Ironman Guide/Slayer (2024)

Ironman Guide

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Training Slayer on an ironman account is the sole way to upgrade some of the best-in-slot items, make significant money and train combat skills. Many of the key worthwhile items are locked behind Slayer levels for Ironmen, such as the abyssal whip, dragon boots, trident of the seas, occult necklace and dragon hunter lance.

Duradel is generally the best Slayer master to use. Konar quo Maten should be used for every milestone task for the extra Slayer reward points.

Making cannonballs is not worthwhile for efficient Slayer training (except for smoke devils in some cases), because it is simply faster to complete a task without using a dwarf multicannon than making cannonballs and using one. Because of this, certain tasks which are decent on a main account, such as suqahs and kalphites, are not worth doing on an Ironman account, as they have no notable drops and offer mediocre experience rates without a cannon. Blocking suqahs and kalphites should be one of your first priorities as an ironman player.

Once you have completed hard tasks in the Morytania Diary, it is worthwhile to use the bonecrusher for tasks where you normally would not pick up the bones. Using the bonecrusher provides supplemental Prayer experience in the long run and also restores Prayer points when doing certain tasks in the Catacombs of Kourend. Bonecrusher charges can be easily sustained by the daily bonemeal reward from Robin.

For tasks you want to finish quickly (usually when prioritizing Slayer points), it is recommended to wear the Expeditious bracelet, since it has a 25% chance to treat each kill as 2 kills towards the Slayer task. If you instead want to extend the task, a Bracelet of slaughter will have a 25% chance for a kill to not count towards the Slayer task

When using Slayer reward points, prioritise blocking and skipping poor tasks over unlocking perks and extensions. Unlock superior Slayer monsters, the Slayer helmet and the ability to craft Slayer rings first. If you are using Ranged often, consider unlocking Broader Fletching perk early on for the ability to fletch broad bolts.

Ring of wealth is a good choice for the ring slot before you have access to Fremennik rings, as it automatically collects coin drops from monsters.

Unless you want to get quicker Magic levels, use defensive casting when bursting tasks (such as dust devils), since it gives more experience overall. If you are low on herb seeds, kill normal nechryael with melee instead of bursting Greater nechryael in the Catacombs of Kourend.

Before you can kill abyssal demons for the abyssal whip, train only Strength after you have 75 Attack (for Arclight) and 70 Defence (for Barrows equipment). Unless you want to hit combat level 100 sooner, for Duradel. Once you have obtained the abyssal whip, train on controlled until you have 99 Strength (if you haven't already), and after that train Attack and Defence. If you have a kraken tentacle, use the excess abyssal whips for an abyssal tentacle.

Starting off[edit | edit source]

The natural history quiz has no requirements and rewards 1,000 Slayer experience, making for an easy way to reach level 9 Slayer.

To train Slayer efficiently, it is recommended that you begin after reaching 80–90 combat, with reasonable gear.

Recommended skills:

• 70+ , and
• 48 (Kourend Castle Teleport)
• 43 (Protect from Melee)
• 45 (super attack potions) or 55 (super strength potions)
• 70 (Taverley Dungeon shortcut to blue dragons)
• 27 for the ability to make emerald rings

Using Ranged for Slayer tasks in general is not recommended due to the poorer damage output of the available weapons and ammunition compared to dragon scimitar. However, some tasks can prove to be difficult or tedious to do without Prayer flicking or use of Prayer potions, so safespotting can be a justified option in some cases.

Point boosting[edit | edit source]

Turael[edit | edit source]

When starting Slayer training, the first priority is to block the most common tasks that are bad while having some Slayer points in reserve for skipping less common, but equally bad tasks. It is therefore optimal to start by boosting Slayer points by using Turael and doing every 10th task at Konar quo Maten or the highest level Slayer master you are able to use. While Turael tasks do not give good experience, they are very easy and fast to complete unlike some of the tasks given by higher-level Slayer masters.

Turael can be quickly accessed via the games necklace's teleport to Burthorpe. Wearing heavy armour is not recommended, as you will be running a lot and the monsters you are killing do not deal much damage. Whenever you need to bank, teleport to the Ferox Enclave via a ring of dueling or use the minigame teleport and use the free-for-all portal to reset stats and run energy after banking.

