OSRS Prayer Training Calculator

Optimize your RuneScape Prayer XP gains.

Prayer Training Calculator

Training Method Data

Prayer Training Method Efficiencies

Method	XP per Bone/Head	Bones/Heads per Hour	XP per Hour	GP per Hour (Est.)	Notes

What is OSRS Prayer Training?

OSRS Prayer training is a crucial aspect of Old School RuneScape progression, focusing on increasing the Prayer skill. The Prayer skill allows players to use powerful prayers, which provide various combat and non-combat bonuses like increased attack, defense, strength, hitpoints regeneration, and protection against specific damage types. Efficient Prayer training is essential for both PvM (Player vs. Monster) and PvP (Player vs. Player) activities, as well as for accessing certain quests and areas that require specific Prayer levels. Players train Prayer primarily by burying bones or using bones/ensouled heads on altars, with different methods offering varying rates of experience gain and associated costs. This OSRS Prayer training calculator helps you navigate these options.

Who should use it: Any Old School RuneScape player looking to level up their Prayer skill efficiently. This includes:

• Players aiming for high combat stats (90+ Prayer is common for endgame PvM).
• Players needing specific Prayer levels for quests or diary requirements.
• Players who want to unlock powerful overhead prayers like Protect Item, Rigour, or Augury.
• Ironman accounts looking for the most resource-efficient training methods.
• Players who want to minimize their gold expenditure while training Prayer.

Common misconceptions:

• Prayer is only for PvM: While essential for PvM, certain prayers like Protect Item are vital in PvP and for risky activities like clue hunting.
• All bone/head methods are the same cost: Prices fluctuate, and some bones/heads are significantly more expensive than others, drastically altering the cost per XP.
• XP/hour is the only factor: Cost per hour and accessibility of the method are equally important. A high XP/hour method that costs billions might not be feasible for most players.

OSRS Prayer Training Formula and Mathematical Explanation

Calculating Prayer experience in Old School RuneScape relies on understanding the experience awarded per item used and the quantity of items you can process per hour. The core components involve determining the total experience required, the experience gained per hour, and the resulting time and cost.

The fundamental formulas are:

1. Total Experience Needed: This is the difference between the experience required for your target level and the experience you currently have.
2. Experience Per Hour (XP/hr): This is derived from the experience granted by each bone/head and the number of items you can use per hour.
3. Estimated Time: Calculated by dividing the Total Experience Needed by the Experience Per Hour.
4. Total Cost: Calculated by multiplying the total number of items needed by the cost per item.

Let’s break down the variables:

Variables Table

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Current Level	Your starting Prayer level.	Level	1 – 99
Target Level	Your desired Prayer level.	Level	1 – 99
Current XP	Experience points at your current level.	XP	0 – 13,034,431
Target XP	Experience points required for your target level.	XP	0 – 13,034,431
Total XP Needed	XP difference between Target XP and Current XP.	XP	0 – 13,034,431
XP per Bone/Head	Experience awarded for successfully using one item on an altar. Varies by item type and altar.	XP	Varies (e.g., 5 for Bat Bones, 12.6 for Dragon Bones)
Items per Hour	The number of bones/heads you can process within one hour. This depends heavily on the method and player speed.	Items/Hour	~500 – 2000+
XP per Hour	Total experience gained from Prayer training in one hour.	XP/Hour	~10,000 – 250,000+
Cost per Item	The Grand Exchange or vendor price of a single bone or ensouled head.	GP	Varies greatly (e.g., 10 GP for Monkey Bones, 2000+ GP for Dragon Bones)
Total Items Needed	The total number of bones/heads required to reach the target level.	Items	Varies greatly
Total Cost	The estimated total gold cost to achieve the target level.	GP	Varies greatly
Estimated Time	The estimated real-world time required to reach the target level.	Hours	Varies greatly

Step-by-step derivation:

1. Calculate Total XP Needed: Look up the XP values for your currentLevel and targetLevel from the OSRS Wiki or use a reliable XP table. Total XP Needed = (XP for Target Level) – (XP for Current Level).
2. Determine XP per Hour: For your chosen method (e.g., Dragon Bones on a standard Altar), find the XP per Bone and the estimated Items per Hour. XP per Hour = (XP per Bone) * (Items per Hour). For methods like the Gilded Altar or Morytania Hard Diary Altar, the XP per item is higher.
3. Calculate Estimated Time: Estimated Time (in hours) = Total XP Needed / XP per Hour.
4. Calculate Total Items Needed: Total Items Needed = Total XP Needed / XP per Bone.
5. Calculate Total Cost: Total Cost = Total Items Needed * Cost per Item. Note that this assumes you are buying all items and getting no GP/hour from loot.

