Free-to-play Mining training
Introduction[edit | edit source]
This guide describes the most effective free-to-play methods to train the Mining skill. Mining is a gathering skill which typically involves collecting ores from different types of ore rock; ore rocks are often found in groups at mining sites. Players can also occasionally obtain uncut gems and geodes while mining. A pickaxe is required when mining. Levelling up the Mining skill increases the chance of the player getting critical hits, which deal greater amounts of damage to rocks and so increase the rate of receiving ores and the larger experience drop that occurs alongside this. A higher Mining level gives chances of receiving double ores from certain types of rock; and increases the frequency of rockertunities, which also grant extra damage when used. As players level up they are also able to use better pickaxes. To gain the best experience rates possible players are strongly recommended to use the highest level pickaxe available to them and use rockertunities whenever available.
The experience rate estimates in this guide assume that the best possible pickaxe is being used for the stated Mining level and do not incorporate the use of any experience boosting items or bonus experience. They also assume that players do not bank the ores that they obtain. Banking ores decreases the amount of experience players can gain per hour and, as most ores are not very valuable, is usually not worth the time taken from Mining training. Players using the Evolution of Combat mode can drop ores by adding the ore to their action bar and pressing the associated keybind to drop the ore. As opposed to dropping items directly from the inventory using their right-click drop option, dropping ores via the action bar does not interrupt mining. Players who do wish to keep the ores that they mine could make use of the ore box, and expansions to its capacity to decrease the frequency of trips to the bank.
Pickaxes[edit | edit source]
Higher level pickaxes deal greater amounts of damage to rocks and so increase the rate of receiving ores and the larger experience drop that occurs alongside this. Pickaxes may be used from the player's inventory or tool belt or whilst being equipped.
| Level required | Pickaxe | Average damage done to rock |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Bronze pickaxe
|
5 |
| 10 |  Iron pickaxe
|
10 |
 Iron pickaxe + 1
|
11 | |
| 20 |  Steel pickaxe
|
20 |
 Steel pickaxe + 1
|
21 | |
| 30 |  Mithril pickaxe
|
30 |
 Mithril pickaxe + 1
|
31 | |
 Mithril pickaxe + 2
|
32 | |
| 40 |  Adamant pickaxe
|
40 |
 Adamant pickaxe + 1
|
41 | |
 Adamant pickaxe + 2
|
42 | |
| 50 |  Rune pickaxe
|
50 |
 Rune pickaxe + 1
|
51 | |
 Rune pickaxe + 2
|
52 | |
 Rune pickaxe + 3
|
53 |
Urns[edit | edit source]
Urns can be used to gain additional Mining experience while training. When held in the inventory, urns are filled as the player mines ore. Only base experience gains counts towards filling the urn. Full urns can be teleported away to receive additional experience, equivalent to 20% of the Mining experience gained while filling the urn. Only one urn is filled at a time, though players may own up to a total of 10 full urns. If a player owns 10 full mining urns they must teleport at least 1 away before they can fill more urns. Urns are only tradeable in their (nr), non-runed, forms. In order to use a mining urn the player must add an earth rune to it, this makes the urn untradeable.
| Image | Name | Crafting level required to add rune | GE price of non-runed urn | Charges gained from | Type of ore | Experience required to fill | Experience gained from teleporting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cracked mining urn | 1 | 898 | Ores available at level 1 | Clay Copper ore Tin ore Rune essence |
437.5 | 87.5 |
|
Fragile mining urn | 17 | 1,045 | Ores up to and including level 20 | The above, plus: Iron ore Limestone Blurite ore Coal Silver ore Daeyalt ore |
1,000 | 200 |
|
Plain mining urn | 32 | 1,747 | Ores up to and including level 50 | The above, plus: Mithril ore Pure essence Sandstone Adamantite ore Luminite ore Gold ore |
1,625 | 325 |
|
Strong mining urn | 48 | 2,053 | Ores up to and including level 70 | The above, plus: Granite Runite ore Orichalcite ore Drakolith ore Necrite ore Phasmatite ore |
2,000 | 400 |
Summary[edit | edit source]
See here to calculate how many ores will be obtained during training. The following figures do not include boosts nor urns.
