Strategy Guide for RuneScape: 2025 New Ironman Guide for Old School RuneScape ## Introduction Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is thriving in 2025, bolstered by an enthusiastic community and a relentless pace of updates that have dramatically reshaped Ironman mode.

For those daring enough to pursue self-sufficiency, Ironman offers a deeply satisfying challenge—demanding clever route planning, adaptation to new minigames, and creative progression strategies, all without the comfort of outside trading or assistance.

Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or fresh to Ironman gameplay, this comprehensive guide delivers the most up-to-date path to success, incorporating early F2P foundations, member transitions, optimized questing, advanced training, and endgame roadmaps.

Let’s forge your legend in Gielinor’s ever-expanding world. --- ## Kicking Off: F2P Progression and the Fast Track to Membership Starting strong as an Ironman in 2025 means using every edge at your disposal—even before membership.

The modern meta revolves around these key steps: ### **1.

Foundational Free-to-Play (F2P) Progression** - Questing for XP and Unlocks: Efficiently prioritize F2P quests with major XP rewards and skill unlocks, such as: - The Knight's Sword (levels Smithing from 1 to 29), letting you make iron items immediately. - Vampyre Slayer and The Restless Ghost for early Attack and Prayer gains. - Doric’s Quest for Smithing start-up. - Early Moneymaking: Use Stronghold of Security for early GP infusions.

Supplement with classic moneymakers like steel platelegs in the Wilderness or Musa Point banana crates. ### **2.

Transitioning Swiftly to Members** As soon as membership unlocks: - Rush Key Quests: - Rune Mysteries (+ Temple of the Eye) to access Guardians of the Rift. - Lost City for cosmic rune crafting and important teleports. - Get Firemaking to 50 (doable in F2P)—it’s now the fast track into the upgraded Wintertodt. ### **3.

The Trinity of Early Game Minigames** 2025’s new meta minigames provide essential resources, XP, and early-game supplies: - Guardians of the Rift: Infinite Runecrafting, cash, and runes for teleports and spellcasting.

Only Rune Mysteries and Temple of the Eye are required, and you can scale rewards as your skills improve. - Tempoross: At just 35 Fishing, gain robust food supplies, cooking XP, and the Fishing Barrel for greater efficiency—a quick, reliable off-combat XP and supply source. - Wintertodt (Revamped): Once 50 Firemaking is reached, you’re good to go.

The new warmth system and solo point scaling make it consistent and safe at any HP, ending the old 10 HP meta.

Focus on Firemaking/Construction XP, bulk supply crates, and warm gear. Expert Tip: “Guardians of the rift though in my opinion is definitely worth camping for a while though as long as you take breaks at a few of the level Milestones to go do quests that unlock some of the runes…” — gwem, YouTube 2025 Guide ### Optimized Early Progression Sequence 1. F2P Questing (see OSRS Wiki for item/step optimization). 2. Powertrain Woodcut and Firemaking to 50. 3. Membership unlock → Complete Rune Mysteries / Temple of the Eye (Guardians), and Lost City. 4. Farm Wintertodt, Guardians, and Tempoross for bulk XP, runes, food, and supply stockpiles. 5. Interleave with Combat and Utility Quests for Core Stats. Result: 2025’s minigame-centric model delivers XP and monetary rewards at an unprecedented pace, letting you sidestep early bottlenecks and launch directly into midgame progression. --- ## Modernized Training: Early Game Minigames, Skill Choices, and AFK Methods 2025’s fresh Ironman routes blend dynamic minigames with passive XP, making progress smoother and far less grindy: ### **1.

Efficient Questing & Minigame Layering** - **Always Camp the Best:**Guardians of the Rift is the optimal Runecrafting method—quest for unlocks (Lost City, Troll Stronghold) that let you craft better runes during runs. - AFK Training: Rock, sand, and ammonite crabs remain the go-to for AFKable combat, perfect for training while multitasking. - Multi-Skill Gains: Use Barbarian Fishing (Otto’s Grotto) to train Fishing, Strength, and Agility simultaneously. - Revamped Minigames: Giants’ Foundry (Smithing), Mage Training Arena (Magic), and reworked minigames offer efficient skill and GP grinds.

