Old School RuneScape Splashing Guide
Splashing allows players to gain passive Magic experience without needing constant attention, making it a long-term, AFK-friendly training option. Although updates over the years have changed how splashing works, it still remains a viable method for those who want low-effort Magic levels.
In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about splashing in OSRS: how it works, requirements, setup, locations, pros and cons, and whether it's worth your time in 2025.
What Is Splashing in OSRS?
Splashing is a training method where you intentionally miss every Magic attack while casting spells on a monster. Instead of dealing damage, you gain only the base Magic experience for casting the spell. Since you never kill the target, you can continuously splash without interruption for hours.
This method is extremely AFK because you only need to click occasionally to reset your target, rather than re-engaging after every kill.
Why Splashing Works
Normally, missing a Magic attack still grants you full casting experience but no hitpoints experience. By setting up your character so that you always splash, you can:
Continuously train Magic without killing the target.
Avoid gaining unwanted Hitpoints XP (important for pures).
AFK for long periods with minimal interaction.
This makes splashing particularly popular for pure accounts who want high Magic for teleports, defensive bonuses, or PvP without raising combat levels unnecessarily.
Requirements for Splashing
1. Magic Level
You need at least level 1 Magic to start splashing with basic strike spells.
Higher-level spells (Fire Bolt, Fire Blast, etc.) provide better XP rates.
2. Items & Gear
To splash effectively, you need gear that ensures a -65 Magic attack bonus (or lower). This guarantees that you always miss.
Best gear setup for splashing:
Full iron or steel armor set (helm, platebody, platelegs, kiteshield).
Green d'hide vambraces (to ensure negative Magic attack bonus, even with staves).
Staff of choice (depends on the spell you want to autocast).
Why the staff matters:
Staves provide infinite runes of their type (e.g., Fire staff gives unlimited fire runes).
This dramatically reduces cost when casting thousands of spells.
3. Runes
Use runes that correspond to your chosen spell.
Example: Fire Strike requires air, mind, and fire runes (but with a Staff of Fire, you only need air and mind runes).
4. Autocast Setup
Speak to any combat tutor or right-click your staff to set up autocast.
This allows you to keep casting automatically without repeatedly clicking.
How to Set Up Splashing
Choose Your Spell: Select a combat spell within your budget. Cheaper spells are better for long AFK sessions, while higher-tier spells grant more XP.
Gear Up: Equip armor that reduces your Magic attack bonus to -65 or below.
Pick a Staff: Use a staff that minimizes rune costs. For example, a Staff of Fire saves fire runes, while a Staff of Air saves air runes.
Find a Target: Select a monster that:
Has enough Hitpoints to survive indefinitely.
Cannot kill you.
Doesn't wander out of range.
Turn On Autocast: Right-click your chosen spell and enable autocast on the monster.
Once set up, your character will endlessly cast spells without hitting, granting Magic XP until you log out.
Best Splashing Spots
Not all monsters are suitable for splashing. The ideal targets are weak, low-damage monsters that won't threaten you. Here are some of the best options:
1. Rats (Varrock Sewers)
Common beginner choice.
Very low damage output.
Easily accessible from Varrock.
2. Seagulls (Port Sarim)
Aggressive but weak.
Convenient for low-level players.
3. Giant Spiders (Stronghold of Security, Level 1)
Perfect for higher-level splashers.
They don't hit often and won't move far.
4. Cows or Chickens (Lumbridge)
Popular beginner choice.
Easy to access early game.
Often crowded with other players training.
Experience Rates
The XP you gain from splashing depends on the spell used. Since you don't deal damage, you only gain the base casting XP.
With autocast, you can expect around 8,000-13,000 XP per hour using lower-tier spells, and upwards of 20,000+ XP/hour using higher-tier spells.
By comparison, traditional combat training offers much faster XP rates, but splashing's main advantage is being AFK.
Cost of Splashing
Splashing isn't free. Since you're constantly casting spells, you'll burn through thousands of OSRS gold.
Estimated Costs (per hour):
Low-level strikes: about 10-20k GP.
Mid-tier bolts/blasts: about 50-100k GP.
High-tier waves: 150k+ GP.
These numbers depend heavily on rune prices and whether you use a staff to offset costs.
Pros of Splashing
Highly AFK: Only requires occasional clicks to reset inactivity timers.
No Hitpoints XP: Great for pures and specialized builds.
Simple to set up: Doesn't require advanced mechanics or gear.
Safe training: Minimal risk of dying when done in low-level areas.
Cons of Splashing
Slow XP rates: Much slower than other Magic training methods.
Expensive in the long run: Constant rune usage adds up quickly. But you can also buy OSRS GP to provide more.
Boring gameplay: No interaction, little engagement.
Limited use: Not ideal if you want fast Magic for PvM or questing.
AFK restrictions: If you don't interact for 20 minutes, you'll be logged out automatically.
Splashing After the Updates
In 2016, Jagex introduced an update to limit splashing abuse. Players would now stop auto-attacking after 20 minutes of inactivity. This means you can't splash completely AFK overnight anymore.
However, splashing is still viable if you:
Return to your screen every 20 minutes to re-click your target.
Use a spellbook swap or item swap to reset actions.
This change reduced the efficiency of splashing, but it remains popular with players who want semi-AFK training while multitasking (watching videos, studying, etc.).
Is Splashing Worth It in 2025?
The answer depends on your goals:
For Pures: Absolutely. Splashing provides Magic levels without Hitpoints XP, which is essential for keeping combat levels low.
For Mains: Usually not. Other training methods (bursting in the Catacombs, high-level alching, quest rewards) are much faster.
For Casual Players: Splashing is worth considering if you want something low-effort while you multitask.
Final Thoughts
Splashing in OSRS is one of the most low-effort ways to train Magic. By intentionally lowering your Magic attack bonus, you can splash endlessly on weak monsters, earning steady XP without worrying about combat or Hitpoints levels. While updates have reduced its AFK potential, splashing still has a niche role - especially for pures and casual players who want passive progress.
If your goal is fast XP, splashing isn't the answer. But if you want relaxed, background training while doing other things, then setting up a splashing session is a solid choice. Just remember to click back in every 20 minutes, keep your rune costs in check, and manage your expectations about XP rates.
With the right setup, splashing remains a reliable - if slow - path to 99 Magic in 2025.