Rather than structuring upgrades around level milestones alone, the progression outlined here prioritizes equipment value and practical damage gains, reflecting the reality that earning gold often takes longer than training skills-especially for players who choose to buy OSRS gold to accelerate access to key upgrades. By following this approach, players can make smarter, cost-effective upgrades that support steady account growth without wasting GP or slowing overall progression.

Early Game Foundations (Free-to-Play to Low Members)

The earliest practical Ranged setup begins shortly after transitioning out of free-to-play. At this stage, focus on filling every equipment slot, even with inexpensive items. Shazien boots are a strong early upgrade; if combat requirements are an issue, snakeskin boots provide nearly identical value for negligible cost. Any ring is acceptable initially, but the Explorer’s Ring from the Lumbridge Diary stands out due to its free Prayer bonus.

One of the most important early upgrades is Ava’s Accumulator. Obtain this as soon as possible. While the accuracy bonus is modest, the ammunition-saving effect is enormous, reducing ammo loss to just 8% and saving significant GP over time.

An Amulet of Glory is another efficient pickup, offering accuracy across all combat styles, Prayer bonus, and valuable teleports. Around 50 Ranged, the Magic Shortbow (i) becomes your primary weapon. Imbuing it allows the use of amethyst arrows and delivers excellent DPS for its price. Pair this with blue dragonhide armor and inexpensive cosmetic upgrades like a snakeskin bandana to maximize accuracy early.

Mid-Game Training and Weapon Options

Newer blowpipe variants such as the Camp Blowpipe and Ironwood Blowpipe provide excellent training options against low-defense monsters. These weapons are particularly cost-effective when used with mithril or adamant darts and can outperform the Magic Shortbow in budget setups.

At 60 Ranged, upgrade to Red Dragonhide, followed shortly by Black Dragonhide, which remains one of the most efficient armor sets in the game due to its low cost and strong offensive bonuses.

At 61 Ranged, the Rune Crossbow becomes available and should be treated as a situational primary weapon. When paired with ruby or diamond bolts, it excels against high-health or slow-moving targets. Because it is one-handed, you should equip an offhand-ideally the Book of Law, which provides accuracy and Prayer bonus for minimal investment.

The Sunlight Hunter Crossbow deserves special mention. While not a primary slot upgrade, it offers extremely cheap training and competitive performance, making it an excellent alternative if blowpipes are outside your budget.

Entering the 10M–50M Tier

Once you reach the 10 million GP range, the Rosewood Blowpipe becomes your main training weapon for a long time. This is complemented by Barrows Gloves, a versatile upgrade usable across all combat styles, and Blessed Dragonhide, which trades no offense for improved defense and Prayer bonuses.

From here, progression accelerates. Ava’s Assembler improves both accuracy and Ranged strength, while the Dragon Crossbow unlocks dragon bolts, representing a massive jump in damage potential. An Amulet of Fury rounds out this tier with strong defensive stats and universal usability.

If you are doing Slayer with Ranged, the Slayer Helmet (i) should be prioritized as soon as possible. Its damage boost outweighs nearly every alternative helm choice during Slayer tasks.

High-Level and Endgame Progression

At higher budgets, the Toxic Blowpipe becomes a staple. Despite nerfs, its two-tick attack speed makes it devastating against low-defense targets. Pair this with an Odium Ward, Necklace of Anguish, and Lightbearer ring to maximize both DPS and special attack utility.

As you approach true endgame, Masori armor becomes the best-in-slot Ranged set. Begin with the unfortified version, prioritizing accuracy and Ranged strength over defense. Zaryte Vambraces, the Venator Ring, and the Zaryte Crossbow complete the core upgrades, delivering unmatched consistency and burst damage.

The final rebuild revolves around the Twisted Bow. Its scaling damage based on enemy Magic level makes it unrivaled in many PvM encounters. At this point, most prior gear can be repurchased gradually, with Masori fortification and niche weapons-such as the Dragon Hunter Crossbow or Webweaver Bow-added based on your preferred content.

Final Thoughts

Ranged progression in Old School RuneScape is uniquely forgiving due to inexpensive early gear and strong mid-game weapons, making it especially accessible for players working with limited budgets or supplementing their progression with cheap OSRS gold. By upgrading based on value rather than rushing levels, you maintain consistent power growth and avoid inefficient spending. Whether your goal is Slayer efficiency, bossing, or raids, this structured approach ensures every GP spent meaningfully advances your account.