For tips on how to train Ironmen accounts, please see Iron Man guide or Free-to-play Iron Man guide
Iron Man Mode is an account type, released on October 13, 2014, that encourages the player to be entirely self-sufficient. Ironmen are locked out of or restricted in most forms of interactions with other players such as trading, the Grand Exchange, PvP, most group minigames, and almost all other group activities.
The Iron Man setup interface
Iron Man Mode can only be enabled at the end of Tutorial Island by speaking to either Adam, Juan, or Paul before being teleported by the Magic Instructor. There will be an option to toggle it off at any point the player wishes after the tutorial, but they won't be able to turn it back on after that. After confirming to toggle Iron Man Mode off, there will be a 7-day waiting period before the toggle will take effect, during which time the player may cancel the change if they change their mind or if their account had been hijacked.
Players may also choose to permanently stay an Iron Man by talking to the Iron Man tutors in Lumbridge, and these restrictions cannot be removed in-game, and they must contact Customer Support to have it removed. As of an update on 11 January 2018, new accounts must have a skill total level of 1,000 to set permanent Iron Man status.
Standard Iron Man and 
Ultimate Iron Man were both released on October 13, 2014. 
Hardcore Iron Man was later released on November 10, 2016.
Distinctions[]
There are three types of ironmen accounts: A standard Iron Man, a hardcore Iron Man, and an ultimate Iron Man. Each type has their own armour (equivalent to iron equipment) and a chat badge to denote their status:
| Chat badge | Armour |
|---|---|
| Standard Iron Man
|
   |
| Hardcore Iron Man
|
   |
| Ultimate Iron Man
|
   |
There are also three HiScores for Iron Man Mode: One each for normal, hardcore, and ultimate Iron Man accounts.
Restrictions[]
Standard[]
Iron Man players are NOT able to do the following:
- Trade with other players (except certain quest items from Shield of Arrav and Heroes' Quest, as well as receiving bonds)
- Pick up drops from other players' kills, including PvP
- No loot will drop whatsoever if another player has dealt damage to that monster. Even one point of damage dealt by another player will prevent the Iron Man from getting any loot. This does not apply if that monster was weakened by other monsters. In addition, if the monster attacks other players too much, the Iron Man will not get loot to prevent tanking.
- Gain experience from player-versus-player encounters (base Magic experience from casting spells is still gained, however)
- Use the Accept Aid feature
- Enter another player's player-owned house, or have other players enter theirs
- Buy items from other players through overstocked shops or take advantage of higher sell prices of understocked shops
- Receive items via balloons in the Falador Party Room
- Stake in the Duel Arena
- Group activities in Nightmare Zone, and resource rewards from the reward chest (excluding scroll of redirection)
Hardcore[]
- For a list of first Hardcore Iron Man Accomplishments, see Iron Man Mode/Hardcore Iron Man firsts.
Hardcore Iron Man players will only have one life, in addition to the standard restrictions given to all ironmen. If a Hardcore Iron Man dies, they will be converted to a standard Iron Man. In addition, their experience and total level on the Hardcore Iron Man highscore table will be locked, with their name slashed across like this.
Safe deaths, such as those in minigames, will not cause the player to become a standard Iron Man. The following activities are deemed safe:
- Duel Arena
- Castle Wars
- Death within a player-owned house
- Clan Wars
- TzHaar Fight Cave
- TzHaar Fight Pit
- Inferno
- Pest Control
- Random Event Areas
- Barbarian Assault
- Nightmare Zone
- Fishing Trawler
- Magic Training Arena
- Rogues' Den (maze)
- The Fremennik Trials - 4th phase of the duel with Koschei the Deathless
- PvM Arena
- Zulrah - Resurrection reward from Elite Western Provinces Diary only
- Dream World during Lunar Diplomacy
- Camelot training room
- Last Man Standing
When a Hardcore Iron Man dies, the following message appears in their chatbox: "You have fallen as a Hardcore Iron Man[sic], your Hardcore status has been revoked."
Ultimate[]
Ultimate Iron Man players are not able to do the following, in addition to the standard restrictions given to all ironmen:
- Use the banks of RuneScape (they are still able to use noted items on bank booths or chests to unnote them)
- Create item sets using the Grand Exchange
- Receive resources from Managing Miscellania
- Send their Servant to the bank or the Sawmill
- Keep any item on death nor use the Protect Item prayer
Ironmen and bonds[]
Ironmen can get bonds as gifts from other players or through the official OldSchool website. They can also turn untradeable bonds into tradeable bonds, but ironmen cannot use bonds on any other players.
Trivia[]
- Prior to the introduction of Iron Man Mode, players who played without trading any other players, with the exception of Shield of Arrav and Heroes' Quest, were called purists or self-sufficient accounts, or were said to be playing a "DIY" (Do It Yourself) style.