The Ocean Encounters collection log is one of the newest-and most RNG-heavy-sections added to Old School RuneScape. If you’ve sailed across the open seas even once, you’ve probably seen small events pop up around your ship. These are ocean encounters: the nautical equivalent of random events on land. Most of them are harmless bonuses like wind boosts, but if you’re a collection-log chaser, there’s only one thing you care about: the giant clam and its pearls. And while many players focus on gearing upgrades or progression routes that often lead them to buy OSRS gold, this guide will walk you through how the system works, how to offer items correctly, how to prepare for multiple encounters, and-most importantly-how players are force-spawning encounters to hunt pearls at maximum efficiency.

Understanding Ocean Encounters and the Giant Clam

Ocean encounters spawn randomly while sailing. Among them, the giant clam is the only one relevant for log completion, as each interaction can award one of several unique pearls.

The first time you meet the clam, it will be closed. You’ll speak to it and offer any item of your choosing. That item is permanently lost, so don’t hand over anything valuable. The essence of the system is simple:

· You offer an item during the first encounter.

· On the next encounter, the clam opens and gives you a pearl based on the alch value of the item you previously sacrificed.

Different pearls correspond to different item-value tiers, so choosing the right sacrifice is important. While many clans maintain optimal donation lists, you can also check the runewiki if you want alternatives. However, sticking to community-tested options generally ensures the correct pearl rolls.

A practical tip: always keep the next item you intend to sacrifice equipped or in your inventory. Encounters can appear suddenly, and you don’t want to miss a chance to roll a unique just because you weren’t holding the right item.

Improving Encounter Rates

Ocean encounters are RNG-driven, but a few tricks can tilt the odds in your favor:

Use the Kraken Ink Stout Keg

If you fill your keg with Kraken Ink Stout aboard your ship, you’ll receive a 4% increased chance to trigger random events. If you’re actively grinding for pearls, the boost is worthwhile. If you’re just casually sailing or charting, you may not need it-but dedicated log hunters should always run it.

Expect RNG Swings

Some players get eight or nine pearls within modest sailing time. Others sail nearly the entire map and still have none. This section of the log is simply unpredictable. You’ll often complete it while doing other ocean-related content: charting, treasure hunting, or traveling for quests.

Force-Spawning Encounters: The Log Chasers Technique

A highly efficient strategy discovered by members of the Log Chasers clan allows you to “brute-force” clam spawns by pairing encounter rolls with salvaging.

Here’s how it works:

· Salvage mercenary ships until your cargo hold is full.

For most players, this is around 160 salvages.

· Sail straight east from your current position for the full distance your ship allows, then turn around and sail back.

· Only perform this method while salvaging.

The idea is that salvaging is “zero-time”: you’re combining profitable activity with encounter rolls.

This straight-line sailing maximizes the number of tiles you cross, increasing chances for random events. No one yet knows whether encounters are based on time sailed or distance traveled; until Jagex releases specifics, distance-focused movement remains the best hypothesis.

If you want to go even more extreme, you can forgo salvaging entirely and simply sail back and forth in a straight line. It works, but it’s less efficient than combining salvaging with encounter rolls.

Final Thoughts

Completing the Ocean Encounters log is equal parts preparation, technique, and luck. Make sure you always carry the item you plan to offer next, maximize your encounter rate with Kraken Ink Stout, and use the straight-line salvaging method when you want to force spawns efficiently. And while some players focus on other goals-whether that’s bossing, skilling, or saving up for upgrades with cheap OSRS gold-the principles remain the same: consistency and patience pay off. With enough persistence-and some RNG-you’ll green-log the section eventually. Happy sailing, and good luck hunting those pearls!