OSRS Hellhound Drop Table: Everything You Need to Know

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), Hellhounds are a staple Slayer monster for mid-to-high-level players, often assigned as tasks by various Slayer Masters. While they’re not known for a flashy or lucrative drop table like some bosses, Hellhounds have a unique appeal thanks to their consistent drops and specific niche in the game. Whether you’re hunting for hard clue scrolls or curious about their rare drops, this blog post dives deep into the OSRS Hellhound drop table, breaking down what you can expect, where to find them, and how to maximize your loot. Let’s explore everything you need to know about Hellhound drops in OSRS as of April 2025!

Hellhounds are demonic creatures found across Gielinor, known for their fiery appearance and aggressive melee attacks. They’re a common Slayer task requiring a minimum combat level of 75 to be assigned (though no Slayer level is needed to kill them). With a combat level of 122 or 127 depending on the variant, they’re not the toughest foes, but their drop table makes them a popular target for specific goals.

Where to Find Hellhounds

Hellhounds spawn in several locations, each offering slightly different drop opportunities based on the area or Slayer task. Here’s a quick rundown:

Stronghold Slayer Cave: Near Nieve/Steve, great for cannon use.
Catacombs of Kourend: Multi-combat, offers totem pieces and ancient shards.
Taverley Dungeon: Classic spot with safespots.
Wilderness Slayer Cave: Risky but boosts drop potential with Wilderness-specific loot.
Witchaven Dungeon: Less crowded, good for solo players.

Why Hunt Hellhounds?

Players primarily target Hellhounds for their high drop rate of hard clue scrolls, a key item for Treasure Trails. Beyond that, their drop table includes a rare chance at the Smouldering Stone and location-specific items, making them a decent choice for Slayer XP or clue hunters.

The Core Hellhound Drop Table

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The Hellhound drop table isn’t packed with variety, but it’s straightforward and reliable. Below, we’ll break down the standard drops you’ll encounter when killing Hellhounds outside of special conditions like Wilderness or boss variants.

Always Drops

Hellhounds consistently drop one item every kill:

Bones: 100% drop rate. Regular bones, nothing fancy, but useful with a Bonecrusher in the Catacombs for Prayer restoration.

Rare Drops

The rare drops are where Hellhounds shine, though the odds are slim:

Hard Clue Scroll: 1/64 drop rate (1/32 with a Ring of Wealth (i) in the Wilderness). A major draw for clue enthusiasts.
Smouldering Stone: 1/32,768 chance (1/16,384 in Wilderness Slayer Cave). Turns a Dragon pickaxe, axe, or harpoon into an infernal tool—valuable but incredibly rare.

Other Notable Drops

Depending on your location or task, Hellhounds can drop additional items:

Ensouled Hellhound Head: 1/40 chance on a Slayer task. Used for Prayer XP via Ensouled heads.
Ancient Shards: 1/256 in Catacombs of Kourend. Used for the Darklight upgrade.
Totem Pieces: 1/128 (base, middle, top) in Catacombs. Combine for a Dark Totem to fight Skotizo.

Drop	Drop Rate	Location/Task Specific
Bones	100%	All
Hard Clue Scroll	1/64 (1/32 with RoW(i))	All (Wilderness boost)
Smouldering Stone	1/32,768 (1/16,384 in Wildy)	All (Wilderness boost)
Ensouled Hellhound Head	1/40	Slayer Task
Ancient Shard	1/256	Catacombs
Totem Piece	1/128	Catacombs

Special Hellhound Drop Tables

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Hellhounds’ drops vary depending on where you kill them or if you’re on a specific Slayer task. Let’s look at how these conditions spice up the loot.

Wilderness Slayer Cave Drops

Killing Hellhounds in the Wilderness Slayer Cave (assigned by Krystilia) gives access to the Wilderness Slayer drop table, alongside the standard drops:

Larran’s Key: 1/70 chance. Opens Larran’s Chest for high-value loot.
Slayer’s Enchantment: 1/246 chance. Sells for decent GP or used for enchanting.
Mysterious Emblem: Rare, tied to Wilderness activities.

