Patch Notes: Mid-Game Rebalance

20 July 2026 Game Updates

Hello 'Scapers!

The Mid-Game Rebalance has arrived, with a strong focus on improving the mid-game experience through targeted buffs and quality-of-life upgrades. Our goal is to bring key areas of progression up to more modern standards and make the journey through the mid-game more rewarding.

Let's get into it!

Most of this may feel familiar to some you if you already checked out our preview a few weeks back - since then we've changed the following things, so do check out the details on those below:

Changes since the Mid-Game Rebalance Preview:

Further buffed XP for Anachronia full lap completions (details in Agility Rebalance).
Further buffed XP for Harmonic Dust (details in General Changes).
Removed negative perks from invention (details in General Changes).
Increased the weighting for Vannaka to offer Sanguine Crawler tasks.
The Artificers measure now has parity with the Upgraded Gem bag and can be filled with Opal, Jade and Topaz gems as well as noted gems.

Core Fletching Re-Tier

The Fletching re-tier has been in the works for quite some time, and the Mid-Game Rebalance provides the perfect opportunity to finally bring it to life.

Over the years, a number of inconsistencies have appeared throughout Fletching progression. Certain weapons and ammunition have level requirements that don't align with similarly powerful equipment found elsewhere in the game, while some level bands contain noticeable gaps or confusing progression paths. Some of these issues have also emerged due to previous Woodcutting tiering changes.

This update aims to address the majority of those inconsistencies, creating a more logical and intuitive progression path for both Fletching and Ranged combat. By aligning item requirements more closely with their power, filling progression gaps, and improving consistency across level bands, we want the journey from early levels through to 99 and beyond to feel smoother, easier to understand, and more rewarding.

It's important to note that this update focuses on re-tiering the core Fletching skill rather than overhauling it entirely. As a result, not every Fletching item has been revisited as part of this project. Darts, knives, and javelins will remain unchanged for now.

Given their relatively low usage in the current game, we felt comfortable prioritising other areas of Fletching progression for this update. However, we're keen to revisit these items in the future as part of a broader review of their role and relevance within RuneScape's combat and skilling ecosystems.

Summary of Changes

Retiered existing Shortbows, Longbows, Crossbows and 2h Crossbows

Yew shortbows and longbows are retiered to level 70 and, as a result, have become members only items. Free-to-play players will still have level 40 and 50 Ranged options through Maple and Acadia bows.

Added in additional Shortbows, Longbows, Crossbows and 2h Crossbows to fill in holes in the leveling.
Shieldbows are being retired and replaced wholesale with their equivalent tier Longbows.

Our data indicates that shieldbows have been left in such an awkward space that their usage is incredibly low, meaning that they actually add bloat and inconsistency to the game. By replacing them with Longbows we expect the choice of bow to be made easier and less confusing for players.

The primary reason for this change is because shieldbows have acted as a bit of a trap to newer players who are fletching them without realising that they deal vastly reduced damage compared to an equivalent shortbow, despite them having a higher fletching requirement.

All current shieldbows gain +1 range when converted to longbows.
The Strykebow remains a shieldbow.

Standardised metal usage in Crossbow creation.
Drop tables and shop inventory containing items that have been retiered, where appropriate, are replaced with the new item for that range level instead.
Achievements and quests are adjusted where needed to account for these retiering changes.
Added in missing tiers of Arrows & Bolts (Orikalkum → Elder Rune)
Bane ammunition has been changed from having its own special creation methods to be unified with regular arrows and bolts.

Tune Bane Ore can be cast on bane bolts/arrows, rather than banite ore or banite rock, to enchant them into Abyssal/Basilisk/Dragon/Wallasalkibane bolts/arrows.
Tune Bane Ore can still be cast on Dinarrows to enchant them into Jas Demonbane arrows.

Primal ammunition has also been unified to be created in the same way as regular arrows and bolts.

Unf bolts are created by bars and feathered like regular bolts.
Primal bolts are made in increments of 50 Unf bolts per bar, bringing them in line with all other bolt creation quantities

The bolt and arrow proficiency leveling benefits have been removed, but their XP when you first unlock them has a higher baseline.

