Old School RuneScape: Mining 1-99 Leveling Guide

Mining is one of the most straightforward yet rewarding skills in Old School RuneScape. It involves using a pickaxe to chip away at rocks to gather ores, gems, and other valuable items. These resources are crucial for crafting and smithing, making mining a fundamental skill for profitable gameplay and essential for Ironman accounts where self-sufficiency is key.

This guide will take you through the most efficient paths for leveling your Mining skill from 1 to 99. Whether your goal is to earn substantial profits or gather rare materials for crafting weapons and armor, you’ll find strategies here that minimize time and maximize output. Let’s dive into the best methods to enhance your mining efficiency in OSRS, ensuring a swift and fruitful journey through the levels.

Essentials And Getting Started

Mining in Old School RuneScape is a rewarding skill, centered around extracting ores, gems, and other resources with a pickaxe. Here’s a comprehensive guide to get you started and efficiently progress through the levels.

Essential Tool: The Pickaxe
To mine, you’ll need a pickaxe. As you progress in Mining level, you can use better pickaxes, which allow you to mine ores more efficiently:

• Bronze/Iron Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 1
• Steel Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 6
• Black Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 11
• Mithril Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 21
• Adamant Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 31
• Rune Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 41
• Dragon Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 61
• Crystal Pickaxe - Requires Mining Level 71

Start with an Iron Pickaxe at level 1 and upgrade as your level allows, with the Dragon Pickaxe being a significant upgrade at level 61.

Advanced Tool: The Infernal Pickaxe
At Mining level 61 and with Smithing level 85, consider crafting an Infernal Pickaxe. This tool provides the same benefits as the Dragon Pickaxe with an added feature: a 1-in-3 chance to combust ores as they are mined. This process grants you a small amount of Smithing XP and decreases inventory clutter, enabling longer mining sessions before needing to bank.

Optimal Mining Spots and Ores
Each ore type offers different XP yields and is found in various locations:

• Copper/Tin Ore (17.5 XP per ore) - Best found at Lumbridge Swamp Mine, Varrock East Mine
• Iron Ore (35 XP per ore) - Best locations include Al Kharid Mine and Legends’ Guild Mine
• Silver Ore (40 XP per ore) - Optimal spots are Al Kharid Mine and Crafting Guild Mine
• Coal (50 XP per ore) - Found in the Mining Guild and South Ardougne Mine
• Gem Rocks (65 XP per ore) - Located in the Shilo Village Mine (Basement)
• Gold Ore (65 XP per ore) - Efficiently mined at the Crafting Guild and Arzinian Mine
• Granite (50 XP per ore) - Available at the Western Desert Mining Site
• Mithril Ore (80 XP per ore) - Mining Guild and Hobgoblin Mine are excellent spots
• Adamantite Ore (95 XP per ore) - Found in the Mining Guild and Desert Mining Site
• Runite Ore (125 XP per ore) - Best locations are Fossil Island Mine and Central Fremennik Isles Mine

This guide should help both novice and experienced players to maximize their Mining efficiency in Old School RuneScape. Whether your goal is quick leveling or gathering precious materials, these tips will set you on the path to becoming a master miner.

Recommended 1-99 Leveling Roadmap in OSRS

To maximize your mining experience gains, you’ll need to adapt your strategy as you progress through levels. Here’s a streamlined roadmap to help you level efficiently from 1 to 99:

Level 1-15: Starting with Basics

• Method: Mine Copper and Tin Ore
• Notes: Ideal for initial levels. These ores provide a solid foundation but are surpassed by better methods as you level up.

Level 15-99: Strategic Ore Mining

• Method: Mine Iron Ore
• Notes: Mining Iron offers excellent XP rates, although it’s not profitable. At level 30, you have the option to transition to Motherlode Mine for a more relaxed, albeit slower, XP gain. Alternatively, starting at level 40, switch to mining Gem Rocks if you have completed the Hard Karamja Diary for both profitability and good XP rates.

Level 30-99: Motherlode Mine

• Method: Continue at Motherlode Mine after level 30 or 72 (upper levels).
• Notes: While slower, this method becomes more efficient after reaching the upper levels at 72. It’s a less intensive way to gain XP, suitable for those who prefer a laid-back mining experience.

Level 40-99: Gem Rocks

• Method: Mining Gem Rocks
• Notes: Available upon completing the Hard Karamja Diary. This method is both fast and profitable, offering substantial XP gains and valuable gems, making it an excellent choice for the later stages of mining.

This roadmap provides a clear and efficient path for leveling up your mining skill in Old School RuneScape, whether you’re focusing on fast XP, profitability, or a mix of both.

Mining Copper And Tin Ore

For those new to Old School RuneScape, mining Copper and Tin Ore is an essential first step in your mining career, a skill you’re introduced to on Tutorial Island. These initial levels up to 15 are crucial, and mining these basic ores is the fastest way to reach this early milestone.

