a constant value set by Jagex for the Sailing pet. Importantly, higher XP drops grant a proportionally higher chance per action. This is the single most important principle for efficient pet hunting: prioritize activities with the largest, most frequent XP drops you can consistently achieve.

The Tier List: Ranking Sailing Activities for Pet Efficiency

Your goal is to maximize the number of high-value pet rolls per hour. Not all training methods are created equal. Here is the tier list for obtaining Soup, based on XP rates, roll frequency, and accessibility.

S-Tier: High-Intensity, High-Reward Voyages

These methods offer the best chance per hour for dedicated, attentive players.

1. Master Tier Treasure Hunts (Level 90+ Sailing)

Method: Purchasing and completing the highest-tier treasure maps from ports. These voyages involve solving complex puzzles and navigating dangerous routes for massive XP caches.

Why It's Best: They offer some of the largest single-instance XP drops in the skill (10K-25K+). Each massive XP drop represents an enormous pet roll. The activity is engaging but requires full attention.

Optimal Setup: Maxed ship with the best navigation and cargo upgrades to reduce voyage time. Use the Cartography skill to plot the most efficient course.

2. Coral Queen Boss Runs (Level 75+ Sailing & Combat)

Method: Repeatedly defeating the Coral Queen, a sea boss requiring a crew. The boss fight itself grants a substantial chunk of Sailing XP upon completion.

Why It's Effective: It provides a large, predictable XP drop at the end of each ~3-5 minute fight. The combat breaks up the monotony of standard training. Efficiency scales with a skilled, consistent crew.

Optimal Setup: Form a static team to minimize downtime. Use the best sea-worthy combat gear you have (e.g., Trident of the Seas, Dragon Hunter Crossbow if applicable).

A-Tier: Consistent & Profitable Grinds

These methods offer excellent, sustainable rates with good ancillary rewards.

1. High-Level Cargo Running (Level 70-85 Sailing)

Method: Running high-value, fragile cargo between distant, lucrative trade routes (e.g., Port Phasmatys to the Eastern Lands).

Why It's Effective: Provides consistent, medium-to-large XP drops upon each successful delivery. The activity is semi-AFK, profitable, and directly trains the skill. The faster you complete runs, the more rolls per hour.

Optimal Setup: Ship optimized for speed and cargo protection. Use the "Auto-Dock" and "Set Course" features to minimize active clicking. Perfect your route to avoid hazards.

2. Elite Sea Creature Slayer (Level 80+ Sailing & Slayer)

Method: Completing Sailing-based Slayer tasks assigned by Nieve or Duradel (e.g., hunting Oceanic Horrors or Abyssal Trawlers).

Why It's Effective: Combines Slayer XP with strong Sailing XP drops for each creature killed. The pet rolls come from both the Sailing XP for navigating to and engaging the creature, and the combat XP. It's a fantastic two-skills-in-one method.

Optimal Setup: Best-in-slot Slayer gear, a ship with combat enhancements, and a Slayer helm for the damage boost.

B-Tier: Accessible & Low-Intensity Methods

For those with lower levels or who prefer a more relaxed pace.

1. Island Resource Surveying (Level 50-70 Sailing)

Method: Chartering voyages to uncharted islands to gather rare resources (e.g., living coral, deep-sea kelp). The surveying process and resource extraction grant solid XP.

Why It's Viable: Offers decent, frequent XP drops. It's relatively low-intensity and can be combined with gathering skills like Fishing or Woodcutting on the islands.

Optimal Setup: A balanced ship with good storage and surveyor enhancements.

2. Mid-Level Voyage Completions (Level 30-60 Sailing)

Method: Systematically completing all voyage types (Exploration, Delivery, Combat) from various port masters for their one-time XP rewards.

Why It's a Good Start: The one-time completion XP is often a large chunk, giving you a notable pet roll. It's a great way to train while working towards the higher-level methods.

Universal Strategies & Maximizing Your Odds

Beyond choosing the right activity, these principles apply to all pet hunters:

The 200M XP "Bonus": While not officially confirmed for Sailing, other skill pets in OSRS operate with a hidden mechanic: once you reach 200 million XP in a skill, the virtual level cap, your pet chance per roll doubles. For the ultra-committed, this is the ultimate endgame grind.

Minimize Downtime: Your ship is your workstation. Upgrade it relentlessly. Focus on Navigation Speed, Hazard Avoidance, and Cargo Integrity to shave seconds off every voyage, leading to dozens more rolls over a long grind.

Multi-Skill Efficiency: Always ask: "Can I gain another skill's XP here?" Activities that grant Fishing, Crafting (ship repairs), or Agility (navigating ship decks) XP make your time spent more valuable overall, even if they don't directly increase your pet chance.

The Mental Game: Soup is a rare pet. You could get it at level 50, or not at 50 million XP. Do not burn out on the most efficient method if you hate it. Consistency over years beats intense grinding for a month followed by quitting. Choose a method from the A or B-tier that you enjoy and can sustain.

What to Do When Soup Finally Drops

When the glorious message "You have a funny feeling like you're being followed..." appears in your chatbox, congratulations!

Check your inventory for the pet item. If your inventory is full, it will be sent to your bank.

Use the item to unlock Soup as a follower.

You can now insure Soup for 500,000 coins with Probita in East Ardougne. This is non-negotiable. If you lose the pet uninsured (by dying in an unsafe PvP area with it), it is gone forever.

The hunt for Soup the Seagull is a marathon that tests your knowledge of the seas and your patience. By focusing on high-XP activities, optimizing your vessel, and maintaining a steady course, you give yourself the best possible statistical chance to see that welcome feathered shadow cross your deck. Set sail, Captain—your first mate awaits.