Recommended inventory setup for Turael tasks:

• Games necklace
• Ring of dueling for resetting stats at the Ferox Enclave
• 2 super attacks (and super strengths if not using a dragon battleaxe)
• Runes for teleportation
• Ardougne cloak 1 (or higher) and a dramen/lunar staff for access to fairy rings
• Ectophial
• Chronicle
• A light source
• Dragon battleaxe or dragon dagger for special attacks
• Energy potions and some food (optional)

Once you have attained enough Slayer points, block these tasks as soon as you can:

• Black demon
• Hellhound
• Suqah (Konar quo Maten does not assign these)
• Kalphite (block last, Kalphite Workers are reasonably fast to kill)

Once you have these tasks blocked and some spare points for skipping, move on to the highest-level Slayer master you are able to use.

Krystilia (Wilderness Slayer)[edit | edit source]

Alternatively, doing Wilderness Slayer tasks from Krystilia is another option for obtaining a good amount of Slayer points due to rewarding significantly more points per completed task than any other master. Krystilia has no requirements, but players should be sufficient enough to survive in the Wilderness and are strongly recommended to have at least 43 prayer for access to overhead prayers. When doing Wilderness tasks, only risk easily replaceable equipment you are willing to lose, such as monk robes or dragonhide armour. It's important to note that Krystilia can assign tasks of any combat level (Assuming skill and quest requirements are met), making this a potentially less preferable option at lower combat levels due to the chance of being given slow and/or difficult tasks early on.

Monsters killed for wilderness tasks have the chance to drop larran's keys which can be used to open larran's chests for plenty of cash and useful resources for ironmen like seeds, gems, ores, food and alchables. Slayer monsters within the Wilderness Slayer Cave have the added bonus of generally increased drop rates compared to their normal counterparts which, along with access to looting bags for an extra 28 inventory slots, make this a high risk but extremely high reward option of training slayer. Lastly, monsters within the Wilderness can drop blighted food, blighted super restores and blighted rune sacks all of which can only be used within the wilderness, but are particularly beneficial for ironmen as they add some level of self-sustainability and reduce the need to obtain these resources yourself.

Recommended tasks pre-58 Slayer[edit | edit source]

These tasks should be skipped:

• Elves (relatively high Defence)
• Iron dragons (high Defence, long task)
• Steel dragons (very long task)
• Waterfiends (very slow to kill without a crush weapon)

Equipment[edit | edit source]

Melee[edit | edit source]

The aim for melee equipment is to maximise strength bonus.

Typical low/mid-level gear includes:

• Slayer helmet (i): Can be assembled after purchasing the Malevolent Masquerade ability from a Slayer master, costing 400 Slayer reward points. Black mask can be obtained from cave horrors.
• Any God blessing: Can be obtained from Treasure Trails. Alternatively, Rada's blessing 2 or higher can be used.
• Fighter torso: Can be obtained from the Barbarian Assault minigame.
• Obsidian platelegs: Can be purchased in TzHaar-Hur-Zal's Equipment Store.
• Climbing boots: Can be bought from Tenzing.
• Barrows gloves: Can be purchased from Culinaromancer's Chest after completion of Recipe for Disaster.
• Amulet of glory: Dragonstone amulet can be made at 80 Crafting and enchanted into an amulet of glory with Lvl-5 Enchant, or obtained from dragon implings.
• Fire cape: Can be obtained as a reward for defeating TzTok-Jad in the Fight Caves.
• Ring of wealth: Dragonstone ring can be made at 55 Crafting, which can be turned into a ring of wealth by Lvl-5 Enchant. Hardcore Ironmen should wear a ring of life on tasks which they can easily die if they disconnect.
• Dragon scimitar: Can be purchased from Daga on Ape Atoll after completion of Monkey Madness I.
• Dragon defender: Can be obtained as a rare drop in the basem*nt of the Warriors' Guild from the cyclopes that reside there.
• Zombie axe: Can be repaired with 70 smithing, after obtaining it in broken form as a rare drop from an Armoured zombie after starting Defender of Varrock.

