Time is your most precious resource. Optimize by RuneScape gold training multiple skills simultaneously:

Woodcutting + Firemaking: Burn logs as you chop them.

Fishing + Cooking: Fish and cook on the spot for constant XP.

Combat + Prayer: Bury bones as you fight.

Slayer + Combat: Get Slayer tasks to gain both XP and useful item drops.

Efficiently pairing activities saves time and accelerates your progress across multiple fronts.

Prioritize Unlocking Key Locations and Gear

As you progress, certain unlocks will change the game:
Barrows

A crucial mid-game goal for the Ironmen.

The Barrows brothers drop some of the best armor sets in the game.

Prepare with decent stats, quests (Priest in Peril, Nature Spirit), and Prayer levels.

Fairy Rings Spirit Trees

Fairy Tale II – Cure a Queen unlocks the Fairy Ring teleport system.

Tree Gnome Stronghold/Village provides Spirit Tree travel and Attack XP.

These systems drastically improve travel and skilling routes.

Dragon Weapons

Complete Lost City to wield the Dragon longsword and dagger.

Progress further to unlock the Dragon scimitar via Monkey Madness I.

These unlocks offer massive power spikes and drastically improve your efficiency.

Long-Term Goals Start Early

While the early game is about survival, your long-term success depends on how you spend your first 50-100 hours. Here are a few milestones to keep in mind:

55 Magic: To cast High Alchemy and convert items into gold.

43 Prayer: For Protect prayers—essential for quests and bosses.

50 Agility: To access better shortcuts and reduce run energy drain.

Slayer: Early Slayer tasks give you access to monsters with unique drops and useful resources.

Plan your early game with these in mind, and your mid-game transition will be much smoother.
Final Thoughts

Ironman mode in Old School RuneScape is a true test of resourcefulness and perseverance. Without the crutches of trade or help from others, every item you craft, every fish you catch, and every monster you defeat is a badge of buy OSRS GP honor. The early game may be slow and unforgiving, but it's also where the heart of the Ironman challenge lies.