Sequence their unlocks according to your priority skills and current resource stockpiles. ### **2.

AFK & Flexible Play** - Combat at crabs can be banked for breaks or mobile play, ensuring steady stats with minimal attention. - Passive activities—birdhouse/farm runs, bone mining after Perilous Moons—layer regular bursts of progress onto your main grind. ### **3.

Modern Training Path Example** 1. Temple of the Eye completed after Rune Mysteries → Dive into Guardians of the Rift. 2. Tempoross at 35 Fishing for supply bulking, cooking XP, and food. 3. Wintertodt at 50 Firemaking for resources/XP. 4. AFK crabs between activities; train secondary skills via passive activities. 5. Mix in Giants' Foundry, Mage Training Arena, or other minigames at breakpoints for best-in-slot supplies or magic unlocks. Result: Efficient, layered progression—so you’re always gaining something of value, no matter how you play or what you train. --- ## Questing and Milestone Unlocks: Optimizing Your Progression Path The new continents and quests released in 2024/2025—especially Varlamore and Farore—have completely changed Ironman account routing: ### **1.

Prioritizing the Right Quests** - Children of the Sun: Essential for unlocking Varlamore and its rich skilling, prayer, and transport options.

Grants direct access to: - Quetzal Transport System, fairy rings (e.g., AJP, CKQ) for fast teleports - Hunter Guild and Avium Savannah for Hunter/prayer XP loops - Civitas illa Fortis with its unique shops, minigames, and resource points - Perilous Moons: A must for any serious Ironman midgame route, unlocking: - Cam Torum (bone mining for AFK Prayer/Mining XP, HCIM-safe) - Moons of Peril boss grinds for BIS midgame gear (Eclipse, Blue, Blood Moon sets) - Moons of Peril repeat boss for unique prayer supplies & Slayer XP (15,000 XP boost) ### **2.

Modern Quest Order: The New Core** - Start with combat/utility quests: Waterfall Quest, Fight Arena, Grand Tree. - Prioritize Children of the Sun post-basics for immediate Varlamore access. - Rush Perilous Moons once you can, for safety, Prayer, and gear progression. - Pursue Twilight’s Promise for Quetzal transport, Fairytale I/II for fairy rings, Plague City for Ardougne teleports. - Use diaries, lamps, and random events for Herblore or Prayer—classic Ironman bottlenecks, now far less severe with new training content. Quote: "If you come [to Cam Torum bone mining] every now and then when you feel like it, you'll be building up prayer XP without even realizing it's happening... it also gives you teleports into Cam Torum city, very nice for the account." — gwem, 2025 Guide ### **3.

Key Unlock Use Cases** - Early tele-jewelry and cosmic/law rune crafting - Repeat bossing grinds for new BIS midgame sets—sets that “carry you through your first raids” - Moonlight Moth hunting and bone mining for AFKable, scalable Prayer XP - Streamlined farming/skilling routes with new transport links across Gielinor’s continents Result: An optimized, milestone-driven quest path grants experience, mobility, and safety across all the game’s new and classic content.

Early routing through Varlamore/Farore quests unlocks enormous efficiencies for Prayer, Slayer, transportation, and gear—now baseline for effective Ironman play. --- ## Gearing, Prayer, and Bossing: 2025’s Ironman Essentials Equipping yourself efficiently as a modern Ironman is about synchronizing old and new content: ### **1.

Efficient Gearing Route** - Prayer Training: - Blue Dragons remain a classic, but bone mining in Cam Torum (unlocked through Perilous Moons) now offers scalable, semi-AFK gains and is especially attractive for HCIM/UIM. - Moonlight Moth hunting: Stackable moths, especially when doubled with kebbit meat, enable rapid Prayer XP, helpful for unlocking Piety/Chivalry prayers. - Armor and Weapon Progression: - Farm Moons of Peril armor sets (Blood/Eclipse/Blue) through repeat bossing—these sets now rival Barrows for early raiding and provide nice defensive/attack splits for tanking and DPS. - Integrate with standard Barrows, Dragon Defender, and initiate your first raid attempts as soon as practical. - Advanced Mining & AFK Prayer: Gain access to Calcified Rock and AFK prayer XP with Cam Torum, boosting Mining and Prayer simultaneously with minimal danger or time demands. ### **2.

