Essence Running in RuneScape: A Beginner’s Guide

Essence running in RuneScape is an excellent way to earn money or runes, especially for players with limited skills. The process revolves around a simple concept: assisting others in gaining runecrafting experience while earning rewards for your effort. Since runecrafters can only carry a limited amount of essences (23-27) at a time, their crafting process can be slow. That’s where essence runners come in, helping speed up the process for runecrafters while earning a fair wage in return.

What You Need for Essence Running

Before you begin essence running, you’ll need to gather a few essential items. Here’s a list of what you’ll need:

Boots of Lightness: To reduce your overall weight and allow for faster movement.
No Weapons or Armor: Running light helps you move quickly and efficiently.
27 Pure Rune Essence: These are the essences you’ll be carrying to the runecrafter.
Additional Item: Something to fill an inventory slot (like Law Runes) to speed up banking after each run.

Getting Started

Once you’re prepared, the next step is to find someone who needs an essence runner. One of the best places to look is on RuneScape forums or in popular runecrafting areas where people are often hiring runners. When seeking a potential employer, keep a few questions in mind:

What is the pay rate? Different crafters may offer varying amounts of money or runes for your service.
Are essences provided? Some runecrafters supply the essences, while others expect you to bring your own.
Are there any bonuses? Certain crafters offer bonuses for completing more runs or reaching a certain threshold of essences delivered.
How many runners are working for them? Knowing how busy they are can help you gauge how much work you’ll get.
How many essences per run? This will determine how quickly you can complete runs.
What is the crafter’s runecrafting level? The higher the level, the more runes they can produce with the same amount of essence.

Essence Running Tips and Etiquette

To be an efficient and successful essence runner, there are some important rules and tips to follow:

Trade Unnoted Essences: Always ensure you are trading unnoted essences to the runecrafter.
Travel Light: Wearing lightweight items like Boots of Lightness helps you move faster, allowing for quicker runs.
Be Courteous: Always thank the runecrafter who trades with you. This simple gesture of appreciation can go a long way in securing repeat work.
Avoid Interruptions: If you’re not actively trading, stand to the side of the altar to avoid blocking the crafters. If you’re waiting for someone to trade with you, avoid crowding their space by standing in the crafting line.
Efficient Use of Pouches: Using pouches can be helpful for carrying more essences, but don’t expect the crafter to trade with you multiple times per run’it slows down the process.

Types of Runes and Their Uses

While essence running earns you runes, it’s helpful to understand the various types of runes you might receive and how they are used:

Air Runes: Commonly used for low-level spells, especially for lower-level mages.
Water, Fire, and Earth Runes: These elemental runes are used in a variety of spells, with higher-level mages often favoring fire runes for god spells.
Mind Runes: Essential for casting basic offensive spells.
Body Runes: Often used in stat-reducing spells.
Cosmic Runes: Useful for enchanting items, but typically used in small quantities.
Nature Runes: One of the most valuable runes, especially for high alchemy and other utility spells.
Law Runes: Primarily used by pure mages for teleportation and other high-level spells.

Conclusion

Essence running is a valuable skill that can help you earn money and runes in RuneScape, even at lower levels. By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a proficient runner. Remember, being light on your feet and respectful to the crafters can lead to a more efficient and rewarding experience. Who knows? You might even discover some of your own strategies as you delve deeper into essence running!

Essence Runescape