Leagues start date leak: April 15

A new trail of clues circulating through the community points to the next Old School RuneScape Leagues starting on April 15. The breadcrumb path includes an updated wiki entry, a themed “chat head” tease, and a QR-code-style reveal that ultimately led to a short video confirming the date.

Practically, a mid-April launch also implies a familiar cadence: expect the bulk of official pre-season details roughly two weeks beforehand. If that pattern holds, the early-April window is when players should start getting concrete information on region availability, relic-style power systems, and any returning mechanics like masteries or echo bosses.

Hidden text clues and the Barlemore start theory

The same leaked image that accompanied the date reveal also sparked a second wave of speculation: players extracted strings of words that reportedly translate into Barlemore as a starting region. The exact method used to decode the text has been debated, but the conclusion being shared is consistent—Barlemore is the current frontrunner for where everyone begins.

Why a Barlemore start would be a big deal

From a planning perspective, Barlemore is widely viewed as a “high power” opening region because it supports multiple strong progression paths at once:

• Early-to-mid gear acceleration via content that provides broadly useful armor options.
• Combat variety thanks to activity density and multiple training routes.
• Coliseum-style challenges that can potentially offer meaningful rewards and structured combat progression.
• More training methods introduced in later updates (often referenced as part three content), adding flexibility for skilling and combat routing.

If Barlemore is the default start, it likely means many accounts will reach “comfortable power” faster than in starts that force narrower early routing. That can shift the early meta toward faster task completion, earlier boss access, and quicker point accumulation—especially for players targeting cosmetics quickly.

Misthalin may be fully unavailable this time

Another notable detail attached to the earlier January announcement is a new set of markings that reportedly translate to the idea that Misthalin won’t be available to explore, with the justification tied to the league’s theme and the figure of Yama. If true, this is more than a flavor change—it would reshape how players plan early unlocks and combat tools.

What a Misthalin lockout would affect

Misthalin being off the table would ripple into several common Leagues assumptions:

• Quest and early routing changes that normally rely on Misthalin hubs and convenience.
• Item access shifts for accounts that typically use Misthalin-tied gear or progression stepping stones.
• Demonbane weapon availability questions if those tools are normally sourced through content connected to that region.

Could demon-slaying tools show up elsewhere?

Even if Misthalin is locked, it doesn’t necessarily mean demon-focused options disappear entirely. The current expectation is that Leagues will again feature systems like combat masteries and echo bosses. Those systems are prime candidates for “theme-appropriate” rewards—meaning demon-flavored upgrades or variants could appear as mastery unlocks, echo drops, or league-specific reward items.

In other words: if the league is truly centered on Yama and demonic aesthetics, it would be surprising if there were no demon-slaying answers at all. They may simply be relocated into the seasonal progression layer rather than tied to a standard region.

The leaked discussion also highlighted the full reward lineup. While exact point prices aren’t confirmed, the reward types are familiar: a headline outfit set, a banner, a home teleport, house cosmetics, and a few highly desired combat-adjacent overrides.

Outfit set (multi-tier)

As with prior years, expect multiple tiers culminating in a “max” version. The top-tier face/helm styling in this year’s theme leans heavily into the demonic look.

Banner

Banners are typically low cost and consistent year-to-year, designed to be accessible even for casual point totals.

Take a look at: our breakdown of OSRS reward speculation and what to watch for

Home teleport override

The home teleport animation appears to feature small imps and a fiery vanish effect. Teleport overrides tend to be popular because they’re broadly visible and usable on any account type.

Demonic throne (player-owned house override)

This looks like a reskin option for a throne-room style piece, continuing the trend of Leagues offering house cosmetics similar to prior additions like themed portals or nature-inspired set pieces.

Thrall overrides

This is one of the most anticipated items in the reward pool. Like other spell overrides in past leagues (for example, alchemy or lunar-themed animations), thrall overrides are usually a “high value” cosmetic because they’re repeatedly seen in combat and can become a signature look for your account.

The weapon list discussed includes:

• Ivandis staff
• Trident of the Seas
• Trident of the Swamp
• Soulreaper axe

Because these items sit at very different points in progression and popularity, it’s reasonable to expect the ornament kits to be split into separate purchases rather than bundled into one price.

Slayer helm recolor

A slayer helm recolor is a major nostalgia-and-flex reward, and it’s been a while since the last one. This one is also expected to pair visually with high-end armor aesthetics that match the league theme.

Demon butler (house override)

A themed butler reskin is another player-owned house cosmetic, likely priced in the mid-range: desirable, but not usually the single most expensive item.

Demon skin color

A full skin recolor is a love-it-or-skip-it option. Historically these are priced toward the lower end to encourage broad participation.

Predicted point costs: a practical planning breakdown

Exact pricing won’t be known until the reward shop goes live, but based on patterns from prior leagues, the following “ballpark” estimates are a useful planning tool—especially if you’re deciding how hard to push points early versus pacing yourself.

Take a look at: this OSRS update recap for recent changes that may affect planning

Estimated costs by category

• Outfit (max tier): ~20,000 points (lower tiers much cheaper)
• Thrall overrides: ~5,000 points
• House cosmetics (throne + butler): often ~4,000–8,000 each depending on demand; combined planning estimate ~10,000 points
• Ornament kits: likely split by item prestige
  
• Soulreaper axe kit: ~10,000 points
• Trident kit(s): ~6,000–8,000 points
• Ivandis staff kit: ~2,000 points
• Slayer helm recolor: ~6,000 points baseline; could rise toward ~10,000 if positioned as a premium match to endgame visuals
• Home teleport: ~1,000 points
• Banner: ~500 points
• Skin color: likely low-cost (exact range varies)

If you’re aiming to collect the full set, a reasonable working total is around 65,000 points, which is close to recent leagues’ all-in totals. That number matters because it helps you decide whether you need to chase higher-efficiency tasks, push deeper into combat challenges, or simply accept leaving a few cosmetics behind on alt accounts.

How to plan now (before the full reveal)

Even with incomplete information, there are a few actionable steps that make pre-season prep smoother:

• Assume your early route may not include Misthalin and think about what you normally do there—then list alternatives.
• Prepare for a “strong start” region if Barlemore is confirmed; that usually means faster early combat growth and earlier access to point-dense tasks.
• Decide your reward priorities now (outfit vs. thralls vs. helm vs. ornament kits) so you can stop at a target point total instead of grinding aimlessly.
• Expect early-April info to clarify region locks, power systems, and how masteries/echo content will work this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Leagues start date confirmed as April 15?

The current community trail of clues points to April 15, and it’s being treated as the working date. Final confirmation should come through official channels as pre-season details roll out.

If Misthalin is unavailable, does that change early progression a lot?

Yes. Misthalin is normally a major hub for routing, unlocks, and convenience. A lockout would push players to re-evaluate early quests, gear stepping stones, and training paths.

Why are people convinced the start region is Barlemore?

Decoded text from the leaked image has been interpreted as “Barlemore,” and it fits with earlier hints that the usual starting region won’t be used this time.

Based on recent patterns, a full completion estimate is around 65,000 points, but the exact total depends on the final shop prices.

Will thrall overrides likely be expensive?

They’re usually mid-range: popular enough to matter, but typically priced so many players can reasonably earn them during the league.