Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers players a vast world full of adventures, challenges, and rewards. Among its many activities, Treasure Trails-also known as clue scrolls-stand out as an engaging and rewarding mini-game that combines exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, mastering Treasure Trails can provide unique cosmetic items, valuable gear, and a fun break from traditional skilling or bossing.

This comprehensive guide will help you understand everything you need to know about Treasure Trails, how to obtain and complete clue scrolls, and the best ways to maximize your rewards.

 

What Are Treasure Trails?

Treasure Trails are a series of clue scrolls-items that provide players with a set of instructions or puzzles to solve, ultimately leading to a hidden treasure chest filled with rewards. The journey involves decoding cryptic clues, navigating the OSRS map, interacting with NPCs, digging in specific locations, performing emotes, and sometimes battling monsters or solving puzzles.

 

The main appeal of Treasure Trails lies in the chance to obtain rare and unique items such as third-age equipment, god pages, ranger boots, or other cosmetic and valuable gear.

 

Types of Clue Scrolls and Difficulty Tiers

Clue scrolls come in several difficulty tiers, which influence how complex the clues are, the combat requirements, and the quality of rewards. The main clue scroll tiers are:

 

Beginner Clues

 

Easy Clues

 

Medium Clues

 

Hard Clues

 

Elite Clues

 

Master Clues

 

Each tier has its own challenge level and potential rewards.

 

Beginner Clues

These are the simplest clue scrolls and require very low skill levels.

 

They often involve straightforward instructions, such as talking to NPCs or digging in common areas.

 

Rewards are basic, often cosmetic or low-level items.

 

Good starting point for new players wanting to learn the mechanics of clue hunting.

 

Easy Clues

Slightly more complex than beginner clues.

 

May require minor travel, use of specific items like a spade or sextant.

 

Rewards include early mid-game cosmetics and useful items.

 

Easy clues can be acquired by killing low-level monsters or pickpocketing NPCs.

 

Medium Clues

These clues often require moderate combat and skilling levels.

 

May involve more intricate puzzles such as coordinate clues or emote clues.

 

Rewards can include items worth several million OSRS gold, such as ranger boots or climbing boots (g).

 

Medium clues commonly drop from implings and certain monsters.

 

Hard Clues

These clues introduce more combat and require knowledge of many areas in Gielinor.

 

More steps and often involve dangerous locations, sometimes including wilderness steps.

 

Rewards include god dhide sets, gilded items, and various rare cosmetics.

 

Monsters like blue dragons or higher-level bosses are common sources.

 

Elite Clues

Among the most challenging clues, requiring high stats, quest completion, and sometimes wilderness navigation.

 

Steps are longer and more complex, with puzzles and boss fights involved.

 

Rewards include dragon masks, ornament kits, and other highly coveted items.

 

Dropped by elite monsters, bosses, and rare implings.

 

Master Clues

The highest difficulty level in OSRS Treasure Trails.

 

Often obtained by combining lower-tier clues or directly from end-game bosses.

 

Clues include multiple complex steps, including advanced puzzles and high-risk areas.

 

Rewards can be some of the most valuable and prestigious items in the game, such as third-age equipment and the rare bloodhound pet.

 

How to Obtain Clue Scrolls

Clue scrolls can be obtained from a wide range of sources across OSRS:

 

Killing Monsters: Many monsters, from low-level goblins to high-level bosses, have a chance to drop clue scrolls.

 

Skilling Activities: Fishing, woodcutting, mining, or pickpocketing certain NPCs can yield clue scrolls.

 

Implings: Catching implings, especially medium to high-tier ones, can reward clue scrolls.

 

Minigames and Bosses: Barrows, Chambers of Xeric, and other activities may drop clues.

 

Treasure Trails from Shops: Beginner clues can sometimes be purchased or obtained via specific shops or events. You can also buy OSRS GP to get it.

 

To farm clue scrolls efficiently, players often target monsters or activities that have high clue drop rates combined with decent XP or loot.

