This Oldschool Runescape Guide, shows you everything you need to know for maximising your efficiency when it comes to training the Mining skill. Firstly, we’ll look over the fastest methods to 99 and then provide some good alternatives for those who prefer a slower route to 99.
Mining Equipment
Pickaxes
The only equipment players will need to train mining is a pickaxe. In order to equip it you will need the corresponding attack level, but if you don’t have the attack level it can still be used for mining if in your inventory. When mining it is always recommended to use the highest tier pickaxe available to you for higher experience rates. However, some activities such as blood runecrafting, where the mining chance is 100% every time, players can use the black pickaxe as it is the lightest.
The crystal pickaxe has an additional requirement of 50 Agility, it will also have to be charged with crystal shards. Although these are easy to collect by planting crystal trees, which is essentially a 0 time method of generating crystal shards.
The Prospector Kit
The prospectors kit is a type of experience boosting equipment. When worn it will boost the players mining experience by up to 2.5%. The set is only obtainable from doing the Motherlode Mine activity and requires 180 golden nuggets. It is not worth the time invested if only going for 99 mining. However, it is required for a master clue step and completion of the Falador hard diary, so may be worthwhile in the long-run if these are future goals.
Fastest Mining Experience
Below is our recommended method to train Mining. As it is most efficient to train the skill as quickly as possible, to allow you to spend the time you save on other skills or strong money makers such as high-level PVM. High mining is also useful for high-level PVM such as the Chambers of Xeric.
Questing: Levels 1-37
Early game mining can be skipped easily with quests. Complete the following quests to gain 27,525 Mining experience:
- Another Slice of H.A.M
- Doric’s Quest
- Plague City
- The Dig Site
- The Giant Dwarf
- The Lost Tribe
Iron Ore: Levels 15-45/70
From levels 15 to 45, mining iron ore provides the fastest experience. With tick manipulation methods, granite becomes faster from levels 45. However, if you are not interested in using tick manipulation then it is recommended to mine iron until level 70 mining.
At level 60, the mining guild becomes available, which is the best location for mining iron in OSRS. As the respawn timer for ore in the guild is halved. Meaning players do not need to use tick manipulation or wait on rocks to respawn if done correctly.
Experience rates are around 45k-55k per hour below 60. Rising to 70k-80k per hour at the Mining Guild.
Granite: Levels 45-99
At the Quarry in the Desert, players can find Granite rocks. 3-tick granite mining offers the fastest mining experience rates in OSRS. However, the method is very intense, without 3-tick tick manipulation methods it is simply not worth doing as it will drastically reduce experience rates.
The best way to travel to the Quarry is using the Camulet teleport to Enkhra’s Temple, exit the Temple and run a little south-west. Upon completion of the hard Desert Diary, players can teleport directly to the entrance.
A crystal pickaxe is not recommended at the Quarry, as it does not bring any benefit due to the use of tick manipulation tactics. Infernal Pickaxe however, can be useful, as it will reduce the amount of ore that must be dropped. Additionally, wearing Varrock armour 2 while training can provide a small boost to experience rates, due to the 10% chance to mine double ores at once.
Experience rates with good click performance are as follows. From level 45; around 60,000 – 70,000 experience per hour. At level 70, expect 85,000 – 95,000 mining exp per hour. From level 85 around 105,000 – 115,000 exp per hour. Finally at level 99, players can expect up to 130,000 experience per hour.
Alternative Mining Methods in OSRS
Below is a list of strong alternative training methods for the Mining skill. If you’re interested in lower-intensity, more AFK methods for the skill, or if you’re interested in making some profit while training.
Motherlode Mine: Levels 30-99
The Motherlode Mine offers slow experience rates. However, you benefit from a very low-intense training method that can also provide some profit through-out. Experience rates are around 30k per hour at level 70. Increasing to 42k at level 85 and 53k at level 99.
The fastest way to reach the mine is by using the skills necklace to teleport to the Mining Guild. Then running a very short distance to the entrance.
It is recommended to save your golden nuggets to unlock the Prospector kit which adds 2.5% additional mining experience. You will also want to pay the 100 nugget fee upon reaching level 72 to unlock the upper level of the mine, which benefits from more concentrated ore veins. With a closer trip to the ore cart and bank.
Mining Gem Rocks: Levels 52-99
Gem Rock mining is a profitable alternative to granite. Similarly to granite, you will need to make use of tick manipulation to maximise your experience rates here. However, you will need to have completed the Karamja hard diary to access the underground gem rock mine in Shilo Village. The method is only worthwhile if you have done the diary, as the underground area has a bank in close proximity and a far larger quantity of rocks.
Experience rates can reach up to 110,000 mining exp per hour at level 99 with tick manipulation. You can see the full breakdown of experience rates for the different level brackets below. You can also expect between 800k and 1m gp per hour at maximum efficiency here.
Volcanic Mine: Levels 70-99
The Volcanic Mine is a minigame in OSRS, located on Fossil Island. It offers some of the best experience for mining when not using tick manipulation methods. This also comes at relatively low effort, however, you require a team, so using the official world is recommended.
The requirements are also relatively high in contrast to other methods. 70 Mining, the completion of Bone Voyage quest, 150 Kudos and you must have helped Peter fully build the Museum Camp.
Blast Mine: Levels 75-99
Another minigame, the Blast Mining offers good experience rates, along with some profit and does not require tick manipulation. However, it is not recommended to start here before level 75, as this is when you are able to obtain runite from the blast mine.
Wear as much weight-reducing equipment as possible and bring a number of stamina potions to restore run. To complete the minigame you will also need dynamites, a chisel and a tinderbox.
Experience rates scale based on your mining level. Expect 55,000 experience per hour at level 75. Around 65,000 mining exp at level 90 and 75,000+ exp per hour at level 99.
Amethyst: Levels 92-99
Amethyst mining is a slow experience method, with around 20,000 – 25,000 mining experience per hour. However, players using this method enjoy one of the lowest intensity methods to training the skill. In addition, to some passive profit of around 300-400k per hour. It is also a favourable method for ironmen as the Amethyst ore can be fletched in to useful ranged ammunition such as Amethyst arrows and darts.
The Mining Guild
Players with at least level 60 mining can gain access to the Mining Guild. It can be found below Falador, in the Dwarven mines, the entrance is in the house to the east of the Falador Party room, down the stairs. The area is split into two and a free-to-play and members only area can be found in each of the two sections.
The Guild is also directly connected to the Motherlode Mine and is the only area Amethyst crystals can be found. Two popular training methods for mining that have already been mentioned in this guide. Similar to all other guilds, there is also an invisible +7 level boost for mining ore’s inside the Guild.