Copper and Tin Ores are equally beneficial for beginners, as there’s no significant difference in their mining process or the XP gained. Numerous mining spots are scattered throughout Gielinor, with the Lumbridge Swamp Mine and Varrock East Mine being among the top choices for accessibility and ore abundance. While Varrock East Mine tends to be more crowded, Lumbridge Swamp Mine offers a quieter and often more manageable environment for new players. For those looking to add a touch of nostalgia to their mining routine, consider processing your ores at the Lumbridge smithy, just a stone’s throw away from the mining area. This not only provides practical experience in smelting but also enriches the early-game experience.

Mining Iron Ore

At level 15, you unlock the capability to mine Iron Ore, marking a significant uptick in your mining journey. Iron Ore not only offers double the experience of Copper or Tin but is also abundantly available across numerous efficient mining spots throughout Gielinor.

For optimal experience gains before level 60, seek out spots where three Iron Ore rocks are closely clustered to minimize movement and maximize mining rate. Prime locations include the Al Kharid Mine, Legends’ Guild Mine, and the Resource Area in the Wilderness, where you can mine three rocks from a single standing point. If you possess Varrock Armour, wearing it while mining will significantly enhance your experience gains.

Upon reaching level 60 Mining, the Mining Guild, accessible via the Dwarven Mine, becomes the premier spot for mining Iron due to the rapid respawn rate of ore rocks in this members-only area. For added convenience, use a Skills Necklace to teleport directly to the guild. This section is highly efficient as Iron Ore rocks regenerate much faster here than in other areas.

While mining Iron Ore is highly beneficial for experience, it’s less so for profit due to the low market value of Iron Ore. Consequently, many players choose to drop the ore right after mining to save on bank trips, focusing entirely on leveling their Mining skill. This method, known as “powermining,” enhances XP gains at the expense of forgone potential earnings but is widely adopted for its effectiveness in rapidly advancing mining levels.

The Motherlode Mine

If the monotony of traditional mining wears you down, the Motherlode Mine offers a refreshing change of pace. Located near the Mining Guild, this unique mining area allows players to extract raw pay-dirt instead of directly mining ores. Starting from level 30, miners can access this site, conveniently reachable via a Skills Necklace for swift teleportation.

In the Motherlode Mine, you mine pay-dirt from veins along the walls. The process involves placing the extracted pay-dirt into a hopper that washes it down a water channel to a collection sack, where it transforms into valuable ores. This additional cleaning step not only diversifies the mining process but also grants extra experience points, enhancing the overall mining efficiency.

Upon reaching level 72, you gain access to the upper levels of the mine. This area is highly sought after because the veins are positioned closer together, and each vein yields more pay-dirt before depletion. Although the experience rates in the Motherlode Mine are generally lower than other mining methods, the potential profits are considerably higher, and the mining activity requires less frequent clicking, providing a more relaxed gameplay experience.

Additionally, mining in the Motherlode Mine rewards players with Gold Nuggets. These nuggets can be exchanged at the rewards shop for various items, with the Prospector Kit being a highlight. This kit boosts your mining experience by 2.5% across all mining activities, making it an invaluable asset for any serious miner in Old School RuneScape. This blend of relaxed gameplay, additional rewards, and the chance to earn significant profits makes the Motherlode Mine an excellent alternative for those looking to diversify their mining routine.

Mining Gem Rocks

Tired of the usual grind for iron and coal? If you’re craving variety or if you’re an Ironman in need of precious gems like opal and jade, mining Gem Rocks might be the perfect solution. Available from level 40 Mining, Gem Rocks offer a lucrative and engaging alternative, especially in the Shilo Village mine.

While the standard Gem Rocks in the regular part of the mine might not be the most efficient due to their limited number and the distance to the nearest bank, there’s a far better option for those who have advanced a bit further. If you’ve completed the Karamja Hard Diary, you can don the Karamja Gloves 3. These gloves not only provide a convenient teleport directly to the Shilo Village mine but also unlock access to its basement section. This area is teeming with Gem Rocks and conveniently includes a Bank Deposit Box right on site, significantly reducing downtime.

Each swing at a Gem Rock has a chance to yield any type of gem, which means your profitability can fluctuate based on luck. However, over extended mining sessions, the average profits are consistently high, complemented by excellent experience gains. This makes mining in the Shilo Village mine’s basement an excellent strategy for those aiming for level 99, blending solid profits with good XP rates. Whether you’re looking to diversify your Mining portfolio or you need specific gems for Crafting, this method is both efficient and rewarding.

Conclusion

Mastering the Mining skill in Old School RuneScape from levels 1 to 99 is a rewarding journey that can significantly enhance your gameplay experience. Whether you start with the basics of mining Copper and Tin, transition to the efficiency of Iron, explore the variety at the Motherlode Mine, or seek the riches of Gem Rocks, each method offers unique benefits and challenges. By following this guide, you can optimize your leveling path, balance profit with experience gains, and achieve the coveted level 99 in Mining. Remember to equip the best pickaxe available and take advantage of strategic locations and tools, such as the Karamja Gloves 3 for teleportation to optimal mining sites. With dedication and the right strategies, you can turn Mining into one of your most profitable and enjoyable skills in Gielinor.