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- For the main article, see Treasure Trails. For a full version of the page, see Full Treasure Trail guide
How to Use The Treasure Trails Guide
This page has been split into multiple miniguides to make it easier to navigate. This guide gives players a rough idea of what each clue is, does, and how it is to be dealt with, while providing a link to a specialized guide dedicated to each individual clue type. To find information on how to solve a specific clue, find the header for the type of clue that you wish to solve and follow the provided link. The majority of this page provides preparatory instructions for how to complete a treasure trail.
What is a 'Level'?
The 'level' of a clue scroll relates to its difficulty. There are four levels of clue scroll, level 1, level 2, level 3 and level 4. A level 1 clue is a low difficulty treasure trail, with a low reward yield. A level 2 clue scroll is a medium difficulty treasure trail with a more substantial reward yield. A level 3 clue scroll is a hazardous Treasure trail which can be very rewarding. A level 4 elite clue scroll is the most dangerous clue scroll to receive and complete. However, it has the greatest and most expensive rewards.
Clue scrolls do not identify their own difficulty level. Players must review the source from which the clue scroll was generated to identify the level of the clue they have. Generally, the harder it was to obtain, the higher the level it is. For example, a clue obtained via killing a level-2 goblin NPC will be a level 1 clue scroll, where as a clue scroll obtained by killing a dragon will be a level 3 clue scroll. The only way to know for certain what level your clue scroll is, is to look up the method you used to get your clue scroll. 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.
What to bring
The clue scroll itself is rarely all the player needs. Players will be traversing most of RuneScape, and performing tasks which range from amusing to downright dangerous. Following are baseline items that players will want to have with them at all times while doing a clue to avoid repeated bank runs, or purchasing of items which a player does not usually have.
For any level clue
- Your clue scroll. You will need to carry it with you. If you complete the action on your scroll without the scroll present, you will not advance along your treasure trail.
- A spade. You may need to literally dig for treasure at some point. However, it may be a good idea to leave a spade with a tool leprechaun until needed, as it's heavy and you will be doing a lot of running.
- A set of Weight-reducing clothing. Items such as the Penance gloves from Barbarian assault, boots of lightness, and Spotted Cape or Spottier Cape will reduce the drain on your run energy as you move about RuneScape. This is highly recommended, but not needed.
- All available Teleport methods such as Runes, teletabs, and others. Players will often find that they receive clues which have very distant goals. Unless the player wants to walk from Sophanem to Lletya, teleports are very strongly recommended. Examples of recommended item related teleports include the Ring of duelling especially as well as other teleport jewellery. Also, the Fairy Ring Network will be extraordinarily useful, so players may want to equip either a Dramen or a Lunar staff, unless they have completed Fairytale III that grants unrestricted access. The fairy-ring network is especially useful for level 2 clues
- Money. Inevitably a clue will tell you to wear something that you don't have, and you will need to buy equipment. Players may need to buy items ranging in value from Leather chaps to an Amulet of glory. Money will also be used for charter ships and other means of local transportation.
- Run restoration methods such as Super energy, regular Energy potions, the Explorer's ring 1/2/3, the Spirit terrorbird or similar familiars, or if the player has access, they can take a dip in the salt water spring at Oo'glog before starting.
- Warning: If using a Familiar when fighting a Double agent, Saradomin wizard, or Zamorak wizard do not let your follower attack. Repeatedly press the "Call Familiar" button to stop them from attacking. If the familiar attacks the agent or wizard will flee, and the player will have to restart the fight.
For Level 2 clues
You will want, as well as the list above, to carry these:
Level 2 clues will often include coordinates, which level 1 clues do not. For further details on these items, see the coordinate clues header below.
For Level 3 clues
Including the above, the player should also carry the following:
- Food, players can expect to take damage on a level 3 clue.
- Antipoison, or an Antipoison Totem especially for coordinate clues.
- Armour and Weapons, players will enter areas with hazardous foes.
- Prayer potions are optional, but extremely helpful for difficult battles.
- Forinthry brace, to counter the teleblock spells of revenants when players enter the wilderness.
Roadblock
There is a high chance that a player will run into a problem while following their treasure trail. Some level 3 coordinate clues may take a player into Kharazi Jungle, which requires the ability to start Legends' Quest. There are a number of clues which lead to areas with similar restrictions. Many emote clues tell a player to equip Green or Blue Dragonhide, a Rune platebody, or other such items which are variously locked by quests and/or having basic level requirements to wield.
If a player does not have, for example, level 40 ranged and hence cannot equip Green Dragonhide Chaps, then they have 2 options.
- 1) Train, and meet the requirement or do the quest to equip the armour.
- 2) The unpleasant alternative is to abandon your treasure trail.
