Mid-Game Rebalance is Live!
Index:
Community Topics:
- Construction - Following a very successful launch last week, here's what you can expect in future from this update:
- We have implemented some construction skill training rebalancing today. You can find out more about that here
- Moving Rooms (and their contents) is currently undergoing QA and we're aiming to add this functionality into the game ideally by next week. No more needing to remove and redo a room if you change your mind about its placement!
- We're continuing to work on extending the furniture limit upwards from 300. The main issue here relates to performance impact, so we need to ensure the engine can remain stable even at a higher furniture limit. We're not yet ready to share an exact timeline on this.
- We're keeping an eye on trophies in general - both for their discovery and acquisition but also for which bosses players would expect to see a trophy included.
- We're continuing to monitor the update in general and implement bug fixes as they are identified as well as continue to think about quality of life improvements.
- Finally, we're excited to have set up Construction's new foundation with this update. We're now in a position to keep adding new things to the Player-Owned House with future updates and releases, so you can look forward to those alongside RuneScape's continued future.
What's happening this week:
- We'll be revealing the details around Leagues II: Equilibrium this week! You can look forward to a developer diary for it dropping towards the end of this week for that.
- Upcoming Livestreams
- 22 July, 15:00 Game Time – Get your first look at RuneFest 2026! Join the team for an exclusive preview of what's in store, along with a live developer Q&A and ticket giveaways.
- 24 July, 15:00 Game Time – Join Mod Yuey, Frosch, and special guests Prezleek, NYChannel, and The RSGuy as they tour some of your incredible Player-Owned Houses. Think your POH deserves the spotlight? Come show it off!
In Case You Missed It:
- We were busy hotfixing Construction issues throughout the week, and shared some news on Tuesday, and issued a Coldfix on Wednesday.
- Alongside the release of the Player Owned House, we added some new PoH related rewards to the Sunlight Sands rewards shop. Be sure to check them out!
JMod Replies on discussions worth highlighting:
Mid-Game Rebalance
The Mid-Game Rebalance has arrived! This update is all about improving the mid-game experience with targeted buffs, quality-of-life improvements, and a smoother progression path. Our goal is to bring key stages of progression in line with modern standards and make the journey through the mid-game feel more rewarding.
Today’s update introduces a wide-ranging rebalance across several skills and progression systems, tackling long-standing inconsistencies and improving the path through the mid-game.
From the Core Fletching Re-tier and streamlined ranged progression to Agility and Divination improvements, God Wars Dungeon quality-of-life changes, and updated drop rates, we're making advancement more intuitive, rewarding, and easier to understand at every step.
By improving progression paths, refining skill training, and refreshing key reward structures, we're creating a more consistent mid-game experience that better supports players as they develop their skills, gear, and knowledge of Gielinor. There's plenty more to explore, so head over to the standalone blog for a full breakdown of everything that's changing.
Construction Rebalance
While we've been very pleased with the overall reaction to last week's Player Owned House launch, it is fair to say that players had some constructive feedback on how the progression to Construction Level 120 was balanced. Having taken that on board, we wanted to focus our next steps on a few key points:
- We want to Eternal Magic Planks to provide better value.
- We want to maintaining healthy XP rates.
- We want to offer a smoother post-99 progression.
- We want to ensure there is a variety of high-level content.
We're implementing changes to make Eternal planks feel more like an end-game construction resource. Rather than simply increasing the XP per hour, we've focused more on improving the value of each plank. We've also smoothed progression beyond level 99 and provided multiple viable training methods, so it is entirely up to you to choose the style you enjoy most.
Here's how we got on:
Eternal Plank XP
We have increased the XP per Eternal plank used in core construction training.
This has been increased from 200 to 520, meaning you now gain a greater amount of XP for each plank used.
However, to keep the overall XP gain per hour for core furniture construction in check, you will no longer unlock speed related levelling benefits for Eternal planks. We want to ensure that the other changes we've implemented below don't become immediate redundant due to an overly strong buff on a single method of training.
These are two important changes to make together as it means that players, and especially Ironmen, will need to spend less time gathering Eternal Magic logs in order to convert them into planks. We've also changed some of the levelling progression from the start of the push to level-120 through.
