OSRS has a total of 23 different skills, 15 of which are free and available to all. We’re going to talk about what each skill does, and how they affect certain combat classes. After reading this guide, you’ll be able to fight better for your OSRS gold farming or hunting needs!
For easy reading, the first fifteen will be free skills, and the rest will be members-only skills.
Attack – OSRS
The most basic skill for combat, it will allow you to fight in melee range. As a combat skill, this is one of the higher priority skills to level, as many quests will require you to straight-up fight. It increases your accuracy and damage as it levels.
Set attack style to accurate to gain EXP for this skill. Along with Strength, training this skill will make your character a Warrior.
Strength
The second melee skill allows you to hit harder. While it’s just as important as Attack in terms of training, this one should have a slightly higher priority, as it gives an EXP bonus to the other melee skills. It also allows you to use stronger weapons as you level. Some Agility shortcuts may be opened by Strength as well.
Set attack style to aggressive to train the skill. Dividing the sum of the skills above by three will give you your Warrior level. If it’s the highest among all the class levels, that means you’re a Warrior.
Defense
Defense is the third melee skill. While it has lesser priority than the others, its importance lies in allowing you to wear better armor and shields. Many players think it will reduce damage taken, but no, it doesn’t. What it actually does is decrease the chance to get hit.
Train Defense by setting your attack style to ‘defensive’. It doesn’t affect your class levels, but reducing the chance of getting hit is important for any class.
Hitpoints
The only skill that starts at 10, this skill determines your health. As that implies, the higher the level of the skill, the higher your health. High health means you can take more hits and survive stronger attacks. It’s important to train alongside your combat skills.
However, there are only two ways to train Hitpoints. One is by dealing damage (1.33 EXP every damage point dealt) or doing quests that award Hitpoints EXP.
Magic
The skill for would-be mages, Magic allows you to cast spells. The higher the level, the stronger the spell. You’ll also be able to start crafting or enchanting items. Then, it gives access to various teleporting stations across Gielinor. Those unlock at around level 40 Magic, so you can train up to that point and save up time on travel. For gold farmers, one of the higher leveled spells you can use is the High-Level Alchemy spell. Putting it simply, it transforms items into gold.
Casting spells uses up one or a combination of runes. Raising the level by casting spells might be a bit costly because of that. The other way to train Magic is to use the spell options when using a staff. The one with a shield also gives Defense EXP, but the other only gives out Magic EXP.
Halving your Magic level will give you your Mage class level. If it’s higher than your Warrior, Ranged, or Monk class calculations, you’re a Mage. The skill raises your Magic Damage and Magic Defense (which is also influenced by Defense).
Ranged
As the name implies, it allows you to attack from a distance. It’s the third combat class, rounding out melee (Warrior), magic (Mage), and ranged (Ranger). Because of its high DPS, most players prefer this to any of the other combat skills. It gives access to stronger ranged weapons and certain armor as well.
Fighting with any Ranged weapon will level up the skill. There are three styles, two of which only give Ranged EXP, while the third also gives Defense EXP. Half your Ranged level is your Ranger class level.
Prayer
More important for higher leveled players, Prayer gives access to various buffs. As you level it up, the buff gets increased effectiveness. The way it works is by clicking on a prayer, it becomes active and starts consuming prayer points. When the prayer points run out, so does the buff. Recharge your points with a Prayer Potion or going to the altar.
Leveling Prayer involves burying monster bones or using prayers at an altar.
Runecraft
Create your own runes to fuel your magic spells. Otherwise, you can sell them to those in need. Generally, players don’t level this up until later and get their runes from the Grand Exchange. They usually leave it at the mid-30s or 40s for some quest requirements.
It’ll take some time to train Runecraft, as you have to complete the quest Rune Mysteries first. Then, there’s the actual crafting of runes. It’s up to you to choose if this is worth leveling up.
Crafting
A low-priority skill, raising the skill’s level lets you craft more elaborate or valuable things. Clothing, armor, and accessories are among what you can make, which makes this a good moneymaking skill. However, other than that, it doesn’t have any other purpose other than passing some quest requirements. Craft items to level it up.
Mining
Similar to Crafting, it’s a moneymaking skill that’s not hard to level. It allows players to mine ores and gems from mining rocks in mines. Those can be sold on the Grand Exchange or used in training other skills such as Crafting or Smithing.
