Gold is the lifeblood of Old School RuneScape (OSRS), and for Ironman players, acquiring it is a unique challenge. Unlike regular accounts, Ironmen cannot trade with other players or use the Grand Exchange to buy gold. This means every coin must be earned through dedicated effort and smart strategies. If you’re diving into the Ironman mode or looking to boost your GP gains, this guide will equip you with the best Osrs Ironman Money Making methods across free-to-play (F2P) and pay-to-play (P2P) environments, covering early, mid, and late-game options to fuel your adventure.
Early Pay-to-Play (P2P) Ironman Money Making Methods
Starting your Ironman journey in P2P can be daunting without initial capital. These early-game methods are designed to kickstart your gold reserves, allowing you to purchase essential supplies and progress your account.
1. Rune Arrow Sales from Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing (LMS) offers a competitive Player vs Player (PVP) minigame that, even if you’re not a PVP expert, can be a lucrative starting point. By participating in competitive LMS matches, you earn points redeemable at Justine’s reward shop. The most profitable item to purchase and resell are Rune Arrows. These arrows are in constant demand and can be sold to various general stores and shops across RuneScape for a solid profit margin.
Buying Rune Arrows from Last Man Standing Shop
Requirements:
- Minimum 750 total level.
- 30 Quest Points.
- Basic understanding of PVP mechanics (optional but helpful for efficiency).
Hourly Profit: 300,000 – 1,000,000 GP (depending on PVP skill and LMS performance).
How to Maximize Profit:
- Improve PVP Skill: Better performance in LMS means more points per hour, directly increasing your rune arrow purchasing power.
- World Hop for Shops: Shop inventories are limited. Hop between different general stores (like those in Port Sarim, Al Kharid, or Catherby) to maximize selling volume before shops run out of stock.
- Focus on Competitive Mode: Competitive mode provides significantly more points compared to casual mode, making it the preferred option for money making.
2. Gem Cutting and Reselling
Gem cutting is a classic OSRS money making method, and it remains effective for early Ironman accounts. The strategy is simple: purchase uncut gems from gem stores, cut them to increase their value, and then resell the cut gems back to the same or different gem stores. This method is low-intensity, requiring minimal clicks and no dangerous areas, making it a safe and consistent income source.
Crafting Gems and Reselling
Requirements:
- 20 Crafting (for Sapphires).
- 27 Crafting (recommended for Emeralds for higher profit).
Hourly Profit: Up to 90,000 GP (with Sapphires and Emeralds, may vary based on shop stock and competition).
Tips for Gem Cutting Profit:
- Emeralds over Sapphires: While Sapphires are accessible earlier, Emeralds offer a better profit margin per gem. Aim for 27 Crafting as soon as possible.
- Shop Location Matters: The gem store in Al Kharid is a common choice. Consider less crowded locations if you find competition is high.
- Monitor Shop Stock: Shop inventories replenish over time. If a shop runs out of stock, either wait or hop to another gem store.
3. Agility Pyramid
The Agility Pyramid in the Kharidian Desert is not just for training Agility; it’s also a reliable early-game money maker. By completing laps of the pyramid course, you collect a Pyramid Top from the summit. This item can be exchanged with Simon Templeton at the base of the pyramid for 10,000 GP. While the Agility requirement is low, higher Agility levels significantly improve your success rate and GP per hour.
Requirements:
- 30 Agility (minimum).
- 50 Agility (recommended for efficient runs).
Hourly Profit: Approximately 200,000 GP (at 50 Agility).
Enhancing Agility Pyramid Efficiency:
- Runelite Plugin: The Runelite client offers an Agility Pyramid plugin that highlights click locations, drastically improving course navigation and speed.
- Agility Level: Leveling Agility beyond 50 reduces fall failures and speeds up obstacle completion, boosting your hourly profit.
- Lightweight Gear: Equip lightweight gear to minimize run energy depletion during laps.
