Ironman Mode

Ironman Mode and Hardcore Ironman Mode are account-types that are not allowed to interact with other players in any way, with a few exceptions. The modes were released on 13 October 2014.

Both modes can only be activated through the character creation screen, which is selectable from the dropdown menu above the character preview. They can be toggled off at any point the player wishes, but they cannot be turned back on after that. To activate Ironman or Hardcore Ironman modes, players must right-click the "Randomise" option, select "Advanced" in the account creation menu, and then be presented with several confirmations that they wish to create that account type. Players must open the Jar of divine light to remove hardcore status from Ironman mode. Players must read the Book of diplomacy to remove Ironman mode from their accounts entirely. Both items are sold by Mr Ex.

Players who choose to activate Hardcore Ironman Mode have only one "life". As soon as they die, their account is permanently locked, unless they have purchased the ability to convert to a regular Ironman account upon death, namely the Jar of divine light. There is also an option to buy an extra life (divine coin) at total levels 1000 and 1600 for 100,000 and 10,000,000 coins, respectively. This is so that people who have already progressed far into the game are able to avoid losing their accounts from lag, bugs, etc.

Hardcore Ironmen that have died may still access the in-game lobby, and death does not affect the Old School RuneScape game in any way.

Examining a tradeable item on an Ironman Mode account displays the high alchemy price instead of its Grand Exchange Value. The Price checker also displays this.

Ironmen are identifiable by a silver chat badge and title of " / " or " / ", and Hardcore Ironman accounts have a red chat badge (shaped as a skull) and the title of " / " or " / ".

There are two new highscores added as a result. One highscore table is for all Ironman accounts, while the other is solely for Hardcore Ironman accounts. When a Hardcore Ironman account gets deleted or downgraded, that account is not removed from the Hardcore highscores, but their highest scores at the time of deletion or downgrading are kept, unable to change them further.

Global announcements were broadcast for various firsts, including the first hardcore death, the first to 500 and 1000 total level, and the first to complete various quests. There are also global announcements for hardcore deaths of accounts with at least a 750 total level and whenever a player becomes the first to reach level 99 in a skill. For a list of first players to 99, see Skill mastery.

Players in Ironman mode can only pick up their own drops from the ground. For example, if another player kills a chicken, any players in Ironmode who attempts to pick it up get a chatbox message telling them that they can not pick that up in Ironman mode. But non-ironman players can pick up the drops from Ironman players. You can enter the trade screen when in Ironman mode or while trading someone in Ironman mode, but neither player is able to place any items or cash as you receive the chatbox message saying that the person you are trading is an Ironman.

Deaths that do not end Hardcore Ironmen
Deaths don't end hardcore if they are counted as "safe death" in the regular game. Examples include:
 * Clan Wars white portal.
 * Falling off the pathway in Demon Slayer
 * Dying to Agoroth or a Crassian warrior during A Shadow Over Ashdale
 * Dying to Dawn during The Death of Chivalry
 * Dying inside a Dungeoneering floor
 * Getting hit with a dragonkin fireball in Missing, Presumed Death
 * Dying in the mansion in Broken Home
 * Dying to the 4th stage of Koschei the deathless during The Fremennik Trials
 * Dying against TokHaar-Hok during The Brink of Extinction
 * Any death in which a player is resurrected by a Sign of life (Signs of life do not activate in cases of death by typeless damage.)
 * Any death within the Duel Arena
 * Death in the Fight Cave
 * Dying in a Player-owned house
 * Dying to the parasites on Tuska's back during the Tuska Comes world event.

Death announcements
If the Hardcore account has at least a total level of 1000, a description of their cause of death is globally broadcasted.




 * 'to an unknown power' - default message
 * 'a PVP battle with [NAME OF KILLER]' - killed in the Wilderness by another player
 * 'fighting against: [NAME OF NPC]' - killed in combat by an NPC
 * 'poison' - killed by poison
 * 'by standing in the fire' - being caught by the flames in The World Wakes
 * 'with their hand in someone else's pocket' - killed by failing a pickpocket
 * 'succumbing to the heat of the desert' - killed by desert heat effect
 * 'playing with fire' - killed during The Firemaker's Curse

Restrictions
Both Ironman and Hardcore Ironman modes mean that your game experience will be restricted in certain ways. This list contains everything that is limited or disabled for an Ironman account.