Fletching Re-tier Tables

Shortbows

Wood	Fletching Live	Fletching New	Range live	Range new
Shortbow	1	1	1	1
Oak shortbow	20	10	10	10
Willow shortbow	35	20	20	20
Maple shortbow	50	40	30	40
Acadia shortbow	Missing	50	Missing	50
Yew shortbow	65	70	40	70
Magic shortbow	80	80	50	80
Elder shortbow	90	90	60	90
Eternal magic shortbow	100	100	99	99

Longbows

Wood	Fletching Live	Fletching New	Range live	Range new
Longbow	1	5	1	1
Oak longbow	25	15	10	10
Willow longbow	40	25	20	20
Maple longbow	55	45	30	40
Acadia longbow	Missing	55	Missing	50
Yew longbow	70	75	40	70
Magic longbow	85	85	50	80
Elder longbow	95	95	60	90
Eternal Magic longbow	Missing	105	Missing	99

Note that we are not planning to introduce Teak and Mahogany Short or Longbows, as these are considered hardwood, which is entirely unsuitable for use in bow fletching.

Crossbows

Item	Stock				Limb				Combat
Crossbow	Type (Live)	Type (New)	Fletching Level (Live)	Fletching Level (New)	Type (Live)	Type (New)	Smithing Level (Live)	Smithing Level (New)	Ranged Level (Live)	Ranged Level (New)
Bronze crossbow	Wood	Wood	9	3	Bronze	Bronze	1	1	1	1
Iron crossbow	Willow	Oak	39	13	Iron	Iron	10	10	10	10
Steel crossbow	Teak	Willow	46	23	Steel	Steel	20	20	20	20
Mithril crossbow	Maple	Teak	54	33	Mithril	Mithril	30	30	30	30
Adamant crossbow	Mahogany	Maple	61	43	Adamant	Adamant	40	40	40	40
Rune crossbow	Yew	Acadia	69	53	Rune	Rune	50	50	50	50
Orikalkum crossbow	Missing	Mahogany	Missing	63	Missing	Orikalkum	Missing	60	Missing	60
Necronium crossbow	Missing	Yew	Missing	73	Missing	Necronium	Missing	70	Missing	70
Bane crossbow	Missing	Magic	Missing	83	Missing	Bane	Missing	80	Missing	80
Elder Rune crossbow	Missing	Elder	Missing	93	Missing	Elder Rune	Missing	90	Missing	90
Primal crossbow	Eternal Magic	Eternal Magic	103	103	Primal	Primal	100	100	99	99

Arrows

Arrowhead						Combat		LIVE XP		NEW XP
Arrow	Type (Live)	Type (New)	Fletching Level (Live)	Fletching Level (New)	Smithing Level (Live)	Smithing Level (New)	Ranged Level (Live)	Ranged Level (New)	Per arrow	x 15	Per arrow	x 15	XP/Hour
Bronze	Bronze	Bronze	1	1	1	1	1	1	1.3	19.5	1.3	19.5	58,500
Iron	Iron	Iron	15	10	10	10	10	10	2.5	37.5	2.5	37.5	112,500
Steel	Steel	Steel	30	20	20	20	20	20	5	75	5	75	225,000
Mithril	Mithril	Mithril	45	30	30	30	30	30	7.5	112.5	7.5	112.5	337,500
Adamant	Adamant	Adamant	60	40	40	40	40	40	10	150	10	150	450,000
Rune	Rune	Rune	75	50	50	50	50	50	12.5	187.5	12.5	187.5	562,500
Broad	Broad	Broad	52	52	n/a	n/a	50	50	15	225	15	225	675,000
Orikalkum	Missing	Orikalkum	Missing	60	Missing	60	Missing	60	New	New	15	225	675,000
Necronium	Missing	Necronium	Missing	70	Missing	70	Missing	70	New	New	16.25	243.75	731,250
Bane	X-bane	Bane	76	80	Missing	80	Missing	80	New	New	17.5	262.5	787,500
Elder Rune	Missing	Elder Rune	Missing	90	Missing	90	Missing	90	New	New	18.75	281.25	843,750
Primal	Primal	Primal	100	100	100	100	99	99	9.8	147	20	300	900,000

