Runes can be purchased from the Rune Shop in Varrock, and most characters drop runes of some sort. Some characters, such as dark wizards, are especially good for acquiring runes. Spells may be cast to begin combat as well as during combat, however, once the first spell is cast, your opponent will attack if possible- that is if not blocked by a fence, wall, etc. Spells are usually only cast on game characters, but in the Wilderness they may be used against other players.

There are also some useful magic spells not used in combat. Once you are powerful enough, you may use the "superheat" spell to turn ores into metal bars, especially useful when mining a great distance from a forge or a bank and you wish to reduce your ores to metal bars. You can also use the "alchemy" spell to convert an item into gold. It will convert the item into the same amount of gold as paid by the general stores for that item. Once you're even more powerful as a "mage" (magician), you can use the "high alchemy" spell to convert an item into the higher amount of gold paid by specialty stores. There is also a "telegrabbing" spell that allows you to grab objects that you cannot reach.

Magic is also used in crafting to enchant the various amulets and battlestaff orbs (a members' item).

However, one of the best uses of magic is that it gives you the ability to teleport to various places around the Runescape world. This is not only good for moving quickly about the countryside, but can be quite handy if you find yourself being defeated in combat- you can save your life by teleporting out of the fight.

To begin with magic spells simply roll your cursor over the Spell/Prayer Book on your menu bar. A window will drop down showing you the magic spells that are available to you (be sure you have "magic" selected, and not "prayer"). Spells written in yellow or white are available to your magic level. Yellow indicates that you have the required runes and/or staff in your possession. White indicates that you have sufficient magic level for that spell, but you are not carrying the runes and/or staff needed for that particular spell.

You can point at a particular spell with your mouse and it will give you a description of the spell and show you the runes required to cast it. There is a pair of numbers next to each rune which tell you how many runes you have in your inventory, as well as how many are required to cast that spell. The first number is the number you have, the second number is the number required. Note in this illustration that the number of air runes required is three, but it shows none in inventory, yet the spell is still available!

This is not an error. This demonstrates the main value of the magic staffs- they will substitute for any number of runes in magic spells. Each of the four "elemental" or base runes has a corresponding staff, but you may only use one staff at a time.

Spells that are shown in black on the list are beyond your magic level, and thus unavailable to you. However, you can still see the requirements for these spells by pointing to them with your mouse.

Casting spells is quite simple. Simply drop down the spell menu and select an available spell. Then select your target by clicking on it with your mouse, and the spell will be cast! If successful, you will see a blue "fireball" move toward the target, and it will display the hit damage you caused with your spell.

However, spells are not always successful. When you're at lower magic levels, or you've just acquired a new spell, the spell may fail when you cast it. You'll see a screen message that you were not successful in casting the spell and that you must wait 20 seconds before attempting to cast the spell again.

This is one reason to be careful when relying on teleporting to get you out of a sticky situation- if the spell fails, then you're stuck in combat for at least 20 more seconds- and sometimes a spell will fail a second time! But as your magic level increases, and you become more powerful in using magic, this will happen less and less.

There are also ways of enhancing your magic skills. If you note on your "stats" page, there is a number for "magic." This number is added to your magic strength to make you more powerful, just as a higher weapon power gives you a stronger weapon. Wearing magician's robes and hats and the use of amulets will greatly increase your magic abilities. These various items are listed on the chart below.

Also note that carrying a magic staff not only increases your magic abilities greatly, they also carry weapon aim and power points. This means that they can be used as your primary weapon, and in conjunction with the more powerful spells can make your character a very strong force to contend with!

The four basic magic staffs are available at the staff shop in Varrock for 1500 gps each or at the Magic Guild in Yanille Village. Enchanted battlestaffs are members' items that require some crafting to make the staff itself, plus magic to enchant the orbs. You must also have completed the Scorpian Catcher Quest and they must be energized by Thormac in the Sorcerer's Tower near the Seer's Village (he charges 40k for this).

Once your magic is at least level 66, you may join the Magic Guild located in Yanille Village. There is special teleporting area here as well as a store which is the only source for the soul rune.

