Once Tutorial Island is complete, you'll find yourself in RuneScape gold Lumbridge, the starting hub for new players. It's easy to feel lost, but your best move is to begin with beginner-friendly quests.
Some great starting quests include:
Cook's Assistant - Helps you learn about NPC interactions and rewards you with cooking experience.
The Restless Ghost - A simple combat-oriented quest that boosts your Prayer skill.
Imp Catcher - Picked up at the Wizard's Tower, this introduces you to the idea of collecting items for progression.
Your long-term quest goal should be Dragon Slayer I, the iconic early-game challenge. Completing it not only unlocks the ability to wear rune platebodies but also gives you bragging rights as a true adventurer.
If quests aren't your style, you can try the Adventure Path by telling the Gielinor Guide you're new. This gives you structured tasks-either on a Combat Path or a Gatherer Path-to guide your early progress.
The Grand Exchange Explained
One of the most important systems in OSRS is the Grand Exchange (GE). Think of it as a global marketplace where players buy and sell items. Whether you're selling logs from Woodcutting or buying gear for combat, the GE makes trading easy.
New accounts can't use the Grand Exchange immediately-it requires 24 hours of in-game time or completion of specific quests. Once unlocked, you can use it to:
Sell raw materials like ores, fish, and logs for quick gold.
Buy weapons, armor, or supplies you don't want to grind for.
Experiment with "flipping"-buying items low and selling them high (more advanced, but profitable).
How to Make Money in OSRS
RuneScape gold is the backbone of OSRS. You'll need it for better weapons, armor, and supplies. Luckily, there are plenty of beginner-friendly ways to earn GP:
Woodcutting - Chop trees, sell the logs at the Grand Exchange. Simple and reliable.
Mining - Mine ores like copper and iron; these are always in demand.
Combat farming - Kill cows for cowhides (valuable at low levels) or chickens for feathers.
Quests - Many beginner quests reward you with a bit of gold, though this method is slower.
For members, additional money-making skills like Slayer, Thieving, and Farming open up even more profitable options.
Skilling: The Heart of RuneScape
OSRS is famous for its "grind." Leveling skills can be repetitive, but that's part of the game's charm. Reaching level 99 in a skill often takes hundreds-or even thousands-of hours, but along the way, you'll unlock useful milestones and money-making opportunities.
For beginners, focus on:
Combat skills (Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Magic) - Vital for questing and survival.
Money-making skills like Woodcutting, Mining, or Fishing - These provide consistent gold.
Don't worry about maxing everything early on. Instead, use skilling to support your quests and money-making efforts until you're more experienced.
Membership: Is It Worth It?
OSRS has two account types: Free-to-Play (F2P) and Members (P2P). Membership costs about $11 for 4 weeks and unlocks the majority of the game's content.
As a beginner, it's best to stick with F2P until you've learned the basics. Free content already offers dozens of quests, combat training, and solid skilling options. Once you're comfortable, upgrading to membership will give you access to:
Hundreds of new quests
New skilling areas and activities
Boss fights and mini-games
Advanced money-making methods
If you don't want to spend real money, you can buy a membership using Bonds, which are purchasable with in-game gold at the Grand Exchange. This gives dedicated F2P players a way to buy Runescape gold earn membership purely through gameplay.
