OSRS Best Place to Kill Hellhounds: Top Locations for Slayer Efficiency

OSRS Best Place to Kill Hellhounds: Top Locations for Slayer Efficiency


In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), Hellhounds are a popular Slayer task for mid-to-high-level players, known for their straightforward combat mechanics and valuable drops like hard clue scrolls. Whether you’re aiming for Slayer XP, profit, or clue scroll hunting, choosing the right location to kill Hellhounds can make all the difference. This guide dives into the best places to tackle these demonic beasts, offering strategies, gear tips, and location breakdowns to optimize your Slayer tasks. Let’s explore where you should set up your cannon or safespot for maximum efficiency!

Hellhounds are mid-to-high-level monsters requiring 75 combat to be assigned by Slayer masters like Vannaka, Chaeldar, or Duradel. With combat levels ranging from 122 to 136, they hit hard with melee attacks (max hit of 13) but have zero defensive stats, making them easy to kill with the right setup. Their appeal lies in their drops—particularly hard clue scrolls (1/64 drop rate, or 1/32 in the Wilderness with a Ring of Wealth imbued)—and their simplicity, as they only use melee, which can be negated with Protect from Melee prayer or safespotting.

What Makes a Location “Best”?

The ideal Hellhound killing spot depends on your goals:

  • Slayer XP: High spawn density and cannon compatibility.
  • Profit: Access to unique drop tables (e.g., Wilderness or Catacombs).
  • AFK Potential: Multi-combat areas for prayer-based setups.
  • Safety: Avoiding PvP risks in the Wilderness.

With these factors in mind, let’s break down the top locations.

Stronghold Slayer Cave: The Cannon King

OSRS Hellhounds Slayer Task Guide NovaMMO

The Stronghold Slayer Cave, located beneath the Tree Gnome Stronghold, is widely regarded as the best place to kill Hellhounds for most players. Accessible via a Slayer Ring teleport or Gnome Glider, it’s a hotspot for Slayer enthusiasts thanks to its unique features.

Why It Stands Out

  • 13 Hellhound Spawns: Spread across four rooms, offering plenty of targets.
  • Cannon-Friendly: You can place a Dwarf Multicannon here, drastically boosting kill speed.
  • Safespot Heaven: Corridors and corners allow ranged or magic users to avoid damage entirely.

For XP-focused players, cannoning here while safespotting yields some of the fastest Slayer XP rates for Hellhounds—up to 60k-70k XP per hour with optimal gear.

Setup Tips

To maximize efficiency:

  • Gear: Wear prayer-boosting armor like Proselyte, or melee DPS gear (Bandos, Abyssal Whip).
  • Inventory: Cannonballs, prayer potions, and a teleport (Slayer Ring or Gnome Spirit Tree).
  • Strategy: Place the cannon in the easternmost room, stand in a safespot, and let it rip.

This spot shines for its accessibility and efficiency, making it ideal for players below 91 Slayer who can’t tackle Cerberus yet.

Catacombs of Kourend: AFK and Unique Drops

The Catacombs of Kourend offer a multi-combat twist on Hellhound slaying, located beneath Great Kourend. Reachable via Xeric’s Talisman (Xeric’s Heart) or the Kourend teleport spell (69 Magic), it’s a favorite for AFK enthusiasts and loot hunters.

Key Advantages

  • Multi-Combat Zone: Stack Hellhounds and AFK with Protect from Melee.
  • Bonus Drops: Ancient Shards (1/256) and Dark Totem pieces (1/384) for Skotizo fights.
  • Safespots: Lure Hellhounds to corners or the north exit corridor for ranged kills.

The Catacombs are perfect if you want a low-effort task with extra rewards. The totem pieces and shards add value, especially for Ironmen building Arclight.

How to Slay Here

For an AFK setup:

  • Gear: Proselyte armor, Bonecrusher (from Morytania Diary), and a melee weapon (Whip or Dragon Scimitar).
  • Inventory: Prayer potions and a teleport method.
  • Strategy: Turn on Protect from Melee, auto-retaliate, and let the Bonecrusher restore prayer as you kill.

Expect 40k-50k Slayer XP per hour with minimal input, plus a shot at those sweet Catacombs-exclusive drops.

Wilderness Slayer Cave: High Risk, High Reward

For the brave, the Wilderness Slayer Cave (level 17-20 Wilderness) offers a lucrative Hellhound spot. Accessed via the Edgeville teleport lever or a Burning Amulet, it’s a multi-combat area with enhanced loot—but beware of PKers!

What Sets It Apart

  • Wilderness Buffs: 50% increased Smouldering Stone drop rate (1/16,384) and access to the Wilderness drop table (e.g., Larran’s Keys).
  • Clue Scroll Boost: With a Ring of Wealth (i), hard clue scrolls drop at 1/32.
  • Cannonable: Multi-combat lets you cannon while fighting multiple Hellhounds.

This is the go-to for clue scroll farmers and profit seekers, netting over 100k GP per hour from clues alone if you’re lucky.

Survival Tips

PKers are a constant threat, so:

  • Gear: Cheap melee setup (Rune armor, Whip) and a Ring of Wealth (i). Risk only what you’re willing to lose.
  • Inventory: Cannonballs, a few prayer potions, and a one-click teleport (Glory or Royal Seed Pod).
  • Strategy: Cannon the five Hellhound spawns, safespot at the eastern stalagmite gap, and watch for player movement.

It’s riskier, but the rewards make it a top contender for those comfortable in the Wildy.

Cerberus Lair: The Boss Alternative

For players with 91 Slayer (boostable from 86 with a Wild Pie), Cerberus in the Taverley Dungeon’s Hellhound lair offers a profitable twist. Enter via a key from the Key Master or a dusty key shortcut (70 Agility recommended).

Why Fight Cerberus?

  • Profit: Drops like Primordial Crystals (worth millions) make it the most lucrative Hellhound task—over 2M GP per hour.
  • Slayer XP: Counts toward your task with higher XP per kill (around 600-700).
  • Challenge: A step up from regular Hellhounds with mechanics like ghost attacks.

It’s not AFK or cannonable, but the payout is unmatched for high-level Slayers.

Gear and Strategy

Cerberus is weak to crush attacks:

  • Gear: Inquisitor’s Mace or Elder Maul, Bandos armor, Spectral Spirit Shield (to counter ghost hits).
  • Inventory: Prayer potions, super restores, and food (Sharks or better).
  • Strategy: Pray Protect from Magic, flick Protect from Melee for ghosts, and dodge lava pools.

With best-in-slot gear, expect 50-60 kills per hour and massive profits.

Comparing the Best Hellhound Locations

Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose:

Location Slayer XP/Hour Profit Potential Cannon? AFK? Risk
Stronghold Slayer Cave 60k-70k Low (clues only) Yes Moderate None
Catacombs of Kourend 40k-50k Moderate (shards/totems) No High None
Wilderness Slayer Cave 50k-60k High (clues/Wildy table) Yes Low High (PKers)
Cerberus Lair 30k-40k Very High (boss drops) No None Low

Which Should You Pick?

Final Tips for Hellhound Slaying

Regardless of location:

Hellhounds may not have the flashiest drop table, but with the right spot, they’re a Slayer task worth mastering. Where will you take your cannon next?