Treasure Trails

Treasure Trails is a members-only Distraction and Diversion in which players follow a series of clues leading towards buried treasure. A Treasure Trail is started by finding a sealed clue scroll, which may be dropped by various monsters, pickpocketed from H.A.M. Members and elven clan workers, received from a treasure chest decoration in an aquarium, purchased with thaler, or by training Divination, Fishing, Mining, or Woodcutting. The chances of receiving a clue scroll increase with the appropriate tier luck enhancer.

As of the Treasure trails update on 26 February 2018, players can collect as many as 25 sealed clue scrolls of each type of difficulty. Previously, they were restricted to only one new clue scroll of each difficulty if they did not already have one in their inventory or bank. Still however, only one of each type of sealed clue scroll can be open at a time. Attempting to open a sealed clue scroll if a player already owns an open one will result in the following text in the chat window, "You already have an active easy/medium/hard/elite treasure trail. You'll need to either complete or destroy that before starting another."

Most unique rewards (with some notable exceptions) can be placed in the treasure chest in the costume room of a player-owned house. After completing a Treasure Trail, a message comes up in the chat box indicating how many Treasure Trails have been completed of that difficulty: "" The next line tells how many Treasure Trails points have been obtained: ""

Southwest of the Grand exchange's southern gate, a treasure trail expert named Zaida has set up shop with her pack yak, Nigel. Besides offering assistance and information to fellow treasure seekers, she maintains a treasure trail information board. There is also a stack of Treasure Trail collection log books behind her for players to use.

Difficulty
The "level" of a clue scroll relates to its difficulty. There are 5 levels of clue scrolls: easy, medium, hard, elite, and master. An Easy clue is a low difficulty treasure trail, with a low reward yield. A Medium clue scroll is a medium difficulty treasure trail with a more substantial reward yield. A Hard clue scroll is a hazardous Treasure trail which can be very rewarding. An Elite clue scroll is a very dangerous clue scroll (both to receive and to complete.) Master clue scrolls have the greatest difficulties in obtaining and completing, while also having the greatest rewards.

Clue scrolls are generated primarily by monster drops, but also can be generated through thieving, and as certain activity rewards. Each level of clue has a very different set of possible rewards and items, and hazards, so it is worth knowing what the player is in for.

From skilling, the level of the clue scroll is determined by the level requirement of the skilling action. For example chopping a crystal tree, requiring 94 Woodcutting, has a chance to yield a sealed clue scroll (hard).

Length
Clue scrolls can involve following maps, solving puzzles, finding coordinates, talking to various non-player characters, and fighting monsters.


 * Easy clues can be between 1 and 5 clues long, with few or no quest requirements.
 * Medium clues can be between 1 and 6 clues long, with some quest requirements.
 * Hard clues can be between 1 and 8 clues long, with multiple enemies to defeat and some high-levelled quest requirements.
 * Elite clues can be between 5 and 10 clues long, with multiple fights, puzzles in almost every step (if there is no fighting), and have high-levelled quest requirements.
 * Master clues can be between 7 and 12 clues long, with high-levelled quest and skill requirements.

Trails that have more clues and require a longer period of time to complete do not necessarily guarantee the chances of a more valuable prize. The prize obtained is determined when the casket is obtained at the end of the trail, and is not affected by the length of the clue trail.

Types of clues
There are 15 different types of clues that may be encountered during Treasure Trails. Click the buttons below for guides on solving them, or keep reading for a short description of each type.

Anagrams
An anagram is a string of letters which have been purposefully scrambled. For example: od olpe is, unscrambled, poodle. Anagrams can appear in medium, hard and master clues. The solution of an anagram is always the name of an NPC. When the player talks to the NPC in a hard trail, they will receive a challenge scroll or a puzzle box. Solve the puzzle box and talk to the NPC again, or tell the NPC the answer to the challenge scroll, to receive the next clue.

Celtic knot
Celtic knot puzzles are only found in elite trails. This puzzle consists of three knots; one red, one grey, and one blue. On each knot is a number of various runes. The goal of this puzzle is to match the runes on each knot with the underlying one below. An online interactive celtic knot puzzle can be found here.