 

Understanding Clue Steps

Clue scrolls are composed of a series of steps that players must complete in order. Each step requires a different action, which can be broadly categorized as:

 

Map Clues

Players are given a small map with an X marking the spot where they must dig using a spade. The spots can be tricky because of similar-looking terrain, so pay attention to the map details.

 

Coordinate Clues

These clues require the use of a sextant, watch, and chart to find specific in-game coordinates where the player must dig or perform another action.

 

Emote Clues

Players must perform a specific emote (e.g., wave, dance, or bow) in a particular location, sometimes while wearing certain items.

 

Cryptic Clues

Written as riddles or puzzles, these clues require interpreting the text to find the right location or NPC.

 

Anagram Clues

The clue is a scrambled NPC or place name that you must unscramble and then interact with the correct target.

 

Puzzle Boxes

These are sliding puzzles that must be solved to move on to the next step.

 

Hot/Cold Clues

Using a strange device, players follow temperature hints to locate a hidden spot.

 

Tools and Items for Clue Hunting

To complete Treasure Trails efficiently, having the right tools and knowledge is essential:

 

Spade: Used for digging at map and coordinate clues.

 

Sextant, Watch, and Chart: Required for coordinate clues.

 

Teleportation Items: Fairy rings, teleport tablets, spirit trees, and runes to quickly navigate Gielinor.

 

Graceful Outfit: Helps conserve run energy during extensive traveling.

 

Clue-related Gear: Items such as holy symbols, combat equipment, or specific costumes may be required for emote or NPC clues.

 

Quest Completion: Many clues require the completion of certain quests to access areas or NPCs.

 

Tips for Efficient Clue Hunting

Use the OSRS Wiki: It has comprehensive solutions for every clue step.

 

Prepare Teleports: Unlock as many teleportation methods as possible to reduce travel time.

 

Stack Clues: Since you can hold multiple clue scrolls (one per tier), try completing clues in similar areas.

 

Bring Minimal Gear: To reduce risk, especially when some clues require going into the Wilderness.

 

Practice Puzzles: Familiarize yourself with puzzle boxes and coordinate clues.

 

Rewards and Profitability

Treasure Trails can be very lucrative. The reward caskets contain:

 

Unique Cosmetic Items: Third-age sets, god pages, ranger boots, and more.

 

Valuable Equipment: Gilded armor, trimmed skillcapes, and special weapons.

 

Ornament Kits: Used to recolor and customize gear.

 

Rare Pets: Such as the bloodhound pet, which is extremely rare and valuable.

 

Miscellaneous Items: Coins, runes, and clue scroll-specific items.

 

While some clues can be profitable, others are mostly cosmetic or collection-focused. Master clue scrolls have the highest reward potential but are also the hardest to complete.

 

Risks of Treasure Trails

Some clue steps require players to visit the Wilderness or engage in combat, which introduces risk:

 

Player Killing (PKing): In Wilderness steps, you might be attacked by other players, leading to potential loss of items.

 

Dangerous Monsters: Some clue steps trigger fights with aggressive monsters.

 

Time Consumption: Clue hunting can be time-intensive, especially at higher tiers.

 

Always assess whether the reward justifies the risk and prepare accordingly by bringing only necessary gear and protection prayers.

 

Why Play Treasure Trails?

Variety: Clue scrolls offer a refreshing change from repetitive grinding.

 

Challenge: They test your knowledge of the OSRS world and problem-solving skills.

 

Exclusive Rewards: Many items can only be obtained via Treasure Trails.

 

Social Aspect: Clue hunting is popular and has an active community sharing tips and celebrating rare finds.

 

Conclusion

Treasure Trails and clue scrolls are an exciting and rewarding part of OSRS gameplay. Whether you're a new player curious about this feature or a veteran aiming to collect the rarest third-age gear, understanding the tiers, how to obtain clues, how to solve the different clue steps, and how to prepare is essential.

 

With patience, preparation, and a little bit of luck, Treasure Trails can offer some of the best adventures and rewards OSRS has to offer.