Combat and Bossing Milestones** - After getting defensive/tanky gear (Moons of Peril, Barrows), enter boss and raid content when you feel safe. - Tackle new midgame bosses (Royal Titans, Fortis Colosseum) for unique drops and prayer scrolls. - Correctly order Prayer and combat training to boost survivability and unlock thresholds for key quests and raids. ### Community-Vetted Strategy - Always reference OSRS Wiki and community routes for the latest gear progression lists and raid timing. - Mix classic content (Barrows, Slayer) with new grinds (Moons of Peril, Colosseum) for best account stability and flexible gameplay. Result: You’ll advance rapidly in both Prayer and gear, securely prepping for iconic content and enjoying streamlined unlocks that cut grind time in half compared to old metas. --- ## Planning the Mid- and Endgame: Sustained Growth and Community Tools 2025’s Ironman endgame is about sustaining gains, leveraging the best community tools, and optimizing your time. ### **1.

Sustainable XP & Resource Loops** - Skilling Minigames: Giants' Foundry for Smithing XP and profit; Guardians of the Rift for Runecrafting with key quest unlocks; shooting stars and D&Ds for Mining/Crafting via tracked Discord pings. - Efficient Loops: Rotate between quests, Slayer, and minigames to balance burnout and XP flow.

Structure around efficient teleports, farm runs, and multi-yield skilling (e.g., smithing darts for blowpipe). ### **2.

Community Tools and Apps** - OSRS Wiki: Gold standard for up-to-date questing, skill, and gear planner tools (use interactive guides and the latest “b0aty HCIM SOTE Rush” and BRUHsailer routes). - Runelite Plugins: Maximize passive XP, track bossing and skilling contracts, and handle achievement diaries and daily/weekly D&Ds efficiently. - Mobile Play: AFK crabs and mobile-friendly skills let you train even on the go, crucial for modern time management. ### **3.

Rotational Play and Avoiding Burnout** - Alternate content—never grind a single activity too long. - Hunt for pets, unique gear, and quest “completionist” rewards for extra motivation. - Lean on Ironman-friendly clans, Discord groups, and PvM teaching for mentorship, learning, and raid access—even on a limited schedule. ### **4.

Key Milestones and Account Longevity** - Target 85+ for core stats and diary unlocks (e.g., Fury/Zenite, whip, trident) - Focus on lategame Prayer, diaries, and unique drop grinds as core motivators. - Expect to max or near-max an Ironman in 3,000–6,000 hours with the 2025 mixed-method approach—hundreds of hours faster than old school routes. Redditor Pro Tip: “Rotating content and always having something new keeps things fresh.

I also don't always do things the most efficient way if it saves me some quality of life.” --- ## Conclusion Ironman mode in Old School RuneScape has never been more accessible—or more rewarding—than it is in 2025.

The new minigames, quest chains across Varlamore and Farore, streamlined skilling loops, and abundance of high-quality community tools mean you can build a legendary self-sufficient account without endless grind or dead-ends.

With careful quest sequencing, adaptive minigame use, and community-driven routes, your Ironman journey can be both efficient and fun—striking a balance between old-school challenge and modern convenience.

Plan smart, embrace the resources at your disposal, and forge your own Iron legacy in the ever-expanding world of Gielinor.

Good luck, and enjoy the adventure! --- Sources and Further Reading: - OSRS Wiki: Free-to-play Ironman Guide - OSRS Wiki: Guardians of the Rift/Strategies - OSRS Wiki: Wintertodt/Strategies - Guide: B0aty HCIM Guide V2 - OSRS Wiki - OSRS Wiki: Varlamore Quests - Reddit: Ironman guide megathread 2025 (For live updates and the best community consensus, always refer to the OSRS Wiki and active Reddit threads.)