What’s Next for Old School RuneScape Gear

Old School RuneScape’s gear progression has never moved faster. In just the past year, we’ve seen a wave of new best-in-slot (BiS) items that have reshaped the meta across all combat styles. The Doom of Moki, Yama, and Araxor introduced new melee, magic, and hybrid pieces that outclassed many long-standing staples. The Soulflame Horn shook up raid metas, Doom gave us a powerful new magic weapon that even rivals the Shadow in certain scenarios, and the Avernic Treads became the undisputed BiS boots for all combat styles.

Jagex clearly isn’t afraid to keep pushing power levels higher — but it raises an important question: what comes next? Let’s look at the future of gear across melee, magic, and ranged.

Melee: Reinforcement Over Replacement

Melee has always had the most distinct armor sets, with Torva serving as the all-around powerhouse, Inquisitor’s excelling in crush accuracy, and Oathplate dominating slash. While we technically have Sunfire and Justiciar for defense and prayer-focused setups, their uses are narrow. The only real gap left is stab-focused armor — but adding a high-tier stab set could make Torva obsolete, something Jagex generally avoids.

Given that, the most realistic melee upgrade is a reinforced Inquisitor set. This would keep the set’s identity while bringing it in line with Torva and Oathplate power levels. Jagex could even allow Justiciar armor to be broken down for materials, creating a natural progression path for existing players.

Weapon-wise, tier 80 weapons like the Osmumten’s Fang, Abyssal Bludgeon, and Scythe of Vitur feel underwhelming compared to their cost and grind. One easy fix would be weapon attachments — upgradeable components that grant new special attacks, stat boosts, or unique effects. An upgraded defender or specialized off-hand could also help rebalance the current meta without invalidating existing items. Having enough RuneScape gold will also help you balance the environment.

And of course, melee still lacks a true crush-based mega rare. With players using a Scythe (a slash weapon) as their best crush option, there’s a clear opportunity here. A faster, heavy-hitting crush weapon could finally shake things up in raids and bossing alike.

Magic: Elemental Power and a New Cape Era

Magic gear has become one of the most dynamic areas in OSRS. Between Ancestral, Virtus, and powerful two-handed weapons like the Shadow of Tumeken, there’s no shortage of options. However, Jagex has already said the Shadow will receive a rework before any new mage weapons are released — so we may be waiting a while.

In the meantime, one of the most exciting frontiers is elemental spell scaling. The elemental weakness update hinted at a system where fire, water, earth, and air spells could finally compete with ancient magics. Jagex could build on this by introducing elemental robes or a new off-hand tome that amplifies elemental effects, similar to the “Devil’s Element” buff from the Leagues.

Beyond armor, mages desperately need a new amulet upgrade. The current BiS options are cheap and outdated — a proper endgame amulet could easily become a prestige item. Similarly, a wave-based Mage Arena 3 with a unique untradeable mage cape feels like a natural next step, mirroring the prestige of the Infernal Cape and Quiver of Ful.

Ranged: Refinement and Sidegrades

Ranged has seen steady, thoughtful updates. The Masori armor remains the BiS set, supported by new additions like the Ventor Ring, Ful Masori Quiver, and ranged-strength-boosting boots from the Delve boss.

If the current trend continues, the next major ranged upgrade will likely be an improved Necklace of Anguish — perhaps a version tied to the upcoming vampire storyline. Ammo upgrades also feel inevitable. While Jagex probably won’t push past Dragon arrows and Dragon bolts soon, specialized niche ammo (like elemental or gemstone variants) could expand ranged’s utility in new content.

Armor variety, however, is a trickier space. Melee and magic have multiple “styles” to play with (crush, slash, stab; ancients vs. elemental), but ranged mainly scales from light to heavy. A possible innovation would be sidegrade sets that boost specific weapon types. Imagine a set that speeds up ballista attacks or improves crossbow accuracy — focused gear like this could open up new metas without outright replacing Masori.

Utility Gear and Non-Combat Upgrades

Beyond the big three combat styles, OSRS has room for creativity in universal and utility gear. Items like the Lightbearer and Serpentine Helm show how powerful unique effects can be. Future accessories could expand on bleed, burn, or poison mechanics — effects that are underused but becoming more relevant with recent boss designs.

The ammo slot might finally see innovation, too. Instead of simple prayer bonuses, imagine a slot that grants flat offensive stats or unique combat effects. And with sailing introducing new materials, hybrid gear that benefits multiple styles could become a focus area.

Skilling gear upgrades are also overdue. The canceled DemonicDigger and farming enhancers show Jagex’s interest in improving non-combat quality of life. Mining, woodcutting, and crafting could all see efficiency-boosting equipment in the near future, continuing the trend of rewarding skill investment.

Looking Ahead: Raids 4 and Beyond

With Raids 4 planned for 2026, the stage is set for the next big gear shakeup. If history repeats, we’ll likely see a mix of seven unique drops covering all styles. Predictions? A crush mega rare, elemental mage robes, a bleed-based special attack weapon, a new piece of ranged armor with set effects, and a unique jewelry piece that amplifies damage-over-time effects like burn or poison.

Meanwhile, the upcoming Vampyre Finale Quest and the Land of Vampyrium update will almost certainly expand the Vampyre Bane gear line. We might even see an upgraded Blisterwood weapon or a new Faraday’s Aid ring that lets players use any weapon against vampires.

Final Thoughts

Power creep in OSRS is a double-edged sword. Expansions like Doom and Araxor flooded the game with BiS gear all at once, leaving some players feeling rushed. Having enough RS gold will help you a lot. But if Jagex slows the pace — sprinkling meaningful upgrades across different content — we could see one of the most balanced, diverse endgames RuneScape has ever had.

There’s a lot to look forward to, from elemental magic to Vampyrium weapons and new sidegrade armor sets. What gear do you think deserves an upgrade next?