Mining is one of the oldest skills in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), offering players the opportunity to gather ores and minerals used in crafting, smithing, and various other skills. For many, leveling Mining from 1 to 99 is a rewarding challenge that opens up opportunities to make OSRS gold and unlock powerful resources. This guide will walk you through the most efficient methods, tips, and tricks for leveling Mining from the very first rock you crack to achieving the coveted 99 Mining milestone.

Whether you're a fresh player or a seasoned veteran, this comprehensive guide will help you make the most of your time in Gielinor, ensuring that you reach level 99 efficiently and, potentially, profitably.

Getting Started: Understanding Mining in OSRS

Before diving into the guide, it's essential to understand the basics of Mining in Old School RuneScape. Mining involves extracting ores from rocks found throughout the game world, and you'll need a pickaxe to do so. Different ores and rocks require varying levels of Mining skill, with higher-level ores providing more experience points and resources. As your level increases, you can mine more valuable ores, which can be used in Smithing to create bars, weapons, and armor.

To get started, you'll need:

A Pickaxe: Start with a bronze or iron pickaxe, which can be purchased from the Grand Exchange or made by using bars of metal.

Mining Levels: You'll gain experience by mining rocks, and the higher your Mining level, the more ores you can mine. Higher-level ores provide better experience rates.

Mining is a great skill for those who enjoy a laid-back, click-and-wait gameplay style, but if you're looking for high experience per hour (XP/hr), efficient methods should be your priority. This guide will cover the most effective ways to level up from 1 to 99, ensuring maximum XP and minimal time wasted.

Levels 1-15: Copper and Tin Ores

Best Location: Lumbridge Swamp or Varrock South East

The first step in your Mining journey is to mine Copper and Tin ores. These ores are the easiest to mine and are available at low Mining levels.

Copper and Tin Ores: Both ores can be mined from the same rock, making them ideal for efficient training. At level 1, you'll be able to mine these ores at a steady pace. You can mine the rocks at Lumbridge Swamp, which has several mining spots in close proximity, or Varrock South East, which is convenient and close to a bank for quick drop-off if you're non-members. Each Copper and Tin rock yields 17.5 experience points.

Training Tips:

Inventory Management: Mining Copper and Tin will give you very low experience, so you'll want to focus on mining in efficient locations where you don't waste time running to the bank.

Leveling Up: You'll need to mine roughly 138 Copper or Tin ores to reach level 15. You can choose to drop the ores instead of banking them if you want to focus solely on gaining experience as quickly as possible.

Levels 15-99: Iron Ore Mining

Best Location: Mining Guild or 3-Spot Iron Ore at Al Kharid

Once you hit level 15, you will be able to mine Iron Ore. Iron ores provide the best experience per hour from level 15 onward and should be your focus up to level 99, especially with certain methods. The only issue with mining Iron is that it requires more effort due to its low respawn rate and the need to gather ores in high-traffic areas.

Mining Guild (Members Only): The Mining Guild is a member-exclusive location that increases your mining efficiency by providing a 60% experience boost when mining ores within the guild. The Mining Guild is located just west of Falador, offering plenty of Iron Ore rocks to mine, making it one of the best spots for mid-level miners. The rocks here yield 35 experience per ore. There is also a bank chest located nearby for fast banking.

Al Kharid (Free-to-Play): If you're a free-to-play player, the Al Kharid mines offer a three-rock Iron Ore spot that provides a decent experience rate. You'll need to manually bank your ores at the nearby Al Kharid bank, but this method is still one of the best for free players, yielding 35 XP per ore.

Training Tips:

Iron Ore Mining Method: You can either bank the ores or drop them, depending on your preferred XP/hr rate. If you're focused on maximizing efficiency, dropping the ores (known as “drop mining”) will allow you to avoid banking and keep your experience rate high.

Mining Guild: If you're a member, the Mining Guild is the undisputed best location. You'll also gain an additional benefit from the 3-tick method for Iron ores, allowing you to mine faster by alternating between your pickaxe and dropping ores.

By mining Iron Ore exclusively, you'll gain experience quickly and reach level 99 at around 15 million experience.

Levels 99+: The Best Methods for Continued Mining

Once you've achieved level 99 Mining, you can explore some more advanced and rewarding methods that offer higher returns for your efforts.

Motherlode Mine (Members Only)

The Motherlode Mine is one of the most popular methods for training Mining from level 30 onward. It's an underground mine that offers a slower but steady and lucrative alternative to traditional Iron mining. The Motherlode Mine is located in the Falador Mining Guild and requires a pickaxe to start mining.

Rewards: The Motherlode Mine not only provides experience but also a chance to collect ores for various levels, including Gold and Gemstones. With this, you'll be able to accumulate valuable ores for later use in other skills like Smithing or Crafting. Furthermore, you gain experience for mining the ores and also for collecting the pay-dirt from the deposit box.

Training Tips:

Focus on Pay-dirt: Pay-dirt is the most valuable resource in the Motherlode Mine. Once you reach level 99, you can mine in the upper levels for an optimized rate of experience. You'll also be able to mine for Gemstones and Gold Ore while enjoying slower but steadier gains.

Efficient Use of Stamina: A stamina potion is key for those mining the Motherlode Mine, as it helps reduce the effects of walking between stations and maximizes your XP efficiency.

Best Alternative Methods for Profit and Experience

For those looking to make cheap RS gold while mining and gaining experience, there are several high-level ores and locations that provide both profit and experience.

Runite Ore Mining (Level 85+)

Runite Ore is one of the most profitable ores in the game, with each Runite Ore worth substantial amounts on the Grand Exchange. Mining Runite is slow, but highly rewarding, especially for high-level players looking to earn while training.

Best Location: The Heroes' Guild and Wilderness: Runite rocks are most commonly found in the Wilderness, especially near the Heroes' Guild. Be wary, though, as this area is PvP-enabled. The second-best spot is The Mining Guild for members.

Experience Rates: Mining Runite provides around 125 experience per ore, making it one of the highest XP-per-ore methods once you're at level 85 Mining.

Training Tips:

Watch Your Health: In PvP zones like the Wilderness, always be on guard for potential player killers. Equip your best gear and keep an eye on your surroundings.

Drop or Bank: Similar to other ores, you can choose whether to drop or bank Runite ores, depending on your goals.

Leveling Up Efficiently: Conclusion

Mining from level 1 to 99 in Old School RuneScape may seem daunting at first, but with the right methods and mindset, it's a rewarding and profitable skill to train. Here's a quick summary of the key training methods:

Levels 1-15: Mine Copper and Tin at Lumbridge or Varrock.

Levels 15-99: Mine Iron Ore at Al Kharid (F2P) or the Mining Guild (members) using efficient drop mining methods.

Post-Level 99: Consider switching to the Motherlode Mine or Runite mining for additional profit and slower experience gains.

Mining is a skill that rewards persistence and patience, but with these methods in hand, you can confidently reach the coveted 99 Mining skill and enjoy the various benefits it provides in Old School RuneScape. Whether you're after XP, profit, or both, the world of Gielinor has plenty of mining opportunities waiting for you!