Rock Crabs are a popular and effective monster for training combat skills in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), particularly for players looking for a more AFK (Away From Keyboard) training method. Their low aggression and high health make them ideal for extended training sessions. This guide will walk you through the best gear, locations, and strategies to maximize your experience gains while training on rock crabs using ranged.
Gearing Up for Rock Crabs: Ranged Edition
Choosing the right gear is crucial for efficient and comfortable training. For ranged combat against rock crabs, you’ll want a setup that balances cost-effectiveness with training efficiency. Here’s a recommended gear setup focusing on ranged:
Essential Gear Pieces:
- Weapon: Iron Knives are a budget-friendly and effective choice. Black Knives offer a slight upgrade in accuracy and damage at a marginally higher price, making them a worthwhile investment for longer training sessions.
- Body & Legs: Black d’hide chaps are recommended for their ranged attack bonus, significantly increasing your accuracy against rock crabs. For the body slot, consider a black d’hide body for a more complete set bonus if budget allows, though chaps are the priority.
- Amulet: An Amulet of Glory provides a decent ranged bonus and useful teleport options later on. If you have a Fury Amulet, its superior stats make it an excellent upgrade for even faster experience rates.
- Inventory Essentials:
- Stamina and Energy Potions: These are vital for reaching the optimal training spots quickly and for resetting the crabs efficiently.
- Ranging Potions: Boosting your ranged level with ranging potions will noticeably increase your damage output and experience per hour.
- Food: Basket of Strawberries are a cost-effective and space-efficient food source, healing 25 hitpoints per slot. They allow for extended trips without frequent banking.
- Coins: Bring at least 1,000 coins for the boat fare to Waterbirth Island. It’s wise to carry around 10,000 just for unforeseen expenses.
Journey to the Rock Crab Paradise: Waterbirth Island
Reaching the prime rock crab locations is straightforward. Follow these steps to get to Waterbirth Island:
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Camelot Teleport: Begin by using a Camelot teleport. This spell or teleport tablet will take you close to the starting point of your journey. A bank is conveniently located in Camelot should you need to adjust your gear or supplies.
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Head North to Rellekka: From Camelot, navigate north towards the Fremennik Province and continue onwards to Rellekka. Follow the path as shown on the map.
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Talk to Jarvald: In Rellekka, locate Jarvald by the docks. Speak to him to arrange passage to Waterbirth Island.
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The “3-Spot” on Waterbirth Island: Once on Waterbirth Island, head northwest. Your destination is the famous “3-spot,” named for the three rock crabs that spawn close together, allowing for efficient AFK training.
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Optimal Positioning: Position yourself in the exact spot shown in the image below. This ensures that all three rock crabs will automatically aggro onto you upon respawn, maximizing your AFK potential.
Maintaining Aggression and AFK Training
Rock crabs become passive after approximately 5 minutes of combat. To re-aggro them and maintain continuous training, you’ll need to briefly move away and return. The most efficient method is to run to the eastern side of Waterbirth Island (the area where you initially arrive) and then immediately run back to the “3-spot”. Using a stamina or energy potion can speed up this process. Upon your return, the crabs will be aggressive again and ready for another 5 minutes of AFK training.
Dealing with Unwanted Company: Crashing
“Crashing,” where another player disrupts your training spot, can be frustrating. To minimize this, ensure you are only AFK when actively engaged in combat with the crabs. Avoid prolonged AFK periods during the reset run. If you do get crashed, there’s a backup spot available.
If your preferred “3-spot” is taken, move to the location shown in the image above. If this spot is also occupied, utilize the world hopper feature (OSBuddy or the in-game world hopper) to quickly find an empty world.
Conclusion: Efficient Ranged Training at Rock Crabs
Training on rock crabs with ranged is a straightforward and relatively AFK method to gain combat experience in OSRS. By utilizing the correct gear setup, understanding the location and reset mechanics, and being prepared for potential crashers, you can efficiently level your ranged skill. Rock crabs offer a solid path for both beginners and experienced players looking for consistent and low-effort training. Happy training!
