In Old School RuneScape, mastering magic is essential for your overall gameplay experience. Achieving the monumental level of 99 in this skill opens a plethora of exciting opportunities, including access to various spellbooks, mythical staves, and powerful thralls that can assist you in combating foes effectively.
Though reaching level 99 may appear daunting, it is surprisingly one of the most manageable skills to max out in OSRS. Beyond the benefits of hitting this milestone, you’ll also earn a coveted cape that grants you the ability to switch spellbooks seamlessly.
This guide aims to provide you with efficient strategies to garner experience points (XP) rapidly, enabling you to progress toward the endgame as expeditiously as possible.
Initial Progress (Levels 1-34)
Like most skills in OSRS, kicking off your magic training can be slow and somewhat tedious. However, early-game quests present a convenient solution to expedite your advancement.
While it’s possible to cast Wind Strike on cows in Lumbridge, this method is inefficient compared to the alternatives presented by questing.
By completing low-requirement quests, you can rapidly reach level 34 magic, unlocking vital spells such as Varrock Teleport, Telekinetic Grab, and Elemental Bolt spells.
|
Quest |
Description |
Requirements |
XP Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Witch’s Potion |
Assist a witch in completing her potion |
N/A |
325 |
|
Imp Catcher |
Collect 4 beads from slain imps |
N/A |
875 |
|
Fairytale 1 – Growing Pains |
Assist the Fairies with Tanglefoot’s care |
N/A |
1000 |
|
The Grand Tree |
Protect the Grand Tree and thwart Glough’s plans |
25 Agility |
2150 |
|
Recipe for Disaster – Subquest |
Prepare a cake for the Lumbridge Guid |
40 Cooking |
2500 |
|
Watchtower |
Rebuild Yanille’s Watertower and stop the Ogres |
15 Magic, 15 Thieving, 25 Agility, 14 Herblore, 40 Mining |
15,250 |
Although doing quests isn’t mandatory, completing them is essential for earning the Quest Cape, which is a valuable asset for any aspiring Raider later in your journey. Taking advantage of the helpful XP they provide is advisable.
To enhance your mobility, consider completing the first segment of Fairytale Part 2 to unlock Fairy Rings, facilitating access to various teleport options even if your magic level is low.
Casting Spells (Levels 34-50)
This guide may not be the absolute most efficient approach, but it definitely caters to beginners.
Rather than expensive techniques like enchanting bolts, which can be financially burdensome for new players, it’s recommended to level up naturally while exploring the world.
Upon unlocking bolt spells, you can start enhancing your combat skills by training on various monsters. Check out this list of great training monsters.
|
Monster |
Description |
|---|---|
|
Sand Crabs |
Sand Crabs are low-defense creatures with high hitpoints, making them ideal for AFK training. You can set your spells to auto-cast while you attend to other tasks. |
|
Ammonite Crabs |
These crabs boast even higher hitpoints and can drop fossils, which are handy for XP lamps at the Varrock museum. However, they can be crowded, so consider training in the Wyvern dungeon for less competition. |
|
Fire Giants |
Recent updates have given Fire Giants a 100% weakness to water spells, making them an excellent XP source thanks to their increased damage potential. They drop valuable items, especially in Giant’s Den. |
|
Ice Giants |
Similar to Fire Giants in utility, Ice Giants are weak to fire spells and can be tackled much earlier in the Asgarnia Ice Dungeon. |
Consider playing OSRS on mobile to facilitate AFK training. By resetting at crabs every ten minutes, you can accumulate experience without much active involvement.
Notable Quest Spotlight (Level 50)
Reaching level 50 magic is a significant milestone, as it allows you to undertake one of the game’s essential quests for developing mages: Desert Treasure I. This quest grants access to the Ancient Spellbook, opening up new spells you will frequently utilize in the later stages of the game.
|
Quest |
Description |
Requirements |
XP Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Desert Treasure I |
This quest’s requirements are manageable, and the time invested is well worth the lasting benefits it provides. |
53 Thieving, 50 Magic, 50 Firemaking, 10 Slayer |
20,000 |
Completing this quest is also pivotal for tackling other quests and achievements, such as Recipe for Disaster, various Diary Tasks, and the continuation of Desert Treasure quests.
