Before RuneScape gold jumping in, it's important to understand the different Ironman variants:

Ironman: The standard solo mode—no trading, no Grand Exchange.

Hardcore Ironman (HCIM): Same restrictions as Ironman, but with only one life. Die once, and your account becomes a regular Ironman.

Ultimate Ironman (UIM): For the truly hardcore—no bank access. All your items must be carried or stored in your Player-Owned House.

This guide primarily focuses on standard Ironman, though many tips apply to all variations.

Early Game Survival: Build the Right Foundation

Your first hours as an Ironman are crucial. You start with nothing and can't lean on others to accelerate your progress. Your goal early on is simple: establish independence through quests, combat, and resource gathering.

Prioritize Questing

Quests are the best way to level skills quickly, unlock vital areas, and gain powerful items early. Focus on quests that provide high experience rewards and open up important content:

Cook's Assistant – Easy Cooking XP and access to useful ingredients.

Doric's Quest – Quick Mining XP and use of Doric's anvil.

The Restless Ghost – Unlocks Prayer XP and boosts your early Prayer levels.

Imp Catcher – Free elemental runes for basic Magic training.

Rune Mysteries – Grants access to Runecrafting, a crucial Ironman skill.

Later, prioritize quests that unlock new zones and weapons, such as:

The Grand Tree – Grants access to the Tree Gnome Stronghold and Agility training.

Lost City – Unlocks access to Zanaris and the Dragon longsword.

Questioning is not just efficient—it's essential. Some quests even give you better gear than you'd get through grinding.
Make a Sustainable Resource Strategy

You'll need to gather everything yourself, so set up your account with a plan to acquire the most essential early-game items.

Woodcutting + Firemaking: Chop logs and burn them for Firemaking XP. This also prepares you for Wintertodt later on.

Fishing + Cooking: Catch and cook shrimp or trout to build up a sustainable food supply.

Mining + Smithing: Start with copper and tin to make bronze bars, then work toward iron and steel gear.

Crafting: Kill cows, tan their hides, and craft leather armor—your first real defense.

Herblore: After completing the Druidic Ritual, begin gathering herbs and secondary ingredients to make basic potions. Even low-tier strength or attack potions are invaluable early on.

You're not just skilling for XP—you're skilling to RuneScape gold for sale survive.

Efficient Combat Training

Combat is at the heart of OSRS, and Ironman mode makes efficient training more important than ever.