OSRS Steel Dragon Guide: Best Strategies for Killing Steel Dragons
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), Steel Dragons are a challenging yet rewarding monster to slay. With their high defense and powerful dragonfire attacks, they require careful preparation and strategy. This guide covers everything you need to know about killing Steel Dragons, from locations and gear setups to safespots and loot. Whether you’re tackling a Slayer task or hunting for profit, this comprehensive guide will help you maximize efficiency and rewards.
Steel Dragons are a popular target for mid-to-high-level players due to their valuable drops, including Dragon bones, Steel bars, and the rare Draconic visage. They offer decent combat experience and are often assigned as a Slayer task, making them a worthwhile endeavor for those looking to train Slayer or make gold. However, their high combat level (246 or 274, depending on location) and dragonfire attacks mean you need a solid strategy to take them down efficiently.
Key Benefits of Killing Steel Dragons
- Valuable Drops: Dragon bones and Steel bars are guaranteed, with a chance at rare items like the Draconic visage.
- Slayer Experience: Steel Dragons are a common Slayer task, offering decent XP when on task.
- Profit Potential: An average kill is worth around 10,000-12,000 GP, especially on a Konar quo Maten task.
Challenges to Prepare For
Steel Dragons hit hard with melee and dragonfire, so proper protection is essential. Their high defense also means you’ll need strong gear and combat stats to kill them efficiently. Without the right setup, you risk taking heavy damage or wasting time and resources.
Best Locations for Killing Steel Dragons
Steel Dragons can be found in several locations across Gielinor, each with its own advantages and requirements. Choosing the right spot depends on your combat level, gear, and whether you’re on a Slayer task.
Brimhaven Dungeon
The Brimhaven Dungeon is the most popular spot for Steel Dragons, housing 13 spawns (4 in the main area and 9 in a task-only section). You’ll need 875 coins to enter and a hatchet to navigate the vines. The task-only area (accessible with a Slayer task) has level 246 Steel Dragons, which are slightly easier to kill.
- Pros: Multiple spawns, task-only area reduces competition.
- Cons: Entry fee, aggressive monsters en route (use Protect from Melee).
Karamja Elite Diary Bonus
Completing the Elite Karamja Diary makes Brimhaven Dungeon even more appealing. It allows Steel Dragons to drop their Steel bars in noted form, significantly increasing your profit per trip by reducing inventory management.
Catacombs of Kourend
The Catacombs of Kourend offer a unique environment with 3 Steel Dragon spawns. Killing them here restores Prayer points upon death due to the Catacombs’ effect, which is great for extended trips. However, the dragons are level 274, making them tougher than their Brimhaven counterparts.
- Pros: Prayer restoration, less crowded.
- Cons: Higher combat level, longer travel time.
Recommended Gear and Inventory Setup
Your gear and inventory setup will determine how efficiently you can kill Steel Dragons. They are weak to magic and stab attacks, so prioritize these combat styles. Below are recommended setups for different budgets and combat styles.
Magic Setup
Magic is a popular choice because it allows you to safespot Steel Dragons, avoiding their melee attacks entirely. Here’s a recommended setup:
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Head | Ahrim’s hood or Slayer helmet (on task) |
| Cape | Imbued god cape |
| Body | Ahrim’s robetop |
| Legs | Ahrim’s robeskirt |
| Weapon | Trident of the seas/swamp |
| Shield | Anti-dragon shield or Dragonfire ward |
| Ammo | Blessing (any) |
Inventory: Anti-fire potion, Super restore, Runes for your spell (e.g., Fire Wave), Teleport to house, Food (Sharks or better), and 875 coins for Brimhaven entry.
Melee Setup
Melee is riskier but viable with high combat stats (80+ Attack, Strength, Defense). You’ll need to tank their melee hits, so use Protect from Melee and an Anti-fire potion.
- Weapon: Zamorakian hasta or Abyssal dagger.
- Armor: Bandos chestplate, Bandos tassets, Primordial boots.
- Shield: Dragonfire shield for extra protection.
Budget Setup
For players with lower budgets, a basic magic setup with Mystic robes, a Staff of fire, and Fire Bolt can work. Use an Anti-dragon shield and bring plenty of food to offset lower DPS.
Combat Strategies and Safespots
Killing Steel Dragons efficiently requires a combination of proper positioning and prayer management. Below are the best strategies to minimize damage and maximize kills per hour.
Safespotting with Magic or Ranged
In Brimhaven Dungeon, you can safespot Steel Dragons by luring them to specific tiles and standing behind obstacles like rocks or walls. This prevents them from using melee, leaving only their dragonfire attack, which is negated with an Anti-fire potion and Protect from Magic.
- Step 1: Attack a Steel Dragon and run to a safespot.
- Step 2: Keep Protect from Magic active and sip Anti-fire potion as needed.
- Step 3: Cast high-damage spells like Fire Wave or Trident attacks.
Melee Strategy
If using melee, stand in melee range and use Protect from Melee to block their physical attacks. Sip Anti-fire potions regularly to reduce dragonfire damage. This method requires more food and attention but can be faster with high-end gear like a Scythe of Vitur.
Prayer Management
Bring Super restores or Prayer potions to maintain Protect from Magic/Melee. In the Catacombs, Prayer restoration on death reduces the need for potions, but don’t rely on it entirely for long trips.
Loot and Profit Potential
Steel Dragons are profitable due to their consistent and rare drops. Below is a breakdown of their loot table and expected profit.
Guaranteed Drops
- Dragon bones (1): Always dropped, used for Prayer training.
- Steel bars (5): Always dropped, stackable with Karamja Elite Diary.
Notable Rare Drops
| Item | Drop Rate | Approx. Value |
|---|---|---|
| Draconic visage | 1/10,000 | ~5M GP |
| Dragon platelegs | 1/128 | ~160K GP |
| Dragon plateskirt | 1/128 | ~160K GP |
| Rune javelin (30) | 1/32 | ~5K GP |
Profit Per Hour
With an optimized setup, you can expect 20-30 kills per hour, yielding around 200,000-300,000 GP per hour, excluding rare drops. On a Konar Slayer task, this increases to 250,000-350,000 GP due to additional loot from her special table. The Draconic visage, while rare, can turn a single kill into millions.
Killing Steel Dragons in OSRS is a rewarding activity for players with the right gear and strategy. By choosing the best location, optimizing your setup, and using safespots, you can turn this challenging task into a profitable and enjoyable grind. Whether you’re after Slayer XP, gold, or the thrill of a rare drop, Steel Dragons are worth the effort. Grab your Anti-fire potions, head to Brimhaven or the Catacombs, and start slaying!