Bolts

Bolt Tip						Combat		LIVE XP		NEW XP
Bolt	Type (Live)	Type (New)	Fletching Level (Live)	Fletching Level (New)	Smithing Level (Live)	Smithing Level (New)	Ranged Level (Live)	Ranged Level (New)	Per bolt	x 10	Per bolt	x 10	XP/HR
Bronze	Bronze	Bronze	9	3	1	1	1	1	0.5	5	0.5	5	30,000
Iron	Iron	Iron	39	13	10	10	10	10	1.5	15	1.5	15	90,000
Steel	Steel	Steel	46	23	20	20	20	20	3.5	35	3.5	35	210,000
Mithril	Mithril	Mithril	54	33	30	30	30	30	5	50	5	50	300,000
Adamant	Adamant	Adamant	61	43	40	40	40	40	7	70	7	70	420,000
Rune	Rune	Rune	69	53	50	50	50	50	10	100	10	100	600,000
Orikalkum	Missing	Orikalkum	Missing	63	Missing	60	Missing	60	New	New	11.25	112.5	675,000
Necronium	Missing	Necronium	Missing	73	Missing	70	Missing	70	New	New	12.5	125	750,000
Bane	X-bane	Bane	80	83	80	80	80	80	10	100	13.75	137.5	825,000
Elder Rune	Missing	Elder Rune	Missing	93	Missing	90	Missing	90	New	New	15	150	900,000
Primal	Primal	Primal	103	103	100	100	99	99	10	150	16.25	162.5	975,000

Agility Rebalance

Following the Early-Game Rebalance, we're revisiting Agility courses all the way to level 99. These changes focus on creating a more consistent progression curve across the skill, with most courses receiving substantial XP-per-hour increases to make training feel smoother, more rewarding, and better balanced at every level.

Level	Course	Old XP/Lap	Old XP/HR (Approx)	New XP/Lap	New XP/HR (Approx)	XP change
48	Ape Atoll	580	46,400.0	615	49,200.0	6%
50	Anachronia Novice	520	37,440.0	650	46,800.0	25%
52	Wilderness	571	51,390.0	571 (no change)	51,390.0	0%
60	Werewolf	540	43,200.0	750	60,000.0	39%
60	Bandos	380	39,085.7	585	60,171.4	54%
65	Het's Oasis	2045	70,114.3	2045 (no change)	70,114.3	0%
70	Anachronia Advanced	860	51,600.0	1,300	78,000.0	51%
77	Hefin 77	704	60,342.9	1,200	102,857.1	70%
80	Dorgesh-Kaan	2375	53,437.5	5,500	123,750.0	132%
82	Hefin 82	880	75,428.6	1,400	120,000.0	59%
85	Advanced Gnome Stronghold	725	65,250.0	1,800	162,000.0	148%
85	Anachronia Full	20,040	150,300.0	28,000	210,000.0	40%
87	Hefin 87	1056	90,514.3	1,600	137,142.9	52%
90	Advanced Barbarian Outpost	753	71,336.8	2,000	189,473.7	166%
92	Hefin 92	1184	101,485.7	1,800	154,285.7	52%
97	Hefin 97	1328	113,828.6	2,000	171,428.6	51%

Divination Rebalance:

We're making changes to Divination as part of our ongoing effort to improve progression throughout the game. Rather than directly increasing XP rates, these changes focus on making energy gathering feel more consistent as you level up, avoiding situations where unlocking a new energy type can feel slower or less effective than what came before.

As a general rule, we're aiming for players to have around a 70% success rate when they first unlock a new energy type, helping new unlocks feel rewarding from the moment they're available.

The changes below show the average increase to your chance of gathering each type of energy across its level range. Players will see the biggest benefits when they first unlock a new energy type, with the bonus gradually settling into its long-term value as they continue training.

