Old School RuneScape has just received a major content drop this morning with the release of the new quest “Red Reef”, a sailing-focused update that brings a wave of new skilling content. While the quest itself expands the sailing storyline, the real excitement for most players comes from the introduction of several new training methods across Smithing, Mining, and Fishing/Sailing hybrid content. This update also introduces a brand-new resource called Rubium ore, which plays a central role in multiple systems.

Below is a breakdown of the most impactful training methods added today and how they change the current meta.

New Smithing Method: Incendiary Cannonballs

One of the standout additions from this update is the ability to smith incendiary cannonballs, a powerful upgrade to traditional cannon ammunition.

These new cannonballs are designed specifically for sailing-related combat, dealing damage over time to sea monsters, making them a direct upgrade over standard cannonballs in most situations. Because of this, demand is expected to be extremely high, with cost being the only real limiting factor.

How They Work

To create incendiary cannonballs, players combine:

Regular cannonballs

New Rubium ore

The process uses a 2:10 ratio, meaning 10 Rubium ore produces 2 incendiary cannonballs. Both materials are stackable, which is what makes this method so notable—you can essentially remain at an anvil indefinitely without banking.

Players need access to the Pandemonium questline and sailing-related crafting unlocks to begin.

Smithing XP Rates and Viability

Incendiary cannonballs introduce a surprisingly strong AFK smithing method:

Up to 225K XP/hour at rune level (90 Smithing)

Requires only 2 clicks per minute

28 action cycle before reset (56 cannonballs total)

Despite the efficiency, this method is expected to remain non-profitable due to high demand for both cannonballs and Rubium ore.

Tier Breakdown

Rune (90 Smithing): ~225K XP/hr

Adamant (75 Smithing): ~187K XP/hr

Mithril (55 Smithing): ~150K XP/hr

Steel: ~112K XP/hr

This creates a scalable, AFK-friendly progression path, though profitability is unlikely at any tier.

Chainshot Cannonballs: A More Traditional Alternative

Alongside incendiary cannonballs, players can also craft chainshot cannonballs, a variant that uses chains instead of Rubium ore.

While XP rates remain similar, this method introduces banking requirements, slightly reducing efficiency by around 5%. However, it is currently profitable, making it a more balanced option for players who want both XP and cheap OSRS GP.

In short:

Incendiary = faster, AFK, expensive

Chainshot = slightly slower, but profitable

New Mining Method: Rubium Ore & Geodes

The update also introduces a brand-new mining area on Charred Island, requiring at least 60 Sailing to access.

To reach it efficiently, players can teleport to Pest Control and sail south. Once there, they can mine two main resources:

Rubium rocks

Rubium geodes

A bank chest can be constructed, but it is optional since all materials are stackable alongside basic tools.

Rubium Rocks: Fast and Semi-AFK Mining

Rubium rocks function similarly to volcanic ash nodes:

Require 48 Mining

Guaranteed 2 mines before depletion check

Can last up to 10+ actions if lucky

Around 55–60K Mining XP/hour at higher levels

In addition, players can expect:

~1,800–2,000 Rubium ore/hour

~500K GP/hour (current prices)

This makes it one of the strongest mid-level mining methods in the game, combining decent XP with strong profit potential.

However, long-term profitability may decline as supply increases.

Rubium Geodes: Ultra-AFK Alternative

For players prioritizing relaxation over efficiency, Rubium geodes offer a different approach.

Only two nodes exist in the area

Extremely slow mining speed

Around 10K XP/hour Mining

However, geodes can be smashed using a hammer and chisel to yield Rubium ore over time.

Key Trade-off

XP: Very low

AFK: Extremely high

Output: Comparable Rubium per hour to rocks

Each node can last around 5 minutes, making this one of the most AFK mining methods currently available in OSRS.

Deep Sea Trolling Changes (Sailing + Fishing XP Buff)

Finally, the update significantly improves deep-sea trolling, a hybrid Fishing and Sailing activity.

XP Improvements

Sailing XP from nets has been buffed:

Rope net: 4 → 7 XP

Linen net: 5 → 9 XP

Hemp net: 6 → 11 XP

Cotton net: 8 → 15 XP

While individually small, these buffs nearly double total sailing XP gained per hour.

Overall XP Gains After Update

With improved tick rates and XP scaling:

Fishing XP: ~35–40K/hour

Sailing XP: ~35–40K/hour

Combined total: ~70–80K XP/hour

Additional improvements include:

Gathering speed reduced from 4 ticks → 3 ticks

Baited shoals now correctly grant +20% catch rate

Profit vs Efficiency

Despite improvements, deep-sea trolling remains somewhat clunky due to interface limitations. However, it now sits in a much more viable position:

~2.5M GP/hour (raw marlin at current prices)

Moderate XP rates in two skills

Strong profit-focused training option

The only downside is market instability, as fish prices have already dropped significantly due to both buffs and possible multiplayer fishing exploits.

Final Thoughts

The Red Reef update has introduced some of the most interesting skilling changes in recent OSRS history. Between stackable smithing materials, AFK mining zones, and dual-skill training methods, players now have far more flexibility in how they progress.

While some methods lean heavily toward AFK convenience and others toward profit, the overall direction is clear: modern OSRS skilling is becoming more interactive, more layered, and significantly more rewarding. An ample supply of OSRS GP can also provide you with an excellent gaming experience.

Expect the meta to shift quickly as players experiment—and as prices stabilize over the coming weeks.