Treasure Trails/Guide

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 * For the main article, see Treasure Trails. For a full version of the page, see the Full guide.

Difficulty levels
The 'level' of a clue scroll relates to its difficulty. There are four levels of clue scroll, Easy, Medium, Hard and Elite. 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 the most dangerous clue scroll to receive and complete. Elite clue scrolls, however, require killing higher level monsters, which is rewarded by its greatest and most expensive rewards as compared to other levelled scrolls.

Clue scrolls did not previously identify their own difficulty level. In a hidden update on 6 October 2010, they now have their difficulty level described with the name. A level one clue scroll is now Clue scroll (easy). A level two is (medium), level three (hard) and level four (elite)

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.

Length

 * Easy Scrolls can be between 1 and 5 clues long with few or no quest requirements.
 * Medium Scrolls can be between 1 and 6 clues long with some quest requirements.
 * Hard Scrolls can be between 1 and 8 clues long, with multiple enemies to defeat and can have high-levelled quest requirements.
 * Elite Scrolls can be between 1 and 10 clues long, with multiple fights, and puzzles every step.
 * Note: Their difficulties don't determine the length

Recommended items
All level clues

Level 2 and above

Level 3 and above

Quests
Having a high amount of quest points is beneficial when doing treasure trails. Many higher-level trails will lead a player into areas which are locked by quests. If this is the case, the player must do the quest, up to where access to the area is granted, if they wish to complete their trail. If the player hasn't done the needed quest yet, but they have the requirements or are in a position to get them quickly, it is recommended that the player (trains and) does the quest, rather than getting rid of the clue scroll.

Anagrams
An anagram is a string of letters which have been purposefully scrambled. For example: od olpe is, unscrambled, poodle. Anagrams can appear in level 2 and level 3 clues. Below is a complete list of anagram solutions. If one is missing, please add it to the list. The solution of an anagram is always the name of an NPC. Once the solution is found, the player can get their next clue by talking to that NPC. When the player talks to the solution NPC in a level 3 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 level 4 trails. This puzzle consists of three ropes; one red, one grey, and one blue. On each rope is a number of various runes. The goal of this puzzle is to match the runes on each rope with the underlying one below.

Challenge scrolls
Challenge scrolls are logical problems posed to the player by an NPC. Challenge scrolls appear in level 2 and level 3 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 monster. A clue will tell which monster to kill. These chest key clues are usually found on lower level trails. The key will disappear when used to open the chest or drawer. Before and after the trail, the monster will no longer drop the key.

Compass
Compass clues are only found in level 4 trails. More information is coming soon

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 overworld where the next clue scroll, or potentially the treasure casket, is buried. Coordinate clues will only appear in Treasure Trails of medium or hard difficulty.

Cryptics
Cryptic clues are common riddle clues in higher level clues, but they can be found in lower level clues on occasion. They will lead the player to an NPC to talk to, crates to search, or to a location where they are to dig. Level 3 clues which lead the player to an NPC will normally result in a puzzle box. Some clues require the player to obtain a key from a nearby monster to access the needed location. These chest key clues are usually found on lower level trails. Oddly, if there is a key involved in the clue, it is possible to get the key before reading the hint, which could save the player some time.

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 featured in all levels of clue scrolls, and most (but not all) items required for the emote clues can be obtained in shops, although using the Grand Exchange is recommended. Once the emote has been performed, an NPC called Uri will appear and usually give the player a casket. If the player has been requested to do another emote before talking to Uri, and they forgot to do it, he will say, I don't believe we have any business... but will not leave. The player can then complete the second emote and finish the clue. Level 1 clues require doing 1 emote, level 2 clues require doing 2, and level 3 clues require doing 1 emote and fighting the double agent.

Many of the items asked for in these clues are obscure. The Grand Exchange is the simplest way to obtain them, but often not the cheapest. As a result of demand by players doing treasure trails, most of these items have been driven up in price considerably above what they would be otherwise worth. In many cases, emote clue items may be bought from shops for considerably less money, or even be player made with little difficulty. Wearing any version of a required item different than the standard one will not work (for example; a rune platebody(t) will not work in place of a basic rune platebody).

For level 3 clues, doing the emote will not summon Uri but instead an aggressive NPC known as the double agent. If the agent appears, the player must kill him and perform the emote again, with all the original items from the clue equipped. The player can change equipment to take out the double agent but must change back after killing him in order to make Uri appear. Normally, the double agent is level 108, but in the Wilderness he is considerably weaker at only level 65. It can still be dangerous, since the player can encounter revenants in the Wilderness.

