Does splashing still work in Old School RuneScape (OSRS)? This question has been a topic of debate among OSRS players for years, with many players wondering if the once-revolutionary training method has lost its effectiveness in the modern game. Today, we're going to explore the history, mechanics, and current status of splashing in OSRS.
For those new to OSRS or the concept of splashing, it's a training method where players use low-level Magic spells, such as High Level Alchemy or Low Level Alchemy, to gain experience. The idea is that by casting these spells quickly and repeatedly, players can "splash" and receive magic experience without performing the actual action of the spell.
History of Splashing in OSRS
In the early days of OSRS, splashing was considered one of the fastest ways to train Magic, allowing players to quickly boost their levels and stats. It was particularly popular among players aiming to reach high-level Magic for combat or other activities.
Splashing relied on a bug in the game's mechanics, where the server would sometimes fail to register a successful casting of the spell. Instead of completing the action, the player would "splash," wasting the runes but still gaining magic experience.
How Splashing Worked in the Past
To splosh, players would typically cast a low-level alchemy spell, such as High or Low Level Alchemy, on a high-value item, like a rune sword or dragon platebody. The spell would attempt to transform the item into coins, but due to the bug, the server would sometimes fail to register the action. Despite not receiving the coins, the player would still gain a small amount of magic experience.
Players discovered combinations of spells and items that maximized their splash chance, leading to even faster experience gains. The most popular of these was the "water batch" method, which involved splashing the low-level spell Water Bend on a batch of pots, providing both a decent splash chance and a small batch size that made it easy to manage.
Jagex's Response to Splashing
As the player base grew and the game's popularity increased, Jagex, the developer of OSRS, became aware of the splashing exploit and its impact on the game economy and balance. In response, they began taking steps to address and eventually eliminate the issue.
In 2015, Jagex introduced a new casting mechanic that significantly reduced the chance of splashing. This change, along with a series of updates and nerfs to low-level alchemy spells, greatly diminished the effectiveness of the splashing method.
The Current State of Splashing in OSRS
With the combination of casting mechanic changes, spell nerfs, and increased server reliability, splashing is no longer the effective training method it once was. The updated casting mechanics made splashing nearly impossible, while the reduced experience rates of low-level alchemy spells make the method inefficient compared to other training methods.
Today, OSRS players have largely abandoned splashing as a viable training method. While some dedicated players still use it as a means of skilling or for the occasional skillcape requirement, it's no longer a popular or effective way to train Magic.
Alternatives to Splashing in OSRS
With splashing no longer a viable option, OSRS players have turned to alternative training methods for Magic. Some popular alternatives include:
- Air/Water staff training, which involves using Air or Water spells to cast on an Air or Water rune, respectively.
- Magic routines, which combine casting high-level spells with the use of Magic potions and super combat potions for added experience.
- Magic books, specifically the Magic Warfare book, which provides a significant experience bonus for casting any spell.
- Quests and minigames, such as the Fairy Godfather quest or the Mage Arena minigame, which offer experience rewards for completing challenges or activities.
Despite the changes to splashing, OSRS remains a vibrant and dynamic game with a wealth of training methods to discover and master. As always, staying informed about updates and mechanics changes is key to getting the most out of your time in Gielinor.