Challenge scrolls
Challenge scrolls are logical problems posed to the player by an NPC. Challenge scrolls appear in medium and hard clues. Challenge scrolls are 'step two' of a clue: first the player has to find the right NPC to speak to (when they get a cryptic or anagram clue), and then they have to solve the riddle, to advance along their trail. So, challenge scrolls don't count as a regular clue. To complete the scroll, view the question on the scroll, then speak to the NPC which gave it to provide the answer. When the correct answer is provided the challenge is complete, and the player will receive either the next clue, or the reward.

Chest keys
Chest keys are 'step two' of a clue. Sometimes, a clue will lead the player to a locked chest or drawer. A key will be needed to open it, which will be dropped by a specific, usually local, monster. A clue on the object you have been lead to will tell which monster to kill. Chest key clues are found almost exclusively on easy and medium level trails. The key will disappear when used to open the chest or drawer.

Monsters that drop treasure trail keys drop them only when the player is in possession of that clue. Notably, these keys are enabled in the various monsters' drop tables as soon as the player acquires the related clue step. This allows players to actually obtain the key without needing to receive the second half of the clue from the locked object, effectively bypassing half of the clue step and saving some time.

Compass
Compass clues are only found in elite and master trails. The inventory is replaced with an arrow which points to the spot where you need to dig. There are no clues which say where abouts the arrow will lead, and so you will have to walk across Gielinor following the arrow. If you are standing on top of where you need to dig, the arrow is replaced with an X. Sometimes, if you are in an area which is considered not in the RuneScape plane, the arrow will spin uncontrollably.

Coordinates


A coordinate clue is a clue scroll that contains a set of coordinates. Much like the real-world longitude & latitude geographic coordinate system, coordinates in RuneScape indicate a precise point somewhere on the surface where the next clue scroll, or potentially the treasure casket, is buried. Coordinate clues will only appear in Treasure Trails of medium difficulty or above. A clue wizard attack should be anticipated.

Cryptics
Cryptic clues are found in all difficulties, especially in higher level clues. These clues demand a fairly wide variety of tasks, anything from leading the player to speak with an NPC, searching a designated crate, or directing the player to dig in some fairly obscure location. Higher difficulty clues which direct the player to speak with an NPC will almost always result in a puzzle box, effectively making them two part clues. For lower difficulty cryptics, the player may be required to obtain a key from a nearby monster to proceed.

Emote clues
Emote clues involve equipping certain items in a particular location and performing an emote. They were first introduced to treasure trails in August 2008. These types of clues are found in all levels of clue scrolls, and most (but not all) items required for the emote clues can be obtained in shops, even so using the Grand Exchange is the heavily preferred method. Once the emote has been performed, an extremely odd NPC called Uri will appear and usually give the player a casket (and an earful of nonsense). Easy clues require doing 1 emote, medium clues require doing 2, and hard clues require doing 1 emote and fighting the double agent.

For hard and master clues, doing the emote will not summon Uri but instead an aggressive doppleganger NPC known as the double agent, who must subsequently be killed in order to make Uri appear again. The double agent's strength varies depending on the difficulty of the clue, and where the clue takes place. It uses only melee attacks and can easily be killed with any combat style, though magic is most effective. The player can change equipment to kill the agent, but they will have to change back into the original items from the clue in order to complete it.

Maps
Map clues are an image of the location the player needs to search to advance along their trail. Maps are found across all levels of clue scroll. They are rough pictures of a very local area, normally about the size of the Lumbridge Castle. If the map leads to an X, the player needs to take a spade to the place indicated on the map with the X and dig there. If the map leads to a crate, it must simply be searched. Sometimes players may find a small pile of crates, or a multitude of them. Search all of them until the next clue or the reward is found. Maps can include landmarks such as buildings, fish to indicate fishing spots, roads, rivers, bridges, and other things.

Puzzle boxes
When speaking to an NPC in a hard or elite trail, the player may receive a puzzle box. Puzzle boxes are 'step two' of a clue: first the player has to find the right NPC to speak to (when they get a cryptic or anagram clue), and then they have to solve the puzzle, to advance along their trail.

Puzzle boxes contain a scrambled image that players must work to unscramble by clicking on tiles to move them to an empty space. Once the puzzle box is completed, players will need to talk to the NPC who gave the puzzle to receive the next clue or the reward.