Players cannot obtain another clue scroll while in possession of one. Until you finish your clue, or drop/destroy it, you will not be able to get another. This includes clue scrolls stored in the bank. For players whom find themselves in a roadblock situation, the reward may be worth the training. Especially in the light of the fact that even if the clue scroll is discarded, the player will always have a chance of getting that same clue again some other day. Players are strongly encouraged to deal with their 'locked' clues as is necessary, or they will simply continue to be an annoyance. Unfortunately this means that any player which considers themselves a "pure" will be essentially incapable of completing a treasure trail.
Treasure Trails 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.
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. This unique item can vary, from being as little as one coloured firelighter, to a part of the Third-Age Druidic Equipment.
Anagrams
This type of clue is an anagram, a line of scrambled letters which must be unscrambled to be made sense of. For higher level clues these will result in a challenge scroll or sometimes a puzzle box. All anagrams are the name of NPCs around RuneScape. The player must simply talk to the NPC whose name is scrambled, with the clue scroll in your inventory. It should be noted that anagrams may contain false spaces not found in the decoded name. Anagram clues only appear in level 2 and 3 clues. Follow the link above for a comprehensive list of the possible anagrams, their solutions, and other relevant information.
Preparation for this type of clue should include having teleports available, and in some cases wilderness readiness. The player may wish to bring a small supply of patience as well, as these clues often end in puzzles.
Challenge scrolls
Certain NPC's will give players challenge scrolls with some form of direct question on it, usually a mathematical problem. After reading the question, speak to the NPC again to give the answer. These only appear in level 2 and 3 clues, and usually are the result of completing an anagram clue. Follow the link above for a comprehensive list of the possible scrolls and their answers.
Players only need bring their wits, as they will have already essentially completed their clue step upon receiving a challenge scroll.
Chest Keys
These clues are the second half of a lower level cryptic clue. The player will get a clue scroll that leads to a locked location (e.g., locked drawers). When you find the location, you will receive a note from the locked item telling you, in some cryptic fashion, where to get the key. The key will be a drop from killing a random monster mentioned in the note, however if the player is familiar with the individual clue, it is possible to get the key first. The key will only be a drop while the player is carrying the clue scroll and will disintegrate into the lock when used to open the chest or drawer. These clues usually are a step in level 1 clue scrolls, and a player may have never had one before if they have only ever done level 3 clues. These are comprehensively reviewed in the 'cryptic clues' sub-guide.
This type of clue should be approached with at least a weapon as players will be asked to kill some monster local to the clues target. However The foes range from chickens to guards, never including a truly formidable foe.
Co-ordinates
A chart, sextant, watch, and a spade are required to complete co-ordinate clues. Players must already posess a coordinate clue to begin obtaining these three items, other types of clues will not work. The player must go to The Professor in The Observatory and ask him about Treasure Trails. The Professor will only give the chart to the player once the player has obtained the watch and sextant, and will insist that they obtain those items first. To get the Watch, see Brother Kojo at the Clock Tower, simply talk to him and he gives it away freely. Note: No work on the 'Clock Tower' quest is needed. To get the Sextant, speak with Murphy on the docks at Port Khazard. Completion of the Observatory quest is not required to get these items. However, if the player has already started the 'Observatory' quest, The Professor will be absent. If The Professor is 'missing' finish the 'Observatory' quest and find him in the telescope room, in the observatory itself, in order to get the chart.
Preparation for the completion of a coordinate clue can vary greatly. Teleporting is recommended. Players will want to have access to harsh terrain gear. (desert, mort myre, wilderness, etc.) Level 3 clues will be dangerous, so prepare with food and armour. Players must bring the chart, sextant, watch, and spade. If the player attempts to dig without these, they will not receive the casket.
NOTE FOR LEVEL 3 CLUES: This only applies to level 3 coordinate clues. While completing this type of clue during a level 3 treasure trail, the player will be attacked by aggressive NPC's when they dig. These NPCs are highly dangerous and can easily endanger or kill a player if they come unprepared. There are 2 versions of attacking NPC's:
- The Zamorak wizard, who is level 65 and appears exclusively within in the wilderness and is considerably weaker.
- The Saradomin wizard, who is level 108 and appears at all other non-wilderness locations (except the duel arena), and is extremely dangerous.
Neither of these wizards can be poisoned. See the respective articles for strategies.
Cryptics
Cryptics are common in higher level clues, they either lead you to a person, to crates, or to dig somewhere in RuneScape. They are essentially riddles that the player has to work out and then perform some action which the riddle requests. Level 3 cryptics that lead you to a person normally result in a Puzzle box, and some lower level clues require you to obtain a key from a nearby monster to access the location you need. Follow the link above for a list of the cryptic clues and their solutions if one has stumped you, or if you simply don't want to waste the brain power to figure it out in the first place.
For this type of clue, players will want to be teleport ready. Also, players will want to have access to harsh terrain gear (wilderness and desert especially.) Players are recommended to bring a small amount of patience, as these clues often result in puzzleboxes.
