RuneScape remains one of the most iconic MMORPGs ever created, offering a massive open world, hundreds of skills to train, and thousands of hours of content. Whether you're starting fresh in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) or RuneScape 3 (RS3), the early game can feel overwhelming without proper direction. This guide gives new players a clear, structured path to progress efficiently, understand core systems, and avoid common mistakes.

1. Choosing Your Game Mode (OSRS vs RS3)

Before diving in, understand the difference between the two versions:

Old School RuneScape (OSRS)

Classic graphics and gameplay

No microtransaction shortcuts

Slower, grind-focused progression

Huge PvP culture and strong economy

RuneScape 3 (RS3)

Modern graphics

Ability-based combat system

Faster leveling

More quests OSRS gold and quality-of-life features

Tip: If you enjoy nostalgia and pure skill grinding, choose OSRS.

If you prefer modern mechanics and faster leveling, RS3 is ideal.

2. Character Creation & First Steps

After creating your character, you will land in the Tutorial Island (OSRS) or Ashdale / Gielinor Tutorial (RS3).

Learn the Basics:

Combat controls

Crafting and gathering stations

Bank and inventory systems

Interacting with NPCs

Complete the tutorial even if you’ve played before—the rewards and free items give a solid start.

3. Core Skills Every Beginner Should Train

RuneScape features 23 skills in OSRS and 28 in RS3, but beginners should focus on a few essential ones first.

Combat Skills

Attack

Strength

Defence

Magic

Ranged

Prayer

These form the foundation for PvE, PvP, and questing.

Economic Skills

Fishing

Woodcutting

Mining

Smithing

Cooking

These provide early-game gold and help fund better gear.

Utility Skills

Agility (OSRS) / Agility & Divination (RS3)

Crafting

Runecrafting

Agility especially helps with energy regeneration and faster travel.

4. Early Money-Making Methods

You don’t need millions of gold to start; consistent low-level money makers can easily fund your early game.

Best Beginner Methods (OSRS)

Cooking Shrimp & selling to players

Mining Copper/Tin → Smelting Bronze bars

Plucking Feathers from chickens

Collecting Cowhides

Picking Flax near Seers’ Village

Best Beginner Methods (RS3)

Mining Rune/Pure essence

Killing low-level monsters for notable drops

Gathering logs and fish

Doing Daily Challenges for GP

Tip: Prices fluctuate daily—check the Grand Exchange before farming.

5. Questing for Fast Progression

Quests are extremely valuable and often unlock key content.

Top Beginner Quests (OSRS)

Cook’s Assistant – Cooking XP

Waterfall Quest – Massive early Combat XP

Vampire Slayer – Attack XP

The Grand Tree – Combat + Agility XP

Witch’s House – Hitpoints XP

Top Beginner Quests (RS3)

The Blood Pact – Combat XP

Let Them Eat Pie – Range XP

Demon Slayer – Unlocks Silverlight

Death Plateau – Access to Trollheim

Complete Waterfall Quest early—it boosts you into mid-game combat instantly.

6. Understanding Combat – OSRS vs RS3

OSRS Combat

Tick-based (1 tick = 0.6 seconds)

No abilities—timing and positioning matter

Prayers increase damage and defense

Gear upgrades drastically improve efficiency

RS3 Combat

Ability-based system (EoC)

Combos, ultimates, and cooldown management

Much faster leveling

Revolution mode automates abilities for beginners

Tip: New players in RS3 should enable Revolution for easier combat learning.

7. Travel, Teleports & Movement

RuneScape worlds are huge—knowing how to travel efficiently saves hours.

OSRS Travel Unlocks

Lodestones (in RS3 only)

Teleport Tablets

Spirit Trees

Fairy Rings

Canoes, ships, and charter travel

RS3 Travel Systems

Full lodestone network

Home Teleport

Player-owned Portals

Teleport spells and jewelry

Unlock teleports early; they are massive time savers for quests and grinding.

8. Gear Progression for New Players

Best Early OSRS Gear

Melee: Iron → Steel → Mithril → Adamant

Magic: Wizard gear + elemental staff

Range: Leather armor + shortbow

Best Early RS3 Gear

Melee: Bronze → Iron → Steel → Black

Range: Leather buy RuneScape gold → Hard leather → Studded

Magic: Wizard → Batwing

Upgrade weapons before armor—they have the biggest impact on DPS.

9. Important Places Every Beginner Should Know

Banks

Safely store items; always bank valuables after farming.

Grand Exchange (GE)

Your main trading hub for buying and selling.

Player-Owned House (POH)

Unlocks teleports, storage, and useful utilities as you upgrade it.

Training Hubs

Lumbridge (early combat)

Varrock mining spot

Draynor for fishing

Barbarian Village for training & cooking

10. Daily Tasks & Routines

Daily tasks greatly boost progression, especially in RS3.

OSRS Daily Activities

Battlestaves purchase

Sand collection

Farming runs

Kingdom of Miscellania (once unlocked)

RS3 Daily Activities

Daily Challenges

Vis Wax

Jack of Trades aura

Reaper Tasks

A 15-minute daily routine can easily earn 500K–2M GP depending on level.

11. PvP & Wilderness Safety Tips

The Wilderness is dangerous for beginners—enter with caution.

Safety Tips

Never bring items you can’t afford to lose

Avoid deep Wildy until you know escape routes

Keep your run energy high

Teleport instantly if a player tries to attack

12. Membership Benefits (Highly Recommended)

Becoming a member unlocks a massive portion of the game:

Membership Perks

Dozens of new skills

Hundreds of new quests

Better money-making

Access to the Grand Exchange (OSRS ironmen excluded)

Faster leveling overall

Even a few weeks of membership drastically changes progression.

13. Common Beginner Mistakes

Avoid these early pitfalls:

Overtraining one skill while ignoring quests

Not upgrading gear regularly

Bringing valuables into the Wilderness

Spending all GP on cosmetics

Ignoring food & healing items

Forgetting to activate prayers (OSRS)

Training in overcrowded worlds

14. Final Tips for a Strong Start

Train multiple skills at once for variety

Join a clan or friends chat for help and boosts

Use official wiki pages for quest guides

Keep your inventory organized

Use bank presets (RS3)

Never underestimate the value of food and potions

Conclusion

RuneScape offers endless opportunities—from completing quests and fighting bosses to mastering dozens of skills. As a new adventurer, following this guide ensures smooth progression, smarter decisions, and far fewer setbacks. Whether you're playing OSRS or RS3, the world of Gielinor is rich with exploration, danger, and reward.