Scans
Scan clues are found on elite and master clues. This clue scroll scans an area of a specified amount of squares (or steps). The clue will say a place, for example 'Inside the walls of Varrock' and it will have some sort of range for the scan, such as a range of 16 squares. Once you have scanned over the target place to dig, an X will appear and this is where you will dig. The best method if you have no clue on how to find it, is to walk in a spiral. You would start at a corner and this will be known as corner 1. You would walk along the area of the scan, like along the walls of Varrock. As you walk, anything within range of 16 squares will be picked up as you keep clicking 'scan'. Clue combat can be avoided.

Simple clues
Simple clues are exactly what it says on the tin. They are almost invariably found in easy trails. These clues tell precisely what to do; either the player has to talk to someone or search a specified location.

Skilling clues
Players will be asked to complete a random task, which usually requires performing a high level activity. They only appear on master clues.

Tower
Players must complete "towers". Refer to the page for more details. They only appear on master clues.

Rewards
Players receive various rewards when they complete a clue. The rewards are randomly picked, and usually three or more different rewards are given in return. Players automatically receive the rewards when they talk to someone (e.g. by completing a puzzle box). Otherwise, they will get a casket instead, which contains their rewards. Players may reroll their rewards if they are unsatisfactory, but they must complete three of the same difficulty of clues to reroll their rewards. Using the appropriate tier of a luck enhancer gives a +1% chance for rarer clue-specific loot.

Treasure Trail rewards also feature a "bad luck mitigation" mechanic. The running tally is unique for each tier of clue, so completing any Hard Treasure Trails without a very rare item increases your chance of getting one from another Hard, but does not affect Elites.

From any level
The items listed below are rewards that are possible to receive from all levels of Treasure Trails. These items are not guaranteed rewards, only possibilities.

From easy clue scrolls
The items listed below are the rewards you can get from easy Treasure Trails. 2 to 4 items are awarded from each Casket (easy) opened.

From medium clue scrolls
The items listed below are the rewards you can get from medium Treasure Trails. 3 to 5 items are awarded from each Casket (medium) opened.

From hard clue scrolls
The items listed below are the rewards you can get from hard Treasure Trails. 4 to 6 items are awarded from each Casket (hard) opened.

From elite clue scrolls
The items listed below are the rewards you can get from elite Treasure Trails. 4 to 6 items are awarded from each Casket (elite) opened.

From master clue scrolls
The items listed below are the rewards you can get from master Treasure Trails. 4 to 6 items are awarded from each Casket (master) opened.

Trivia

 * Flatpacked furniture pieces were a former reward from Treasure Trails. Easy scrolls would give oak, medium would give teak, and hard would give gilded furniture and opulent tables. These rewards were removed by request of players.
 * If players are in any place other than the surface of Gielinor, such as a player-owned house, the arrow on the compass will spin counter-clockwise.
 * If players try to open a casket from a trail in a player-owned house or player-owned port, the following message is displayed: You cannot open a casket or solve a clue in this area.
 * With the release of the Treasure Trails expansion on 17 November 2014, the following changes were made:
 * There used to be a bug where when talking to an NPC for a clue where the reward interface would not show up, causing players to be unable to see and reroll their drops if it was unsatisfactory.
 * Saradomin wizards were removed from the game, causing Zamorak wizards to appear in their place. This was later revealed to be an accidental change, and they were added back on 4 July 2016.
 * A Zamorak wizard was added to the Duel Arena coordinate clue, where previously no wizard would spawn at all.
 * On 18 May 2015, an update was made allowing players to hold one of each tier of clue scroll. Before, only one clue scroll of any type could be owned at once.
 * On 26 February 2018, Treasure Trails received a massive overhaul:
 * The three wizards (Saradomin, Zamorak and Guthix) received a graphical update, and rather than dying they would teleport out upon reaching 0 health. The wizards' weaknesses were changed from Arrows to Nothing to allow players to use any combat style against them. Saradomin wizards were also changed so that they would stop trying to melee players, only using melee if the player was next to them.
 * A new difficulty of trails were added: Master Treasure Trails.
 * Many puzzle boxes were changed to feature higher quality pictures. Some clue givers still hand out old puzzle boxes.
 * Scans were reworked.