How to join Hardcore Worlds in OSRS

To join Hardcore Worlds in Old School RuneScape, start a fresh character, speak to Death's Delegate on Tutorial Island, then hop from Death's Office. The permanent mode opened on 4 November 2026. You need membership on the character you plan to play. Your main can stay on the same Jagex Account, and a bond it holds can pay for your new character's membership when the linked-character option is available.

Start with a fresh character

Choose a character that has yet to finish Tutorial Island. If your usual character has already arrived in the main game, start another one under your Jagex Account. Keep track of the new character's name so you can select it when adding membership. The same entry route applies on desktop and on the iOS and Android apps. On Steam, check which character you're opening before you start the tutorial.

If Steam opens your main, use the Jagex Launcher on desktop or the mobile app to access your new character. A Steam account links to one RuneScape character, even when your Jagex Account contains several. On Tutorial Island, look for Death's Delegate near Paul the Iron Tutor. Tell her you want to play Hardcore Worlds, then speak to the Magic Instructor to finish the tutorial. Listen for his line about attracting Death's interest. That's your cue that you've opted in.

Put membership on the new character

Membership follows the character you select. If you buy it directly, check the character name in the payment basket before you pay. Your main's active membership stays on your main. If you already hold an Old School Bond there, open the Bonds pouch on that character and look for Redeem to character in the bond interface. Select your new Hardcore character and choose a membership package. The new character receives the membership time while redemption uses the bond from your main.

Both characters need to be on the same Jagex Account for that bond option. On mobile, update the app before checking for it. If the selector is still unavailable, keep the bond unspent and buy membership directly on the new character if you want to start straight away. Before hopping worlds, make sure you are playing as the character you just gave membership to. To check a direct subscription, sign in to Jagex Account Management, open Subscriptions and select Manage beside the new character.

Hop from Death's Office

After the Magic Instructor finishes the tutorial, use Home Teleport to reach Death's Office. From the office, pick a members' world whose activity is labelled Hardcore World in the world list. Choose a standard one if you're just starting out. If you're meeting a friend, agree on the same world. Death's Office is the one place you can hop between the main game and Hardcore Worlds to meet players or join a clan. Trading in the office is disabled.

Check the world you're on before you leave the office, and look for the free Escape Crystal you receive when starting Hardcore Worlds. Death sells extras for 10,000 coins. The mode has its own Grand Exchange economy, so plan around what you earn there. Take particular care with activities like the Fight Caves and Barbarian Assault. A death there can end this run even if you're used to the standard Hardcore Ironman rules.

When a death ends your run, choose Reset to start over on Hardcore Worlds. That wipes your items, levels and quest progress. Choose Transfer to take the character permanently into the main game, keeping your bank, stored items and any items protected on death. Gear that would normally go to a gravestone is lost either way. Read the option on screen before confirming.