 * You will be unable to trade player-to-player, except for certain quest specific items such as the Shield of Arrav.
 * You cannot use the Grand Exchange, except for the purchase of bonds.
 * You will be unable to pick up items from the floor dropped by other players and those dropped by monsters killed by other players.
 * You will not be able to activate LootShare or participate in the assist system.
 * Any NPCs killed will award XP depending on how much damage you have done to it, not whether you have tagged it.
 * Taking part in Player versus Player activities will not award you XP nor loot.
 * Some spells (All versions of tele-other and tele-group, cure other and group, boost potion share, heal other and group, vengeance other and group) have been disabled and the ice asylum spell will heal you only if you cast the spell.
 * Group buffs have been disabled. This means that Clan Avatars are disabled, totems of wisdom cannot be attuned to, and you will deal 0 damage to training dummies.
 * Visiting the Player-Owned House of other players, or using house features that are not in your own PoH are disabled.
 * Treasure Hunter is completely disabled.
 * Barbarian Assault is completely disabled.
 * Duel Arena is limited. Staking is disabled.
 * The Castle Wars game is limited. PvP XP is not earned.
 * The Clan Wars game is limited. PvP XP is not earned and you cannot earn rewards.
 * Conquest rewards are limited. Staking is disabled.
 * Crucible is completely disabled.
 * Fist of Guthix is completely disabled.
 * The Mobilising Armies game is completely disabled.
 * Pest Control rewards are limited.
 * The Soul Wars game rewards are limited.
 * The Dominion Tower is limited. Group rumble matches are disabled.
 * TzHaar Fight Pit is limited. PvP xp is not earned.
 * Blast Furnace is completely disabled.
 * Fishing Trawler is completely disabled.
 * Great Orb Project is limited. Rewards are restricted to the cosmetic outfits and a single Blood Altar teleport.
 * Flash Powder Factory is completely disabled.
 * Trouble Brewing is completely disabled.
 * Vinesweeper is limited. Points are only earned if you planted the flag that a farmer digs up.
 * Stealing Creation is completely disabled.
 * Heist is completely disabled.
 * The Rat Pits game is completely disabled.
 * The Demon Raids game is completely disabled.
 * The Sinkholes game is completely disabled.
 * The Wilderness Warbands game is completely disabled.
 * Dungeoneering can only be entered on your own - you cannot enter with a group.
 * You can only use Divine Locations that you have planted yourself, and you will not receive the bonus from anyone who uses your location.
 * Co-op Slayer is disabled.
 * Clan Citadels will only provide you with 25% of the xp normally earned.
 * Daily challenges will only provide rewards related to the challenge you have just completed i.e. you will be rewarded with fishing related items for completing a fishing related challenge.
 * Recruit a Friend will not give you any bonuses (but any person who has recruited you will still get their bonus).
 * You will be unable to buy the wicked pouch from Solomon's General Store.
 * You cannot fight Barrows - Rise of the Six, the Kalphite King, and Vorago, as they must be fought in a group.

Beta
On 30 September 2014, around 130 players were selected to participate in the Ironman Mode Beta after receiving a message on 26 September, while others were also selected from certain competitions.

These accounts have usernames in the format "irontrial###" ranging from 1 to 130; however, all players were allowed to change their name.

When Ironman Mode was officially released, the beta accounts could still be played, but they would not appear on the Hiscores.

Trivia

 * There is currently a glitch where revenant dropped armours (corrupt dragon/ancient warrior's), when degraded, will refund the player with the grand exchange price and not the high alch price. This is currently being fixed.
 * It is possible to obtain a Veteran Cape in both of these modes even though they were only released on 13 October 2014. If a person registered an account and never went through the creation process, that account still received credit for that creation date. Depending on when these incomplete accounts where registered but not completed, Players can log into these "Empty Accounts" and then complete the creation process and put them in Ironman/Harcore Ironamn Mode and receive a Veteran Cape.