Additionally, consider finishing any other quests that provide magic XP, such as Horror from the Deep or The Eyes of Glouphrie.
Advancing Toward Greatness (Levels 50-70)
As you grow more adept in magic, it becomes increasingly important to engage with combat beyond simply safe spotting.
- Scurrius: A superb choice for aspiring bosses, Scurrius becomes a viable option after achieving 43 Prayer, unlocking the potential to acquire a Rat Spine for crafting a Bone Staff. This powerful staff excels against rat enemies, such as Scurrius, making it excellent for XP and preparing you for encounters in Desert Treasure II.
- High Alchemy: A fantastic, low-effort method for generating income while also gaining magic XP. You can buy items from the Grand Exchange to alch for profit, allowing you to maintain focus on different activities such as Agility training or questing for additional XP gains.
Should you prefer a more relaxed approach, continue AFK training at crabs. This method allows you to earn XP while multitasking—ideal for binge-watching TV shows or working on other projects without intense focus. Though the hourly XP may not be stellar, the effortless nature significantly reduces burnout.
Final Stretch (Levels 70-99)
Having emphasized the importance of completing Desert Treasure just prior, it’s vital to note your access to Ice Burst once reaching level 70 magic, this powerful multi-target spell enables tremendous experience gains.
If you haven’t yet engaged with Slayer skills, now is the perfect time. Popular multi-target Slayer monsters can be stacked, allowing you to deal damage to all monsters simultaneously. This means if you hit nine monsters with one cast, you’ll receive XP for each hit, significantly ramping up your experience.
Notable targets include Jellies, Dust Devils, and Nechryaels, conveniently located in the Catacombs of Kourend.
It’s also advisable to invest in some robust gear. Although Proselyte Prayer gear is sufficient for bursting, equipping an Imbued Slayer Helm and Occult Amulet is critical for improving your damage per second (DPS).
Should you encounter a Superior monster during your Slayer sessions, you stand a chance to obtain the remarkably valuable Imbued Heart, boosting your magic potential as you progress. Due to its rarity, it is not only a nice find but also a useful item into late game.
This training strategy is incredibly engaging, as it allows you to accumulate magic, Slayer, Hitpoints, and potentially Defence XP all at once, complemented by looting drops and alching to recoup rune costs. Players can easily exceed 100,000 XP per hour.
Upon reaching level 94, consider switching to Ice Barrage for even richer experience rates.
Bossing Strategies and Ironman Considerations
Magic becomes a crucial asset when engaging with various bosses as you progress. Here are several noteworthy bosses where magic proves advantageous, especially for players in Ironman mode looking to build their gear inventory. Utilizing magic during these boss encounters can yield substantial rewards and gear upgrades.
|
Boss |
Description |
Rewards |
|---|---|---|
|
Barrows Brothers |
Use Air Spells to combat these spectral foes. Successful completions yield powerful Ahrim’s Gear, enhancing both defense and magic damage. |
Ahrim’s Robes |
|
Kraken |
This Slayer Boss is fairly straightforward and features minimal mechanics. Defeating it can result in fully-charged Tridents of the Sea, a highly valuable weapon. |
Trident of the Sea |
|
zulrah |
Zulrah presents a significant challenge, involving poison damage and prayer switching. Mastering this fight will prepare you for tougher future encounters. |
Magic Fang/Trident of the Swamp |
|
Phantom Muspah |
While not as critical as some other bosses, it offers valuable rewards and serves as an excellent training opportunity for gear swapping tactics. |
Ancient Essence/Saturated Heart & Ancient Icon/Ancient Sceptre |
|
Tombs of Amascut |
This raid is a comprehensive test of your skills and strategic ability, offering vast gameplay experiences through its cascading challenges. |
Elidinis’ Ward & Tumeken’s Shadow |
These methods are just a glimpse into the many avenues available for magic training. It’s essential to pursue the methods you enjoy most rather than strictly the most efficient ones.
Ultimately, OSRS is about enjoyment, and the risk of burnout can hinder your journey to the endgame. The thrill of wielding Tumeken’s Shadow and obliterating formidable bosses is well worth the wait.
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