Cave Horror Slayer Guide OSRS: Master This Task Like a Pro

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a thrilling Slayer experience, and one of the standout tasks for mid-level players is taking on Cave Horrors. These eerie creatures, lurking in the dark depths of Mos Le’Harmless Cave, are a prime target for adventurers seeking the coveted Black Mask—a key component of the Slayer Helmet. Whether you’re an Ironman chasing essential gear or a main account looking to profit, this Cave Horror Slayer guide for OSRS will walk you through everything you need to know. From requirements and gear setups to strategies and loot, let’s dive into mastering this spooky Slayer task!

Cave Horrors are a unique Slayer monster that strike a balance between challenge and reward. With a combat level of 80 and only 55 Hitpoints, they’re relatively quick kills, making them an appealing task for players around level 58 Slayer and above. But what really draws players in is their drop table—particularly the Black Mask, which boosts melee damage by 16.67% on Slayer tasks (or 15% for magic/range when imbued). This makes them a must-do for anyone building their Slayer setup.

Key Benefits of Slaying Cave Horrors

• Black Mask Drop: Essential for crafting the Slayer Helmet, a best-in-slot item for Slayer training.
• Decent XP Rates: Up to 25k-30k Slayer XP per hour with melee, or 60k with a cannon.
• Valuable Loot: Herbs, seeds, and nature runes add up, especially for Ironmen.
• Accessibility: Once unlocked, Mos Le’Harmless is easy to reach with teleports.

Who Should Do This Task?

Cave Horrors are ideal for mid-level players who’ve completed the Cabin Fever quest and reached 58 Slayer. Ironmen benefit most due to the Black Mask’s importance, while mains can profit from mask drops (worth around 900k GP as of April 2025). If you’re focused on efficiency, weigh the XP/hour against the potential loot—Cave Horrors shine for their rewards more than raw Slayer XP.

Requirements and Preparation for Cave Horror Slayer

Before you set foot in the Mos Le’Harmless Cave, you’ll need to meet some prerequisites and gear up properly. This section covers everything you need to tackle Cave Horrors effectively.

Quest and Skill Requirements

• Cabin Fever Quest: Unlocks access to Mos Le’Harmless, where Cave Horrors reside.
• 58 Slayer: Required to damage Cave Horrors.
• Level 70 Combat (Recommended): Ensures you can handle their attacks comfortably.

Essential Items to Bring

Cave Horrors have specific mechanics that demand certain gear. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Witchwood Icon: Buy from any Slayer Master for 900 GP. Protects against their scream attack (10% of your HP as damage) if not using Protect from Melee.
• Light Source: A bullseye lantern or Kandarin Headgear prevents rapid bug damage in the dark cave.
• Teleport Method: Ectophial or Mos Le’Harmless teleport scroll for quick travel.

Getting to Mos Le’Harmless Cave

The cave is on Mos Le’Harmless, an island east of the mainland. Here are your travel options:

1. Mos Le’Harmless Teleport Scroll: Fastest method, available on the Grand Exchange.
2. Ectophial + Bill Teach: Teleport to Port Phasmatys, then sail with Bill Teach.
3. Trouble Brewing Teleport: Free minigame teleport (requires 40 Cooking).
4. Charter Ship: Sail from Port Sarim or other ports post-Cabin Fever.

Best Gear and Inventory Setup for Cave Horrors

Cave Horrors use a magic-based melee attack, so your gear should prioritize either prayer bonuses (with Protect from Melee) or magic defense (if not praying). Below are optimal setups for different combat styles.

Melee Setup

Melee is the most common approach due to its simplicity and decent XP rates. Focus on prayer gear to sustain Protect from Melee.

Slot	Best-in-Slot	Budget Alternative
Head	Slayer Helmet	Black Mask
Neck	Amulet of Torture	Amulet of Strength
Body	Proselyte Hauberk	Monk’s Robe Top
Legs	Proselyte Cuisse	Monk’s Robe
Weapon	Abyssal Whip	Dragon Scimitar
Boots	Primordial Boots	Dragon Boots

Inventory: Prayer potions, high-healing food (sharks), Bones to Peaches tablets (optional), herb sack, seed box.

Ranged Setup

Ranged excels with safespots or a cannon, offering faster kills and higher XP/hour.

• Head: Slayer Helmet or Armadyl Helmet
• Neck: Necklace of Anguish or Amulet of Glory
• Body: Armadyl Chestplate or Black D’hide Body
• Legs: Armadyl Chainskirt or Black D’hide Chaps
• Weapon: Toxic Blowpipe or Magic Shortbow (i)
• Ammo: Amethyst Darts or Rune Arrows

Inventory: Ranging potions, cannonballs (if using a cannon), food, teleport.

Magic Defense Option (No Prayer)

If you’re conserving prayer potions, prioritize magic defense:

• Body: Black Dragonhide Body
• Legs: Black Dragonhide Chaps
• Neck: Witchwood Icon (mandatory without prayer)

Strategies to Slay Cave Horrors Efficiently

Cave Horrors are aggressive and spread out, but their low HP and predictable attacks make them manageable with the right tactics. Here’s how to maximize your efficiency.

Using Protect from Melee

Activate Protect from Melee to nullify all damage, including their scream attack. Pair this with prayer gear and a strong amulet (e.g., Amulet of Torture) instead of the Witchwood Icon. Bring prayer potions to sustain long trips—Proselyte armor helps here.

Safespotting with Ranged

Near the cave entrance, use mushrooms, stalagmites, or boulders as safespots. Stand opposite a Cave Horror with an obstacle between you, and attack with a fast weapon like the Toxic Blowpipe. This method avoids damage entirely, though you’ll need Telekinetic Grab for loot.

Cannon Placement

A Dwarf Multicannon boosts kills to 300-360 per hour, ideal for XP and profit. Place it near the swamp by the entrance for maximum coverage. Combine with melee or ranged, and bring a bonecrusher necklace to maintain prayer via big bone drops.

Managing Inventory and Drops

Cave Horrors drop unnoted mahogany logs, herbs, and seeds. Use a log basket, herb sack, and seed box to save space. Bones to Peaches can extend trips by converting big bones into healing, especially without prayer.

Loot and Rewards from Cave Horrors

The real allure of Cave Horrors lies in their drops. While not every kill is a goldmine, the potential for big payouts keeps players coming back.

Notable Drops

• Black Mask (1/512): Worth ~900k GP, boosts Slayer damage.
• Herbs: Grimy ranarr, snapdragon, and others for Herblore or profit.
• Seeds: High-level herb and tree seeds (e.g., ranarr, palm).
• Nature Runes: Stackable and useful for alching or Ironmen.
• Clue Scrolls (Hard): Decent rate for treasure hunters.

Profit and XP Breakdown

At 115 kills/hour (no cannon), expect ~300k-400k GP/hour without a mask, jumping to 600k+ with one. With a cannon, profits dip due to costs but XP soars to 60k/hour. For Ironmen, the mask and resources are the true prize.

Should You Skip or Block?

If you’re chasing Slayer points or max efficiency, Cave Horrors might not top your list due to moderate XP rates. However, their loot makes them worth doing unless you’ve already secured a Black Mask. Blocking is an option for high-level players prioritizing boss tasks.

Mastering the Cave Horror Slayer task in OSRS is a rite of passage for many players. With the right gear, strategy, and a bit of luck, you’ll walk away with XP, profit, and maybe that elusive Black Mask. So, light your lantern, grab your Witchwood Icon, and head to Mos Le’Harmless—those horrors won’t slay themselves!