OSRS New Skilling and Money Making Methods in 2026

The release and expansion of the Sailing skill in Old School RuneScape has opened the door to a wide range of new skilling methods and money makers in 2026. From high-intensity Thieving loops to semi-AFK resource gathering on remote islands, players now have access to some of the most competitive XP rates and GP-per-hour methods the game has seen in years. Below is a breakdown of the most impactful new methods and how to optimise them.

Port Roberts Stall Thieving (Up to 250K XP/HR)

One of the standout additions is the stall thieving activity in Port Roberts, a Sailing hub that requires level 50 Sailing to access. This area features nine different stalls, but the real focus is on:

• Cannonball Stall (87 Thieving)
• Ore Stall (82 Thieving)

Unlike traditional stall thieving across Gielinor, guards here don’t deal damage. Instead, getting caught results in being sent to a nearby jail cell—but escaping is trivial via lockpicking or teleportation.

Method:

• Thieve the cannonball stall 4 times
• Switch to the ore stall for 2 attempts
• Repeat the loop

Rates:

• XP: ~250,000 Thieving XP/hour
• Profit: ~80,000 GP/hour (varies with market prices)

This is one of the fastest Thieving training methods currently available, especially for players pushing toward 99.

Reinforced Chest Thieving (500K GP/HR)

Located on small Sailing islands like Yansenale and Brittle Isle (requiring 73–81 Sailing), the reinforced chest offers a strong balance of profit and XP.

• Requirement: 76 Thieving
• Recommended: Lockpick (10% success boost), gem bag or chisel

How It Works:

Failing to pick the chest teleports you to another spot on the island—but since the islands are compact, returning is quick. Each successful loot roll includes:

• Gems
• Cannonballs
• Runes
• OSRS gold
• Jewelry

You can either high alch or drop lower-value items for efficiency.

Rates:

• XP: ~105,000 Thieving XP/hour
• Profit: ~500,000 GP/hour

With around 575 successful picks per hour, this is one of the most consistent mid-to-high-level money makers introduced with Sailing.

Ironwood Trees (AFK Woodcutting Alternative)

Ironwood trees on Sun Bleak Island (72 Sailing, 80 Woodcutting) offer a powerful AFK training method.

What makes these trees unique:

• Each tree lasts 4 minutes
• Works exceptionally well in Forestry worlds (invisible +10 level boost with group cutting)

Setup:

• Optional: Buildable bank (costs ~1M GP)
• Alternative: Drop logs if banking isn’t available

Rates:

• XP: ~75,000–90,000 Woodcutting XP/hour

This rivals or even surpasses redwood trees in some scenarios, especially for players who prefer longer AFK intervals.

Hemp to Canvas Crafting (100K XP/HR, Break-Even GP)

A surprisingly efficient Crafting method involves processing hemp into yarn and then weaving it into bolts of canvas.

• Requirement: 93 Crafting
• Location: Fossil Island (optimal due to bank proximity)

Method:

1. Withdraw 28 hemp
2. Spin into yarn
3. Move to Loom → create canvas
4. Bank and repeat

The entire cycle offers about 90 seconds of AFK time, making it both efficient and low-effort.

Rates:

• XP: ~100,000 Crafting XP/hour
• Profit: Break-even (~±10K GP/hour)

Ideal for players who want strong XP without burning through gold.

Lead Ore Mining + Superheating (350K GP/HR)

Lead rocks are a low-level but highly profitable addition.

• Requirement: 25 Mining
• XP per ore: 40.5

These rocks are fast to mine and can be 1-ticked for efficiency.

Optimization:

• Use Superheat Item to convert ore into bars
• 2 lead ore → 1 lead bar (~1,000 GP)

Rates:

• XP: ~40,000 Mining XP/hour
• Magic XP: ~10,000/hour
• Profit: ~350,000 GP/hour

This is an excellent hybrid training method combining Mining and Magic.

Nickel Ore Mining (AFK 500K GP/HR)

Nickel rocks, unlocked at 74 Mining and 67 Sailing, are located in caves and islands such as Deep Fin.

Key Benefits:

• Each rock yields 2–16 ore
• Nearby buildable bank (again ~1M GP investment)

Rates:

• XP: ~25,000 Mining XP/hour
• Profit: ~500,000 GP/hour

While XP rates are modest, the method is highly AFK and very profitable, making it ideal for passive income.

Rainbow Crab Hunting (1.3M GP/HR)

Arguably one of the best new money makers, rainbow crabs can be caught at level 77 Hunter on Crown Jewel Island.

Requirements:

• 64 Sailing
• 10 Construction (to build traps)
• Fine fish offcuts (bait)

Setup:

• Build 5 traps (bucket, plank, bronze nails each)
• Bait traps and rotate between them
• Use a pestle and mortar to convert crabs into stackable crab paste

Key Mechanic:

The first trap placed is typically the first to catch a crab, allowing for a predictable rotation cycle.

Rates:

• Catches: ~700 crabs/hour
• Profit: ~1.3M GP/hour

Since both bait and output are stackable, this method allows for extremely long sessions with minimal banking.

Final Thoughts

The Sailing expansion has dramatically reshaped skilling in Old School RuneScape, introducing a blend of high-XP methods, AFK training, and some of the best moneymakers currently available. Whether you’re pushing for 99s or stacking GP for endgame gear, these new methods offer viable paths for every type of player.

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