4. Blackjacking
Blackjacking is a more involved but potentially more rewarding early money making method, especially for accounts aiming to train Thieving. Located in Pollnivneach, this technique involves using a Blackjack weapon to knock out NPCs (Bandits and Menaphite Thugs) and then pickpocketing them while they are stunned. This allows for multiple pickpockets per NPC, significantly increasing Thieving experience and gold gains.
Blackjacking in Pollnivneach
Requirements:
- 45 Thieving (for level 41 Bearded Pollnivnian Bandits).
- Completion of The Feud quest.
- Blackjack weapon (obtainable during The Feud quest).
- Rogue equipment (optional but highly recommended for double loot chance).
Hourly Profit: 127,000 GP (at 45 Thieving) to 220,000+ GP (at higher Thieving levels).
Mastering Blackjacking:
- Luring NPCs: Lure the target NPC into an empty house to prevent interruptions from other NPCs.
- Knockout and Pickpocket Timing: Master the timing of knocking out and pickpocketing to get two successful pickpockets per knockout. This requires practice and precise clicks.
- Rogue Equipment: The full Rogue equipment set doubles your loot from pickpocketing, significantly increasing your profit and Thieving experience.
5. Wintertodt
Wintertodt is a Firemaking minigame located in the Northern Tundras. While primarily known for fast Firemaking experience and valuable supply crates, it also provides a steady stream of gold and resources for Ironmen. Players damage Wintertodt by burning Bruma roots at braziers, earning points for supply crates. These crates contain various items, including coins, runes, seeds, and resources. Hardcore Ironmen should be extremely cautious as death at Wintertodt results in hardcore status loss.
Fighting Wintertodt
Requirements:
- 50 Firemaking.
- Food to sustain damage during the minigame.
- Axe to chop Bruma roots (any axe will suffice).
Hourly Profit: Approximately 30,000 GP (from supply crate coin drops, additional profit from other resources).
Wintertodt for Ironman Gold:
- Focus on Points: Aim for at least 500 points per round to guarantee a supply crate reward.
- Resource Crates: While coin drops are not the primary profit, the supply crates offer a variety of useful resources that can save Ironman players money in other areas (e.g., seeds for farming, runes for magic).
- World 309: World 309 is often designated as the “Wintertodt world,” with many players participating, making rounds faster.
6. Selling Runes from Guardian of the Rift
Guardian of the Rift is a Runecrafting minigame situated in the Temple of the Eye. This non-combat minigame provides excellent Runecrafting experience and a substantial amount of runes as rewards. These runes can be sold to Ali Morrisane in Al Kharid for a consistent gold income. This method combines skill training with money making, making it efficient for early-mid game Ironman progression.
Requirements:
- Completion of the Temple of the Eye quest (requires 10 Runecrafting).
Hourly Profit: 45,000 GP (at 27 Runecrafting) to 200,000+ GP (at 99 Runecrafting).
Guardian of the Rift Gold Strategy:
- Focus on Runecrafting Level: Higher Runecrafting levels mean more runes per hour and therefore higher profit.
- Efficient Minigame Play: Learn efficient strategies for Guardian of the Rift to maximize rune output per hour.
- Ali Morrisane Selling: Ali Morrisane offers a convenient way to sell runes in bulk.
7. Stealing from H.A.M. Store Rooms
The H.A.M. (Humans Against Monsters) Store Rooms, accessible after completing part of the Death to the Dorgeshuun quest, offer a unique thieving-based money making opportunity. By pickpocketing H.A.M. Guards within the store rooms, you obtain keys that unlock chests containing jewelry and other loot. Focus on obtaining keys and opening chests, discarding less valuable items to maximize efficiency.
Location of H.A.M. Store Room Keys
Requirements:
- Completion of part of the Death to the Dorgeshuun quest.
Hourly Profit: Approximately 50,000 GP.
H.A.M. Store Room Efficiency:
- Key Prioritization: Focus on getting keys and opening chests. Ignore other loot drops from pickpocketing the guards directly.
- Rogue Outfit: Wearing the full Rogue outfit doubles your loot from chests, significantly increasing the value of each chest opening.