Level changes
- Eternal Stool - 94 level requirement (previously 96)
- Eternal Chair - 96 level requirement (previously 98)
- Eternal Bookcase - 99 level requirement (previously 100)
- Eternal Table - 100 level requirement (previously 102)
Levelling benefits
- 50% Faster Mahogany Furniture - Now unlocked at 99 (previously 110)
- 20% Faster Eternal Magic Furniture - Removed due to the significant XP increase (previously a level 100 benefit)
- 50% Faster Eternal Magic Furniture - Removed due to the significant XP increase (previously a level 117 benefit)
These changes will create a smoother progression curve through the early post-99 journey, while also making Eternal planks a competitive option compared to Mahogany planks.
Fort Forinthry
Last week we made some changes to the XP distribution of Construction in Fort Forinthry. These changes were designed to reduce the reliance of AFKing construction training in the Fort, which was a method that had dominated most of the construction levelling journey.
While these previously implemented changes did include reducing the base experience obtained from Fort Forinthry structures, we did at the same time increase the XP bonus from being active and chasing the optimal building spot. Players who focus on maintaining high bonus rates on optimal construction spots will have found significant increases in their XP per hour gain.
These changes were in line with our general approach this year to ensuring that AFK skilling methods don't significantly outperform more lean-forward methods and that interacting with gameplay loops more regularly feels truly rewarding.
A new change coming to Fort Forinthry this week is the introduction of Eternal planks to help with the levelling options for those players who want to get the most out of their resources!
- Starting at level 105, Fort Forinthry now has a new building option to "reinforce" a structure.
You'll be assigned to help reinforce any existing tier 3 structure using 65 Eternal Magic Frames and 6 Stone Wall Segments. This option will net you a base experience of 499,200 XP.
Constuction Contracts
The main driver of Construction Contracts have been the rewards and getting the most XP out of every single plank. We are continuing this mantra, and want to ensure that every plank feels worthwhile for those players trying to save money or time gathering the resources.
- Construction contracts have also had the new Eternal plank added.
Each item successfully built with Eternal Planks will award a bonus of 5000 XP.
All of the above shakes out into the rough below XP gain on the journey to 120 Construction. You can see the level progression on the x axis (horizontal axis), while the XP gain per hour is the y axis value (vertical axis).
Upcoming Livestreams
- 22 July, 15:00 Game Time – Get your first look at RuneFest 2026! Join the team for an exclusive preview of what's in store, along with a live developer Q&A and ticket giveaways.
- 24 July, 15:00 Game Time – Join Mod Yuey, Frosch, and special guests Prezleek, NYChannel, and The RSGuy as they tour some of your incredible Player-Owned Houses. Think your POH deserves the spotlight? Come show it off!
"Lunar Legends" Marketplace Drop
Last week we released the Lupine Legacy collection! Dive in game today to get your hands on some gorgeous nocturnal and lunar themed weapons and armours, alongside some returning favourites like the Woodland Archer Set or Moonlight Enchanter set.
Patch Notes
Hotfixed
- Fixed the Arcane potion cauldron duplication of potions when emptying the cauldron.
- Fixed the Workbench not working if the players have a Rune Pouch in their inventory.
- Fixed a bug that did not allow Long and Large hallways to be placed next to the west and south borders of the POH plot.
- All POH Treasure Chest options are now accessible via the Bank interface.
- Removed the level requirements for furniture placement in Build mode.
- Potion cauldrons are now correctly checked for contained potions when trying to delete them alongside rooms in POH.
- Added a confirmation dialogue when placing a room in Build mode to let players know they won't be refunded for the room if it is later removed.
- Players can no longer engage in (safe) combat in the player owned house
- Fixed a disconnect that could occur when removing a PoH room, or when having a hallway placed along the border of a PoH plot in a homestead.
- Durzag and Magister trophies should now be dropping for players.
- Players can now interact with their own prawnbroker in their POH.
- Fixed an issue where some players on certain plots were unable to enter their aquarium.
- Added a confirmation dialogue when placing a room in Build mode to let players know they won't be refunded for the room if it is later removed.
Player Owned Housing
- Construction stone walls have had their recipe requirements rebalanced to include the correct amount of limestone.
- The large beds are now 2x2 instead of 2x3.
- The gilded mahogany cape stand now correctly requires a gold leaf.