The trade-off? You’re in the Wilderness, so PKers are a constant threat. Bring only what you’re willing to lose!

Konar quo Maten Task Drops

When assigned by Konar, Hellhounds can drop a Brimstone Key if killed in a designated location (e.g., Stronghold Slayer Cave):

Brimstone Key: 1/96 chance (scales with combat level). Opens the Brimstone Chest for rewards averaging 100k+ GP.

Average Value per Kill

Jagex data pegs the average Hellhound kill at 384.39 GP without special conditions. With a Konar task, this jumps to 1,516.79 GP due to the Brimstone Key potential. Wilderness kills can push this higher with Larran’s Keys, but it’s riskier.

Hellhound Variants and Their Drops

Beyond regular Hellhounds, variants like Cerberus and skeletal Hellhounds offer alternative drop tables for those on a Hellhound task.

Cerberus: The Hellhound Boss

Cerberus, a level 318 boss in Taverley Dungeon, requires 91 Slayer and a Hellhound task (boostable with Wild Pies). Its drop table is far more lucrative:

Primordial Crystal: 1/512 chance, worth ~25M GP.
Pegasian Crystal: 1/512, upgrades Ranger boots.
Eternal Crystal: 1/512, upgrades Infinity boots.
Smouldering Stone: 1/512, much higher odds than regular Hellhounds.
Hellpuppy Pet: 1/3,000, a rare flex item.

Cerberus averages over 2M GP/hour, making it the go-to for profit on a Hellhound task—if you can handle the mechanics.

Skeletal Hellhounds (Vet’ion/Calvar’ion)

These spawn during Vet’ion or Calvar’ion fights in the Wilderness and count toward a Hellhound task. Their drops mirror regular Hellhounds, but the bosses themselves offer:

Vet’ion: Rune pickaxe, Dragon 2h sword, and more.
Calvar’ion: Similar loot, scaled for lower stats.

The catch? Wilderness PK risk and boss difficulty.

Tips to Maximize Hellhound Loot

Want to get the most out of your Hellhound kills? Here’s how to optimize your drops:

Gear and Strategy

Cannon: Use in multi-combat areas like Stronghold Slayer Cave or Wilderness Slayer Cave for faster kills.
Prayer: Protect from Melee negates all damage—pair with Proselyte armor for efficiency.
Ring of Wealth (i): Doubles clue scroll odds in the Wilderness.
Expeditious Bracelet: 25% chance to count a kill as two for your task, speeding up completion.

Best Locations for Specific Goals

Clue Scrolls: Wilderness Slayer Cave with RoW(i).
Profit: Cerberus or Wilderness with keys.
XP: Catacombs with cannon and Prayer.

Loot Management

Use a Bonecrusher in the Catacombs to save inventory space and restore Prayer. For Wilderness runs, bank Ensouled Heads with a Soul Bearer to avoid risking them.

Is the Hellhound Drop Table Worth It?

The Hellhound drop table won’t make you rich overnight—outside of Cerberus or a lucky Smouldering Stone. Its value lies in consistency and niche appeal. Clue hunters love the 1/64 (or 1/32) hard clue rate, while Ironmen appreciate Ensouled Heads and Catacombs drops. For the average player, though, it’s a low-profit task unless you hit the jackpot.

Comparison to Other Slayer Monsters

Compared to Gargoyles (500k+ GP/hour) or Nechryaels (similar clue rate but better alchables), Hellhounds lag in raw profit. Their strength is in AFK-ability and clue scroll farming, not GP stacks.

Final Verdict

If you’re after clues or Slayer XP, Hellhounds are a solid pick. For profit, skip them unless you’re tackling Cerberus. Their drop table reflects their old-school roots—simple, reliable, and occasionally rewarding for the patient.

So, next time you’re assigned Hellhounds, will you safespot in Taverley, cannon in the Catacombs, or brave the Wilderness? Whatever your choice, now you know exactly what’s on the table—literally!