- High Alch Loot: High alch valuable jewelry (like emerald rings and sapphire necklaces) for immediate gold. Bank more valuable items for later use or sale if needed.
Mid Pay-to-Play (P2P) Ironman Money Making Methods
As your Ironman account progresses into the mid-game, new and more profitable money making methods become available, often tied to combat or more advanced skills. These methods provide significantly higher GP per hour, allowing you to fund more expensive gear and training.
1. Smithing at the Giant’s Foundry
The Giant’s Foundry is a Smithing minigame unlocked after The Sleeping Giant quest. In this minigame, you craft weapons for Kovac using metal bars. Successfully crafting and presenting a giant sword to Kovac rewards you with coins and Foundry reputation. Reputation unlocks unique items from Kovac’s shop, adding to the overall value of this method. While it requires a substantial initial investment in metal bars, the profit and Smithing experience are worthwhile.
Requirements:
- Completion of The Sleeping Giant quest.
- Metal bars (iron, steel, mithril, adamantite, rune – depending on desired profit and experience).
Hourly Profit: 100,000 – 300,000 GP (depending on bars used and efficiency).
Giant’s Foundry Profit Optimization:
- Bar Choice: Using higher-tier bars (like adamantite or rune) yields more valuable swords and higher profit per hour.
- Efficient Smithing: Learn optimal strategies within the minigame to maximize sword creation speed and Kovac’s rewards.
- Foundry Reputation Rewards: Consider the value of items purchasable with Foundry reputation when calculating overall profit.
2. Killing Green Dragons
Green Dragons, located in the Wilderness, are a popular mid-game money making method for Ironmen, particularly as they drop Dragon bones (valuable for Prayer training) and Green dragonhide (used for Crafting and high alching). While in the Wilderness, be aware of Player Killers (PKers). However, strategic positioning and escape routes can minimize risk.
Location of Green Dragons in the Wilderness
Requirements:
- 60+ Melee combat stats OR 50+ Ranged.
- 63+ Crafting (optional, for crafting dragonhide bodies for high alching).
- Anti-dragon shield or equivalent protection.
- Prayer potions and food for survival.
Hourly Profit: 250,000 – 500,000 GP (depending on combat stats, gear, and PKer encounters).
Green Dragon Hunting Strategies:
- Safe Spotting: Utilize safe spots within the Green Dragon areas to minimize damage taken.
- Wilderness Awareness: Be vigilant for PKers. Use the Chaos Temple teleport (accessible with a Chaos Talisman) as an escape route.
- Crafting Dragonhide: Craft Green dragonhide into Green d’hide bodies and high alch them for increased profit per hide.
3. Killing Corrupted Gauntlet
The Corrupted Gauntlet, a solo minigame in Prifddinas (unlocked after Song of the Elves quest), is a highly profitable mid-to-late game money maker for skilled players. It requires navigating a randomly generated dungeon, gathering resources, crafting gear, and defeating the Crystalline Hunllef. You start with no gear, meaning no risk of item loss. However, Hardcore Ironmen should be cautious as death in the Corrupted Gauntlet results in hardcore status loss.
Requirements:
- Song of the Elves quest completion.
- Recommended 80+ combat stats (for consistent completions).
- Understanding of Gauntlet mechanics and enemy weaknesses.
Hourly Profit: 1,000,000+ GP (for efficient and consistent Gauntlet completions).
Mastering the Corrupted Gauntlet:
- Practice and Learning: The Gauntlet has a learning curve. Practice runs are essential to understand resource locations, enemy attack patterns, and efficient gear crafting.
- Resource Prioritization: Learn to quickly identify and gather essential resources (food, weapons, armor) within the time limit.
- Hunllef Mechanics: Master the Hunllef’s attack patterns and prayer switching to minimize damage and maximize survival.
4. Crafting Blood Runes
Blood runes, crafted at the Blood Altar, are a valuable resource and a solid mid-game money maker. The process involves mining Dense essence, venerating it, and then using it at the Blood Altar. Optimal methods can yield a large number of blood runes per trip, which can then be sold to Ali Morrisane or used for magic training.
