OSRS Wilderness Money Making Guide: High Risk, High Reward!

The Wilderness. The name itself evokes danger, risk, and the constant threat of player killers (PKers). But beneath the surface of this treacherous wasteland lies the potential for some of the most lucrative money-making methods in Old School RuneScape. If you're willing to brave the danger, the rewards can be immense.

This guide explores popular and profitable money-making activities within the Wilderness, highlighting both the potential gains and the inherent risks involved. Remember: Never risk more than you are willing to lose!

Top Tier Wilderness Money Makers (High Risk & Requirements)

These methods offer the highest potential profit but require significant stats, gear, and carry the most risk.

1. Killing Revenants

  • Location: Revenant Caves (Levels 17-40 Wilderness, Singles-plus)
  • Method: Killing ghostly Revenants (Imps to Dragons). Higher levels drop better loot more often.
  • Profit: Excellent GP/hr potential (millions) due to valuable Ancient Artefact drops (sold to Emblem Trader), Wilderness weapon drops (Craw's Bow, Viggora's Chainmace, Thammaron's Sceptre), and consistent alchables/resources. Profit increases significantly if skulled (using Amulet of Avarice).
  • Risk: Extremely high PKer activity hotspot. Multi-million GP weapons are often risked. Requires constant vigilance.
  • Gear: Bracelet of Ethereum (charged) is mandatory for damage reduction. Salve Amulet (ei) boosts damage. Ranged (Craw's Bow/Webweaver) or Melee (Viggora's/Ursine Chainmace) setups are common.

2. Farming Wilderness Bosses (Weak Variants)

  • Location: Specific caves in mid-level Wilderness (Singles-plus).
    • Artio (Hunter's End, Lv 21 Wildy)
    • Calvar'ion (Skeletal Tomb, Lv 21 Wildy)
    • Spindel (Web Chasm, Lv 29 Wildy)
  • Method: Killing these bosses repeatedly for their unique drops. Requires Medium Wilderness Diary.
  • Profit: Very high potential (millions/hr) if you get unique drops like Voidwaker pieces (Hilt, Blade, Gem), boss-specific items (Claws, Skull, Fangs), Rings (Tyrannical, Gods, Treasonous), Dragon Pickaxe, etc. Standard loot is decent but less consistent than Revenants.
  • Risk: High PKer activity, especially near popular bosses like Calvar'ion. Requires specific combat setups (Magic/Ranged for Artio, Crush+Salve for Calvar'ion, Crush for Spindel).
  • Gear: Varies by boss. Often involves risking Wilderness weapons (Chainmace) or other valuable gear. Low-risk setups are viable but slower.

3. Killing Wilderness Bosses (Strong Variants - Multi/High Wildy)

  • Location: Various locations, often Multi-combat zones or deep Wilderness (> Lvl 30).
    • Callisto, Vet'ion, Venenatis (Multi)
    • Chaos Elemental (Multi)
    • Scorpia (Multi)
  • Method: Killing the original, stronger versions of the Wilderness bosses, often in teams/clans.
  • Profit: Highest potential for unique drops due to better drop rates than weaker variants. Can be extremely profitable.
  • Risk: Maximum risk. Multi-combat zones attract large PK teams. Deep Wilderness limits escape options severely. Requires organized groups and high-end gear. Generally not recommended for solo money making unless very experienced/specifically geared.

Mid-Tier & Skilling Money Makers (Moderate Risk/Requirements)

These methods offer decent profit potential with slightly less intense risk or lower requirements than top-tier bossing.

1. Wilderness Slayer

  • Method: Completing Slayer tasks assigned by Krystilia within the Wilderness.
  • Profit: Monsters on Wilderness tasks have improved drop tables, including chances at Larran's Keys (used on chests for valuable loot), Slayer's Enchantments, and higher clue scroll rates (especially with Ring of Wealth (i)). Killing bosses on task boosts unique chances (e.g., Revenant weapons).
  • Risk: Varies depending on the task location (low-level Wildy vs deep Wildy). PKers often target players doing popular tasks.

2. Resource Gathering

  • Dark Crab Fishing (Resource Area/Near Chaos Temple): Requires 85 Fishing. Dark Crabs heal 22 HP and are valuable. Risky due to location (Resource Area Lv 51+, other spots ~Lv 30+).
  • Runite Ore Mining (Frozen Waste Plateau/Lava Maze): Requires 85 Mining. High value ore, but locations are deep Wilderness hotspots (Lv 46+ / Lv 53+).
  • Black Chinchompas (Hunter Area): Requires 73 Hunter. Highest XP Hunter method, chins are valuable. Very popular PK spot (Lv 32-35 Wildy).
  • Magic Logs (Resource Area): Requires 75 Woodcutting. Less common than ores/crabs but still profitable.

3. Other Methods

  • Chaos Druids (Edgeville Dungeon Wildy/Chaos Temple): Low level, drop valuable herbs. Popular F2P/low-level PKing spot.
  • Lava Dragons (Lava Dragon Isle): Drop noted Dragon Bones/Hides, Lava Scales. Requires anti-dragon protection. Risky location (Lv 38-42 Wildy).
  • Collecting Spawns: Gathering items like Chaos Runes, Nature Runes, Wines of Zamorak (Telegrab). Lower profit, requires hopping worlds, still carries risk.
  • Wilderness Agility Course: Requires 52 Agility. Can be profitable with the 150k GP buy-in dispenser rewarding items based on lap streaks, but very deep Wilderness (Lv 50+).

Surviving the Wilderness

  • Minimize Risk: Only bring essential gear (3-4 valuable items). Use Protect Item prayer.
  • Situational Awareness: Constantly check minimap, player indicators, and surroundings.
  • Escape Plan: Know teleport levels (below 20/30), Obelisk locations, lever locations, Agility shortcuts, ditch/Ferox Enclave proximity. Carry a one-click teleport (Royal Seed Pod, Slayer Ring, etc.).
  • Tank Gear: Use gear with high Magic Defence (Black d'hide is excellent cost/benefit). Consider Dinh's Bulwark/Elysian Spirit Shield for escapes.
  • Use Scouts: A secondary account outside the cave/area can warn of incoming PKers.
  • Learn Anti-PK Techniques: Freezing/Entangling attackers, prayer switching, Vengeance can help deter or even kill attackers.

Conclusion

The Wilderness offers a unique, high-stakes environment where immense profits can be made, but only by those willing to accept the constant risk of losing everything. From farming powerful bosses and Revenants to gathering valuable resources, opportunity abounds. Success requires not only good stats and gear but also sharp awareness, smart risk management, and nerves of steel. Enter at your own peril, but the potential rewards might just be worth it.

Want to dominate Wilderness PvM but lack the gear or stats? Buy OSRS Gold safely to fund powerful Wilderness weapons or tank gear. Level up quickly with our OSRS Skilling Services. Learn essential survival tips in our Wilderness Survival Guide!