OSRS Guard Skip ToA: Master the Tombs of Amascut with This Expert Technique
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players diving into the Tombs of Amascut (ToA) raid often seek ways to optimize their runs for efficiency and better loot chances. One advanced strategy that has gained traction among seasoned raiders is the Guard Skip technique. While this term might confuse newcomers, it’s a powerful method tied to the raid’s final boss fight against the Wardens. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down what the Guard Skip is, how to execute it, why it matters, and tips to perfect it for your next ToA run. Whether you’re chasing purples or just aiming to streamline your raids, this blog post has you covered.
The Guard Skip isn’t about bypassing literal guards in the traditional sense—it’s a misnomer that’s stuck around in the OSRS community. Instead, it refers to a specific tactic used during the Wardens fight, the climactic encounter in ToA. The Wardens, consisting of Elidinis’ Warden and Tumeken’s Warden, throw a gauntlet of mechanics at players, including the infamous energy siphon phase with floating skulls. The Guard Skip—more accurately called Skull Skipping—involves manipulating this phase to skip damage and boost your overall performance.
Understanding the Wardens Fight
The Wardens encounter unfolds in multiple phases, with Phase 3 (P3) being where Skull Skipping comes into play. During P3, energy siphons spawn skulls that chase players. If these skulls reach you and detonate, they deal significant damage and heal the Warden, prolonging the fight. The Guard Skip technique lets you avoid this damage entirely while maximizing your damage output to the Warden, increasing your raid points and unique drop chances.
Why “Guard Skip”?
The term likely emerged from early community discussions mislabeling the mechanic, possibly conflating it with avoiding the Warden’s “guardians” (the skulls). Regardless of its origin, it’s now synonymous with Skull Skipping, and understanding it is key to mastering ToA at higher invocation levels.
Why Use the Guard Skip in ToA?
Skull Skipping isn’t just a flashy trick for elite players—it offers tangible benefits that can elevate your ToA experience. Here’s why it’s worth learning:
- Increased Loot Potential: By dealing more damage to the Warden instead of letting skulls heal it, you boost your raid points, directly impacting your chances of uniques like Tumeken’s Shadow or Osmumten’s Fang.
- Faster Clears: Skipping the damage phase reduces downtime, letting you finish the fight quicker—crucial for high-invocation runs or solo attempts.
- Survival Edge: Avoiding skull explosions preserves your health, saving supplies like Ambrosia for the enrage phase.
- Flexibility: It works in both solo and team settings, with or without the Insanity invocation, making it versatile for any raider.
The Trade-Off
While the benefits are clear, Skull Skipping requires precise timing and movement. Mess it up, and you could take massive damage or even die, especially in solo runs where there’s no one to revive you. Practice is essential, but the payoff is worth it.
How to Perform the Guard Skip in OSRS ToA
Ready to try it? Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how to execute the Guard Skip during the Wardens fight. This guide assumes you’re familiar with ToA basics and have decent gear (e.g., Twisted Bow, Osmumten’s Fang, or Shadow).
Step 1: Prepare for Phase 3
Before P3 begins, ensure you’re at full health and have prayer points ready. Position yourself near the center of the room, about four to five tiles east or west of the Warden’s central tile. This sets you up for the siphon phase.
Step 2: Trigger the Energy Siphon
When the Warden summons the energy siphon, skulls will spawn and start tracking you. Don’t panic—your goal is to let them get close but not detonate. Watch their movement and prepare to act.
Step 3: Time Your Movement
As the skulls close in, count their ticks (each tick is 0.6 seconds in OSRS). On the fourth or fifth tick—depending on your setup—run toward the center tile. If timed correctly, the skulls will converge and explode on the Warden instead of you, dealing damage to it rather than healing it.
Step 4: Dodge Additional Attacks
While Skull Skipping, you’ll still need to handle other mechanics, like Zebak’s boulders or Ba-Ba’s attacks. Move one tile after these projectiles launch to avoid overlap damage, then resume your skip timing.
Step 5: Repeat and Adapt
The siphon phase happens multiple times in P3. Repeat the process for each wave, adjusting your positioning based on the Warden’s health and invocation settings (e.g., Insanity adds complexity). Once mastered, you’ll breeze through this phase.
| Phase | Action | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Siphon | Position 4-5 tiles from center | Before skulls spawn |
| Skull Chase | Let skulls approach | 4-5 ticks (2.4-3 seconds) |
| Skip | Run to center | Right before detonation |
Tips to Master the Guard Skip Technique
Skull Skipping can be tricky at first, but with practice, it becomes second nature. Here are some pro tips to help you nail it:
Gear Up Properly
Your gear impacts your success rate. High-damage weapons like the Twisted Bow or Tumeken’s Shadow let you burn through the Warden’s health faster, giving you more leeway with skips. Bring a Lightbearer for special attack regen to keep your DPS consistent.
Practice in Low Stakes
Start with a 0-invocation raid to get the timing down without risking wipes. Gradually increase the raid level as you gain confidence—300+ invocation runs are where Skull Skipping shines.
Use Tile Markers
Plugins like RuneLite can mark key tiles (e.g., 4-5 tiles from center) to simplify positioning. For solo runs, set markers for both your starting spot and the center to streamline movement.
Watch the Clock
Skulls detonate after a set number of ticks, typically 6-7 if uninterrupted. Practice counting ticks (use a metronome or in-game audio cues) to perfect your run-in timing. For duos or teams, coordinate with your partner to avoid overlapping skulls.
Handle Insanity with Care
If the Insanity invocation is active, the siphon phase gets chaotic with random skull spawns. Focus on dodging the first wave, then skip subsequent ones as usual. It’s riskier, but the loot boost justifies it for expert raiders.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even experienced players slip up with Skull Skipping. Here’s what to watch out for and how to fix it:
Mistiming the Run
Running too early or too late ruins the skip. If you’re early, skulls won’t converge; if you’re late, they’ll hit you. Solution: Practice tick counting in lower-risk scenarios until it’s muscle memory.
Ignoring Other Mechanics
Focusing solely on skulls can leave you vulnerable to boulders or lightning. Solution: Prioritize dodging these first, then execute the skip—multitasking is key.
Overcommitting in Solo Runs
Solo players risk death if they fail a skip with low HP. Solution: Keep your health above 50 and have Ambrosia ready. Don’t skull skip if you’re below 30 HP unless you’re confident.
Team Miscommunication
In group runs, uncoordinated skips can lead to chaos. Solution: Call out your movements (e.g., “Skipping in 3 ticks”) via voice chat or in-game text to sync with teammates.
Pro Tip: Record your runs with RuneLite’s replay feature or a screen recorder. Reviewing failed skips helps pinpoint where you went wrong.
Final Thoughts on Guard Skip in OSRS ToA
The Guard Skip—or Skull Skip—is a game-changer for OSRS ToA raiders looking to push their limits. It’s not just about bragging rights; it’s a practical way to boost your efficiency, loot odds, and mastery of one of the game’s toughest challenges. While it takes practice to perfect, the rewards—faster clears, higher points, and that sweet purple drop—make it a must-learn for serious players.
Start small, refine your timing, and soon you’ll be Skull Skipping like a pro. Have you tried this technique yet? Drop your experiences or questions in the comments below, and let’s keep the ToA conversation going. Happy raiding, Scapers!