Maxing combat in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a milestone every player strives for, but not everyone has the time to sit glued to their screen for hours of repetitive clicking. For busy players, AFK (Away From Keyboard) methods are the key to progressing efficiently without sacrificing real-life responsibilities. The goal is simple: minimize input, maximize experience per hour (XP/H), and cover all core combat skills-Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, Magic, Hitpoints, and Prayer.

While there are dozens of AFK combat methods, some stand out for their speed, low effort, and consistency. This article breaks down the fastest AFK strategies to max combat, organized by skillstage  and accessibility, so you can level up even when you're not actively playing. At the same time, it can also help you obtain more OSRS gold in the game.

The Foundation: Understanding AFK Combat Efficiency

Before diving into specific methods, it's crucial to know what makes an AFK method "fast." Efficiency depends on two factors: AFK duration (how long you can leave the game unattended) and XP/H. The best methods balance both-allowing 5+ minutes of AFK time while delivering competitive XP rates.

Additionally, maxing combat requires leveling all seven combat skills, so we'll cover methods for melee (Attack, Strength, Defence), Ranged, Magic, and even Prayer (often the most tedious skill to AFK). Hitpoints levels automatically alongside other combat skills, so no extra effort is needed there.

Melee: The Easiest AFK Skill Group

Melee skills (Attack, Strength, Defence) are the backbone of OSRS combat and the simplest to train AFK. The fastest methods for melee rely on low-defence, high-Hitpoints monsters with long aggression timers-meaning they'll keep attacking you without you needing to re-engage.

Early to Mid-Level Melee (1-70): Gemstone & Frost Crabs

For players starting out or leveling mid-tier melee skills, crabs are unbeatable. Gemstone crabs (requires completion of the Children of the Sun quest) and frost crabs (requires partial completion of Heart of Darkness) offer 10 minutes of AFK time per session-one of the longest in the game for low-effort training.

These crabs have negligible Defence, high Hitpoints (75+), and negative magic/melee defence bonuses, making them ideal for melee training. Equip your best melee gear (scimitars are recommended for speed), set your attack style to train the desired skill (e.g., "Accurate" for Attack, "Aggressive" for Strength), and attack. After 10 minutes, simply run out of the crab's view to reset aggression and repeat.

At level 50+ melee, you'll earn 20-30k XP/H per skill, which is fast for such low effort. This method is perfect for beginners or players who want to train while working, studying, or doing chores.

High-Level Melee (70-99): Nightmare Zone Rumble Mode

Once you hit level 70+ melee, the Nightmare Zone (NMZ) becomes the fastest AFK melee method. Released shortly after OSRS launched in 2013, NMZ revolutionized AFK training by letting players re-fight quest bosses in "Rumble Mode"-where bosses spawn continuously without any input from you.

To optimize NMZ for AFK melee: Complete at least 5 qualifying quests to unlock enough bosses, get a Dwarven Rock Cake (from the Freeing the Mountain Dwarf subquest of Recipe for Disaster) to lower your Hitpoints to 1, and use Absorption Potions to absorb damage. With this setup, you can AFK for 20+ minutes per session, earning 40-60k XP/H per melee skill.

For even faster progress, use Overloads (requires 92 Herblore) to boost your melee stats-just remember to lower your Hitpoints to 51 first (instead of 1) to avoid dying from the Overload's HP drain. This increases XP/H to 60-70k, making NMZ the fastest AFK melee method in the game.

Ranged: AFK Without Expensive Ammunition

Ranged is often overlooked for AFK training due to ammunition costs, but there are affordable, fast methods that require minimal input. The key is to use monsters with negative Ranged Defence bonuses, so you hit consistently without wasting arrows or bolts.

All Levels: Swamp Crabs & Nightmare Zone

Swamp crabs are the best early-to-mid-level AFK Ranged method. With a -55 Ranged Defence bonus and 75 Hitpoints, they take minimal damage to defeat and allow 10 minutes of AFK time per session. Use a bow and cheap arrows (iron or steel) to keep costs low-you'll earn 15-25k XP/H at level 1-60 Ranged.

