Quest difficulty has been a point of spirited debate among Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players since long before OSRS even existed. Back in the original RuneScape era, especially prior to August 2007, players regularly questioned whether certain quests were truly as hard as their ratings suggested. That discussion has only intensified since OSRS launched in 2013.

Some quests arguably deserve an upgrade because their mechanics, puzzles, or combat challenges rival those of higher-tier adventures. Others, however, project an illusion of difficulty that they simply do not deliver on. Today, we examine the latter: quests that appear tougher than they are.

Below are five OSRS quests whose difficulty ratings are overstated—sometimes significantly so.

1. Mourning’s End Part I

Current Rating: Master

What it should be: Experienced at most

From a pure gameplay-and-challenge standpoint, no quest in OSRS is more overrated than Mourning’s End Part I.

For most players, the words “Mourning’s End” immediately conjure memories of Part II’s infamous light puzzle or even Song of the Elves’ advanced mechanics. Part I, however, is comparatively tame—almost shockingly so given its Master classification.

The quest’s only combat encounter is a fight with a level-11 Mourner. Your stats are reduced to level 20 during the fight, but even then, this is a Novice-tier challenge. Many players don’t even notice their stats were lowered in the first place.

The most complex segment of the quest involves coloring sheep using a fixed device and explosive toads, a mechanic that is quirky but hardly difficult. Even Sheep Herder, a Novice quest, demands more precision when it comes to wrangling sheep.

Ultimately, Part I is a Master quest in classification only because of its placement in the Elf storyline. It follows Underground Pass, Regicide, and Roving Elves—quests whose lore significance arguably inflated expectations around difficulty. But judged independently, Part I simply doesn’t belong alongside actual Master-level content.

2. Grim Tales

Current Rating: Master

What it should be: Experienced

Players often recall the quirky fairy-tale inspirations and whimsical narrative of Grim Tales, but almost nobody remembers it being challenging—and for good reason.

Many players accidentally start the quest early in their membership journey, long before meeting the skill requirements. But if they did meet those requirements, they could complete this so-called Master quest extremely quickly.

Its primary combat encounter, the fight against Glod, does not resemble a Master-tier boss in any meaningful way. Compared to other Master quests with simple bosses—some of which arguably deserve to be downgraded—Grim Tales still ranks low on the difficulty scale.

Narratively, the quest stands mostly alone. Its prerequisite, Witch’s House, doesn’t meaningfully justify elevating Grim Tales to Master status either. When you compare it with Intermediate or Experienced quests with tighter integration into RuneScape’s lore, the gap becomes even wider.

While the quest is entertaining, its references to classic literature do not compensate for its lack of meaningful challenge. By modern standards, Grim Tales feels like an Experienced quest that accidentally wandered into the Master category.

3. Swan Song

Current Rating: Master

What it should be: Experienced

When Swan Song launched in 2006, the Sea Troll Queen fight and the preceding waves of Sea Trolls felt innovative. Wave-style combat was uncommon in quest design at that time, and players recognized the quest as a major milestone—especially because it spotlighted the Wise Old Man.

However, if Swan Song were released today, its mechanics would not come close to qualifying as Master-tier. Even at the time, it was arguably borderline.

The Sea Troll Queen, while iconic, does not match the difficulty of modern Master-quest bosses. The waves leading up to her fight add flavor, but nothing about the quest’s structure poses a steep challenge by today’s standards.

The comparison becomes even clearer when considering Love Story in RuneScape 3—another Wise Old Man quest that is far more demanding and still only classified as Master. When juxtaposed, Swan Song’s rating appears inflated.

A modern reevaluation would place Swan Song firmly in the Experienced bracket. It remains charming, humorous, and historically important, but it is not mechanically difficult.

4. Legends’ Quest

Current Rating: Master

What it should be: Experienced

Legends’ Quest is a relic of an era when being long, iconic, and impressive was synonymous with being difficult.

When originally released as the 50th quest in RuneScape, it was the longest and hardest adventure in the game. It became the first quest ever labeled as Master and the final quest before the launch of RuneScape 2—an enormous milestone in the game's history. But OSRS is no longer the game of 2003.

By modern standards, numerous Experienced quests—from Desert Treasure I to Fremennik Isles—are more dangerous, require sharper mechanical execution, or feature far more challenging combat. Legends’ Quest’s three fights with Nezikchened are straightforward, repetitive, and trivial with modern gear.

The journey is still long and atmospheric, and gaining access to the Legends’ Guild retains its nostalgic charm. But the quest is not mechanically complex enough to hold onto its Master designation in 2025. If it were released today, it would be considered borderline Experienced, perhaps even embellished primarily by its length rather than its difficulty.

5. King’s Ransom

Current Rating: Experienced

What it should be: Intermediate or even Novice+

King’s Ransom is technically an Experienced quest, but in terms of actual difficulty, it sits well below many Intermediate quests and even some Novice ones.

The quest contains no combat whatsoever, making it one of the very few Experienced quests with zero fights. Its actual mechanics—courtroom dialogue, puzzle elements, and light problem-solving—are simple and intuitive. Compared to its prerequisite, Holy Grail, which includes legitimate combat encounters, King’s Ransom is remarkably easy.

The perception of difficulty largely comes from what follows the quest: the Knight Waves Training Grounds, which are significantly harder and unlock access to Chivalry and Piety. Because those challenges are so notable, players may mentally associate them with the quest itself.

But the quest proper? The hardest part is picking a lock. That alone is a strong indicator that the quest belongs at least one tier lower.

Final Thoughts

OSRS quest difficulty ratings were designed across multiple eras of RuneScape history, each with different expectations around combat mechanics, puzzle design, and player power. As the game has evolved, some quests have naturally drifted out of alignment with their original ratings.

The five quests above are not bad by any means—they remain iconic, nostalgic, and important to the game’s narrative. But difficulty is not what defines them, and their current classifications suggest challenges they simply do not deliver.

As OSRS continues to refine old content and introduce new questing experiences, a broader review of difficulty tiers might one day help align the system with modern player expectations. Until then, players can continue enjoying the lively debate—and perhaps discover that some “hard” quests really aren’t so hard after all.