New tree types like rosewood, ironwood, and camphor provide long AFK intervals similar to redwoods and magic trees. These are excellent choices for RuneScape gold mobile players who want steady progress with minimal input.

Hunter Training

Maniacal Monkeys are one of the best mobile-friendly Hunter methods. With AFK intervals of up to a minute, they provide a good balance of XP and convenience.

Bankstanding Skills on Mobile

Bankstanding skills are naturally suited for mobile due to their repetitive and low-intensity nature.

Cooking is one of the easiest skills to train on mobile and can even be profitable depending on the food.

Firemaking with bonfires allows for over two minutes of AFK time per inventory while maintaining solid XP rates.

Crafting and Herblore also work well, especially when using "withdraw X" or "withdraw all" settings for smoother training.

While these methods may not be faster than PC, their simplicity makes them perfect for playing on the go.

AFK Combat Training

Combat is generally more demanding, but there are still several excellent AFK options for mobile players.

Bandits

Bandits remain one of the best AFK combat methods. By wearing the correct gear, you can stay in combat for up to 20 minutes without interaction. Resetting the timer is as simple as tapping the screen.

Nightmare Zone

Nightmare Zone offers strong XP rates using overloads and absorption potions. However, it requires more setup and resets, making it slightly less convenient for short mobile sessions.

Splashing & Kraken

Splashing is one of the most AFK combat methods, allowing up to 20 minutes of inactivity. A more advanced variation involves attacking Kraken while it's submerged, which still grants Magic XP. This method can reach extremely high XP rates while requiring very low effort.

Easy AFK Combat Alternative

For players looking for a simple and accessible option, the gemstone crab is an excellent choice. With AFK intervals of up to 10 minutes and minimal requirements, it's perfect for low- to mid-level accounts, including Ironmen and pures.

Final Thoughts

Mobile OSRS in 2026 is more versatile than ever. With extended AFK timers, improved controls, and new content from Sailing, players can now train efficiently with minimal effort.

The key to success on mobile is choosing methods that match your playstyle. Whether you prefer full 30-minute AFK sessions or low-intensity skilling while multitasking, there's something for everyone.

If used effectively, mobile can be just as powerful as a desktop-if not better in certain situations. Having plenty of OSRS GP can also be of great help to you.

Mining remains one of the most classic gathering skills in Old School RuneScape. With just a pickaxe and some patience, players can gather ores and minerals used for Smithing, Crafting, and other skills. While Mining used to be a strong money maker, modern PvM drops have reduced its profitability for main accounts. However, it remains extremely valuable for Ironman players who rely on gathering their own resources. Having enough RuneScape gold can be a great help to you.

In this guide, we'll walk through the best methods to train Mining from level 1 to 99 in 2026, including AFK training, faster methods, and the most efficient routes to reach max level.

Skipping the Slow Early Levels

Early Mining levels are notoriously slow. Because of this, the best way to begin training is actually through questing rather than traditional mining.

Several early quests provide significant Mining experience and allow players to skip the painful low levels. Before starting them, you should prepare a few basic requirements:

Level 5 Thieving (pickpocketing men and women)

Level 25 Thieving from cake stalls in Ardougne

Level 10 Herblore via the Druidic Ritual quest and making attack potions

Level 10 Agility from early quests or rooftop courses

These small requirements unlock some important quests that give large Mining experience rewards.

Questing to Level 33 Mining

The first key quest is Plague City, located in Ardougne. Completing this quest instantly boosts your Mining level from 1 to around 15, saving a lot of early grinding.

Next, travel to the Dwarven Mine north of Falador and collect the materials needed for Doric's Quest:

6 Clay

4 Copper Ore

2 Iron Ore

Once completed, Doric's Quest will raise your Mining level to about 18.

The final quest for early training is The Dig Site, which requires the skills mentioned earlier. Completing this quest rewards a massive 15,300 Mining experience, bringing your level all the way up to 33 Mining.

This questing route is widely considered the best way to skip the slowest part of the skill.

Alternative Early Mining (Levels 1–30)

If you prefer traditional training instead of quests, you can start mining basic ores:

Levels 1–15: Mine Tin and Copper

Levels 15–30: Mine Iron Ore

A newer method introduced in recent updates is mining lead in the Pandemonium caves. This method offers a slightly better experience than iron while allowing players to bank their resources nearby for a small profit.

Once you reach level 30, the early game is essentially complete, and better training options become available.

Essential Mining Equipment

Before diving into training methods, there are several important items that significantly improve Mining efficiency:

Pickaxes – Higher-tier pickaxes mine faster. Dragon, Crystal, and Third Age pickaxes also provide special attacks that temporarily boost Mining levels.

Celestial Ring – Obtained from Shooting Stars, this ring gives an invisible Mining boost and occasionally grants extra resources.

Prospector Outfit – Earned at the Motherlode Mine, wearing the full set provides a 2.5% Mining experience bonus.

Varrock Armor – From the Varrock Diary, this armor can occasionally double ore when mining.

Expert Mining Gloves – These prevent certain rocks from depleting immediately, allowing longer mining sessions.

Together, these items greatly improve both experience rates and resource gathering.

Low-Intensity (AFK) Mining Methods

For players who prefer relaxed training, several AFK methods provide steady experience with minimal effort.

Motherlode Mine (Level 30+)

The Motherlode Mine in the Dwarven Mines is one of the most popular Mining training methods.

Players mine ore veins for Pay-dirt, deposit it in a hopper, and collect processed ores later. While experience rates are moderate, the method provides useful resources and gold nuggets used to unlock upgrades and the Prospector outfit.

Many players train here from level 30 all the way to 99 due to its relaxed gameplay.

Shooting Stars

Shooting stars is another extremely AFK activity. When a star lands in Gielinor, players can mine it for several minutes with almost no interaction.

This method offers roughly 20,000 XP per hour, but it rewards Stardust, which can be traded for useful items, including the Celestial Ring.

Shooting Stars are particularly popular for mobile players.

Calcified Rocks

Unlocked after the Perilous Moons quest, this method takes place in Cam Torum. Players mine walls for calcified deposits and bone shards, which can later be processed for Prayer experience.

This hybrid method provides both Mining and Prayer training while maintaining relatively low intensity.

Amethyst Mining (Level 92+)

At level 92 Mining, players unlock Amethyst in the Mining Guild.

This method offers around 20–25k XP per hour, but it produces valuable resources used to craft high-tier ammunition. It's a relaxed training option for buy OSRS gold players approaching level 99.