Understanding the Old School RuneScape Prayer Skill
Prayer is one of the most vital skills in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), offering invaluable benefits in combat, bossing, and even certain quests. From protecting you against incoming damage to boosting your offensive capabilities, a high Prayer level is a cornerstone of any successful account.
However, training Prayer can be one of the most expensive skills in the game. This OSRS Prayer XP Calculator is designed to help you plan your training efficiently, estimate costs, and understand the best methods to achieve your desired Prayer level, whether you're aiming for level 43 for Protect from Melee, level 70 for Piety, or the coveted level 99.
Why Train Prayer? Key Milestones and Benefits
Every Prayer level unlocks new abilities, but some stand out as significant milestones:
- Level 43: Protect from Melee - Essential for many boss fights and combat situations, drastically reducing incoming melee damage.
- Level 44: Protect from Missiles - Crucial for ranged opponents.
- Level 45: Protect from Magic - Vital against magic users.
- Level 52: Smite - Drains opponent's Prayer points based on damage dealt, useful in PvP and against certain monsters.
- Level 70: Piety (Attack, Strength, Defence boost) - A massive boost for melee combatants, requiring the King's Ransom quest.
- Level 74: Rigour (Ranged Attack & Damage boost) - Best-in-slot ranged prayer, requiring the Kebos Lowlands diary unlock.
- Level 77: Augury (Magic Attack & Defence boost) - Best-in-slot magic prayer, also requiring Kebos Lowlands.
- Level 99: Max Prayer Points - Unlocks the Prayer skillcape, giving a small Prayer point boost and other perks.
OSRS Prayer Training Methods: Efficiency vs. Cost
There are several ways to train Prayer, each with its own balance of XP rates, cost, and effort:
1. Gilded Altar (Player-Owned House)
The Gilded Altar is the most popular and balanced method for training Prayer. Located in your Player-Owned House (POH), a Gilded Altar combined with two lit incense burners provides a 2.5x experience multiplier for burying bones.
- Setup: You'll need a House with a Gilded Altar (Construction level 75, or boostable). Ensure you have Marrentill or Tarromin to light two incense burners.
- Method: Bring un-noted bones, light the burners, offer bones to the altar, and then teleport out (e.g., using a POH teleport tablet to re-enter your house or a friend's house).
- Efficiency: Very high XP rates (up to 700k+ XP/hr with Dragon Bones) and relatively low effort.
- Cost: High, as you're buying bones. The calculator above helps estimate this!
2. Chaos Altar (Wilderness)
For those willing to brave the Wilderness, the Chaos Altar offers an even higher experience multiplier at 3.5x. This method comes with significant risk but can be incredibly fast and, surprisingly, sometimes cheaper.
- Setup: Located deep in the Wilderness. You'll need to bring un-noted bones and a way to un-note them (e.g., using a looting bag for a quick inventory dump, or trading with the Elder Chaos Druid in the nearby ruins).
- Method: Offer bones to the altar. If you're attacked by a player killer (PKer), you can quickly offer bones while under attack, often getting several bones offered before you die or escape. You only lose 1 bone per inventory if killed, making it potentially cost-effective if you evade PKers.
- Efficiency: Highest XP rates (potentially 1M+ XP/hr with Dragon Bones) but very high risk.
- Cost: Can be cheaper than Gilded Altar due to the ability to save bones when dying, but this relies on good evasion and luck.
3. Ectofuntus (Port Phasmatys)
The Ectofuntus provides the highest experience multiplier at 4x, but it is also the slowest and most click-intensive method. It's often used by Ironmen or players looking to save money, as it allows you to collect free bones (e.g., from killing ghosts) and process them.
- Setup: Requires completion of the Ghosts Ahoy quest. You'll need bones, buckets, and pots.
- Method: Grind bones into bonemeal at the Ectofuntus, fill buckets with slime from the Ectofuntus pool, then combine bonemeal with slime in the Ectofuntus.
- Efficiency: Very slow XP rates due to the multi-step process.
- Cost: Lowest cost, especially if bones are self-obtained.
4. Burying Bones (Passive/AFK)
The simplest method is just burying bones as you obtain them from combat. This offers the base XP per bone (1x multiplier) and is not efficient for dedicated training but contributes passively to your Prayer level.
Understanding the Calculator Inputs
- Current Prayer Level: Your current Prayer level.
- Target Prayer Level: The level you wish to achieve.
- Bone Type: Choose the type of bone you plan to use. Higher-tier bones give more XP per bone but are generally more expensive.
- Altar/Method: Select your training method. This applies the correct XP multiplier.
- Dragonbone Necklace: Check this box if you plan to use a Dragonbone Necklace, which provides a 25% XP boost when burying bones (even at altars).
Maximizing Your Prayer Training Efficiency
- Use the Best Bones You Can Afford: While Dragon Bones are popular, consider Superior Dragon Bones or Hydra Bones for faster XP if your budget allows.
- Altar Choice: For most players, the Gilded Altar offers the best balance of XP and safety. If you're comfortable with risk, Chaos Altar is unparalleled for speed.
- Dragonbone Necklace: Always use this if you have it! It's a significant 25% boost.
- POH Teleports: For Gilded Altar training, use POH teleport tablets or runes for quick banking and return trips.
- "Host Your Own Altar" Worlds: Look for worlds where players are hosting their Gilded Altars, making it easy to find a setup without having your own high Construction level.
- Banking Routes: Plan efficient banking routes to minimize downtime between trips.
Conclusion
Training Prayer to high levels in OSRS is a commitment, both in time and gold. By using this OSRS Prayer XP Calculator, you can gain a clear understanding of the resources required for your goals. Plan wisely, choose the method that suits your playstyle and budget, and you'll be smiting and praying your way to success in no time!