Important milestones[edit | edit source]

• Level 55 — Broad Bolts: Very effective for the Fight Caves
• Level 56 — Poison Waste Dungeon: to unlock the Warped sceptre
• Level 58 — Cave horror: Black mask
• Level 60 — Aberrant spectres: Herbs and herb seeds
• Level 65 — Dust devils: Alchables, burst/barrage task
• Level 69 — Demonic gorillas: Zenytes and alchables, after Monkey Madness II
• Level 70 — Kurask: Leaf-bladed Battleaxe, good noted supplies and alchables
• Level 72 — Skeletal Wyverns: Very good noted supplies and alchables.
• Level 75 — Gargoyles: Good money (can be considered the beginning of high level Slayer)
• Level 80 — Nechryael: High amount of herb seeds and money. They may also drop Rune boots for hard clues and an upgrade from climbing boots.
• Level 83 — Spiritual mage: Dragon boots
• Level 85 — Abyssal demon: Abyssal whip
• Level 87 — Cave kraken: Trident of the seas and kraken tentacle
• Level 91 — Cerberus: Primordial, pegasian and eternal crystals
• Level 93 — Smoke devil: Occult necklace
• Level 95 — Alchemical Hydra: Dragon hunter lance

Turael skipping[edit | edit source]

Higher levelled players may find that they wish to spend Slayer points en masse in an attempt to get one (or a few) specific tasks, such as cave kraken, smoke devil, hydra, greater demons, etc.

Players should avoid spending all of their points on skips to try and get specific tasks in this manner.

Instead, if players receive an undesired task from their Slayer master, they can return to Turael to sacrifice their Slayer streak and replace their task with a much faster one. Players can then complete Turael's task and return to their preferred Slayer master to try to get the task they want, rinse and repeat. Players that are about to begin Turael skipping should make sure that they are not too close to a major point streak, as they could be missing out on some free points in that case. Even regardless of that, the amount of points that players will save by not spending them on skips will greatly outweigh the loss of their streak. As far as for levelling Slayer, focusing on Turael skipping may not necessarily grant high Slayer experience rates, and may only be useful for getting specific tasks.

The inventory setup is similar to that of Point boosting with Turael, but higher level players can add things to the list such as: a rune pouch with NPC contact (if they have a POH with various portals), full graceful, a Royal seed pod, Salve amulet (e), and maybe even a Cannon and Cannonballs.

Killing bosses and demi-bosses on task[edit | edit source]

Abyssal Sire (Abyssal demons)[edit | edit source]

Abyssal Sire drops the unsired, which can be placed at the Font of Consumption and gives the player a reward in the process. The most notable rewards are the abyssal bludgeon pieces and the abyssal dagger.

Alchemical Hydra (Hydras)[edit | edit source]

The Alchemical Hydra notably drops the hydra's claw, which can be combined with a Zamorakian hasta to create a dragon hunter lance, one of the best items to have on an Ironman account. Additionally, the Alchemical Hydra also drops hydra leather, which can be made into ferocious gloves, and brimstone ring pieces. The Alchemical Hydra is also a generous source of money, Prayer and Herblore experience. Hydras can only be assigned by Konar quo Maten.

The twisted bow is the most effective weapon to kill the Alchemical Hydra, followed by the dragon hunter crossbow with ruby bolts (e) until it reaches 40% remaining Hitpoints, upon which players should switch to using a toxic blowpipe. Toxic blowpipe is also viable throughout the whole kill should players not have a twisted bow or dragon hunter crossbow, although its rapid consumption of Zulrah's scales should be noted, especially if planning to kill the boss enough to obtain all the unique drops.

Cerberus (Hellhounds)[edit | edit source]

Cerberus drops the primordial, pegasian and eternal crystals, which are used to create best-in-slot boots in the game. Typically Cerberus is killed with an arclight, but you can still use a Zamorakian hasta/abyssal bludgeon/toxic blowpipe if you run out of charges. Hellhounds are very commonly assigned by Duradel.

Ironmen are strongly advised to use a different strategy which lets players often skip the Prayer-draining ghost phases entirely, letting players easily use less than a quarter of the Prayer potions that they would normally. The strategy revolves around keeping Cerberus above 400 health until 56 seconds passed from when she first attacked (or more precisely, after her second set of combo attacks, wait for 3 more regular attacks), before switching to your best DPS gear/spec weapons to finish her off. Players must be able to maintain more than ~7.5 DPS after the 56 seconds have passed to skip ghosts entirely. Using a full set of Guthan's equipment for the first 56 seconds is very important for extending trips with this strategy.

But if killing Cerberus normally (without attempting to skip ghost phases), it is recommended to be able to effectively pickpocket Master Farmers for ranarr seeds, as players can easily run out of Prayer potions if they go dry on the uniques.

Dagannoth Kings (Dagannoths)[edit | edit source]

Dagannoth Kings are killed for their unique drops (notably the rings and the dragon axe). After completion of the elite Fremennik Diary, killing the boss trio also offers good Prayer experience from the noted dagannoth bones.

