10 Most Iconic Old School Runescape Quests, Ranked

July 5, 2025

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People may be confused when they see Old School Runescape, which is continuously thriving to this day. What on earth is the magic that keeps together this medieval point-and-click game from the Newgrounds days?

I have one word for you. Quests.

You could expand a bit on that and say that it’s more the soul and the fun within these quests that really makes this jewel shine. You won’t find any “Kill 20 boars and bring back their hides” here, folks; rather, there’s a whole skill dedicated to that very task.

If you’re not sure where to begin levelling Slayer in Old School Runescape, then our OSRS: Slayer Levelling Guide (1-99) will be sure to help.

No, these quests are plot-driven, character-focused tales with lots of twists and turns that keep you engaged. The writing is hilarious, the bosses are brutal, and the puzzles may have you pulling out your hair, but the fantastic journey is the real reward here.

Once you have your quest cape, you’ll understand. These are the most notable and memorable quests in this classic game. As great as some of its clones are, there’s onlt one Runescape, and these quests prove it.

10

Waterfall Quest

Level 1 to Level 30! Nice

Just started a new account and want to get those levels up? Do I have a surprise for you, my friend.

It’s time to scale some waterfalls and dodge some moss giants. Just try not to get one-shot, or it’ll be a long walk back.

Most of us have completed Waterfall Quest at least 5 times throughout our lives, and it never gets old. Whether it’s the Tree Gnome maze, or waiting to de-aggro the giants or simply the massive XP reward at the end, every Old School fan will remember racing through this quest as fast as they can.

Even for people who hate doing quests, this one is a must. Just don’t forget to place the urn at the end, or you’ll have to get a whole new amulet again.

I learned this the hard way.

9

Darkness of Hallowvale

Don’t Make Me Go Through The Maze Again

Welcome to Morytania. It’s dark, dismal and full of grizzly beasts waiting to gobble you up. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun, right?

I mean, some poor souls spend their whole lives here, just ask Swampletics.

In all honesty, this quest is iconic not for its fun factor, but for the misery it all put us through when we first did it. Yes, these were the days before the Quest Helper plugin.

Most of us had to scramble our way through Meiyerditch through sheer grit and determination. Even to this day, I’d rather not do it again.

What really makes this quest shine is how helpless you feel throughout the whole course of events. It’s you against a whole region full of vampires and beasts alike, working with a tiny force of rebels to eke out a life among the misery of blood tithes and brutality.

The stakes are high, and victory seems infinitely out of reach. And still we fight.

8

Shield of Arrav

Joining A Gang… It’s For A Good Purpose, I Swear

OSRS two characters during the Shield of Arrav quest

Working with another human being. It’s not so simple a task, I can assure you.

New players, old players, everyone will remember the struggle of finding a partner in this short but tricky quest.

It was the first real quest, available to everyone, that forced you to team up with someone to find the two pieces of the Shield of Arrav. I remember desperately running around asking for help from a Black Arm Gang member, for hours and hours, only to find that everyone had the same idea as me and joined the Phoenix faction.

And yet, as odd as it may have seemed in the beginning, interacting with a total stranger and working together, both completing the quest at the same time, was a pretty fantastic feeling. Even if they’ve been offline for years now, you’ll both still have that memory.

7

One Small Favour

Small Means Something Different For Everyone

OSRS talking with an NPC during the One Small Favour quest

It’s just one small favour, alright? It won’t take you much time at all!

This quest requires you to get some logs for a man in Shilo Village. Of course, to get those logs, you’ll have to get something for someone else, and to get that, you’ll have to retrieve another thing.

You can see where I’m going with this, right?

You’ll be forced to run around the entirety of Gielinor completing random tasks for people you barely know, only to have to backtrack and deliver every single item once you think you’re done. Rock monsters and gang members will stand in your way, and by the time you’re finished, even the reward won’t quite satisfy your rage.

Nevertheless, I still have fond memories of completing this quest, even if it was made just to torture us. For many an Old School player, it’s very much a rite of passage.

Let’s just hope Jagex never makes “Another Small Favour.”

6

Underground Pass

Once You’re In, You May Never Get Out

OSRS navigating a complex area in the Underground Pass quest

For beginners starting their OSRS journey, this quest may stand out as a bit of a roadblock, barring passage to the rest of the game. But don’t put it off, rip off the plaster and maybe, if you’re lucky, you’ll have a good time.

This quest has you travel through a huge dungeon, full of traps and meddlesome foes, to reach the land of the Elves on the other side. Of course, it’s hard to quite get across how huge this Underground pass really is.

If you forget to bring an item, well, it’s back to the bank with you, and you have the pleasure of doing it all over again.

If you’re not sure where to begin on a fresh OSRS account then our OSRS: Melee Levelling Guide (1-99) will be sure to help.

