The Summer Sweep Up 2026 continues in Old School Runescape with a new wave of balancing changes focused on Hunter and several skilling activities. This week's patch aims to reduce the dominance of Birdhouses, streamline Falconry and Aerial Fishing, and adjust rewards across Guardians of the Rift, Tempoross, and Coral.
Hunter Improvements
Birdhouses Reworked
Birdhouses have long been the primary Hunter training method, accounting for roughly 80% of all XP gained between levels 30 and 80. The developers have stated this dominance makes it difficult to introduce new mid-tier methods without rendering them obsolete. To address this, the update significantly reduces XP rates while increasing the output of Bird nests.
- Nest Output Buffed: The number of rolls for nests from all tiers has been lowered from 10 to 5, but the success rate per roll has been tripled. This results in roughly a 50% increase in total nests obtained, with more consistent quantities per run.
- XP Nerfs: Regular through Teak birdhouses see a 60% XP reduction. Maple is reduced by 55%, Mahogany by 50%, Yew by 40%, and Magic by 15%. Redwood birdhouse XP remains unchanged.
These changes aim to reposition Birdhouses as a passive method for gathering valuable nests rather than a mandatory training activity.
Falconry Quality of Life
Falconry has received several usability improvements that reduce frustration and allow for smoother gameplay:
- Players are no longer locked in place while the falcon chases a kebbit, allowing repositioning during the hunt.
- The falcon can now catch kebbits even with a full inventory. Excess resources are discarded, with exceptions for Hunter Rumour items, which drop to the floor. Furs are only discarded if both the Fur pouch and inventory are full.
- Bonecrusher and Bonecrusher necklace effects continue to work when the inventory is full, providing Prayer XP and restoring Prayer points respectively.
- Walking towards Matthias no longer interrupts his falcon interactions.
Aerial Fishing Streamlined
Aerial Fishing has been adjusted to support both high-intensity and more relaxed playstyles:
- The area for performing 'quick' catches has been expanded from a 5x5 to a 7x7 area, making it easier to chain back-to-back catches every tick.
- A new toggle, unlocked by speaking to Alry the Angler, allows the cormorant to eat fish from the inventory when bait is unavailable. This reduces the need to craft fish offcuts and lowers click intensity.
Known Issues and Hotfixes
The team has acknowledged several temporary issues:
- Shark Lure Packs: Only one pack can be purchased per world. A hotfix temporarily uses the shop version for players without Barbarian Fishing unlocked, which removes the Pearl fishing rod until next week's coldfix.
- Jeweller's Chisel: A hotfix addressing an issue has caused the first gem chiseled when making multiple bolt tips to be slower. Subsequent gems chisel at the improved 2-tick rate, with a future update planned.
- Fish Sack Refunds: Players with multiple Fish Sacks are only receiving the cost difference refund for one sack. This is slated for a coldfix.
Additional Changes
The patch also includes updates to Guardians of the Rift, Tempoross, and Coral, alongside general improvements and PvP rota adjustments. Full details are available in the official changelog.
Summary of Key Changes
| Feature | Change | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Birdhouse XP | Reduced by 15-60% depending on tier | Less mandatory for training |
| Bird Nest Output | ~50% increase, more consistent | Better passive income |
| Falconry | No movement lock, full inventory support | Smoother hunting |
| Aerial Fishing | Larger quick-catch area, bait toggle | Lower click intensity |
This update continues the Summer Sweep Up initiative, focusing on balancing dominant methods while improving the overall feel of skilling activities. Players are encouraged to review the full patch notes for detailed numbers and additional fixes.