Many of these clues call for the player to equip a piece of variously coloured gnome robes. There is a store in the Grand Tree, Fine Fashions, which sells all of these items. They are difficult to purchase from the Grand Exchange because very few players sell them. Therefore it is probably best to buy them from the store, which is located on the second floor of the Grand Tree, in the northeast.

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. Map clues are not easy to do without help. Players will often find that they simply have no clue where the map is pointing to. A player can try to compare the maps to the world map, and they match up very well, but the area to compare is vast. It is easier to use the list below.

Puzzle boxes
When speaking to an NPC in a level 3 or 4 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. Puzzle boxes are the RuneScape version of n-puzzles. There are 7 different images for puzzle boxes. Many people find puzzle boxes daunting, but taken from the right approach they can be simple and quite fun. In order to solve a puzzle box a player should start by solving the first row, then the second, then the third. After this, complete the first four squares of the next rows (this would look like a 2x2 box), then the next two squares, and finally rotating the last three pieces to complete the puzzle. If the player wants a different puzzle, they can destroy the box (not the clue) and ask the NPC for another. If the player logs out, without finishing the puzzle, they will lose all progress and will have to start over again. The game scrambles the puzzles by randomly moving pieces approximately 50 - 200 times.

For information on how to solve puzzle boxes, go to the puzzle box guide page.

Scans
Scan clues are only found in level 4 trails. 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. And once you head back to corner 1 you would continue in a spiral direction but this time you would be 16 squares from where you started. More information is coming soon

Simple clues
Simple clues are exactly what it says on the tin. They are almost invariably found in level 1 trails. These clues tell precisely what to do; either the player has to talk to someone or search a specified location.

Rewards
Treasure trails can be the single most lucrative thing a player ever does. However it is akin to winning the lottery. A player may emerge from a clue with a Willow Shortbow and a Leather Coif, or they could gain a Zamorak page, a 3rd Age Armour Piece, and assorted Rune Armour all from the same clue. The value of the rewards garnered depend heavily on the level of the clue scroll completed. Players completing level 3 clues will never see a Willow Shortbow no matter how many clues they complete, likewise players completing a Level 1 Clue will never be rewarded with a 3rd age armour piece. Once completed, the rewards given by a clue are absolutely random and unaffected by any factor provided elsewhere in the game, such as the ring of wealth.

Higher level clues generally give better rewards but, due to the randomness of rewards given, there is a very large variance in value or the rewards. As an example, for all levels of clues, players can get random pieces of melee armour. The type of armour received differs based on the level of the clue completed, with level 1 clues generating Black armour, level 2 clues generating Adamant, and level 3 clues generating Rune armour. Similar trends exist with other reward items such as bows, and ranged armour. Although generally speaking the reward from a higher level clue will be worth more than a lower level counterpart, there are some notable exceptions (such as rune nails as opposed to an adamant platebody) where a high level clue generate a low yield. These instances of poor rewards range from rare to mildly uncommon.

A clue scroll could generate well over 120 million gold pieces worth of items, depending on the current prices of the various pieces of 3rd age armour, as well as the brand new Dragon Masks which are the most valuable things that a player can get from a clue scroll. Other rewards include the God Armours, the gilded and trimmed armours, the heraldic armour, as well as several unique items such as sleeping caps, boater hats, animal staves, and animal masks.

For a complete list of the items which can only be obtained from a clue scroll see the Treasure Trails Rewards Guide. Be aware that there are items that can be obtained from a clue scroll that are not unique to treasure trails. These items are also listed in the Rewards Guide and so will not be detailed here, but include items such as various bows, ranged and melee armour, and weapons.

It is claimed that the update along with elite clue scrolls made a mechanism to make sure that each clue scroll will generate at least one item that is a unique treasure trail item. However, this has proven wrong in at least one case. So either the rule is not accurate, or there is a bug preventing this rule from being enforced—either way, a clue scroll which provides no unique treasure trail item is still possible.

Trivia

 * It is possible, although trivially rare, to get the same clue step up to 3 times in a row. For example, a player could be asked to speak to Zeke in Al Kharid 3 times in a row, then get the clue scroll reward, or another clue step. Although this is sure to leave a player thoroughly confused, it is normal and should not be cause for alarm or bug reporting for that matter.
 * It is possible to have more than one scroll as drops on the floor at the same time from two kills. This comes in very useful if a player is close to finishing a task of Steel dragons, for example, and gets a level 3 clue scroll, but does not want to drop it in hopes of an elite clue scroll, or leave to do it. Soon before the Steel dragon is killed, the player can drop the clue in their inventory and see if it drops an elite clue. If not, they can just pick up the level 3 clue again. The player may never pick up more than one scroll, however. If you have a clue in your Manage Thy Kingdom rewards you will not be able to get one as a drop either.