- 6x1 wood flowerbed trim now requires six nails instead of 5.
- Granite walls now require granite instead of limestone to create.
- Construction skillcape perk in the skillguide is no longer PH and shows the correct text.
- 'There's no place like home...' is now shown correctly as F2P on quest journal.
- 'There's no place like home...' is now listed as a requirement for the Master Quest Cape.
- Recipe requirements now display correctly in the furniture workbench, allowing players to craft the affected rugs, pots and sandcastles.
- Overloads should now last the correct duration when consumed while lantadyme incense sticks are active. We are aware that this buff is still not applying correctly to some combination potions and will address this with a future fix.
- The Zuk capes can now correctly be added to and removed from the POH cape storage.
- The number of limestone bricks required to craft dark stone walls have been amended so that they can fit within a player's inventory.
- The requirements have been updated for the cowhide rug so this can now be crafted.
- Elder overload salve potions now correctly apply their buffs when using with a cauldron and lantadyme incense sticks.
- Players that have read the Mourning's End 1 post quest dialogue can now correctly use the Seren teleport stone to teleport to Lletya.
- Fixed an issue that was preventing some players from teleporting to a spirit tree in their POH.
- The map icon for the Rimmington bush patch now matches its new location.
General
- Flipped the colours in the group ironman storage so invalid items are greyed out and valid items appear as they should.
- The level requirement for restoring the Ninbaradari mural artefact has been adjusted to match the excavation spot.
- The 'Static lamp (Combat skills)' from the World Wakes quest now correctly greys out non-combat skills in the skill selection interface.
- The pets Stephanie, Seahorse and Pufferfish have had their preview window's adjusted within Gill's Shop.
What's Happening in the Community
RuneTube
Scapers' Screenshots
This week we have gathered up a whole neighbourhood of POH's for you to see!
Pink Skirts Player Events
Each week the Pink Skirts put on a selection of fun activities that everyone can join. Here are the main events this week:
The Great TC Gielinor Scavenger Hunt
- When: Saturday 25th July, 21:00 Gametime
- Who: Mrs Caitlyn & True Colours Clan
- Where: Lumbridge Castle
- World: 82
Skill 'n' Chill
- When: Thursday 23rd July, 19:00 Gametime
- Who: MandyPandy and Spirits of Arianwyn.
- Where: Fort Forinthry
- World: 116
Mega Duck Runs
- When: Sunday 26th July, 21:00 Gametime
- Who: Mega Duck, Home Safe & a I I y
- Where: Falador Park
- World: 39
- FC: Ahelp
If these don't take your fancy, take a look at the full events schedule here. There’s sure to be something you’ll enjoy!
Community Spotlight
RuneHQ
This is the official server for the RuneHQ website. Your source for RS3 and OSRS guides, databases, clues, and more! Join the communityhere!
This week they will be doing their usual Distractions & Diversions on Tuesday, before pulling off the ultimate HEISTS on Saturday and slaying the hardmode version of General Graardor on Sunday! Join the FC: EventHQ to know more!
- Tuesday, July 21st - 23:59 / World: 60 - Tues-Di-Straction Stream. Come join in athttps://www.twitch.tv/therealrunehq
- Saturday, July 25th - 18:00 / World: 60 - Heists
- Sunday, July 26th - 18:00 / World: 88 - Hardmode General Graardor
Dive into the conversation and let us know your thoughts on Discord and Reddit!.
- The RuneScape Team
Mods Alex, Anvil, Astra, Azanna, Bak, Blkwitch, Boko, Brat, Breezy, Brig, Camel, Chaose, Dark, Daze, Desert, Dorn, Dragon, Drew, Drewid, Easty, Echo, Evad, Fallen, Forza, Fox, Frosch, Grace, Gunner, Helen, Ink, Kaiju, Keyser, Kristy, Lilith, Lucifer, Luma, Lykos, Lynx, Makkari, MIC, Mohawk, Morty, Nemo, Neong, Nixon, Noms, Pearce, Peppy, Perpetua, Pickle, Pigeon, Rain, Ramen, Rat, Reaper, Rowley, Ryan, Samy, Shiba, Shrew, Shrike, Socks, Soul, Sponge, Sukotto, Titus, Tri, Vegard, Volta, Who, Wov, Yuey & Zura