Not every task is worth optimizing, however. Black Dragons, for example, are "free" tasks in RuneScape gold terms of effort, but their Slayer XP per hour is nothing special. Still, they offer something else: pet potential and low mental strain. Sometimes efficiency isn't just numbers-it's motivation. If chasing a pet keeps you engaged, that matters during a long grind to 99.
Task management becomes increasingly important as points run low. Knowing what to block, skip, or cancel can make or break your XP rates. Aberrant Spectres are prime block candidates due to their weight and poor XP return. Abyssal Demons, on the other hand, are excellent burst tasks and usually worth doing. Each decision is a tradeoff between short-term convenience and long-term efficiency.
Cooperative Methods and the Future of Fast Slayer XP
One of the biggest breakthroughs comes from cooperative Slayer methods. Instead of solo bursting, having another player stack monsters with a trident allows for near-AFK Barrage spam. This drastically increases XP rates while reducing effort. Extending this idea even further, hiring lurers across multiple worlds opens up absurdly fast rotations: log in, Barrage a stacked clump, hop worlds, repeat. While expensive, this method aligns perfectly with the goal of achieving the fastest Slayer XP possible.
Bloodvelds demonstrate this concept well. With proper luring and Barrage clumping, they rival Catacombs in efficiency while being significantly more relaxed. Compared to frantic tick-perfect play, this approach offers a smoother grind with consistently high returns.
Of course, Slayer isn't just about PvM. Risk fights, wilderness encounters, and unexpected deaths add volatility to the grind. Sometimes you lose gear, sometimes you escape with nothing but adrenaline. These moments don't add XP, but they're part of the Slayer experience-especially for players who thrive on risk.
By the end of the session, the takeaway is clear: the "best" Slayer XP isn't one single method. It's a combination of smart task selection, optimized mechanics, and knowing when to slow down. Speedrunning everything sounds good until one mistake wipes out half an hour. Safe, repeatable burst tasks with proper setups often win in the long run.
As the maxing journey continues, Slayer remains one of the most demanding skills-not because it's slow, but because doing it optimally requires constant decision-making. With better planning, cooperative methods, and a willingness to adapt, Slayer can go from a dreaded grind to one of the fastest paths toward maxing. Having enough OSRS gold can be very helpful.
Unlocking the Best Boat in OSRS After a Massive Sailing Grind
After weeks of nonstop Sailing, everything finally begins to come together. What starts as a simple push for levels gradually turns into one of the most satisfying progression arcs in Old School RuneScape, ultimately leading to the construction of what is arguably the best boat currently available. Having plenty of OSRS gold will be very helpful.
Fremennik Salvaging and Rapid Level Progression
The journey begins at the Fremennik ship salvage, which quickly proves to be one of the most enjoyable and efficient Sailing methods. Salvaging feels active without being exhausting, and the loot adds up surprisingly fast. Crystal extractor resources, ironwood seeds, coral, cotton seeds, and a steady stream of berserker helms for alching make it one of the most well-rounded training methods in the skill. Levels climb quickly-86, 87, merchant shipwrecks unlocked, and steady progress into the late 80s.
Why Sailing Feels Like a True Skill
Sailing stands out because of how natural it feels to train. Like traditional skills such as Woodcutting or Hunter, it develops a rhythm over time. Even high-intensity activities like Barracuda Trials eventually become muscle memory. Actions flow naturally, making it easy to train while watching videos or shows. This is where Sailing truly clicks-it feels like a proper skill rather than a novelty, often described as agility on water.
Milestones, Islands, and Unlocks
By level 89 and 90 Sailing, the experience curve noticeably slows. Levels that once flew by now require serious time investment, but frequent milestones help maintain motivation. New crew members unlock, upgrades become available, and access to Grimstone Island marks a major moment. While the island itself is fairly sparse, unlocking the fairy ring there is the real reward, ensuring it never needs to be reached by boat again.
Frost Dragons and the Dragon Nail Grind
Grimstone Island also introduces Frost Dragons, which quickly prove to be some of the best dragons in the game. Weak to crush, easy to AFK with extended super antifire and a Dragon Hunter Lance, and loaded with valuable drops, they are incredibly efficient. Stacking runite ore, frost dragon bones, dragon nails, and massive Prayer XP through Sinister Offering makes them extremely appealing. Nearly 2,000 Frost Dragons later, hundreds of dragon nails are collected alongside over 400,000 Prayer XP.
Those dragon nails become the key resource for the most important upgrades.
Building the Rosewood Boat and Testing Its Power
With enough supplies gathered-and plenty of alchables sold-the ship upgrades finally begin. Rosewood logs require 92 Woodcutting and cost a fortune to convert into planks, but each step brings visible progress. Schematics scattered across multiple islands add extra effort, but eventually the upgrades fall into place.
First comes the Rosewood Mast and Cotton Sails, immediately providing a noticeable speed boost. The defining moment follows shortly after: constructing the Rosewood Hull using 300 dragon nails. The difference is instant. The boat looks incredible and feels dramatically faster.
Testing it in Barracuda Trials confirms the impact. Corners arrive quicker, mistakes are punished more harshly, yet overall completion times drop significantly. Even imperfect runs consistently outperform previous averages, with new personal bests achieved within just a few attempts. The speed increase feels close to a 20% improvement, making the trials far more forgiving and accessible.
Final Thoughts on Sailing and the Rosewood Boat
By level 97 Sailing, the progression path is essentially complete. The final two levels are largely prestige, with no major unlocks remaining. After nearly a month focused almost entirely on Sailing, returning to cheap OSRS GP regular content like Chambers of Xeric, farm runs, or Slayer feels strange.
