Magic is one of the three primary combat skills in OSRS, standing alongside Melee and Ranged. However, Magic goes far beyond its combat role—it's a cornerstone of convenience and utility across the game. From casting teleportation spells and enchanting jewelry to killing high-level bosses and training Slayer, Magic is essential for almost every type of activity in Gielinor.

However, leveling it traditionally can be time-consuming and expensive. That's where AFK Magic training methods come in—and none are more iconic than Splashing.

In this in-depth article, we'll break down everything you need to know about Splashing: what it is, how to do it, where to go, how much XP you can expect, and how much it'll cost you. Whether you're a free-to-play (F2P) player or a seasoned member, this is your go-to guide for AFK Magic training.

What Is Splashing in OSRS?

Splashing is the act of casting combat spells on a monster while having intentionally low magic accuracy, ensuring you always hit zero. The benefit? The monster never dies, and you still receive Magic XP per cast, just not from damage dealt.

This allows you to continuously cast spells without having to re-aggro a new enemy, kill anything, or even look at your screen for long periods—ideal for those working, watching Netflix, or playing other games.

It's one of the most AFK training methods in the entire game, with intervals of up to 20 minutes before any interaction is required (to prevent logouts).

How to Splash Properly

To splash effectively, your equipment must bring your Magic attack bonus down to -64 or lower. This makes you so inaccurate that you're guaranteed to never deal damage. Pair that with low-level, passive enemies and you've got the perfect setup.

The ideal Splashing gear is heavy melee armor, which naturally penalizes Magic accuracy.

Let's look at examples for both F2P and P2P players.

F2P Splashing Setup

Slot Item Bonus

Head Any Full Helm (Iron+ recommended) -21

Body Platebody (Iron or Steel) -30

Legs Platelegs -21

Boots Fancy Boots (Stronghold of Security) -3

Shield Kiteshield -8

Gloves Green d’hide vambraces -10

Weapon Elemental Staff (Air/Water/Earth/Fire) +10

Total Magic Attack Bonus  -83

Note: You can use a basic elemental staff to save on runes, depending on the spell you're casting.

P2P Splashing Setup

Slot Item Bonus

Head Robin Hood Hat -10

Body Justiciar Chestguard -40

Legs Granite Legs -31

Boots Snakeskin Boots -10

Cape Mixed Hide Cape -15

Shield Granite Shield -12

Gloves D’hide Vambraces -10

Weapon Harmonised Nightmare Staff +16

Total Magic Attack Bonus  -112

The Harmonised Nightmare Staff not only allows spellcasting but also speeds up standard spellbook casts by one tick, boosting XP/hour significantly. It requires 82 Magic and 50 Hitpoints.

Where to Splash in OSRS

The only real criteria for choosing a Splashing location are:

• The enemy must deal little to no damage.

• The area must not be a tutorial zone or anti-Splash area (like Lumbridge Castle).

You'll be looking for low-level, passive monsters like rats, seagulls, or spiders.

Best Splashing Locations

Location Monsters F2P Notes

House west of GE Rats Yes Classic, low-traffic

Port Sarim Jail Rats Yes Popular for F2P

Ruins east of Lumbridge Swamp Rats Yes Avoid aggressive players

South of Slepe Rats No Great for members

Lovakengj Rats No Safe and quiet

Port Piscarilius Rats No Very AFK-friendly

Draynor Village Rats Yes Can be busy

Fire Altar Rats Yes Near Falador

South of Kourend Castle Rats No Good AFK spot

Mount Quidamortem Rats No Rarely used, peaceful

Many of these monsters are level 1, making them ideal Splash targets.

Splashing XP Rates and Rune Costs

There are dozens of spells across both the Standard Spellbook and Ancient Magicks. Depending on your spell of choice, you can prioritize cheap AFK training or high-speed, expensive XP.

Let's break them down.

Standard Spellbook Splashing Rates

Level Spell Runes Required XP/hr XP/hr (Harmonised Staff) Cost/hr

1 Wind Strike 1x Air, 1x Mind 6,600 8,250 3,600 gp

13 Fire Strike 2x Air, 3x Fire, 1x Mind 13,800 17,250 15,600 gp

35 Fire Bolt 3x Air, 4x Fire, 1x Chaos 27,000 33,750 136,800 gp

59 Fire Blast 4x Air, 5x Fire, 1x Death 41,400 51,750 223,200 gp

75 Fire Wave 5x Air, 7x Fire, 1x Blood 51,000 63,750 390,000 gp

95 Fire Surge 7x Air, 10x Fire, 1x Wrath 60,600 75,750 433,200 gp

You'll want to balance XP/hour with GP/hour. Players on a budget should stick with Fire Strike or Fire Bolt. Wealthier players might enjoy using Fire Surge with a Harmonised Nightmare Staff for top-tier XP rates.

Ancient Magicks Splashing Rates

To unlock the Ancient spellbook, complete Desert Treasure I.

Level Spell XP/hr Cost/hr

50 Smoke Rush 36,000 660,000 gp

58 Ice Rush 40,800 636,000 gp

70 Ice Burst 48,000 873,600 gp

82 Ice Blitz 55,200 1,118,400 gp

86 Smoke Barrage 57,600 1,594,800 gp

94 Ice Barrage 60,000+ 1.6M+ gp

These spells aren't just flashy—they're expensive. Most players choose Ancient Magicks for combat, not Splashing, but it's technically viable.

Tips for Efficient Splashing

• Auto-cast your spell so you don't need to click every time.

• Use runes from a rune pouch if available (P2P).

• Bring food just in case, especially if using a location with multiple enemies.

• Don't splash in anti-AFK zones or safe zones like Lumbridge Castle.

• Use combination staffs (like Smoke Battlestaff) to cut rune costs.

If you want to train Magic while you're working, relaxing, or multitasking, it's unbeatable. But if you're playing actively and want fast, efficient gains, consider bursting or alching instead.

Final Thoughts: Max Magic the Lazy Way

Magic is one of the most versatile and essential skills in Old School RuneScape, and Splashing provides a unique opportunity to level it without sacrificing your time and attention. While it's not the most cost-efficient or exciting method, it's ideal for busy players who want to chip away at 99 Magic while living life.

So grab your runes, slap on some metal armor, and go bully a rat for 500 hours—you've earned it.

Need OSRS gold to splash Fire Surge all day?

Check out your trusted OSRS gold provider for fast, secure, and cheap RuneScape gold to fund your Magic grind!

Happy Splashing!

RSorder Team