On top of slaughtering harmless unicorns, you’ll be forced to cross agility-based jumps with horrible odds for success, avoid terrifying spiders and steal from the Soulless. It’s a pretty grim experience, and yet you’ll get sucked into the dread of it all.

Eventually, when you make it out on the other side, the light of the sun will put a smile on your face.

5

Cook’s Assistant

This Is Where The Fun Begins

OSRS in the kitchen for the Cook's Assistant quest

Oh, to be new and fresh in Lumbridge again. No 100-hour grinds to be completed, no bosses to be greenlogged or Elite diary requirements to be met. Just a world, ready to be explored.

The Cook’s Assistant is pretty much everyone’s first introduction to questing in OSRS. In all honesty, it’s not much of a challenge, but that’s what makes it so charming.

The cook needs some ingredients to make a cake, and it’s your job to find them. Milk from the cows, an egg from the chickens and a bucket of flour, ground fresh from the mill.

Not only is this quest super quick, but it shows you a lot of OSRS’s starting area, giving you some ideas about what to do in the future. You may see some other newbies killing cows or slaying goblins on your trip.

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Recipe for Disaster

Snakes Stuffed with Nuts and Bananas

Oh, you thought that was it? You just made a cake, and the quest is completed? Oh no, sweet summer child, the quest has just begun.

In actuality, this was Runescape’s 100th quest, and an homage to the Cook’s Assistant. The whole quest is made up of 8 mini-quests, which require you to make a special meal for each of the Duke’s guests and defeat the evil Culinaromancer.

Of course, these aren’t simple dishes. Mini-quests range from extremely easy to pretty darn tough, and the amount of Quest points you’ll need to actually complete this gargantuan task is pretty mind-boggling.

Yet, the quest itself is lighthearted and hilarious, with plenty of funny moments and ridiculous food-themed bosses. Plus, the Barrows Gloves you can purchase upon completion will be with you for the rest of your OSRS career.

3

Monkey Madness

Well, I’ll Be A Monkey’s Uncle…

Ever wanted to be a monkey before? No? Well, too bad, because if you want that Dragon Scimitar, you’re going to have to make a Greegree of your own.

Throughout the course of this legendary quest, you’ll break out of Monkey Prison (many times), traverse through collapsing dungeons, transform into a monkey, and even slay a massive Green Jungle Demon.

This has always been one of OSRS’s most difficult tales, requiring pretty high stats and puzzle-solving abilities. Of course, while now there is a sequel, in the past, this was one of the ultimate obstacles.

If you’re struggling to level magic in Old School Runescape then OSRS: Magic Levelling Guide (1-99) will be sure to help.

To those unprepared: Death will find you, over and over again, while you try to survive on the brutal Ape Atoll.

Fear not, though, for the prizes are well worth it. A brilliant scimitar and a bunch of XP awaits for your efforts.

Oh, and you can do Monkey Agility too! What’s not to love?

2

Dragon Slayer

Have You Spoken To Oziach Yet?

OSRS character stands in fiery, barren area

Elvarg is the Dragon that strikes fear into the hearts of all F2P players. The final challenge before heading into the member’s world.

This is the first major goal in OSRS, and if you’re a free-to-play player, it can be pretty tough to take down this draconic dreadnaught.

Of course, other things make this huge quest rather memorable, from the maddening Melzar’s Maze to the frankly bizarre riddles and the awesome cutscenes that show Elvarg in her prime.

Rune armour equipped, Anti Dragonshield in hand, you surge through the heart of Karamja’s volcano to strike down a deadly dragon in its own lair. It’s a great fight, and it will see you chomping down on lobsters like no tomorrow.

Thankfully, you’re well rewarded with the epic Rune Platebody and a whole lump of juicy XP. Now, if you want to complete Dragon Slayer 2, you’re going to have to do some more training.

1

Desert Treasure

Brave The Shifting Sands, and The Magick That Lies Within

OSRS standing in a circle of mirrors in a desert

Where to begin? Incredible soundtrack, brilliant bosses, stunning environments, and rewards that change the very fabric of the game itself. Desert Treasure was truly the first quest that showed players how amazing OSRS quest design could be when done properly.

This quest will force the player to travel deep into Morytanian Swamps, high up into the Frozen Mountaintops, through dark twisting tunnels, and into the foreboding depths of the Kharidian Desert’s pyramids. All the while, you’re hunted by a deadly assassin determined to retrieve the very diamonds you’re trying to collect.

The theme here is top-notch, and the difficulty matches it. Each boss that protects the diamonds is a force to be reckoned with and will surely test your mettle. Even the environments themselves are a threat.

You brave it all and are greeted by Azzanadra, a Mahjarrat of legend, who grants you a new staff and the power of the Ancient Magicks: a new, powerful Spellbook, with a host of game-changing powers.

For any magic user, this quest is a must-complete as soon as you have the required levels. With the power of Ancient Magicks, you’re all but unstoppable.