Guide for new players (2024)

New to RuneScape? This guide covers the basics of the game, what to do after the tutorial, and where to find more help if you need it.

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Welcome to RuneScape, a bustling MMO with countless activities to enjoy. But where do you get started? This guide explains the basics of how to play, what you can do in the world of Gielinor, and how to become a top skiller or monster-slayer.

Create a new character and complete the opening tutorial before reading this guide. The tutorial covers basic movements, leveling skills, and more. Afterward, return here to learn what to do next!

If you’ve played RuneScape before and want an overview of new content, check out our Returning Players Guide.

For more detailed information on helpful items, see our Guide to useful items and unlocks.

The basics[edit | edit source]

Movement in RuneScape is simple: point and click where you want to move. Click on NPCs to interact, objects like a tree, or initiate combat with a goblin. Some objects have additional interaction options, such as "Examine", available by right-clicking.

RuneScape's server cycle, or Game ticks, is the fundamental unit of time, each tick being 0.6 seconds. Actions within the game operate on different tick amounts. For instance, running covers 2 game squares per tick, while walking covers 1.

Use the minimap at the top right of your interface to navigate. It shows the area around your character, including NPCs (yellow dots), other players (white dots), and dropped items (red dots). Various icons on the minimap indicate nearby features like a bank, furnace, or fishing spot. Click on the minimap to move your character.

Discover a lodestone in new areas to activate it. This allows you to teleport back to the area using the Lodestone Network by clicking the "H" icon near your minimap.

In-game chat is at the bottom left of your interface. You can see messages from nearby players and send your own by pressing Enter. Add friends to your Friends List by right-clicking their chat message and selecting "Add Friend."

Starting out[edit | edit source]

After creating your character and finishing the tutorial, you’ll start in Burthorpe, in the world of Gielinor. This world can be overwhelming, but there’s something for everyone.

If you enjoy stories, explore the world’s history through quests. For combat, nearby rabbits and cows can be killed for items. To grind skills, interact with trees and fishing spots. Or, explore beyond Burthorpe to Taverley and the city of Falador.

Quests[edit | edit source]

Quests help you understand Gielinor’s history and offer rewards like unique weapons, armor, and new areas. Completing quests also grants experience, making them a great starting point for leveling up skills.

Find quests by looking for a blue star inside a compass icon on the map. Hover over these icons to see quest requirements. Access a list of all quests by clicking the quest icon on the main ribbon interface at the bottom right of your screen.

Quests are categorized by difficulty and length, and some follow a chronological order. Experience various quest storylines, from dealing with vampyres in Morytania to investigating a mysterious plague in Ardougne.

Here are some beginner-friendly quests:

• Wolf Whistle - Help druids in Taverley, introducing the Summoning skill.
• The Blood Pact - Fight monsters in the Lumbridge Catacombs and learn about combat.
• Cook's Assistant - Gather ingredients for the chef of Lumbridge Castle. Rewards help with the Cooking skill.
• Gertrude's Cat - Help Gertrude find her lost cat, Fluffs, and get a pet cat.
• One Piercing Note - Solve a mystery for the nuns at the Abbey of St. Elspeth Citharede.
• A Shadow over Ashdale - Explore the island of Ashdale and earn combat experience.
• What's Mine is Yours - Learn about Mining and Smithing by helping the dwarf Doric.

As you progress, take on key quests with significant rewards. Some of these require membership:

• Dragon Slayer - Slay the dragon Elvarg to unlock rune platebodies.
• Desert Treasure - Find treasure in the Kharidian Desert to unlock the Ancient Magicks spellbook.
• The Temple at Senntisten - Restore a temple beneath the Varrock Dig Site to access cursed prayers.
• The World Wakes - Discover the history of the god Guthix near the Legends' Guild.
• Plague's End - End the West Ardougne plague and access Prifddinas.

Skills[edit | edit source]

Skills are essential in RuneScape, gaining experience and unlocking new items. Skills like Slayer open up more areas and quests. Activities range from catching fish to exploring dungeons.

The tutorial covers basic skills like Fishing, Woodcutting, Firemaking, Cooking, Mining, and Smithing. Free players can access 17 skills, while members get all 29.

Combat-focused players should improve skills like Attack, Strength, Defence, Prayer, Herblore, and Summoning. These help in combat by brewing potions, summoning familiars, and protecting against attacks.

Combat[edit | edit source]

Gielinor is full of creatures, some friendly and many hostile. From dungeon rats to dragons, killing monsters provides combat experience and valuable loot. Monsters have combat levels, shown above their head when hovered over or right-clicked. These levels range from easy level 1 rats to level 60+ dragons and beyond.

Your combat level indicates your stats compared to monsters. Increase your combat level by training Attack, Defence, Strength, Prayer, Summoning, Magic, Constitution, Ranged, and Necromancy. Higher levels unlock better armor and weapons.

After the tutorial, your character starts weak, wielding basic weapons and armor like bronze equipment. By killing weaker monsters such as cows, goblins, and chickens, you can level up and gain access to better equipment. Eventually, you could wield a dragon longsword or a godsword.