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: Training Prayer from Level 70 to 99 with Dragon Bones

A player wants to train their Prayer from level 70 to 99 using Dragon Bones on a standard altar in their Player Owned House. They estimate they can average 1800 Dragon Bones per hour, and Dragon Bones currently cost 1,850 GP each.

• Current Level: 70
• Target Level: 99
• Method: Dragon Bones on Altar
• XP per Dragon Bone: 12.6
• Bones per Hour: 1800
• Cost per Dragon Bone: 1,850 GP

Calculations:

• XP for Level 70: 130,491 XP
• XP for Level 99: 13,034,431 XP
• Total XP Needed: 13,034,431 – 130,491 = 12,903,940 XP
• XP per Hour: 12.6 XP/bone * 1800 bones/hour = 22,680 XP/hour
• Estimated Time: 12,903,940 XP / 22,680 XP/hour ≈ 569 hours
• Total Items Needed: 12,903,940 XP / 12.6 XP/bone ≈ 1,024,122 Dragon Bones
• Total Cost: 1,024,122 bones * 1,850 GP/bone ≈ 1,894,625,700 GP (approx. 1.89 Billion GP)

Interpretation: This player will need to invest approximately 1.9 billion GP and commit around 569 hours of gameplay to reach level 99 Prayer from 70 using this method. This highlights the significant cost associated with high-level Prayer training.

Example 2: Training Prayer from Level 1 to 43 with Bat Bones

A new player wants to reach level 43 Prayer (enough for Protect Item) using the cheapest available bones: Bat Bones, on a standard altar. They estimate they can use 1000 Bat Bones per hour, and Bat Bones cost 50 GP each.

• Current Level: 1
• Target Level: 43
• Method: Bat Bones on Altar
• XP per Bat Bone: 5
• Bones per Hour: 1000
• Cost per Bat Bone: 50 GP

Calculations:

• XP for Level 1: 0 XP
• XP for Level 43: 8,271 XP
• Total XP Needed: 8,271 – 0 = 8,271 XP
• XP per Hour: 5 XP/bone * 1000 bones/hour = 5,000 XP/hour
• Estimated Time: 8,271 XP / 5,000 XP/hour ≈ 1.65 hours
• Total Items Needed: 8,271 XP / 5 XP/bone ≈ 1,655 Bat Bones
• Total Cost: 1,655 bones * 50 GP/bone ≈ 82,750 GP

Interpretation: Reaching the essential level 43 Prayer is relatively quick and inexpensive, taking just under 2 hours and costing less than 100,000 GP. This makes Bat Bones a popular choice for early-game players.

How to Use This OSRS Prayer Training Calculator

This calculator is designed to be intuitive and provide quick estimates for your OSRS Prayer training journey. Follow these simple steps:

1. Input Current Prayer Level: Enter your current Prayer level in the designated field. If you are level 1, enter ‘1’.
2. Input Target Prayer Level: Enter the Prayer level you wish to achieve. This could be 43 for Protect Item, 70 for Rigour, or the maximum level 99.
3. Select Training Method: Choose the Prayer training method you intend to use from the dropdown list. This selection is crucial as it dictates the XP rates and potential costs. Options range from basic bone burying to high-efficiency methods like using Superior Dragon Bones on a gilded altar.
4. Input GP per Hour (Optional): If your chosen method generates Gold Per Hour (e.g., Ensouled Heads where you sell the heads or drops), enter that value. If it’s a pure cost method (like most bones on a standard altar) or a free method, leave this as 0.
5. Click “Calculate”: Once all relevant fields are filled, click the “Calculate” button.

How to Read Results:

• Main Result (e.g., Estimated Total Cost / XP per Hour): This is the primary metric highlighted, showing the most significant outcome of your training.
• XP to Next Level: Shows the experience required to advance from your current level to the next.
• Total XP Needed: The total experience points required to reach your target level from your current level.
• Estimated Time: The approximate real-world hours needed to complete your training based on the selected method’s XP per hour.
• Total Cost: The estimated Grand Exchange cost to acquire the necessary items for your training. This assumes you are buying items and not selling loot.

Decision-Making Guidance:

Use the results to compare different training methods. For example, compare the cost and time of Dragon Bones versus Superior Dragon Bones. If you’re on a budget, prioritize methods with lower Total Cost. If speed is your priority, focus on methods with higher XP per Hour and shorter Estimated Time, even if they are more expensive. Consider your available resources, Grand Exchange prices, and your personal goals in Old School RuneScape.

