OSRS ToA Expert Mode Guide: Master the Tombs of Amascut in 2025

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players looking to push their skills to the limit often turn to the Tombs of Amascut (ToA) Expert Mode. Introduced as the third raid in OSRS, ToA offers a scalable challenge through its invocation system, with Expert Mode kicking in at a raid level of 300 or higher. As of April 6, 2025, this mode remains one of the most rewarding yet punishing experiences in the game, offering rare loot like Osmumten’s Fang and Tumeken’s Shadow. This guide dives deep into mastering ToA Expert Mode, covering strategies, gear, invocations, and more to help you conquer the Jaltevas Pyramid.

What Makes Expert Mode Unique?

Unlike Entry (0-149) or Normal (150-299) modes, Expert Mode starts at a raid level of 300 and can scale up to 600+. The invocation system lets you customize difficulty by toggling modifiers that boost enemy stats, add mechanics, or limit resources. This flexibility makes Expert Mode a test of both mechanical skill and preparation, appealing to veteran PvMers chasing high-stakes rewards.

Why Play Expert Mode?

The allure of Expert Mode lies in its loot potential. Higher raid levels increase your chances of seeing a purple chest, which can contain uniques like the Shadow of Tumeken or Masori Armour. At 300+ invocation, you’re also eligible for Expert Mode Combat Achievements, adding prestige to your account. Plus, with an average profit of 6M GP/hour (excluding rare drops), it’s a goldmine for those who can handle the heat.

Preparation for ToA Expert Mode

Recommended Stats and Gear

To tackle Expert Mode consistently, aim for these minimum stats:

Attack/Strength/Defence: 90+ (ideally 99)
Ranged: 95+ (for Bowfa or Tbow accuracy)
Magic: 90+ (for Trident or Shadow effectiveness)
Prayer: 77+ (for Rigour/Augury)

Gear-wise, here’s a progression table for solo or small team runs:

Style	Budget (150M)	Mid-Tier (850M)	Max (5.7B)
Melee	Bandos, Fang, DDef	Torva, Rapier, BGS	Full Torva, Fang, Claws
Ranged	Crystal Armour, Bowfa	Masori, Bowfa	Masori, Tbow
Magic	Ahrims, Trident	Ancestral, Sang Staff	Ancestral, Shadow

Key Items: Lightbearer (spec energy), Serpentine Helm (poison immunity), and a spec weapon like BGS or Dragon Claws are clutch.

Inventory Setup

For a 300+ solo run, bring:

4-6 Saradomin Brews: Healing mainstay
2-4 Super Restores: Prayer and stat recovery
1-2 Stamina Potions: Energy for kiting
Spec Weapon: BGS or Claws for Wardens
Runes: For Blood/Death spells if using Sang

Adjust based on invocations like “On a Diet” (fewer supplies) or “Need Some Help?” (more supplies allowed).

Navigating the ToA Rooms

Path Order Strategy

In Expert Mode, room order matters due to scaling difficulty with “Walk the Path” (WTP). A common solo route is:

Zebak: Easy start, manageable with ranged
Kephri: Puzzle-heavy but predictable
Akkha: High DPS check, save specs
Ba-Ba: Resource-intensive, finish strong

With WTP, rooms level up randomly (1-3), so expect tougher fights later. Swap Ba-Ba first if you struggle with a Level 3 version mid-raid.

Room-by-Room Breakdown

Zebak (Path of Crondis):

Avoid tidal waves and poison spits
Use Bowfa/Tbow for safe DPS
Turn on all invocations except “Upset Stomach” for simplicity

Kephri (Path of Scabaras):

Solve the light puzzle fast (use ToA Helper plugin)
Spec dump with Fang/Claws post-shield
Watch for dung strikes and scarab traps

Akkha (Path of Het):

Learn to “butterfly” (kite melee hits) or tank with brews
Shadow excels here; use 5-tick tiles if available
Save specs for final phase enrage

Ba-Ba (Path of Apmeken):

Clear monkey waves efficiently
BGS spec to lower defence, then Fang DPS
Dodge boulders and shockwaves

Conquering the Wardens

Phase-by-Phase Tactics

The Wardens (Tumeken and Elidinis) are the final hurdle. Here’s how to handle each phase at 300+ invocation:

Phase 1 (Pillar):

Use Shadow or Tbow to burn the pillar fast
Prayer flick between Mage/Range based on Warden
Avoid floor hazards (skulls, beams)

Phase 2 (Core):

Spec with BGS/Claws to chunk the core
Fang for consistent DPS
Dodge energy siphon AoE

Phase 3 (Enrage):

Prayer flick meticulously (Insanity off recommended for learners)
Kite Warden slams with stamina
Finish with max DPS before supplies run dry

Invocation Tips for Wardens

Common Warden invocations for 300-400 runs:

Overclocked: Faster attacks, manageable with flicks
Ancient Haste: Speeds up phases, good for DPS
Softcore Run: 3 deaths allowed, safety net

Avoid “Insanity” unless you’re confident in prayer switching under pressure.

Optimizing Loot and Efficiency

Maximizing Purple Chances

At 300 invocation, solo deathless runs yield ~4.1% purple chance, scaling to ~10% near 400. Key invocations to boost loot:

Pathmaster: All paths level 3, high risk/reward
Walk the Path: Random scaling, balances difficulty
Overly Draining: Limits specs but adds points

Push to 375-400 for better odds, but expect longer runs (20-25 mins vs. 15-20 at 300).

Post-Raid Rewards

Expect these from a 300+ chest:

Common: Runes, potions, gems (1-2M GP)
Uniques: Fang, Shadow, Masori pieces, Thread of Elidinis
Rare: Tumeken’s Warden pet (cosmetic flex)

Track your KC—untradeables like Thread scale with completions (1/10 at 0 KC, 1/3.33 at 15+).

Mastering ToA Expert Mode in OSRS is a journey of practice, gear upgrades, and invocation tweaking. Start at 300, refine your skills, and push higher as you grow comfortable. Whether you’re after GP, uniques, or just the thrill, this raid delivers in spades. Ready to raid the tombs? Share your best invo setups or loot hauls in the comments!