The combat system uses action bars and Revolution. When attacking a monster, your character cycles through abilities on the action bar to deal damage, apply bleeds, and stun. Abilities have cooldowns and generate adrenaline, which is used for higher-tier abilities called "threshold" and "ultimate" abilities. These deal more damage and can affect multiple enemies. Use hotkeys to manually activate abilities or let Revolution automatically cycle through them.

Monsters have weaknesses, so certain weapons may be more effective. For example, slash weapons might do more damage to a hellhound than a crossbow.

Training Slayer is a good way to level up combat skills. Speak to a Slayer Master for a task to kill a specific type of monster, gaining Slayer experience and experience in combat skills. Some Slayer Masters require a specific Combat Level. Here are the best ones to start with:

• Turael: the easiest Slayer Master, found north of Burthorpe bank.
• Jacquelyn: the second easiest Slayer Master, found in Lumbridge.

Beware of the Wilderness, a dangerous area in the north where all monsters are aggressive. It offers high rewards but high risks.

The Stronghold of Security is a great place for early combat training, learning about account security, and earning rewards. The Stronghold has monsters that get stronger the deeper you go. Be prepared with food and strong equipment before entering. You can earn 10,000 coins, a choice of fancy boots or fighting boots, and four emotes—Idea, Stomp, Flap, and Slap Head.

Earning gold[edit | edit source]

Money, or gold pieces (GP), is the main currency in RuneScape. It’s used for buying items from NPC shops, the Grand Exchange, and other players. Gold is needed to buy armor, weapons, and other useful items.

New players can earn gold by:

• Killing cows for cowhide.
• Killing goblins and selling their loot.
• Fishing for shrimp and cooking them.
• Mining ore and smithing items.
• Collecting items like potatoes and cabbages.
• Completing quests that reward coins.
• Selling items to general stores or the Grand Exchange.
• Completing dailies like Daily Challenges and Reaper tasks.

Visit the Grand Exchange in Varrock to trade items with other players. Open the Grand Exchange interface, choose an item, and set the price you’re willing to buy or sell at. Prices fluctuate, so check recent trends before trading.

The Grand Exchange offers tools for checking price histories, helping you make informed decisions. Additionally, participating in game events and promotions can grant valuable items.

Joining a clan[edit | edit source]

Joining a clan in RuneScape provides social interaction, event participation, and access to a Clan Citadel. Clans offer support and advice, enhancing your gameplay experience. Access the Clan tab via the main ribbon interface at the bottom of your screen, browse clan advertisem*nts, or ask other players about their clans.

Clans also offer Citadels, private areas with skill plots, resource gathering, and weekly activities. Upgrading the citadel grants benefits like increased experience rates.

Membership[edit | edit source]

RuneScape offers a paid membership for additional content and benefits:

• Access all 29 skills, including Agility, Farming, Construction, and Divination.
• Explore members-only areas like Canifis, Prifddinas, and Menaphos.
• Enjoy additional quests, minigames, and activities.
• Unlock better equipment, weapons, and armor.
• Increased bank space for storing items.
• Access to Treasure Hunter, a daily rewards game.

Membership can be bought with real money or in-game Bonds, which can be purchased from other players with gold. Bonds also offer RuneCoins for cosmetics and Treasure Hunter keys.

Staying safe[edit | edit source]

RuneScape is a fun game, but it’s important to stay safe and secure. Here are some tips:

• Never share your password: Jagex employees will never ask for your password. Keep your account details private.
• Enable Authenticator: Use two-step authentication to add an extra layer of security to your account.
• Beware of phishing attempts: Ignore messages or emails asking for your account details. Report suspicious activity to Jagex.
• Avoid sharing personal information: Don’t share your real name, address, or phone number with other players.
• Use a unique password: Create a strong, unique password for your RuneScape account. Avoid using the same password across multiple sites.
• Secure your email: Ensure the email associated with your RuneScape account is secure with a strong password and two-step authentication.
• Be cautious of trades: Only trade with players you trust. Double-check trade windows to avoid scams.
• Report rule-breakers: Use the in-game reporting system to report players breaking the rules. This helps maintain a safe community.

What's next[edit | edit source]

Now that you have the basics down, here are some next steps to enhance your RuneScape experience:

• Set goals: Decide what you want to achieve, whether it’s completing a specific quest, reaching a certain skill level, or acquiring rare items.
• Explore new areas: As you gain experience and levels, venture into new regions of Gielinor. Each area has unique quests, monsters, and resources.
• Join a community: Engage with the RuneScape community through forums, social media, or in-game events. Sharing your experiences and learning from others can be very rewarding.
• Experiment with different activities: Try out different skills, minigames, and combat styles. This keeps the game fresh and exciting.
• Stay updated: Keep an eye on RuneScape’s official updates, patch notes, and announcements. New content and improvements are regularly added to the game.
• Have fun: Ultimately, RuneScape is about enjoying yourself. Play at your own pace and have fun exploring the vast world of Gielinor.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

There’s much to explore in Gielinor, from quests and combat to skilling and trading. Set goals, join a clan, and enjoy the adventure. Remember to follow RuneScape’s rules and respect other players. Happy scaping!