In Old School RuneScape, everyone is obsessed with GP. “How much gold per hour is Vorkath?” “Is Muspah better money than Zulrah?”
But if you are still building your account, you are asking the wrong question. You shouldn’t be chasing gold; you should be chasing XP. Here is why prioritizing your stats is actually the best financial decision you can make in Gielinor.
The “Time Cost” of Low Skills
Let’s say you want to chop Magic Logs for money. At Level 75 Woodcutting, you might chop 100 logs an hour. At Level 90 Woodcutting, you might chop 180 logs an hour.
If you spend 10 hours chopping at Level 75, you are wasting your time. You are working for “minimum wage.” It is almost always better to spend your time power-leveling (getting zero gold) to hit Level 90 first. Once you are there, every hour you spend makes nearly double the money.
High Stats Unlock the Real Money
The best money-makers in OSRS are locked behind massive stat walls.
- Raids (Tombs of Amascut / Chamber of Xeric): require 90+ Combat stats.
- Corrupted Gauntlet: requires 85+ Magic/Range.
- Rune Dragons: requires Dragon Slayer 2 (high skill requirements).
A low-level player might struggle to make 500k GP/hour. A maxed player can easily make 5m–10m GP/hour. Every hour you spend grinding XP is an investment in your future earning potential.
Don’t Be a “Bank Standing” Billionaire
There is a trap where players buy bonds, get the best gear (Bandos, Armadyl), but have Level 70 stats. We call them “Credit Card Warriors.” Don’t be that guy. A player in cheap Obsidian armor with Level 99 Strength will out-DPS a player in full Bandos with Level 75 Strength every single time. Your skills stay with you forever; your gear can be sold.
How to Plan Your “Stat Investment”
Stop blindly grinding. Treat your account like a business.
- Pick a goal (e.g., “I want to farm Vorkath”).
- Look up the recommended stats (e.g., 90 Ranged).
- Calculate exactly how long it will take to get from your current level to Level 90.
Do not guess! Use an OSRS XP Calculator (like the one we have here on LevelTimer) to see the numbers. If you know it takes 12 hours to hit your goal, you can mentally prepare for it. Get the stats first. The GP will follow.
Conclusion Stop worrying about your cash stack and start worrying about your total level. In OSRS, knowledge and stats are the only true currency.