While combat is essential, many quests and unlocks are gated behind non-combat skills. Efficient skilling can greatly accelerate your progress.

Crafting

Use cowhide from cows to RuneScape gold create leather armor. This improves your defenses early and also boosts your Crafting skill. As you progress, mining silver and making tiaras or cutting gems becomes viable XP.

Smithing

Smelt your own bronze and iron bars and smith them into weapons and armor. Use quests like The Knight's Sword to skip the early grind and unlock Steel-tier quickly.
Cooking

Catch your own fish and cook them to stockpile food. Early fish, like trout and salmon, are cheap and effective healing sources. Train on fires or ranges for consistent XP.
Agility

Although Agility doesn't directly help you fight or gather, it greatly improves run energy and access to shortcuts. Train it early with the Gnome Stronghold and Draynor Village rooftop courses.

Build Efficient Training Routes

Time is a precious resource in Ironman mode. Efficiency matters more than ever when you have to gather, process, and craft everything yourself.
Combine Skills

Always look for ways to train multiple skills at once:

Woodcut while walking between quests.

Fish and cook in the same location.

Mine is while on the way to other resource areas.

Use the Right Tools

Upgrade axes, pickaxes, and fishing rods as soon as better versions become available. Better tools increase efficiency and speed up progression.
Take Advantage of Safe Zones

Areas like the Stronghold of cheap OSRS GP Security or the Al Kharid warriors offer safe, consistent combat training. Make sure you always have a food supply ready.