The Chaos Altar is widely regarded as the single best location in Old School RuneScape for training Prayer. It is not simply good-it is mathematically superior to every other method in the game. When bones are offered on the Chaos Altar, there is a 50 percent chance that the bones will not be consumed. In practical terms, this means your bones last twice as long, cutting both time investment and gold cost in half. For Ironmen, this is an enormous efficiency gain. For mains, especially those who choose to buy OSRS gold to fund faster progression, it represents one of the best GP-to-XP ratios available in the game. The tradeoff, however, is significant risk: the Chaos Altar is located deep in the Wilderness in a multi-combat zone.

Requirements and Preparation

One of the most appealing aspects of the Chaos Altar is that it has no hard requirements. You do not need specific levels, quests, or gear to use it effectively. The only essential item is a reliable teleport. Because deaths are expected-especially for beginners-you should approach this activity with a minimalist mindset. Bring only what you are willing to lose.

Getting to the Chaos Altar

There are several ways to reach the Chaos Altar, but the most efficient and commonly recommended method is via a Burning Amulet. Teleport to the Lava Maze, then run south directly to the altar. This route is fast, consistent, and avoids unnecessary Wilderness exposure.

Alternative options include the Ghorrock teleport on the Ancient Magicks spellbook, the Cemetery teleport on Arceuus spellbook, or navigating via Wilderness obelisks. These methods are viable but generally slower or less consistent, particularly for repeated trips.

Understanding XP Rates and Bone Selection

Prayer XP rates at the Chaos Altar are not level-gated. Instead, they are determined by the type of bones used. Higher-tier bones grant more XP but typically come at a higher GP cost. This creates a balance decision between time efficiency and economic efficiency.

Dragon bones are a popular benchmark because they strike an excellent balance. Using dragon bones at the Chaos Altar can yield roughly 300,000 Prayer XP per hour using basic methods, and well over 1 million XP per hour with optimized approaches.

Method One: The Suicide Method

The suicide method is the simplest and lowest-effort approach. Bring a teleport and a full inventory of bones. Teleport into the Wilderness, run to the Chaos Altar, and use the bones as quickly as possible. Once finished, intentionally die to reset the trip.

The most efficient way to die is by running to the Chaos Fanatic rather than spam-clicking environmental damage. This method minimizes effort and keeps cycle time predictable. While XP per hour is lower, the method is extremely accessible and requires no survivability planning.

Method Two: Low-Risk Tank Method (Recommended)

The low-risk tank method is strongly recommended for players willing to take a slightly higher risk for substantially higher rewards. While the altar itself is in multi-combat, stepping outside the temple places you back into single combat. With a basic tank setup and food, you can often survive long enough to escape PKers by running to the level 30 Wilderness line.

A key advantage of this method is the Chaos Druid located at the altar, who will unnote bones for 50 GP each. This allows you to bring large quantities of noted bones and remain at the altar far longer. Compared to the suicide method, this can more than triple your XP per hour.

Although it may feel uncomfortable to risk more supplies, most PKers in this area are lightly geared and deal relatively low damage. By camping Protect from Magic, using brews, and remaining calm, deaths can be minimized. With experience, this method becomes both consistent and highly efficient.

Plugins and Efficiency Tips

Several RuneLite plugins can dramatically improve your experience. Menu Entry Swapper allows you to change the left-click option on bones to “Use,” enabling much faster offerings. Player Indicator highlights nearby players in bold red text on both the minimap and in-game, making it much harder to be surprised.

For physical efficiency, hold Alt and drag your inventory over the altar. This creates a simple vertical motion rather than a slower horizontal movement, reducing wrist strain during long sessions.

Expect deaths occasionally, especially from large PK clans. This is part of the Wilderness experience. If using the suicide method, consider training on a PvP world, where deaths respawn you next to a bank, allowing for extremely fast resets. For mains who supplement their supplies with cheap OSRS gold, these rapid resets can make losses far less impactful and keep training sessions efficient. When used correctly, the Chaos Altar is unmatched for Prayer training efficiency. With the right mindset and preparation, the risk is manageable, and the rewards are exceptional.