Maxing in OSRS is as much a test of RuneScape gold patience as it is efficiency. Tackling the slow, mentally draining skills early prevents burnout when the goal is finally in sight. Following a structured order not only saves time and money but also makes the second half of the journey feel dramatically easier.

With the hardest grinds behind you early, the final push toward the Max Cape becomes far more enjoyable-and far more achievable.

OSRS: New Training Methods You Should Know for 2026
Old School RuneScape continues to evolve at a surprising pace, and heading into 2026, players have more training options than ever before. Major updates like Sailing, the Valamore questline finale, and new regions have introduced an unprecedented number of alternative training methods across nearly every skill. Whether you're chasing level 99, pushing an ironman account, or just looking to escape the monotony of traditional grinds, these newer methods offer fresh ways to progress. Having enough OSRS gold can also be very helpful.

Below is a breakdown of some of the most notable training options added recently, what they offer, and where they fit into the broader OSRS training meta.

Combat and Slayer: New Monsters, New Opportunities

One of the standout additions for combat and Slayer training comes in the form of new dragon and griffin variants. Regular griffins, often overlooked compared to their stronger counterparts, offer respectable Slayer experience with relatively low effort. With proper weight management and the right combat style, they're fragile enough to kill quickly and can provide consistent Slayer XP without heavy requirements.

Frost dragons, unlocked through Sailing progression, are another major highlight. Despite lacking a Slayer level requirement, they can still be assigned as tasks by select masters. Their strong elemental weakness to fire makes them ideal for Magic training, especially when paired with fire-boosting gear. Frost dragons strike a strong balance between relaxed gameplay, solid Magic XP, and valuable drops that remain in steady demand.

Prayer: New Bones, Questionable Efficiency

The introduction of new creature types also brought new bones into the game. While these bones technically offer high Prayer experience when used on gilded altars, their current market prices make them inefficient for most players. Traditional dragon bones remain a better balance of cost and XP.

That said, passive Prayer experience through bonecrusher use while killing new monsters provides a steady trickle of XP with no added cost, making it a sensible long-term option rather than a primary training method.

Runecrafting: Faster Astral Access

Runecrafting didn't receive direct new content, but clever optimization has improved existing methods. Using Sailing-based teleports to reach the Astral altar cuts down travel time significantly compared to cheap RS gold older routes. With the full Runecrafting outfit and proper teleport management, Astral runecrafting now offers solid experience rates alongside reliable profit, especially appealing given the low cost of essence.