Emote clues
An emote clue will instruct a player to equip an list of random items which usually make the player look somewhat ridiculous, then perform an emote in a specific location. Most players will not have the items called for on hand, so a be prepared to buy some equipment. Once the player has done what the clue asks, a very strange NPC will appear out of thin air, wearing violent pink. His name is Uri, and after spouting a line of nonsense he will usually give you a casket. Emote clues are common across all levels of clue, and most (but not all) items required for the emote clues can be obtained in shops. A list of all the items you could possibly need to solve every clue can be found by following this link to:the list of items needed for emote clues.
This kind of clue may be infuriating to some players (make sure u put on the required clothes before doing the emotes as it will only work with the cloths on, for begginers that is one of the largest mistakes which will probably make the person mad if they think that they are suposed to put the clothes on after they do the emotes). These clues usually require a visit to the grand exchange where a player is more often than not greeted by an item that no one is selling. If possible, players are urged to obtain these items through crafting them themselves or from specialty stores around runescape, then selling them on the exchange in order to increase the supply of these items on the market. Players will need money, and a variety of teleports to gather the items. Once the player has the items needed, they will want to teleport to the target location, or as close as possible. Players should have access to harsh terrain gear for these clues, (wilderness, desert, etc.) as well as be ready for combat.
NOTE FOR LEVEL 3 CLUES: This applies only to level 3 clue scrolls. Sometimes an NPC visually identical to Uri will appear in Uri's place and attack the player. There are 2 forms of this NPC: The Double Agent -Level 108 is a serious threat, capable of endangering or killing unprepared players, and the Double Agent -Level 65 whom only appear in the wilderness, and is considerably less of a threat. Both double agents attacks only with melee and do not respond to prayers, and so can be easily be made harmless with protection prayers. Be prepared to fight him if you are doing a level 3 clue.
Maps
Maps are found during all level of clue scrolls. These are images on the clue scroll itself which show very local landmarks around either an 'X' or a crate. Players are to follow the map to the designated location and, in indicated, dig with a spade, or search the crate to continue along the trail. The pictures will vary greatly, as there are many diverse locations throughout the game which host a map clues location. They may include a picture of a fish to note a fishing area, buildings, boulders/rocks, and x-steps-north y-steps-east style directions.
For this type of clue a spade is usually, but not always, required. When crates are indicated, which players simply need the crate itself. For All other map clues the player must dig at the indicated location. Players will want to be teleport ready, and have harsh terrain gear available (High Wilderness, Desert, etc.)
Puzzle boxes
Certain NPCs will give a player a Puzzle boxes during level 3 clue scrolls in response to a simple clue or an anagram. These are only present in level 3 clues. Puzzle boxes are another 'second half' clue, similar to challenge scrolls and chest keys. Players will have to complete them in order to fully complete the clue scroll step. These items can be seriously challenging for players who are misaligned with puzzlesolving.
That a puzzle box is, is a slider puzzle. A picture divided into 25 squares (5x5), with one removed, then scrambled. The player is tasked with unscrambling the picture by sliding pieces around, using the empty slot provided by removing the piece that would have been the bottom-right corner. Luckily, there are only four varieties of puzzle box (one is only seen during a quest though). However, the game engine will always generate a different scramble pattern. Many players are audibly displeased when they are confronted with this type of clue.
Once properly solved, the game does not notify the player. There is no message to signify that all the pieces are indeed in the right places, so a nervous player will have to go 'on faith' that they did it correctly. Once the puzzle box has been completely solved, the player simply needs to close the interface and talk to the NPC who provided it again to complete the clue step. Progress on a puzzle box is not saved if you log out. However, if you just close the interface, your progress is saved. It is common for the difficulty of the puzzle boxes to go down once the player becomes familiar with them.
There is a guide to help players solve puzzle boxes if they struggle with them.
Simple clues
Simple clues are clues that will tell you exactly what to do. They are self explanatory and, as the name would suggest, simple. Ex: Search the drawers in the upstairs of a house in Catherby.
Players will usually be tasked with going to a location and searching, talking, or digging with a spade at some location. These clues are almost exclusively level 1, but there are a few level 2 simple clues. They are not overly hazardous in any way, the only possible exception being the clue which leads the player into Morytania, to the gates of Mort Myre.
To complete a simple clue, just follow the instructions on it. For an in depth guide on these clues and, for example, exactly in which house in Catherby you'll find the drawers you are supposed to search, follow the link above.
Celtic knot (elite clues only)
See the page: Treasure Trails guide/Celtic knot
Compass (elite clues only)
See the page: Treasure Trails guide/Compass
Scans (elite clues only)
See the page: Treasure Trails guide/Scans
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 scrolls as drops on the floor at the same time from two kills. You may never pick up more than one however.
