OSRS Pets: 
The Ultimate Guide to Collecting, Caring, and Enjoying Old School RuneScape's Companions
1. Introduction to OSRS Pets
Pets in OSRS are miniature versions of various creatures, bosses, and animals that follow players around the game world. These pets are highly prized because they’re rare and often represent a significant achievement, whether that’s maxing a skill, killing a difficult boss, or just being fortunate enough to get a rare drop. Pets don’t provide any gameplay advantages, but their rarity and uniqueness make them one of the most desirable aspects of OSRS for many players.
There are three main types of pets in OSRS: skilling pets, boss pets, and other special pets that may come from minigames or events. Each pet has a unique aesthetic and is tied to specific in-game content.
2. Types of Pets
OSRS features a variety of pets that players can collect. These pets fall into three primary categories:
Skilling Pets
OSRS Pets: The Ultimate Guide to Collecting, Caring, and Enjoying Old School RuneScape's Companions
Skilling pets are obtained through various non-combat skills. These pets are typically more peaceful and reflect the skill they represent. For example, the beaver is tied to woodcutting, and the rock golem is associated with mining.
Here’s a list of popular skilling pets:
- Beaver (Woodcutting)
- Rock Golem (Mining)
- Rift Guardian (Runecrafting)
- Tangleroot (Farming)
- Heron (Fishing)
- Rocky (Thieving)
- Giant Squirrel (Agility)
- Phoenix (Firemaking)
- Bloodhound (Clue Scrolls)
Each of these pets has its own drop rate, and the chance of obtaining a pet typically increases as you level up and complete more actions related to that skill.
Boss Pets
Boss pets are some of the most prestigious pets in OSRS. These pets are obtained by defeating specific bosses, each with a small chance of dropping their respective pet. Boss pets often look like miniature versions of the boss they’re derived from.
Some notable boss pets include:
- Tzrek-Jad (Fight Caves)
- Vet'ion Jr. (Vet'ion)
- Callisto Cub (Callisto)
- Pet Snakeling (Zulrah)
- Pet General Graardor (General Graardor)
- Hellpuppy (Cerberus)
- Kraken (Kraken)
Boss pets can be extremely rare, and many players spend hundreds or even thousands of kills trying to obtain them. Some boss pets, like the Tzrek-Jad, also require the player to complete specific challenges or waves of enemies.
Other Pets
In addition to skilling and boss pets, there are some special pets that can be obtained through various other activities. These pets are often rewards for completing specific achievements or participating in unique content.
Examples of special pets include:
- Lil’ Creator (Soul Wars)
- Chompy Chick (Chompy Bird Hunting)
- Bloodhound (Reward from master clue scrolls)
- Ikkle Hydra (Alchemical Hydra)
- Baby Mole (Giant Mole)
3. Obtaining Pets
The method for obtaining pets depends largely on the type of pet you’re aiming for. In general, pets are rare drops that occur while engaging in the relevant content, whether that’s skilling, bossing, or completing special events.
Skilling
Skilling pets are obtained by performing actions related to a specific skill. Each time you chop a tree, fish in a lake, or mine an ore, there is a chance you might receive a pet. The drop rate for skilling pets varies by skill and is influenced by your level, the type of action you are performing, and even the specific resources you’re interacting with.
For example, higher-level trees and ores generally have a better chance of yielding a pet than lower-level ones, and higher farming levels provide better odds of receiving Tangleroot. Players who are actively training skills will find that the pursuit of these pets adds a level of excitement and surprise to their grind.
PvM (Player vs. Monster)
PvM pets are obtained from killing bosses or monsters. Each time you defeat a boss, there’s a small chance that you’ll receive a pet drop. The drop rate for these pets varies widely, with some pets like the Kraken being relatively common and others, like the Pet Snakeling from Zulrah, being incredibly rare.
