RuneCrafting in Old School RuneScape has long had a reputation as one of the most time-consuming skills in the game. However, with recent updates from Jagex, the landscape of RuneCrafting has changed dramatically. New runes, faster XP methods, and quality-of-life improvements have made 99 RuneCrafting not only more achievable but also significantly more profitable.

This updated guide covers everything you need to know about RuneCrafting in 2025 — from new training methods and essential unlocks to pathways for 99 and the most profitable strategies.

Recent RuneCrafting Updates

Sunfire Runes

Introduced as a high-profit training method, Sunfire runes offer over 1M GP per hour. They quickly became a go-to for players who want to mix solid profit with reasonable XP.

Aether Runes

Perhaps the biggest RuneCrafting shake-up in years, Aether runes pushed XP rates near 500k XP per hour with runners. For the first time, 99 RuneCrafting became achievable in around 35 hours with enough money and efficiency. Even without runners, Aether runes remain a strong option.

Guardians of the Rift Update

Jagex added quality-of-life improvements to Guardians of the Rift (GOTR), making the skilling minigame smoother and more rewarding. Guardians remain one of the most popular training methods due to their balance of XP and profit.

Why Train RuneCrafting?

· Massive GP potential:

  · 77 RC → True Blood Altar: up to 2M GP/hr

  · 95 RC → Wrath runes: up to 2.5M GP/hr

· Passive XP in other skills:

Training RC grants Mining, Crafting, and Magic XP — especially with Zeah's dense essence and Dayalt essence methods.

· Questing & Achievement Capes:

  · 60 RC is required for Desert Treasure II and the Quest Cape.

  · 91 RC is required for the Achievement Diary Cape.

Essential Unlocks

1. Essence Pouches

· Carry extra essence for faster XP.

· Obtained from Abyss monsters or as rewards from Guardians of the Rift.

· Repairable via Dark Mage in the Abyss or remotely with NPC Contact.

2. Colossal Pouch

· Created using an Abyssal Needle from GOTR.

· Combines all pouches into one and holds up to 40 essence.

· Scales with RC level, making it useful at any stage.

3. Dayalt Essence

· Grants 50% more XP per rune compared to regular essence.

· Obtained from the Dayalt mine (requires Sins of the Father + 60 Mining).

· Highly AFK-friendly, with 60-second mining timers.

4. Rayment of the Eye Set

· Obtained from GOTR.

· Wearing the full set boosts rune yields by 60%, making it one of the most powerful skilling outfits in the game.

Pathways to 99 RuneCrafting

Fastest (With Runners) – ~35 Hours

· Levels 1–23: Tiaras

· Levels 23–90: Lava runes with runners

· Levels 90–99: Aether runes with runners

· Cost: ~2.8B GP

Fastest (Without Runners) – ~137 Hours

· Levels 1–23: Tiaras

· Levels 23–99: Lava runes

· Cost: ~1M GP

Recommended / Popular Methods

· Guardians of the Rift → ~230 hours to 99 (profit included)

· Dayalt at Ourania Altar → ~250 hours total (including mining time)

· Zeah Blood/Soul Runes → ~300 hours to 99, but highly profitable

Profitable Methods

· True Blood Runes (77 RC): ~1.5–2M GP/hr

· Astral Runes (82 RC): ~800k GP/hr

· Wrath Runes (95 RC): ~2.5M GP/hr

· Soul Runes (90 RC, Zeah): ~900k GP/hr

Even mid-level RuneCrafting provides profit, making it one of the most reliable money-making skills in OSRS.

AFK Potential

· Dayalt essence mining: ~60s per AFK cycle

· Zeah dense essence: ~1 minute per cycle

· Ourania Altar: 25–30s of AFK per run

· RuneCrafting is still click-intensive overall, but these methods allow for semi-AFK play.

Low-Level Training

· Questing:

Rune Mysteries → Enter the Abyss → Temple of the Eye gets you to ~27 RC quickly.

· Tiaras:

Fastest method to 23 RC (50k XP/hr). Mind tiaras are best due to teleport tablets.

Ironman Considerations

· Essence must be self-supplied via mines, bossing, Slayer, or raids.

· Guardians and Zeah remain excellent since essence is supplied within the activity.

· Extracts and rewards from GOTR are especially valuable.

Conclusion

RuneCrafting in 2025 is in a better place than ever before. What was once one of the slowest, most dreaded grinds in OSRS is now a diverse skill with multiple viable pathways. Whether you're aiming for the fastest 99 possible, chasing maximum OSRS gold per hour, or simply looking for a semi-AFK skilling method, RuneCrafting has something to offer.

With new runes like Sunfire and Aether, profitable late-game options like Wraths and Bloods, and improved minigames like Guardians of the Rift, there's never been a better time to train RuneCrafting.

RSorder Team