Starting the Lost City quest in Old School RuneScape opens the door to Zanaris, a hidden dimension where the normal rules of Gielinor don't apply. You need access to this fey sanctuary for the fairy ring network, elite farming patches, and fast transportation across the map.
Unlike standard towns, Zanaris hides behind a specific quest requirement and a trip to Lumbridge Swamp. This guide covers the exact prerequisites, the quest walkthrough, and how to use the fairy ring system efficiently.
Prerequisites and Starting the Quest
Before you can set foot in Zanaris, you must start The Lost City quest. Speak to the Champion, Warrior, Ranger, or Wizard camping in the Lumbridge Swamp sheds.
- Combat Requirements: You need to defeat a level-101 Spirited Tree without using safe spots, so bring adequate food and combat gear.
- Skill Requirements: Level 31 Woodcutting and Level 36 Crafting.
- Recommended Items: A dramen staff (which you'll craft during the quest), combat food, and a lumbridge teleport.
To begin, head to the small group of trees in the middle of the Lumbridge Swamp. Talk to one of the champions wandering outside the hut to trigger the quest dialogue. They're searching for the lost city, and you'll offer to help them find it.
Crafting the Dramen Staff
The core mechanic of entering Zanaris is the Dramen staff. Without it, you can't survive the transition into the fairy realm.
- Travel to the dungeon beneath Entrana. Remember that Entrana bans all weapons and armor, so bank your gear before boarding the monk's boat from Port Sarim.
- Mine or cut a branch from the Dramen Tree deep inside the Entrana dungeon. Watch out for the zombies roaming the cave.
- Use a knife on the Dramen branch to carve it into a Dramen staff.
Once you have the staff equipped, head back to the Lumbridge Swamp shed. Enter the shed while wearing or wielding the Dramen staff, and you'll step straight through into Zanaris.
Navigating Zanaris: Key Locations and Resources
Zanaris functions as a safe city filled with unique utility shops, banks, and skill patches. Keeping your Dramen staff equipped lets you interact with the inhabitants and use the city facilities.
- The Bank: Located in the center of the city, this bank is exceptionally close to a fairy ring, making it one of the most useful banking spots in the game for Ironman accounts and questers.
- The Cosmic Altar: Hidden in the inner ring of Zanaris, this altar allows you to craft cosmic runes. You'll need a tiara or talisman, plus pure ess.
- Fairy Rings: The city houses multiple functional fairy ring portals that connect to the broader network across RuneScape once unlocked.
Unlocking the Fairy Ring Network
While Zanaris gives you immediate shelter, the true power of the realm lies in the global fairy ring network. To use these mushroom portals without needing a Dramen staff equipped at all times, you need to complete part of Fairytale II - Cure a Queen.
- Start Fairytale II up to the point where you gain access to fairy rings.
- Speak to Martin the Master Gardener in Draynor Village.
- Repair the shed door or use the tree gnome village route depending on quest progress.
Once unlocked, you can dial combinations like ALQ or BIQ to teleport directly across the map. You can check the Old School RuneScape Wiki for a complete list of codes and requirements.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Players often lose time or die in Zanaris due to a few simple oversights:
- Entering without the staff: If you unequip your Dramen staff while inside Zanaris, you can't use the bank or speak properly to NPCs. If you leave the city without it, you can't get back in until you retrieve another branch from Entrana or switch to a Lunar staff after completing Lunar Diplomacy.
- Forgetting Entrana restrictions: When heading back for a spare Dramen branch, don't forget that Entrana confiscates all combat gear. Bringing prohibited items to the dock wastes a trip.
- Ignoring quest prerequisites: Don't waste time trying to access advanced fairy rings before finishing the required quest stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I always need the Dramen staff equipped?
You need it to enter Zanaris initially and to interact with fairy NPCs. Later in the game, completing Lunar Diplomacy lets you use a Lunar staff, and completing Fairytale III removes the staff requirement for fairy rings entirely.
Can I use cannons inside Zanaris?
No. Cannons are strictly prohibited anywhere inside the city limits.
Is Zanaris a PvP zone?
No, Zanaris is entirely safe from player attacks, though the surrounding swamp outside the shed can feature monsters.
What is the fastest way back to Zanaris?
Using the fairy ring code BIQ or teleporting directly via the Zanaris fairy ring once your account has access set up. You can also review official game updates on the Jagex Website for ongoing balance changes.
