Calculating a Summoning familiar in Old School RuneScape is essential for optimizing your combat and skilling builds. This guide breaks down the core mechanics so you can compare options and plan your training efficiently.
Use these insights to evaluate cost, XP rates, and scroll requirements before committing to a new familiar on your account.
| Familiar | Combat Level | Summoning Level | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Titan | 110 | 51 | High damage, Strength bonus, Large inventory |
| Beaver | 44 | 31 | Woodcutting speed boost, Gather multiple logs |
| Cave Kraken | 265 | 87 | High Hitpoints, Strength and Defence bonuses |
| Pack Yak | 0 | 43 | Inventory storage, No combat stats |
| Spirit Terrorbird | 151 | 76 | Faster run energy restoration, Increased damage |
Combat Stats and Damage Output
How Summoning Affects Your Builds
Each combat familiar brings specific stat bonuses that change how you handle boss fights and training sessions. Understanding these modifiers helps you choose the right creature for your playstyle.
Higher combat level familiars usually offer larger Strength, Attack, or Defence boosts, but they also require more total Summoning XP and expensive scrolls to maintain at peak performance.
Training Methods and XP Rates
Efficient Ways to Level Summoning
Training Summoning efficiently depends on your available time, gold, and preferred grind locations. Certain methods yield faster XP per hour while others focus on cost control.
Common training spots include the POH altar, Nightmare Zone, and scripted boss drops, each offering different risk levels and scroll conservation opportunities.
Costs and Inventory Management
Budgeting for Summoning Materials
Summoning requires regular investment in charms, scrolls, and secondary ingredients, so planning your economy is as important as choosing the right creature.
Using portable familiar spots and banking tricks can reduce travel time and minimize losses when your inventory fills during long training sessions.
Best Familiars for Your Goals
Picking the Right Companion for PvM and Skilling
For pure damage, high HP bosses benefit from creatures like the Spirit Terrorbird or Pack Yak when combined with stat boosting equipment.
Skilling-focused players often prefer the Beaver for woodcutting, while the Iron Titan remains a staple for melee training due to its large inventory and Strength bonus.
Optimizing Your Summoning Gameplay
- Track your scroll usage and adjust familiars based on boss mechanics.
- Use portable skilling stations to minimize downtime and maximize gains.
- Balance between high level combat familiars and cost effective skilling companions.
- Plan your charm farming routes to match your training locations and save inventory space.
- Leverage loyalty tasks and daily challenges to offset scroll expenses over time.
FAQ
Reader questions
Which familiar gives the best melee DPS in PvM?
The Spirit Terrorbird is widely considered the top choice for melee damage dealers because of its strong offensive bonuses and run energy restoration, letting you maintain high damage output during prolonged fights.
How do I calculate total Summoning XP per hour for a familiar?
Add the base XP from creature kills to any bonus XP from scrolls and loyalty, then divide by the total time spent including travel and scroll purchasing breaks to get an accurate per hour rate.
Are there cheap alternatives to expensive scrolls?
Yes, using a POH altar to recharge pouches and skilling charms reduces scroll consumption, while hunting in lower level zones cuts death rates and the cost of replacing lost items.
What is the fastest method for training Summoning to 99?
Combining Nightmare Zone sessions with POH altar recharges and efficient charm farming, such as from imps and spiritual warriors, offers one of the fastest sustainable paths to level 99.