OSRS Hellhounds Wilderness Slayer Guide for Efficient Task Completion

Hellhounds in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) are a popular slayer task, especially in the Wilderness, where unique mechanics and rewards elevate the experience. This guide dives into tackling hellhounds in the Wilderness Slayer Cave, offering strategies, gear setups, and tips to maximize efficiency and loot. Whether you’re hunting for hard clue scrolls or aiming to complete your task quickly, we’ve got you covered with practical advice for mid-to-high-level players.

The Wilderness Slayer Cave, located beneath levels 17 to 32 Wilderness, is a hotspot for hellhounds due to its enhanced drop tables and unique rewards. Assigned by Krystilia, Wilderness hellhound tasks come with risks but offer substantial benefits, making them a favorite for players chasing profit and experience.

Higher Drop Rates for Clue Scrolls

Hellhounds in the Wilderness drop hard clue scrolls at a boosted rate of 1/32 when wearing an imbued ring of wealth, compared to 1/64 outside the Wilderness. This makes them one of the fastest sources for hard clues in the game.

Access to Wilderness Drop Table

Wilderness hellhounds have access to the Wilderness Slayer Cave drop table, which includes valuable items like blighted supplies and Larran’s keys. These drops can significantly offset the cost of supplies, especially for ironmen or budget-conscious players.

Preparation for Wilderness Hellhound Slayer

Before heading into the Wilderness, preparation is key. The area is a PvP zone, so you must balance combat effectiveness with the risk of losing gear to player killers (PKers). Here’s how to get ready.

Combat Requirements

Hellhounds require a minimum combat level of 75 to be assigned by Krystilia. Their combat level ranges from 122 to 136, with a max hit of 13 using melee attacks. They’re aggressive, so expect constant combat unless you use safespots.

Essential Gear Setup

Your gear should prioritize damage output while keeping risk low. Since the Wilderness is dangerous, avoid bringing items you can’t afford to lose. Below is a recommended setup:

• Helmet: Slayer helmet (i) for task bonus, or Neitiznot helm for budget.
• Chest: Black d’hide body for ranged defense, or Proselyte for prayer bonus.
• Legs: Black d’hide chaps or Proselyte legs.
• Weapon: Arclight (if demonic bonus applies) or Dragon scimitar for melee; Toxic blowpipe for ranged safespotting.
• Ring: Imbued ring of wealth (i) to boost clue scroll drops.
• Boots: Climbing boots or rune boots for affordability.
• Shield: Book of war or dragon defender for melee; anti-dragon shield if ranging.

Bring only 3–4 valuable items to minimize risk under Wilderness loot mechanics.

Inventory Setup

Your inventory should support sustained combat and quick escapes from PKers. A sample inventory includes:

• Food: 10–15 sharks or monkfish for healing.
• Potions: 1–2 super combat potions, prayer potions.
• Teleport: Burning amulet or games necklace for quick exit.
• Looting bag: To store extra drops (Wilderness-only).
• Cannon: Dwarf multicannon (optional) for faster kills.

Best Strategies for Killing Wilderness Hellhounds

Hellhounds in the Wilderness Slayer Cave are stronger than their non-Wilderness counterparts but can be managed with the right approach. Below are proven strategies to tackle them efficiently.

Safespotting for Safety

Safespotting is a game-changer in the Wilderness Slayer Cave, especially for low-defense or ranged-focused players. One effective safespot is at the stalagmite gap on the eastern wall (level 17 Wilderness):

1. Lure the northernmost hellhound to the gap.
2. Position it to block other hellhounds, waiting for their aggression timer to expire.
3. Attack with ranged (e.g., toxic blowpipe) or magic (e.g., water spells) from safety.

This method minimizes damage taken and lets you focus on kills without melee exposure.

Melee with Protect from Melee

For melee users, Protect from Melee nullifies hellhound damage entirely. The Wilderness Slayer Cave is a multicombat area, so expect multiple hellhounds to attack at once. Stand in a central spot, activate Protect from Melee, and auto-retaliate with a high-damage weapon like the Dragon scimitar or Abyssal whip. Bring Proselyte armor to extend prayer duration.

Using a Dwarf Multicannon

The Wilderness Slayer Cave allows cannons in its multicombat environment, making it ideal for speeding up tasks. Place your cannon near the hellhound spawns (center of the room), load it with cannonballs, and supplement with melee or ranged attacks. Note that cannons attract PKer attention, so stay vigilant and keep a teleport ready.

Loot and Rewards from Wilderness Hellhounds

Wilderness hellhounds are lucrative due to their enhanced drop table. Here’s what you can expect and how to maximize your haul.

Key Drops to Watch For

Hellhounds drop items that make the task worthwhile, especially when factoring in the Wilderness boost. The table below outlines major drops:

Item	Drop Rate	Notes
Hard clue scroll	1/32 (with ring of wealth (i))	Primary reason for hunting; 1/30 with hard Combat Achievements.
Smouldering stone	1/32,768 (50% better in Wilderness)	Rare, used to create infernal tools.
Larran’s key	1/100 (on Krystilia task)	Opens Larran’s chest for extra loot.
Blighted items	Varies	Useful for PvP or resale.

Maximizing Clue Scroll Profits

Hard clue scrolls are the main draw, often yielding rewards worth 100k to several million GP. To optimize:

• Wear an imbued ring of wealth (i) at all times for the 1/32 drop rate.
• Complete hard Combat Achievements to improve the rate to 1/30.
• Use looting bags to collect clues without banking frequently.

Bank after every 3–5 clues to avoid losing them to PKers.

Tips for Surviving the Wilderness

The Wilderness is unforgiving, with PKers posing a constant threat. These tips will help you stay safe while slaying hellhounds.

Avoiding Player Killers

PKers frequent the Wilderness Slayer Cave, especially near popular spawns. To minimize encounters:

• Slay during off-peak hours (e.g., early mornings or weekdays).
• Scout the area before setting up your cannon or engaging hellhounds.
• Keep run energy high and a teleport item (e.g., games necklace) in your inventory.

If attacked, prioritize running to a safe teleport spot (below level 20 Wilderness) over fighting back.

Managing Risk and Loss

Only bring what you’re willing to lose. Wilderness death mechanics mean you lose all items except your three most valuable (or four with Protect Item prayer). Use affordable gear like black d’hide or rune armor, and avoid expensive weapons like the Scythe of Vitur unless you’re confident in escaping PKers.

Teleportation and Escape Routes

Know your exits. The Wilderness Slayer Cave has two entrances:

• Level 18 Wilderness: West of Larran’s small chest, accessible via Ferox Enclave teleport.
• Level 29 Wilderness: Southwest of the Silk Chasm, reachable with a Wilderness crabs teleport.

A burning amulet teleports you near the Chaos Temple, a quick run to the level 18 entrance. Always have a one-click teleport ready for emergencies.

Slaying hellhounds in the Wilderness Slayer Cave is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor in OSRS. With boosted clue scroll rates, access to unique drops, and the thrill of PvP danger, it’s a task that rewards preparation and vigilance. Use safespots or cannons for efficiency, wear an imbued ring of wealth for loot, and always be ready to teleport out. By following this guide, you’ll complete your hellhound tasks faster, safer, and with better profits. Happy slaying!