Demonic gorillas (Black demons)[edit | edit source]

Demonic gorillas drop zenyte shards, which can be used to make the best-in-slot jewellery. Demonic gorillas also drop good alchables and decent amount of high-level tree seeds.

Lizardman shamans (Lizardmen)[edit | edit source]

Lizardman shamans drop the dragon warhammer, which has one of the most useful special attacks in the game. On task, the player can kill lizardman shamans in the Lizardman Caves which is often way less crowded than the Lizardman Canyon.

Kalphite Queen (Kalphites)[edit | edit source]

Kalphite Queen is killed for Herblore and Farming supplies, most notable being the wines of Zamorak and potato cacti.

Kree'arra (Aviansies)[edit | edit source]

Kree'arra is killed for Armadyl armour pieces.

K'ril Tsutsaroth (Greater demons)[edit | edit source]

K'ril Tsutsaroth is mainly killed for the Zamorakian spear, which can be made into a Zamorakian hasta. Other notable uniques include the staff of the dead and Zamorak hilt. Typical setup uses Arclight and armour with high Magic defence. If you do not have Karil's leatherskirt, Void Knight robe gives slightly more Magic defence than black d'hide chaps. Players with a bow of Faerdhinen and crystal armour or a twisted bow will be able to get much faster kills using these weapons. Greater demons are commonly assigned by Duradel.

Vorkath (Blue dragons)[edit | edit source]

Vorkath is killed for money, Prayer and Crafting experience.

Recommended tasks to do[edit | edit source]

Dark beasts[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 11 (Duradel), 5 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Mourner Tunnels
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious
• Experience per hour: ~30,000

Teleport to the Mourner Tunnels with a Slayer ring and run north to the dark beast area. Use Protect from Melee.

Greater nechryael (magic)[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 9 (Duradel), 7 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Magic
• Location: Catacombs of Kourend
• Extension: Yes
• Bracelet: Slaughter
• Experience per hour: 75,000–95,000

Lure the monsters with darts, run around a corner until they stack up and kill with Ice Barrage. If low on health from the death spawns, cast Blood Barrage to heal up. Switch autocast to Blood Barrage when the superior spawns, or alternatively block the superior with other monsters so it cannot attack you. Bank all of the rune items.

Nechryael (melee)[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 9 (Duradel), 7 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Slayer Tower
• Extension: Yes
• Bracelet: None
• Experience per hour: ~31,000

Kill normal nechryael with melee in the Slayer Tower, use Arclight if you have charges. Bring runes for High Level Alchemy and a seed box if you have one. Saradomin godsword is very helpful for this task for its special attack, and allows the player to do the task in one trip.

When the superior spawns chaotic death spawns, run away until they become unaggressive. If you are doing the task upstairs, you can also climb down and up the chain to reset aggressiveness.

Smoke Devil[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 9 (Duradel), 7 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Magic
• Location: Smoke Devil Dungeon
• Extension: N/A
• Bracelet: Slaughter
• Experience per hour: 75,000–80,000 (no cannon), 120,000–175,000 (cannon)

Lure Smoke Devils around the western bone pile and manually cast Ice Barrage on the eastern stack every 5 ticks. Run around bone pile to stack the monsters.

Making cannonballs for luring is only worthwhile if you are able to get good experience rates (160,000+ Slayer experience per hour). Otherwise it is faster overall to lure them with a shortbow, you can switch between rapid/longranged to lure more.

Black dragon[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 9 (Duradel), 6 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Taverley Dungeon
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious
• Experience per hour: ~30,000

Kill baby black dragons in the Taverley Dungeon. Banking the babydragon bones is recommended.

Dagannoth[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 9 (Duradel), 8 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Magic or Melee
• Location: Catacombs of Kourend
• Extension: N/A
• Bracelet: Slaughter/expeditious (magic), none (melee)
• Experience per hour: 55,000–80,000 (magic), 30,000 (melee)

Barraging dagannoths is a very difficult and expensive method, but fast experience per hour after some practice. Cast Ice Barrage to freeze a stack in the middle of the room, and run through them to get more monsters into the stack while manually casting Ice Barrage. Run around to aggro more while the stack is frozen. You will need 1–2 stamina potions per task if using this method.

If using Melee, simply turn on Protect from Melee and AFK.