For example, a player unlocking Gleaming energy at level 50 would previously have had around a 64.9% chance to successfully gather energy. With this update, that increases to 70%, and continues to improve as their Divination level rises. Over time, this works out to an average increase of around 4% across the level band, helping to smooth out the gathering experience while providing a small boost to XP rates through more consistent successful gathers.

The values below show the average increase to your energy gathering success rate across each energy type's level range. New unlocks will receive a larger boost initially before settling to these long-term values.

Energy Type	Average Success Increase
Gleaming	+4.0%
Vibrant	+3.0%
Lustrous	+2.0%
Brilliant	+1.0%
Radiant	+1.0%
Luminous	+0.6%
Incandescent	+0.5%

God Wars Dungeon Changes:

We're making some changes to God Wars Dungeon 1, which can currently feel overly punishing for players entering the mid-game. While the experience improves as your account progresses, taking your first steps into the dungeon can be slower and more challenging than intended. These updates aim to make that initial experience smoother and more enjoyable.

To make repeat trips to God Wars Dungeon 1 less frustrating, killcount now works similarly to God Wars Dungeon 2. Your killcount is no longer lost when leaving the dungeon, allowing you to build and maintain it across multiple visits.
To balance this change, killcount is now capped at 200.
With these updates in place, the Omni Soulstone and the Armadylean, Bandosian, Saradominist, and Zamorakian Soulstones have been removed, as they are no longer needed to support the killcount system.

We're also making some changes to God Wars Dungeon 2. While the Reputation system was designed to reward long-term engagement, it currently takes too long to unlock its full benefits, with many players progressing beyond the dungeon before reaching maximum drop rates. These changes aim to make the rewards more accessible and the overall progression feel more worthwhile:

Maximum reputation has been reduced from 5,000 to 2,000, with all reputation rewards rescaled to match the new progression curve.
Drop-rate unlocks have been removed from the Reputation system. All players now benefit from the highest available drop rates from the moment they start tackling God Wars Dungeon 2 bosses, removing the need to grind reputation before accessing the dungeon's best rewards.

Reputation can still be earned to unlock its associated rewards, but it should now feel like a natural bonus earned through gameplay rather than a prerequisite for efficient bossing.

As part of these changes, the "The Venerated" title has been moved down one reward tier, making it available earlier in the reputation journey.

General Changes:

Demonic Skull

The Demonic Skull was originally introduced as a risk-versus-reward mechanic, but we feel its role in the game is no longer meaningful. Following feedback and a review of its place in modern RuneScape, we're removing the item with this update.

The Demonic Skull is no longer obtainable. Any players who own one when the update launches should receive a full refund of its purchase cost.

Invention Perks

Invention can be a difficult skill to get into, particularly for newer players. One of the biggest pain points is the number of negative perks that can appear on gizmos, making progression feel punishing and discouraging experimentation. To make the skill more approachable and reduce unnecessary frustration, we're removing the following perks entirely:

Antitheism
Profane
Inaccurate
Junk Food
Undead Bait
Demon Bait
Dragon Bait
Cautious
Mediocrity
Fatiguing
Committed
Butterfingers
Blunted
Cheapskate
Confused

Any existing gizmos or augmented items containing these perks have had the affected perk removed automatically.

Dive Ability

This ability is currently locked behind the "Succession" Quest, which requires 60 Mining and 60 Smithing to complete. These requirements feel out of step with the ability itself, creating an unnecessary progression barrier and making the unlock path feel inconsistent.

To better align the ability with its intended use, it no longer requires completion of Succession and instead is unlocked naturally at 30 Agility.

Red and Crystal Sandstone

We've heard your feedback on sandstone mining, and we agree that it still feels slower than we'd like. With flask prices continuing to rise, we think it's the right time to make gathering sandstone quicker and more rewarding.

To help with this, we've reduced the hitpoints of all sandstone rocks by 50, allowing them to be mined more quickly.