Location of the Blood Altar
Requirements:
- 77 Runecrafting.
- 73 Agility (for efficient Stamina potion usage and Altar access).
- Pickaxe for mining Dense essence.
Hourly Profit: Approximately 300,000 GP.
Blood Rune Crafting Efficiency:
- Dense Essence Mining: Optimize your Dense essence mining route to minimize travel time.
- Stamina Potions and Weight Reduction: Utilize Stamina potions and weight-reducing gear to maximize run time and essence carrying capacity.
- Runecrafting Level: Higher Runecrafting levels increase rune output per essence, improving profit.
Free-to-Play (F2P) Ironman Money Making Methods
For Ironman accounts choosing to remain in F2P, money making options are more limited but still viable. These methods are crucial for establishing a base of gold in F2P before potentially transitioning to P2P.
1. Collecting Steel Platebodies and High Alching
Steel platebodies spawn in the Lava Maze within the Wilderness. By hopping worlds, you can collect these platebodies and high alch them for a profit. While in the Wilderness, be cautious of PKers. Banking frequently at Edgeville is recommended to minimize risk.
Steel Platebody Spawn Location in the Lava Maze
Requirements:
- 55 Magic (for High Level Alchemy spell).
Hourly Profit: 100,000 – 200,000 GP (depending on world hopping speed and PKer encounters).
Steel Platebody Alching Strategy:
- World Hopping Efficiency: Quickly hop worlds to find newly spawned steel platebodies.
- Wilderness Awareness: Be constantly aware of potential PKers.
- Frequent Banking: Bank at Edgeville regularly to avoid losing accumulated steel platebodies to PKers.
2. Killing Ogress Warriors and Shamans
Ogress Warriors and Shamans, found in the Corsair Cove Dungeon, are strong F2P monsters that drop valuable rune items, runes, and uncut gems. Using melee or ranged safespots, you can effectively farm these monsters for consistent profit.
Location of H.A.M. Store Room Keys
Requirements:
- The Corsair Curse quest.
- Dragon Slayer I quest.
- 80+ Defence, Attack, and Strength (for melee) OR 40+ Ranged (for safespots).
- Food for sustain.
Hourly Profit: Approximately 100,000 GP.
Ogress Warrior/Shaman Farming Tips:
- Melee vs. Ranged: Melee is generally faster if you have high combat stats. Ranged safespots are safer but potentially slower.
- Healing with Tuna: Utilize the raw tuna spawn and fire in the dungeon to cook tuna for healing, saving on food costs.
- Aggression Management: Shamans become non-aggressive after a short period, allowing for safer melee combat.
3. Collecting Staff of Earth
Staffs of Earth spawn in the Lava Maze in the Wilderness. Similar to steel platebodies, world hopping allows you to collect these staffs and sell them to Zaff’s Superior Staffs in Varrock. This method is low-risk and requires minimal requirements.
Location of Green Dragons in the Wilderness
Requirements:
- Knife to cut through webs at the Lava Maze entrance.
- Food for minor damage while navigating the maze.
Hourly Profit: Approximately 70,000 GP.
Staff of Earth Collection Strategy:
- World Hop for Spawns: Hop worlds to find newly spawned staffs of earth.
- Quick Collection Route: Optimize your route to quickly collect staffs and return to the Ferox Enclave bank.
- Low Risk Method: Minimal risk involved, making it suitable for early F2P Ironman accounts.
Conclusion
Making money as an OSRS Ironman requires dedication and utilizing the right methods for your account progression and skill levels. Whether you are starting in F2P or diving into P2P, this guide provides a range of strategies to build your gold reserves. From early-game gem cutting and Last Man Standing to mid-game Corrupted Gauntlet and Green Dragons, there are always profitable avenues to explore. Remember to adapt your money making methods as your account progresses and skills improve to maximize your efficiency and enjoy your Ironman journey in Old School RuneScape!
