In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), the endless pursuit of gold is part of the game’s charm. But while players are always curious about how much OSRS gold per hour a method can provide, few stop to ask how hard it is to earn that money. This article explores a money-making tier list not by raw profit, but by the difficulty and effort required. From the ultra-sweaty raids to the most AFK skilling methods, we’ll classify them into tiers: from S Tier (Sweaty PVM Elites) to E Tier (Chill, Zero Effort Grinding).
S Tier – Sweat Required: Maximum Skill, Maximum Risk, Maximum GP
Tombs of Amascut – 545 Invocation
Profit: 15M+ GP/hr
Gear Needed: Best-in-slot (BIS) everything: Shadow of Tumeken, Missouri, Torva, etc.
Why It’s S Tier:
This is the king of money-making in OSRS, but only if you’re a true raid god. TOA at 545 invocations is punishing, complex, and unforgiving. Deaths cost time and morale. Every mechanic must be mastered, and the stakes are high. You’re fighting for unique drops like the Tumeken’s Shadow that can transform your bank value.
Theatre of Blood (Solo or Hard Mode)
Profit: 13M GP/hr (Solo)
Gear Needed: Scythe, Justiciar, Blood Fury, and extensive PVM knowledge
Why It’s Here:
TOB requires not just personal mechanical skill but team synergy, especially if you’re not soloing. Failing one mechanic can wipe the raid. Perfect prayer flicks, dodges, and DPS checks are essential. For soloing or Hard Mode TOB, you’re in true elite company.
Nex (Duo)
Profit: 11M GP/hr
Gear Needed: Torva, Zaryte crossbow, high-end switches
Why It’s Here:
Duo Nex isn’t just about tanking and DPSing—it’s about tight rhythm. You’ll switch prayers rapidly, manage dangerous mechanics, and maximize uptime. You need to be fast and geared well. Only the best can keep up the pace and profit.
The Colosseum
Profit: ~11M/hr (with consistency)
Gear Needed: Twisted Bow, full Missouri, Torva, Scythe
Why It’s Here:
If you can consistently perform at a high level in the Colosseum, you’ll be rewarded handsomely. But it’s no place for casuals. Gear investments are massive and dying losses you big. Think of it like a solo survival mode against RNG and your panic.
A Tier – Still Sweaty, but Manageable With Practice
TOA – 440 Invocation (Squad)
Profit: 8-10M/hr
Why It’s A Tier:
440s are challenging but less punishing than 500s. In a good group, you can farm them efficiently, and many mechanics can be shared. Still, it demands timing, good switches, and real game sense—far from casual.
Whisperer
Profit: ~9M/hr (with Shadow of Tumeken)
Why It’s Here:
The boss is mechanically tricky, and while it’s doable without Tumeken’s Shadow, it becomes a much different fight. Costs skyrocket, and so does difficulty. If you’ve mastered this, you’ve passed an important bossing test.
Fosani’s Nightmare
Profit: 6.2M/hr
Gear Needed: Inquisitor’s gear, specialized setups
Why It’s A Tier:
Fosani’s is no joke. It’s a solo fight with tight DPS checks, hard-hitting mechanics, and high gear dependency. The Inquisitor set, while niche, is mandatory, and that’s a huge barrier for new or mid-game players.
B Tier – Challenging But Accessible With Decent Skill and Gear
Chambers of Xeric (Raids 1)
Profit: 9M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Chambers are more flexible than TOA or TOB. You can scale it to your group and comfort. That said, top-tier players still shine here. Good gear and knowledge will dramatically boost profits, but it’s not gatekept like other raids.
Vardorvis
Profit: ~10M/hr
Why It’s Here:
While profitable and not super gear-heavy, Vardorvis still has mechanics that will kill you if you’re lazy. His spinning blades and heavy hits make him a mid-skill requirement boss.
Phantom Muspah (with Twisted Bow)
Profit: ~5.5M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Mechanics are simple, but Tbow reliance means only late-game players will profit. Bofa works too but lowers efficiency. Medium risk, medium gear, medium brain. Classic B tier.