We're also giving an additional boost to the higher-tier sandstone sources. Sophanem Red Sandstone (unlocked through the Elite Desert Tasks) and Meilyr Crystal Sandstone (found in the Edimmu Resource Dungeon) have had their hitpoints reduced by a further 50, making these premium sources even faster to gather from.

Harmonium Harps

With the removal of the Travelling Merchant, we've seen feedback that obtaining Harmonic Dust now feels more time-consuming than intended. To help offset this and keep progression towards crystal tools and equipment feeling reasonable, we're increasing the rate at which Harmonic Dust is earned from harps.

Harmonic Dust gained from harps has been increased by 40%. This should make gathering Harmonic Dust feel significantly less grindy while preserving it as a meaningful long-term goal.

Instances

Instance costs are being removed from all boss encounters. These fees no longer provide meaningful gameplay value and can act as an unnecessary barrier, particularly for players learning new bosses.

Boss-specific entry requirements remain unchanged, so you'll still need items such as Ascension Keystones, Keys to the Crossing, and Barrows Totems where applicable.

TzRek-Jad (Jad Pet)

This pet was previously purchased with Zeal or Thaler and felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the boss pets. For this reason it has been moved onto Jad's drop table and collection log. Please note, however, that this pet will not be able to be set as an override for familiars.

Upgraded Gem Bag & Artificer's Measure

The Upgraded Gem Bag has felt a little inconsistent, particularly when upgrading to the enhanced version. We want it to feel like a more natural progression upgrade and a clear quality-of-life improvement for players who spend time gathering gems.

The Upgraded Gem Bag can now hold up to 100 of each gem type including Jade, Opal, and Red Topaz gems.

The Artificers measure has also been updated to have parity with the Upgraded Gem bag and can be filled with Opal, Jade and Topaz gems as well as noted gems.

Drop Rates

Drop rates have be increased on the following items:

Dragon Pickaxe

The Dragon Pickaxe is an important mid-game upgrade, but its current drop rates make it rarer than we'd like for players at this stage of progression. We want to make the item more accessible while preserving its value and keeping it a rewarding drop to obtain.

Chaos Dwarf Dragon Pickaxe drop rate increased from 1/5,000 to 1/3,000.
Chaos Giant Dragon Pickaxe drop rate increased from 1/10,000 to 1/1,000.

Sanguine Crawler & Vampyrism Gloves

Vampyrism Gloves don't quite fit the progression slot they're intended to occupy in the mid-game. While we still want them to feel like a valuable reward, the current drop rates can make obtaining them more difficult than intended.

Vampyrism Gloves drop rate increased from 1/500 to 1/200 while on a Slayer task.
Vampyrism Gloves drop rate increased from 1/2,000 to 1/1,000 while off-task.
Vannaka's weighting to assign Sanguine Crawlers as a Slayer task has been increased to 15.

Corporeal Beast Sigils

Corporeal Beast Sigils occupy an unusual space in the game's progression. Not only are they rarer than we'd like for the power they provide, but the current distribution of sigil drops can also feel inconsistent, with some sigils appearing far more frequently than others.

The overall Sigil drop rate has been doubled, increasing from 1/512 kills to 1/256 kills.
All Sigil types now have an equal chance of being awarded. When a Sigil drops, each of the four Sigils have a 1-in-4 chance of being received.

Linza the Disgraced (Barrows)

Linza's equipment currently stands out from the rest of the Barrows rewards due to its significantly lower drop rates. This makes completing the set feel disproportionately grindy compared to other Barrows gear, despite filling a similar progression role.
The drop rate for Linza's equipment has been doubled, improving from 1/192 to 1/96.

Luck

While working on this project, we took the opportunity to fix some additional issues that had arisen.

Added luck drop chance modifier for Dragon Pickaxe when killing Chaos dwarves and dwogres.
Added luck drop chance modifier for Unchecked dinosaur eggs.
Added luck spawn chance modifier for Gout Tuber.
Off-hand khopesh and Seren symbols drops should now display the correct message in chat about obtaining them.

We're excited to hear how you get on with today's changes - let us know in the dedicated discussion threads on Reddit and Discord!