| Levels | Method | Experience per hour |
|---|---|---|
| 1-10 | Copper/tin | 5,000 |
| 10-20 | Iron | 15,000 |
| 20-30 | Coal | 25,000 |
| 30-40 | Mithril | 40,000 |
| 40-50 | Adamantite/Luminite | 45,000 |
| 50-99+ | Runite | 60,000 |
Levels 1-10: Copper/Tin[edit | edit source]
Players should begin by mining copper ore rocks and/or tin ore rocks. The Ashdale mine contains two rocks of each type close together as well as a nearby furnace for storage. Players can continually mine from the same rock, but should switch to rocks with rockertunities when these spawn. With level 1-10 Mining players should gain an experience rate equivalent to around 5,000 experience an hour, and should achieve level 10 Mining after around 10 minutes.
Levels 10-20: Iron[edit | edit source]
At level 10 players can start mining from iron ore rocks; these can be found in the South-west Lumbridge swamp mining site and South-west Varrock mining site. Players should gain around 15,000 experience an hour at these levels. At level 15 players unlock the "energetic mining" mining mechanic which allows the player to deal increased damage per swing to rocks while mining, if they are actively paying attention. A player's activity level/stamina is indicated by coloured sparks around the rock being mined.
Players who are fully AFK gain no bonus, and will have no visible sparks. Those who maintain full stamina, by clicking a rock every ticks/2.4 seconds, will gain 25% additional damage per swing. This is indicated by green sparks. Players who are paying a moderate amount of attention, and maintaining between 1-99% stamina gain 12.% additional damage, which is indicated by white sparks. This guide assumes that from level 15 on wards the player is maintaining a moderate level of activity; players who maintain 100% stamina may be able to gain high experience rates.
Levels 20-30: Coal[edit | edit source]
From level 20-30 Mining players should mine coal rocks. The South-west Lumbridge swamp mining site, Falador mining site, and Barbarian Village mining site contain coal rocks. At these levels players should be able to gain around 25,000 experience an hour.
Levels 30-40: Mithril[edit | edit source]
With level 30 Mining players can begin mining mithril ore rocks for around 40,000 experience an hour. Mithril ore rocks can be found at the South-east Varrock mining site, South-west Varrock mining site, and Karamja Volcano mine.
Levels 40-50: Adamantite/Luminite[edit | edit source]
At level 40 players may choose to mine adamantite ore rocks or luminite rocks; both of which give around 45,000 experience an hour. Luminite rocks are located in the Dwarven Mine; while adamantite ore rocks can be found at the Rimmington mining site and South-east Varrock mining site.
Levels 50-99+: Runite[edit | edit source]
Runite ore rocks can be mined with at least level 50 Mining. The rocks can be mined in the South and North Crandor mining sites and in the Mining Guild, after level 60 Mining. This gives around 60,000 experience an hour, at level 50 Mining. Players can take advantage of a rune ore box, which can be purchased from the Grand Exchange or created with level 50 Smithing. These allow you to store between 120-140 runite ore, allowing for less frequent banking.
Money making using the Mining skill[edit | edit source]
Mining clay[edit | edit source]
| Level required | Experience per hour | Profit per hour | Details of method |
|---|---|---|---|
| None | 4,200 
|
378,840 | Money making guide/Mining clay |
Mining iron ore[edit | edit source]
| Level required | Experience per hour | Profit per hour | Details of method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 15  29 |
33,600
|
694,782 | Money making guide/Mining iron ore |
Mining adamantite ore[edit | edit source]
| Level required | Experience per hour | Profit per hour | Details of method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40+ |
45,000
|
184,404 | Money making guide/Mining adamantite ore |
Mining luminite ore[edit | edit source]
| Level required | Experience per hour | Profit per hour | Details of method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40+ 15 (recommended)
|
57,000
|
984,592 | Money making guide/Mining luminite ore |
Mining runite ore[edit | edit source]
| Level required | Experience per hour | Profit per hour | Details of method |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50+
|
60,000
|
888,693 | Money making guide/Mining runite ore |
| Free-to-play guides | |
| Members' guides | |