You’re going to need a Pickaxe to start mining. The better it is, the faster you’ll mine. If mining for a specific ore or gem, you can click Prospect Rock to see what you can mine from a node.
Smithing
Make your own weapons, armor, and more with Smithing. As a complementary skill to Mining, it’s easy to level both at the same time. Again, as a moneymaking skill, this is best left until later, unless you need to do a quest.
Anvils are needed to train this skill.
Fishing
The counterpart to Cooking, Fishing lets you catch fish from various fishing spots around Gielinor. Some fish have special effects when eaten or cooked. The better the quality of the fish, the better the effects. It is a moneymaking skill, so you can level this up at your leisure.
You’re going to need Nets, Fishing Rods, and Bait to gain Fishing EXP. Similar to Mining, you can check a fishing spot for the available fish you can catch.
Cooking
One of the fastest skills to level, all you need is a Cooking Range and a Campfire, plus raw food to cook. Your food may burn, with less chance on the former. Find recipes and cook to level this skill up. You can sell your food, or use it yourself.
Firemaking
Use this to make fire. Campfires for cooking is its main job. In that way, it can support Cooking. It also supports Woodcutting as you need the wood to make your fire. You need a Log and a Tinderbox to raise its level. It has a low priority to level unless you need it at a certain level for a quest.
Woodcutting
Leveling this skill up to unlock Canoes is a better use of your time. The skill allows you to cut down trees for Logs. Those Logs can be sold at the Exchange or used in Firemaking, Fletching, or Construction. Canoes lets you travel between Lumbridge and Varrock quite easily.
You’ll need Axes and trees to chop down to level this skill.
Fletching
The first member’s only skill in this article, it’s a crafting skill that lets you create your own ammunition. It can level up quickly, though you’ll need to spend money on it. You can judge if the returns will be worth leveling it up, though that’s not until the higher levels.
Different ammunition needs different ingredients, so it works well with Woodcutting and Mining. You might consider leveling it if you’re going Ranged, but you can just buy the ammo instead.
Construction
Like the other crafting skills, this shouldn’t be high on your priority list (unless you’re a gold farmer). On higher levels, it allows you to create teleport stations in your house, making traveling more convenient. After buying a house, make furniture to level the skill up.
Agility
The best thing about this skill is being able to use the shortcuts dotted around Gielinor. It also reduces run energy drain. The worst thing about it is leveling it is a grind. However, it’s worth it. Not only will you be able to use the shortcuts, but you’ll also be able to run faster for longer. Running Agility Courses will level the skill up. Bring Stamina Potions so you can run it multiple times.
Herblore
Make potions from herbs with this skill. While that seems useful, it’s better to buy potions than training it, at least in the beginning. It’s a good long term skill for when you start going into Raids. Do the Druidic Ritual quest to start training it.
Thieving
Want something an NPC has? This skill is for you. You can steal from them and unlock traps when you level this skill. Success rates get higher as you level it. It’s a moneymaking skill at higher levels. Pickpocket NPCs to train Thieving.
Hunter
It’s a fun optional skill that allows you to track and catch creatures for some rewards. Some quests and dailies also require it, but you don’t have to prioritize leveling it.
Farming
This is the best option for gold farmers, as it is the best moneymaking skill in the game. What’s even better is you can train it even while AFK, as plants take some time to grow. If you manage your time well, you can start early and have your Farming level appropriate for when you start Raiding.
To get the most out of training Farming, you may need to unlock as many Fairy Ring teleports as you can. Some plots only allow certain plants to be planted there, and you’ll be managing many, many farming plots. You’ll also need compost to keep your plants alive or increase production.
Slayer
The last skill is also the most important. It unlocks some rare monsters around the map, which grants huge amounts of gold upon defeat. Level this as early as you can by doing tasks based on your combat level. These tasks are granted by Slayer Masters around Gielinor. They ask you to kill creatures around the map. You’ll be able to level your combat skills while doing so, and upon turning in the task, you’ll also be awarded Slayer EXP.
More than that, you get Slayer Points. These points are used to buy items from the Slayer Master. The items boost various stats, and may even grant you bonus damage to your Slayer Task target.
And that’s all the skills in OSRS. Generally, you focus on combat skills more than moneymaking ones. Go and level your skills!
Meta Description for Google Snippet: The article lists the skills in OSRS, whether they’re for combat, gathering, or OSRS gold farming. It also describes what it is for and how to train them. Have fun in Gielinor!
