A Practical Ironman Account Progression Guide for Old School RuneScape

Starting an Ironman in Old School RuneScape is a completely different experience from gearing a main. You can’t rely on the Grand Exchange, you can’t swipe your way through upgrades, and you can’t skip ahead with purchased supplies. Everything-every weapon, every piece of armor, every potion, every teleport-must be earned by you. And unlike mains who can simply buy OSRS gold to accelerate progress, Ironmen must build power the long, intended way. This guide outlines a clear, flexible Ironman progression path from early game to raids, based directly on the progression many experienced irons follow.

Early Game: Setting the Foundation

Right after Tutorial Island, your first goals are simple survivability and mobility. Pick up leather gloves and boots, then-if you’re not on a Hardcore-run the Stronghold of Security for 10k GP. From here, visit Varrock to grab a staff of air, basic runes, and a Chronicle for cheap teleports.

One of the strongest early-game items for any Ironman is the Ardougne Cloak 1, available after 15 Thieving. Not only is it easy to obtain, but it also gives you free prayer restoration at the Monastery.

Before jumping into training, complete a handful of starter quests that unlock huge chunks of experience. Prioritize quests such as Waterfall Quest, Witch’s House, Fight Arena, The Grand Tree, Vampire Slayer, and Tree Gnome Village. These alone will push your stats dramatically higher than anything early monsters can offer.

Once you’ve built basic combat and magic through quests, begin Dragon Slayer I for access to rune armor and the anti-dragon shield. You can already kill Elvarg safely using mid-level magic spells.

During this stage, grab key gear upgrades like the adamant scimitar (from The Feud or Civitas shops), strength amulet, and climbing boots from Death Plateau. Magic users should work toward Mystic robes once they reach 66 Magic and can shop in Yanille.

Developing Combat Styles

Your ranged training begins after The Lost Tribe, when you unlock the bone crossbow and cheap bone bolts. Pair this with snakeskin armor from Fossil Island and the Ava’s Attractor from Animal Magnetism. At 50 Ranged, upgrade to the Ava’s Accumulator, which carries you deep into mid-game.

Melee progression continues through 65 Attack/Strength, where you can tackle the Warriors' Guild and farm for your Dragon Defender. Follow this with Barbarian Assault for the Fighter Torso, an iconic early Ironman strength upgrade.

Once you’ve completed Legends' Quest and Desert Treasure, you’ll be ready for Barrows Gloves, your first major account milestone.

Mid Game: Moons, Barrows, and Boss Unlocks

Barrows becomes a major target, ideally after building a POH portal to speed up travel. Until Sailing releases, the zombie axe remains your best main-hand weapon, though an upcoming mid-game rapier may offer an alternative.

Continue pushing ranged and magic with gear like green d’hide, the magic shortbow, or the blowpipes arriving with Sailing. Aim to finish Recipe for Disaster and farm enough Barrows to obtain strong defensive pieces like Dharok’s Platebody or Karil’s Skirt.

Your next major goal is completing the Moons of Peril content. The Blood Moon and Eclipse Moon gear sets are powerful mid-game staples, and you’ll likely hit 70 Prayer along the way, unlocking Piety after King’s Ransom.

From here, grind Royal Titans for key prayer scrolls such as Deadeye and Mystic Vigor, plus the Twinflame Staff. With that, you can progress into Corrupted Gauntlet.

Late Game: Corrupted Gauntlet and Beyond

The corrupted gauntlet is your gateway to late-game viability. Stay until you secure the Enhanced Crystal Weapon Seed (for Bow of Faerdhinen) and six armor seeds. This setup will carry you through Slayer, bosses, and early raids.

With a bofa, crystal armor, and onyx-powered Amulet of Fury, your path opens dramatically. Popular long-term goals include:

· Slayer unlocks: Abyssal whip, Trident, Occult Necklace, Cerberus crystals, Hydra gloves

· Major bosses: Zulrah, Vorkath, DKS, Nightmare Zone imbues

· Best-in-slot upgrades: Dragon Warhammer, Void Elite, Anguish, Torture, Ring of Suffering

· Preparation for raids: TOA Fang/Lightbearer, Chambers Tebow/DEX, TOB Scythe

From here, your Ironman enters the endgame, tackling Theater of Blood, high-invocation TOA, Challenge Mode Chambers, Nex, and beyond.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, progressing an Ironman account in Old School RuneScape is a journey that rewards patience, strategy, and careful planning. From the early freedom of questing and basic gear acquisition to the mid-game grind of Barrows, Moons, and key quest milestones, every step builds toward a powerful, self-sufficient account. And while mains can shortcut progression by purchasing cheap RS gold, Ironmen must rely entirely on their own effort, making each upgrade far more meaningful. Late-game goals like the Corrupted Gauntlet, Slayer unlocks, and endgame raids challenge even the most experienced players, but with the right gear and preparation, they are entirely achievable. By following a structured progression path while still leaving room for personal choice and exploration, you can enjoy a fulfilling Ironman experience, mastering combat, skilling, and quests while steadily building toward the ultimate endgame content. Your journey may be long, but the satisfaction of achieving each milestone on your own is what makes Ironman mode uniquely rewarding.