Introduction
Ever been surrounded by aggressive monsters in Old School RuneScape, health dwindling faster than your prayer points, and desperately rummaging through your inventory for something, anything, to keep you alive? That frantic scramble for sustenance is a feeling every OSRS player knows intimately. Food is more than just a way to replenish health; it’s the bedrock of your survival, the key to prolonged combat, and the fuel for countless adventures across Gielinor. This guide dives deep into the world of OSRS food, providing you with a comprehensive overview of the very best options available, taking into account healing power, accessibility, cost, and the best methods for obtaining them. Forget those frantic inventory searches; after reading this, you’ll know exactly what to bring to any fight, quest, or training session.
Understanding Food Mechanics in Old School RuneScape
Before we jump into specific food items, it’s crucial to understand the core mechanics of how food works in Old School RuneScape. When you consume food, your character receives a certain amount of healing. This healing is instant, but there’s a brief eating delay, meaning you can’t instantly spam food to become invincible. The speed at which you heal can also be affected by certain game mechanics or specific items you are using.
Food falls into a few primary categories. The most common is fish, ranging from simple shrimp to hearty sharks. Meat also makes up a large portion of food available to players, ranging from chicken and beef to things of more dubious nature. Potions can also have healing properties, though are more commonly used to boost stats. There are also other niche items that give unique healing benefits such as Guthix Rest tea.
Finally, remember that some foods provide temporary stat boosts in addition to healing. For example, pies can temporarily increase your skill levels, making them invaluable for skilling activities like crafting, cooking, or smithing. These boosts can be the difference between success and failure, opening up access to new content and faster progression.
Top-Tier Healing Foods: The Titans of Sustenance
Let’s delve into the absolute best food options OSRS has to offer, starting with those capable of rapidly restoring your health and keeping you in the fight.
Sharks
These iconic sea creatures are a staple for many players, and for good reason. Sharks heal a respectable twenty hitpoints, making them a reliable choice for a wide range of activities. They’re relatively easy to obtain through fishing, although requiring a decent fishing level, or you can simply purchase them from the Grand Exchange.
Sharks offer a good balance between cost and effectiveness. They’re not the cheapest option, but their consistent healing makes them a worthwhile investment.
Anglerfish
Anglerfish stands out with its unique ability to heal over your maximum hitpoints. These creatures, when consumed, heal an amount of health points equal to your current hitpoints. Because of their ability to heal over your max hitpoints, anglerfish are generally sought after by ironmen and ultimate ironmen, as they can prove to be useful in difficult boss encounters.
You’ll have to do some serious fishing to get your hands on these, as they require a very high fishing level to catch.
Manta Ray
Manta rays offer a respectable amount of healing, coming in at twenty-two hitpoints. While their healing is quite good, they are overshadowed by sharks and anglerfish. Players can obtain manta rays by fishing, which requires a decent fishing level or you can buy them from the Grand Exchange. Manta rays can be a decent alternative when sharks and anglerfish are too expensive.
Dark Crab
Dark crabs are often considered to be the best healing food, healing twenty-two hitpoints, however with a caveat. If you decide to consume a dark crab, you also lose ten percent of your defence level. This is often a detriment, but does not matter when you are performing combat on a boss that you are not praying against.
Dark crabs are caught through fishing in the resource arena and can be bought and sold on the grand exchange.
Mid-Tier Healing Foods: Reliable and Affordable
While top-tier food is essential for challenging content, mid-tier options can be more practical for everyday tasks and training. They strike a balance between cost-effectiveness and decent healing.
Monkfish
Monkfish are a popular choice for training combat and tackling mid-level bosses. They heal sixteen hitpoints and are relatively easy to obtain through fishing in the Piscatoris Fishing Colony.
Monkfish are a decent choice as they can be obtained at a relatively low fishing level and provide good healing.
Salmon
Salmon are a solid choice for lower-level players and those on a budget. They heal nine hitpoints, making them a decent option for basic training and low-risk activities.
They are easy to catch and can be found while fishing for trout.
Trout
Trout are even cheaper than salmon and can be found in similar locations. While only healing seven hitpoints, trout can be an option for those very short on cash and desperate for a bit of healing.
Low-Tier Healing Foods: Starting Your Journey
These foods are most often used by new players who don’t have access to better sources of healing.
Sardine
Sardines are a fantastic choice for new players, healing four hitpoints. These fish are very common and can be easily found while fishing in Lumbridge.
Herring
Herring heal five hitpoints and can be found when fishing near Barbarian Village or Draynor Village. They are a decent early choice for new players.
Shrimp
These are often the first food that new players come across, as you can fish them in Lumbridge as soon as you start your adventure. Shrimp heal three hitpoints, making them an option when players are truly desperate.
Special Food Items: Beyond Basic Healing
Some food items offer unique properties that go beyond simple healing. These items can significantly enhance your gameplay in specific situations.
Saradomin Brew
Saradomin Brews are powerful potions that heal a significant amount of health while also boosting your defence level. However, they also lower your attack, strength, and magic levels. They are commonly used in boss fights where survivability is paramount, such as against Zulrah or the Theatre of Blood. These potions can be created through herblore.
Guthix Rest
Guthix Rest provides a range of benefits including small amounts of healing while also restoring run energy. Guthix Rest is great for players that need a little extra healing to survive a fight and can be a powerful addition to an inventory. Guthix Rest also requires a medium level in herblore to craft.
Karambwans
Karambwans are unique in that they don’t have an eating delay. This allows you to consume one karambwan between each attack. Karambwans are often used when fighting powerful bosses as they are an extremely useful and easy to consume source of healing.
Training Methods and Food Choice: A Synergistic Approach
The best food choice isn’t just about raw healing power; it’s also about how it aligns with your training methods. Different training styles demand different types of sustenance.
For aggressive combat training, where you’re constantly engaged in battle, you’ll need food that can keep up with the damage. For AFK training methods, where you want to minimize attention, prioritize high-healing, inexpensive options that allow you to sustain longer periods without intervention.
For skilling, consider foods that maintain focus and concentration, like snacks, or foods that boost stats relevant to the skill you’re training.
Food and Money Making: A Delicious Cycle
Food isn’t just about consumption; it’s also a viable source of income. Fishing is a classic method for earning money, particularly if you focus on high-demand fish like sharks or anglerfish. Cooking, especially if you can cook high-level fish without burning them, is another excellent money-making avenue.
Finally, keep an eye on player markets. Supply and demand can fluctuate, creating opportunities to buy low and sell high on various food items.
Conclusion: Nourish Your Adventures
Choosing the right food in Old School RuneScape is a critical skill. It’s not just about surviving; it’s about thriving. Whether you’re battling fearsome bosses, grinding skills, or simply exploring the vast world of Gielinor, the right food will be your constant companion, fueling your journey and paving the way to victory. By understanding the nuances of food mechanics, exploring the diverse range of options, and tailoring your choices to your specific activities, you can ensure that you’re always well-nourished and ready to face any challenge that comes your way. So, stock up, adventurer, and embark on your next quest with confidence! Your inventory, and your health bar, will thank you for it.