Runes

Member's Only Items Shown In Yellow

	Type	Store Price (selling)	Store Price (buying)	Street Price	Used in Magic Levels	Use
	Air	1 gp	3 gp	30 gp	All	One of the four base runes; at least one base rune is required with other runes for all spells.
	Earth	1 gp	3 gp	30 gp	All	One of the four base runes; at least one base rune is required with other runes for all spells.
	Fire	1 gp	3 gp	30 gp	All	One of the four base runes; at least one base rune is required with other runes for all spells.
	Water	1 gp	3 gp	30 gp	All	One of the four base runes; at least one base rune is required with other runes for all spells.
	Body	1 gp	3 gp	1000 gp (1k)	1-19	Required for curse spells.
	Mind	1 gp	Rarely found in store; must be bought in magic guild or from other players	30-40 gp	1-13	Required for strike spells.
	Chaos	4 gp	12 gp	1000 gp (1k)	13-35	Required for bolt spells.
	Nature	8 gp	Rarely found in store; must be bought in magic guild or from other players	300-400 gp	15-55	Required for object conversion spells.
	Cosmic	6 gp	Rarely found in store; must be bought in magic guild or from other players	400-500 gp	7-68	Required for amulet enchant spells.
	Law	4 gp	Rarely found in store; must be bought in magic guild or from other players	500 gp	25-51	Required for teleport spells.
	Death	8 gp	Rarely found in store; must be bought in magic guild or from other players	1000 gp (1k)	41-59	Required for blast spells.
	Blood	10 gp	31 gp	1000 gp (1k)	62-80	Required for missle attacks.
	Soul	2500 gp (2.5k)	Rarely found in store; must be bought in magic guild or from other players	3000 gp (3k)	66-80	Required for curse spells.

Spells

Enhancing Your Magic

Member's Only Items Shown In Yellow

	Item	Increases Magic	Weapon Power	Weapon Aim	Where To Get	Notes
	Plain Magic Staff	7	6	2	Dropped by dark wizards
	Magic Staff	15	-	-	Dropped by moss giants
	Magic Staff of Earth	20	7	3	Dropped by earth warriors, purchase in staff shop Varrock or Magic Guild.	1500 gp at staff shop
	Magic Staff of Air	20	7	3	purchase in staff shop Varrock or Magic Guild.	1500 gp at staff shop
	Magic Staff of Fire	20	7	3	purchase in staff shop Varrock or Magic Guild.	1500 gp at staff shop
	Magic Staff of Water	20	7	3	purchase in staff shop Varrock or Magic Guild.	1500 gp at staff shop
	Dramen Staff	10	10	10	acquired in Tree Spirit Quest
	Battlestaff	15	-	-	player mages
	Battlestaff of Earth	21	51	51	player mages
	Battlestaff of Air	21	51	51	player mages
	Battlestaff of Fire	21	51	51	player mages
	Battlestaff of Water	21	51	51	player mages
	Gnome Wizard Hat	3	-	-	Store At Tree Gnome Stronghold	all colors give the same points
	Gnome Wizard Robe	3	-	-	Store At Tree Gnome Stronghold	all colors give the same points
	Dark Wizard Hat	3	-	-	Port Sarim Magic Store, Dark Wizards drop	Dropped by wizards at Varrock Henge, Draymore, Dark Wizards' Tower. 2 gp in store.
	Dark Wizard Robe	5	-	-	Port Sarim Magic Store, Dark Wizards drop	Dropped by wizards at Varrock Henge, Draymore, Dark Wizards' Tower. 2 gp in store.
	Wizard Hat	4	-	-	Port Sarim Magic Store, Wizards drop	Dropped by wizards south of Falador, Wizards' Tower south of Draymore. 2 gp in store.
	Wizard Robe	6	-	-	Port Sarim Magic Store, Wizards drop	Dropped by wizards at south of Falador, Wizards' Tower south of Draymore. 2 gp in store.
	Sapphire Amulet	7	-	-	Player craftsmen, crafting item
	Diamond Amulet	6	6	6	Player craftsmen, crafting item
	Dragonstone Amulet	3	7	4	Player craftsmen, crafting item	Dragonstones are acquired from chest in Taverly with crystal key.