rsorder OSRS gold: Killing cows for hides

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How Difficult Is OSRS Gold Farming for Beginners?

For new players in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), few things feel as overwhelming as earning gold. Every skill, weapon, and piece of armor seems to OSRS gold come with a price tag, and early-game methods can feel painfully slow compared to the flashy profits veteran players make from bosses or raids. But while gold farming for beginners is undeniably challenging, it’s also one of the most valuable learning experiences in the entire game.

Let’s break down what makes gold farming tough for newcomers—and how you can overcome those hurdles to build your first fortune in Gielinor.

1. Limited Skills and Gear Restrict Profitability

The first big obstacle beginners face is restricted access to profitable activities. At low levels, your stats, quests, and gear simply aren’t strong enough to tackle high-yield content like Slayer, bossing, or high-tier skilling.

You’ll likely spend your first 20–40 hours doing simple tasks such as:

Mining iron ore or fishing lobsters

Killing cows for hides

Collecting items like feathers, ashes, or bones to sell on the Grand Exchange

Crafting and selling basic runes using low-level Magic

While these methods are easy to do, they earn only 20,000–100,000 GP per hour, far below what advanced players make. For a new adventurer saving for rune armor or a dragon weapon, that can feel like a huge grind.

The good news? These slow starts teach you the fundamentals of OSRS’s economy and build habits you’ll use throughout your journey—resource management, efficiency, and buy OSRS gold patience.