C Tier – Beginner Bossing, Decent Risk-Reward
Yama
Profit: ~6-7M/hr
Gear: Oath Blade / Purging Staff
Why It’s Here:
Yama is underrepresented due to incorrect wiki data, but it’s very profitable. The fight is easy, especially with a duo, but gear costs like the Emberlight or Oath Blade place it above completely free-to-start methods.
Leviathan
Profit: ~7M/hr
Why It’s Here:
A chill, predictable boss. Once you’ve seen the patterns, it’s easy. Doesn’t require endgame gear, making it a great intro to bossing. But it’s not totally AFK or risk-free.
Nex (Team)
Profit: ~6-7M/hr
Why It’s Here:
In a team, Nex is way more manageable. You’ll have others soaking damage, calling prayers, and tanking mechanics. However, gear is still expensive, and you’ll need to know your role.
D Tier – Semi-AFK, Low Stress, Low Requirements
Duke Sucellus
Profit: ~8.6M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Flinching the Duke is brain-dead easy, but you’ll still need decent melee gear. The mechanics are repetitive and very manageable, making this a chill boss for good money.
Kree’arra (Armadyl GWD)
Profit: ~6M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Shocking how easy this is with modern gear. Kree is weak to range, and you can safespot or use protection prayers effectively. No tank required if you’re skilled, making it a great mid-level money-maker.
Venonatis
Profit: ~6.2M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Venonatis can be farmed using safespots or flinching methods. It’s Wilderness content, so risk is real, but in terms of mechanics, it’s low difficulty. Use caution and anti-PK setups.
Demonic Gorillas
Profit: ~5M/hr
Why It’s Here:
A classic Slayer task with basic prayer switching and positioning. Challenging when first encountered, but easy once learned. Low bar of entry for high Slayer accounts.
Astellarn (Rex Matriarch)
Profit: ~6.1M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Mechanically simple, with good loot tables. Just bring decent melee or ranged gear. Some positioning is required, but not enough to place it higher than D tier.
E Tier – Zero Effort AFK Gold Machines
Sunfire Runes (Runecrafting)
Profit: ~7M/hr
Why It’s Here:
High profit for a skill method and requires barely any attention. Just setup and click. This is top-tier chill money. Minimal requirements, big rewards.
Eternal Glory Creation
Profit: ~5M/hr
Why It’s Here:
No skills, no combat, no worries. Just some capital and a charged glory setup. It’s almost comedic how easy and consistent this is. Possibly the laziest profitable method in the game.
Zombie Pirates (With Venator Bow)
Profit: ~6M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Auto attacks do most of the work. The Venator Bow’s passive effect makes this nearly AFK. Perfect for alt accounts or watching Netflix
Tormented Demons
Profit: ~5M/hr
Why It’s Here:
Old-school PVM, low danger. You don’t need high-end gear. The fight’s predictable, and you can casually farm them. Great for people looking to relax while earning gold.
What This Tier List Teaches Us
Unlike conventional GP/hr-focused lists, this approach helps players decide where they are in their PVM journey. If you’re comfortably farming Leviathan or Vardorvis, maybe it’s time to push into TOA 440s. If you’re stuck AFK-ing Sunfire runes or Eternal Glories, test yourself with a boss like Yama or the Duke.
By comparing difficulty, not just profits, this tier list offers more realistic progression advice. You won’t go from zombie pirates to TOA 545 in a day—but you might go from D tier to C tier comfortably with just a gear upgrade or some practice.
Final Thoughts
Old School RuneScape is a game of limitless money-making paths, but each one demands a different level of skill, commitment, and gear. Whether you’re a casual skiller making bank AFK or a sweat lord crushing raid bosses with perfection, there’s a method that suits you or buy Runescape gold at RSgoldfast.com. This difficulty-based tier list isn’t just about GP/hr—it’s about your journey through the game’s toughest and chillest content.