Key Factors That Affect OSRS Prayer Training Results

Several factors can significantly influence the accuracy and outcome of your OSRS Prayer training calculations. Understanding these is key to realistic planning:

• Grand Exchange (GE) Prices: The cost of bones and ensouled heads fluctuates daily based on supply and demand. Always check current GE prices for the most accurate cost estimations. What might be cheap one day could be expensive the next.
• Player Efficiency (Items per Hour): The “Items per Hour” figures used in calculations are averages. Actual speed depends on player focus, click accuracy, inventory management, and whether you’re using optimal routes (e.g., banking quickly for altars). Higher efficiency means less Estimated Time.
• Altar Type and Bonuses: Using bones on a standard altar in your house yields less XP than on a Gilded Altar (requires Prayer level 43+ and construction) or the Morytania Hard Diary Altar (after completion). Each offers different XP rates and potentially different setup costs.
• XP Boosts: Certain items or achievements can provide Prayer XP boosts. For example, the Morytania Hard Diary significantly increases the XP gained from Ectofuntus. The Trahearnen Altar in the Chambers of Xeric offers unique benefits.
• Method Specifics (e.g., Ectofuntus): Methods like Ectofuntus involve gathering ecto-tokens and taking them to the Funky Stephenson. This process has its own conversion rates and token acquisition speeds, affecting the overall XP/hour and time commitment.
• Resource Availability (Ironman): For Ironman accounts, the cost isn’t about GP but about the time and effort required to gather the necessary bones or heads through PvM or other activities. This makes efficiency and resource management paramount.
• Other Activities (GP/Hour Generation): If you’re training Prayer using methods that yield valuable drops (like Ensouled Heads), the GP per hour generated can offset the costs. This ‘income’ needs to be factored into the net cost of training.
• Inflation and Market Changes: Over longer periods, the general price of items in RuneScape can increase due to inflation or changes in drop rates, potentially making previously cost-effective methods less so.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the fastest Prayer training method in OSRS?

The fastest Prayer training methods generally involve using high-XP bones like Superior Dragon Bones on a Gilded Altar or the Morytania Hard Diary Altar. These methods can achieve upwards of 200,000 XP per hour, but come with a very high GP cost.

What is the cheapest Prayer training method in OSRS?

The cheapest methods usually involve using low-tier bones like Monkey Bones, Bat Bones, or Big Bones on a standard altar. While they offer significantly less XP per hour, their low cost makes them accessible for players on a tight budget. Ironman players might find gathering these bones through Slayer or other activities more efficient than buying expensive bones.

When should I use a Gilded Altar vs. a standard altar?

A Gilded Altar (requires level 43+ Prayer and Construction) provides a significant XP boost (up to 20% more) compared to a standard altar. It’s recommended for high-level training when the cost per hour is less of a concern than the speed of training. Standard altars are cheaper to build and use but offer lower XP rates.

How much does it cost to get 99 Prayer?

The cost to reach 99 Prayer varies drastically depending on the method used. Using Dragon Bones on a Gilded Altar can cost upwards of 1.9 billion GP. Cheaper methods like Bat Bones would cost significantly less but take considerably longer.

What are Ensouled Heads used for?

Ensouled Heads (dropped by specific monsters) can be taken to the Ectofuntus or used on a Magic Wardrobe slot in a Player Owned House with an altar. They provide Prayer XP similar to bones, and higher-tier heads like Dragon give very good XP. They can also be traded on the Grand Exchange, allowing for a potential GP/hour income stream.

Is Morytania Hard Diary worth it for Prayer training?

Yes, completing the Morytania Hard Diary is highly recommended for Prayer training. It unlocks access to the Ectofuntus with a 50% XP boost and significantly improves the experience rates for using Ensouled Heads on the Morytania Altar. It also provides access to the Port Phasmatys altar which has no cost per bone.

Should I use my own altar or a player-owned house portal?

Using a player-owned house (POH) portal to access a Gilded Altar is generally more convenient for high-level training. It allows you to quickly switch between banking and offering bones without traveling. However, setting up a Gilded Altar requires Construction levels and gold. For lower levels or less frequent training, using a standard altar in your house or even the ones found in Lumbridge or Edgeville can suffice.

How does the Trahearnen Altar work?

The Trahearnen Altar is found within the Theatre of Blood. It allows players to use bones for Prayer XP without consuming them, offering unlimited uses. While this sounds extremely efficient, accessing it requires participating in the Theatre of Blood raid, which has its own high requirements and is often done with a team, making it less accessible for solo trainers. The XP rates are generally good but may not always surpass the absolute best Gilded Altar methods.

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