Some bosses, like those in the Wilderness, also pose additional challenges due to player-killers (PKers) interrupting your grind. This adds an extra layer of difficulty for players hunting these pets. However, the thrill of finally getting a rare boss pet drop is unmatched in the PvM world.
Special Events and Activities
Some pets are tied to specific events or minigames. For example, the Chompy Chick is a reward for killing a large number of Chompy birds, and the Bloodhound is a rare reward from master clue scrolls. These pets often require players to participate in specific, non-traditional gameplay activities and offer a break from the usual grind of skilling or bossing.
4. Pet Rarity and Drop Rates
Pet rarity is a significant factor in what makes collecting them so addictive. Some pets have extremely low drop rates, meaning you could go thousands of hours without seeing one. Others may appear relatively quickly, depending on your luck.
For example, the Heron (Fishing pet) can be obtained at a rate of 1/5,000 when fishing with bare hands at high levels, while the Phoenix (Firemaking pet) has a drop rate of 1/2,500 from Wintertodt. Boss pets, on the other hand, can have rates as low as 1/3,000 or even lower, like the Tzrek-Jad pet with a drop rate of 1/200 if you successfully complete the Fight Caves.
This variance in drop rates leads to a wide variety of experiences for pet hunters. Some players may receive their desired pet early in their grind, while others could be hunting for months or even years.
5. Pet Insurance
Losing a pet can be devastating, especially if it took you thousands of kills or hours of skilling to obtain. Thankfully, OSRS offers a pet insurance system that ensures you never permanently lose your beloved companions.
Players can insure their pets by visiting Probita in East Ardougne. For a one-time fee of 500,000 coins, your pet will be insured. If you happen to lose your pet, you can reclaim it from Probita for an additional fee of 1,000,000 coins.
Pet insurance provides peace of mind for players, allowing them to enjoy their pets without the fear of losing them during PvP combat or accidental deaths.
6. Caring for Your Pets
While pets in OSRS don’t require as much care as they do in some other games, there are still a few interactions and activities that players can engage in to personalize their pets.
Feeding and Interaction
Unlike real-world pets, OSRS pets don’t require regular feeding. However, interacting with your pet by talking to them, picking them up, or performing emotes can add a personal touch to your gameplay. Some pets even respond to specific interactions, making them feel more alive and part of your journey.
Pet Growth and Evolution
Certain pets have different stages of growth or can evolve into different forms. For example, the Pet Snakeling from Zulrah can be transformed into different colors by using various colored mutagens on it, allowing you to customize its appearance to your liking.
Another example is the Baby Mole, which can grow into a larger mole when players receive the Mole Claw and Mole Skin drops from the Giant Mole boss. These evolutions are purely cosmetic but add a fun layer of customization to your pet collection.
7. Customization and Pet Outfits
Some pets, like the Rift Guardian (Runecrafting pet), allow players to choose their appearance based on the type of runes they were created with. This customization allows for greater personalization and expression, making your pet feel truly unique to your character.
Additionally, Jagex has introduced various cosmetic outfits that allow you to dress up your pets. For example, players can dress their cats in holiday outfits or give their pets festive accessories during special events.
8. Notable Pets and Their Backstories
Each pet in OSRS has its own unique lore and backstory, making them more than just cute companions. Let’s explore the stories behind a few of the most popular and iconic pets in the game.
The Kraken Pet
The Kraken pet is a miniature version of the Kraken boss, a deep-sea monstrosity that players face in the Kraken Cove. Known for its menacing tentacles and eerie underwater ambiance, the Kraken is a tough and rewarding boss. The Kraken pet reflects the mysterious and otherworldly nature of its origin, and it’s a badge of honor for many PvMers who have defeated this elusive boss.
Tzrek-Jad
Tzrek-Jad is one of the most famous pets in OSRS. It’s a smaller version of TzTok-Jad, the mighty boss from the Fight Caves. To obtain this pet, players must first defeat TzTok-Jad in the intense Fight Caves challenge, making it a symbol of true PvM prowess.