Bring a seed box and soul bearer.

Mithril dragons[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 9 (Duradel), 5 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Ancient Cavern
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious
• Experience per hour: 25,000–30,000

This task should be unlocked only after getting a dragon hunter lance. Mithril dragons are a very fast task for points.

Red dragon[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 8 (Duradel), 5 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Myths' Guild Dungeon
• Extension: N/A
• Bracelet: None
• Experience per hour: ~30,000

This task should be unlocked only after getting a dragon hunter lance. Kill red dragons in the Myths' Guild Dungeon. Pick up the bones and the hides.

Players focusing on training Prayer may choose to unlock this task after unlocking the Sacred Bone Burner in the Forthos Dungeon.

Should Konar quo Maten assign you this task, only do it if it is located in the Myths' Guild Dungeon, or the Brimhaven Dungeon if you have Karamja elite diary completed.

Steel dragon[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 5 (Duradel)
• Combat style: Melee or Magic
• Location: Brimhaven Dungeon
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious
• Experience per hour: ~25,000

This task should be only be done after getting a dragon hunter lance, although using toxic trident is also viable should you be low on Slayer points. Bring an anti-dragon shield or dragonfire shield. You can toggle on noted bars from metal dragons in the Brimhaven dungeon at pirate Jackie, after the Karamja elite diary.

This task should be skipped if it is assigned by Konar quo Maten, as she will assign steel dragons at much larger numbers compared to Duradel.

Ankou[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 5 (Duradel), 5 (Konar quo Maten)

• Combat style: Magic
• Location: Catacombs of Kourend
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious
• Experience per hour: ~60,000

Should Konar quo Maten assign you this task, only do it if it is located in the Catacombs of Kourend.

Dust devil[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 5 (Duradel), 6 (Konar quo Maten)

• Combat style: Magic
• Location: Catacombs of Kourend
• Extension: Yes
• Bracelet: Slaughter
• Experience per hour: 65,000–85,000

Should Konar quo Maten assign you this task, only do it if it is located in the Catacombs of Kourend.

Iron dragon[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 5 (Duradel), 5 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Brimhaven Dungeon
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious
• Experience per hour: ~30,000

This task should be only be done after getting a dragon hunter lance. Iron dragons can be done in small amounts to maintain Slayer points. Bring an anti-dragon shield or dragonfire shield for the task.

Should Konar quo Maten assign you this task, only do it if it is located in the Brimhaven Dungeon, as the ones in the Catacombs of Kourend have higher Hitpoints.

Blue dragon[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 4 (Duradel), 4 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Myths' Guild Dungeon
• Extension: N/A
• Bracelet: Slaughter (optional)
• Experience per hour: ~30,000

Kill blue dragons in the Myths' Guild Dungeon, or Taverley Dungeon if you have not completed Dragon Slayer II. Pick up the bones and hides.

Vorkath (Blue dragon)[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 4 (Duradel)
• Combat style: Melee or Ranged
• Location: Ungael
• Extension: N/A
• Bracelet: Slaughter switch (optional)
• Experience per hour: 22,500

Vorkath should be killed once the player has a dragon hunter lance or a dragon hunter crossbow.

Adamant dragon[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 2 (Duradel), 5 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Lithriken Dungeon
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious switch
• Experience per hour: 25,000

Rune dragon[edit | edit source]

• Weight: 2 (Duradel), 5 (Konar quo Maten)
• Combat style: Melee
• Location: Lithriken Dungeon
• Extension: No
• Bracelet: Expeditious switch
• Experience per hour: 25,000

Task summary[edit | edit source]

This article or section is incomplete and could do with improvement. Reason: Needs pros, cons and xp/hr added to each assignment, missing assignments You can discuss this issue on the talk page or edit this article to improve it.

This is a list of monsters assigned by Duradel, along with the pros and cons of completing the task. This table aims to empower players in choosing their tasks based on the pros and cons of each task reflecting on drops, transport and access, combat area etc. Alternatively, an analysis of tasks from an experience per hour standpoint is below.

Do tasks which give you a lot of useful resources, even if they don't offer the highest experience rates. Aberrant spectres, kurasks and nechryaels (the ones in the Slayer Tower) drop herbs and seeds very frequently, gargoyles drop coins and alchable items, blue dragons drop dragon bones for Prayer training. Block/skip tasks which offer little resources and/or poor experience rates.

The list assumes that dwarf multicannon is not used.