Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game that offers a myriad of ways to make money, and countless guides exist to help players maximize their in-game wealth. However, one crucial aspect that is often overlooked is how to spend your hard-earned gold efficiently. This guide will walk you through the best ways to allocate your money at different stages of the game, from a fresh account to a late game. By following these tips, you can ensure that every gold piece you spend contributes meaningfully to your progression.

Early Game: Building a Solid Foundation

When you start on a fresh account, your resources are limited, and it’s essential to spend your OSRS gold wisely to build a strong foundation. The early game is more about investing in long-term benefits rather than splurging on items that provide only short-term gains.

1. Prioritize Magic Level 50

Magic is one of the most versatile skills in OSRS, offering both offensive power and utility. Reaching level 50 Magic should be one of your first goals. This can be achieved inexpensively—typically under 200k gold—by using methods like Fire Strike, enchanting jewelry, or bolts. At level 50, you can wield the Iban’s staff, which is a powerful early-game weapon. Additionally, you’ll unlock numerous teleports that save time and improve your overall efficiency.

2. Invest in 43 Prayer

Prayer is vital for survivability, especially when facing tougher enemies or completing quests. Reaching 43 Prayer allows you to use the Protect from Melee, Protect from Missiles, and Protect from Magic prayers. These prayers are game-changers, enabling you to tackle more difficult content safely. Achieving 43 Prayer will cost around 500k gold if you use dragon bones at a gilded altar, but it’s a worthwhile investment that opens up a significant portion of the game.

3. Acquire Basic Combat Gear

While it’s tempting to save up for high-end gear, it’s more practical to first acquire basic sets for each combat style. For melee, consider full Rune armor and a Dragon scimitar; for range, Dragonhide armor and a Rune crossbow or Magic shortbow; and for magic, Mystic robes and the Iban’s staff. These items will collectively cost around 1 million gold but will serve you well through the early game and into the mid-game.

4. Get 50 Construction

Construction is another skill that provides long-term benefits. Reaching level 50 in Construction unlocks several useful features in your Player-Owned House (POH), such as the Portal Chamber for easy teleports and the Mounted Glory for unlimited Glory teleportation. Investing in 50 Construction will cost about 750k gold but provides a solid base for future upgrades.

Mid-Game: Enhancing Your Capabilities

As you move into the mid-game, your focus should shift towards further enhancing your combat effectiveness and unlocking content that will propel you into the late game.

1. Train Ranged and Magic to 75

Before you start upgrading gear, consider investing in leveling up your combat stats, particularly Ranged and Magic. Reaching level 75 in these skills unlocks access to powerful weapons like the Toxic Blowpipe for Ranged and the Trident of the Seas for Magic. Investing around 3-4 million gold in leveling these skills will significantly improve your combat capabilities, allowing you to tackle mid-game bosses and other content with ease.

2. Upgrade Key Combat Gear

Once your combat stats are sufficiently high, it’s time to upgrade your gear. The Toxic Blowpipe and Trident of the Seas are two of the most significant upgrades at this stage. Other important upgrades include the Abyssal Whip for melee, the Amulet of Fury for overall stats, and the imbued Dagannoth rings (Berserker, Archers, Seers). These upgrades will cost around 15 million gold in total, but they are essential for progressing through the mid-game.

3. Work Towards a Quest Cape

The Quest Cape is one of the most valuable items in the game, providing access to a plethora of content, including some of the best bosses, teleports, and quality-of-life improvements. The skill requirements for the Quest Cape typically top out at around level 70, which means you can achieve this milestone with an investment of around 15-25 million gold. This is arguably the best use of your money at this stage, as it unlocks an enormous amount of content and significantly enhances your overall gameplay experience.

4. Upgrade Prayer to 70

Reaching level 70 Prayer unlocks the Piety prayer, which is the most potent combat prayer in the game, providing a substantial boost to your offensive and defensive capabilities. Upgrading to 70 Prayer will cost around 4-5 million gold but is an essential step as you transition into the late game.

Late Game: Maximizing Efficiency and Power

The late game in OSRS is where things start to get expensive. Your goal now should be to make investments that provide the most significant returns in terms of power, efficiency, and access to end-game content.

1. Reach 83 Construction

Maximizing your Player-Owned House by reaching 83 Construction (with a boost) is a priority in the late game. This allows you to build the highest-level restoration pool, a top-tier jewelry box, and other amenities like a fairy ring and a spirit tree in your POH. These upgrades offer massive time savings across various activities, making the 20 million gold investment well worth it.

2. Focus on Weapons and Jewelry

At this stage, upgrading your weapons and jewelry should take precedence over armor. Your choices should align with the content you plan to focus on. For example, if you’re planning to take on Zulrah, you might invest in a Toxic Trident and a Ring of Suffering. If Vorkath is your target, a Dragon Hunter Lance or Crossbow and Zenite jewelry should be your focus. These items will provide the most significant boost to your damage output and efficiency in bossing, allowing you to make your money back more quickly.

3. Unlock Rigor (and Augury)

Rigor is a game-changing prayer that boosts Ranged damage and accuracy by a considerable margin. Unlocking it requires a Dexterous Prayer Scroll, which costs around 30-35 million gold. While expensive, Rigor is indispensable for high-level ranged combat, including Raids and top-tier bosses. If you’re focusing on magic, consider also unlocking Augury, which is cheaper but still provides valuable boosts to Magic accuracy and defense.

4. Max Out Combat Stats

Before investing in the most expensive gear, consider maxing out your combat stats. Achieving 99 in Ranged, Magic, and Melee will provide a more significant boost to your performance than almost any gear upgrade. For Ranged, expect to spend around 45-60 million gold if you’re using Red chinchompas. For Magic, Ice Bursting or Barraging in the Monkey Madness II tunnels will cost around 30-35 million gold. The returns on these investments are enormous, as maxed combat stats unlock the ability to tackle the game’s most challenging content.

Conclusion: Spending Wisely for Maximum Gains

In Old School RuneScape, spending your money wisely is just as important as making money. By focusing on long-term gains, prioritizing key upgrades, and planning for future content, you can ensure that every gold piece you spend contributes meaningfully to your progression. Whether you’re just starting out or pushing into the late game, following these guidelines will help you get the most out of your investments and keep your bank account healthy as you continue to explore the world of Gielinor.