For high-level Ranged (70+), NMZ again takes the top spot. Use the Venator Bow (if available) for extra accuracy and AFK convenience, or stick with a Magic Shortbow for affordability. With Absorption Potions and the Dwarven Rock Cake trick, you can AFK for 20 minutes, earning 35-50k XP/H-all while using minimal ammunition.

Another solid option for high-level Ranged is Bandits, which offer 20 minutes of AFK time and 40-50k XP/H. Equip Ranged gear with high accuracy, set up a safe spot, and let the Bandits attack you-no re-engagement needed until the aggression timer runs out.

Magic: AFK Without Constant Rune Costs

Magic is often considered the least AFK-friendly combat skill due to rune costs and the need to cast spells repeatedly. However, two methods-Splashing and Frost Crabs-solve this by minimizing input and reducing rune usage.

Low to Mid-Level Magic (1-70): Splashing

Splashing is a classic AFK Magic method that requires zero input once set up. The idea is to cast a weak spell (like Wind Strike or Water Strike) at a monster with high Magic Defence, so you "miss" every time-earning XP without using extra runes.

To splash effectively: Equip negative Magic Accuracy gear (e.g., a Bronze Dagger and Cloth Armour) to ensure you miss consistently, find a low-level monster (like a Rat or Chicken), and cast the spell. You can AFK for 20+ minutes per session, earning 8-12k XP/H at level 1-40 Magic. While slow, it's 100% AFK and cheap.

Mid to High-Level Magic (70-99): Frost Crabs & Kraken Splashing

For faster Magic AFK, frost crabs are ideal. They have a -50 Magic Defence bonus and are 100% weak to Fire Spells, so you'll hit consistently with spells like Fire Bolt or Fire Wave. Equip Magic gear for accuracy, cast the spell once, and AFK for 10 minutes. At level 70+, you'll earn 30-40k XP/H with moderate rune costs.

Kraken splashing is another high-level option, offering 20 minutes of AFK time and 35-45k XP/H. Cast Magic spells at the Kraken (requires Slayer level 87) while using a safe spot-this method is more niche but perfect for players who want to combine Slayer and Magic training.

Prayer: The Secret AFK Hack

Prayer is often the most hated skill to train, but it doesn't have to be. The fastest AFK Prayer method is using Gilded Altars (in Player-Owned Houses) with Dragon Bones-requires minimal input and delivers massive XP rates.

To AFK Prayer: Collect Dragon Bones (or Superior Dragon Bones for faster XP), find a POH with a Gilded Altar (many players host open houses for this), and use the bones on the altar. Each bone gives 250-350 XP, and you can AFK for 5-10 minutes per inventory of bones. At level 70+, this delivers 50-70k XP/H-far faster than traditional burying or bone crushing.

Final Tips for Fast AFK Combat Maxing

Prioritize quests first: Completing quests like Waterfall Quest (instantly levels 30 Attack and Strength) skips hours of early grinding and gives you a head start.

Use Goading Potions: These make non-aggressive monsters aggressive for 6 minutes, extending your AFK time for Slayer tasks or training at monsters like Moss Giants.

Invest in gear: Better gear increases accuracy and damage, boosting XP/H even when AFK. For melee, focus on Scimitars and Barrows gear; for Ranged, use the Venator Bow or Magic Shortbow; for Magic, use Battlestaffs to save runes.

Combine methods: Mix NMZ for high XP/H with crab training for longer AFK sessions-this keeps progress consistent while fitting your schedule.

Conclusion

Maxing combat in OSRS doesn't have to be a full-time job. By focusing on the fastest AFK methods-crabs for early levels, NMZ for high levels, and Gilded Altars for Prayer-you can level up all seven combat skills efficiently, even when you're not actively playing. If you want to become stronger faster, you can choose to buy cheap RuneScape gold to help you.

The key is to balance AFK duration and XP/H, use the right gear and items, and take advantage of quests to skip tedious early grinding. With these strategies, you'll be rocking a max combat level (138 for members, 126 for free-to-play) in no time-without sacrificing your real-life routine