OSRS Monkfish vs Karambwan Which Fish Should You Choose
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), choosing the right food source can make or break your gameplay, whether you’re bossing, skilling, or tackling quests. Two of the most popular fish for players are monkfish and karambwan. Both are excellent choices for healing, but they differ significantly in terms of accessibility, efficiency, and utility. In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the monkfish vs karambwan debate to help you decide which fish fits your playstyle best. We’ll compare their fishing and cooking mechanics, healing properties, profitability, and strategic uses, all while keeping an eye on what makes each fish unique in OSRS.
Monkfish and karambwan are staple foods in OSRS, valued for their high healing and relatively low effort to obtain compared to other high-tier foods like sharks. While both are accessible to mid- and high-level players, their acquisition methods and in-game applications vary, making them suited to different types of players. Let’s break down what each fish offers.
What Are Monkfish?
Monkfish are caught at the Piscatoris Fishing Colony after completing the Swan Song quest. They require level 62 Fishing to catch and level 62 Cooking to prepare, yielding 120 Fishing XP and 150 Cooking XP per fish when successful. When eaten, cooked monkfish restore 16 Hitpoints, making them a solid mid-tier food option.
What Are Karambwan?
Karambwan, fished in north-eastern Karamja, require level 65 Fishing and partial completion of Tai Bwo Wannai Trio to catch. They need level 30 Cooking to cook (though higher levels reduce burn rates) and grant 190 Cooking XP per fish. Cooked karambwan heal 18 Hitpoints and have a unique combo-eating mechanic, allowing players to eat them alongside other foods in the same tick for rapid healing.
Fishing Monkfish vs Karambwan: Accessibility and Effort
Fishing is the primary way to obtain both monkfish and karambwan, and the process for each has its own quirks. Accessibility, click intensity, and requirements play a big role in deciding which fish is more practical for you to gather.
Monkfish Fishing Requirements and Location
To fish monkfish, you’ll need:
The Piscatoris Fishing Colony (accessible via fairy ring code AKQ) is the only place to catch monkfish. It’s relatively straightforward to reach with a teleport like the Western Provinces Diary’s teleport or a skills necklace to the Fishing Guild. The fishing process is semi-AFK, as spots move occasionally, but it’s less click-intensive than karambwan fishing.
Karambwan Fishing Requirements and Location
Fishing karambwan demands:
- Level 65 Fishing
- Partial completion of Tai Bwo Wannai Trio
- Karambwan vessel and raw karambwanji as bait
You’ll fish at the karambwan spot near fairy ring DKP in Karamja. Banking requires efficient teleports, such as Karamja gloves 3/4 to Shilo Village or a quest point cape for quick fairy ring access. Unlike monkfish, karambwan fishing is more active, as you need to replenish bait and bank frequently, making it less AFK-friendly.
Comparing Fishing Efficiency
Monkfish are generally easier to fish for players looking for a relaxed experience. At 80 Fishing, you can expect around 20,000–25,000 Fishing XP per hour and roughly 300–400 monkfish. Karambwan, at similar levels, offer 25,000–30,000 XP per hour and about 600–800 fish, but this assumes you’re efficiently banking and gathering bait. If you’re not optimized (e.g., no quest point cape), karambwan fishing can feel tedious due to travel time.
Cooking Monkfish vs Karambwan: XP and Burn Rates
Cooking these fish is where their differences really shine, especially for players training Cooking or preparing food for combat. Burn rates and XP yields are key factors to consider.
Monkfish Cooking Mechanics
Monkfish require level 62 Cooking, with a burn rate that decreases as you level up. You’ll stop burning them entirely at:
- Level 90 on ranges
- Level 92 on fires
- Level 86 with cooking gauntlets at Hosidius Kitchen
Each successfully cooked monkfish grants 150 Cooking XP, and at high levels, you can cook around 1,200–1,400 per hour, yielding approximately 200,000 XP per hour with minimal burns.
Karambwan Cooking Mechanics
Karambwan have a lower Cooking requirement of 30, but their burn rate is higher until you reach:
- Level 94 on ranges
- Level 99 on fires
- Level 89 with cooking gauntlets at Hosidius Kitchen
Each karambwan gives 190 Cooking XP, and with optimal setup, you can cook around 1,000–1,200 per hour, resulting in up to 228,000 XP per hour. Their higher XP per fish makes them slightly better for Cooking training, but the higher burn threshold can be a hurdle for mid-level players.
Cooking XP Comparison Table
| Fish | Cooking Level Required | XP per Fish | Stop Burning (Range) | Approx. XP/Hour (High Level) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monkfish | 62 | 150 | 90 | 200,000 |
| Karambwan | 30 | 190 | 94 | 228,000 |
Healing and Combat Utility
When it comes to using monkfish and karambwan in combat, their healing properties and mechanics determine their value. This is especially relevant for bossing, PvM, or high-risk activities.
Monkfish Healing and Use Cases
Monkfish heal 16 Hitpoints per fish, which is decent for mid-tier PvM like God Wars Dungeon minions or Slayer tasks. They’re a standard food choice because they’re easy to stockpile and don’t require complex mechanics to use. However, their 3-tick eating delay means you can’t combo-eat them efficiently, limiting their use in high-damage scenarios like Inferno or Theatre of Blood.
Karambwan’s Combo-Eating Advantage
Karambwan shine with their 18 Hitpoints healing and unique 2-tick eating delay. This allows you to:
- Eat a karambwan and another food (e.g., shark) in the same tick, healing up to 40+ Hitpoints instantly.
- Reduce downtime in combat, critical for bosses like Zulrah or Vorkath where timing is everything.
This combo-eating mechanic makes karambwan the go-to for endgame PvM, especially for players who need to maximize DPS while staying alive.
Which Fish for Which Activity?
For general use, monkfish are sufficient and less hassle to obtain. If you’re tackling Slayer or mid-level bosses, their 16 HP healing is plenty. Karambwan, however, are superior for high-stakes content. Their combo-eating ability can save your life in situations where you’re taking rapid, heavy hits, making them a staple for elite players.
Profitability and Market Considerations
Whether you’re fishing for profit or buying food for combat, the Grand Exchange prices of monkfish and karambwan matter. Let’s look at their economic viability.
Monkfish Profitability
Raw monkfish typically sell for around 200–300 GP each, while cooked monkfish fetch 400–500 GP. Fishing them yields a modest profit of about 100,000–150,000 GP per hour at high levels, assuming you sell the cooked fish. Their steady demand for mid-tier PvM keeps prices stable, but they’re not a get-rich-quick option.
Karambwan Profitability
Raw karambwan are cheaper, around 150–250 GP, while cooked karambwan sell for 500–600 GP. Fishing karambwan can net 200,000–300,000 GP per hour if you’re efficient, thanks to their higher catch rate. However, the need to gather karambwanji bait and the higher click intensity can offset some of this profit for less optimized players.
Buying vs. Fishing
If you’re buying food for combat, karambwan are slightly more expensive per fish but heal more, offering better value per Hitpoint. For example, at 500 GP, a karambwan heals 18 HP (27.8 GP/HP), while a 400 GP monkfish heals 16 HP (25 GP/HP). Fishing your own saves money, but monkfish are often preferred for their lower effort.
Final Verdict: Monkfish or Karambwan?
Choosing between monkfish and karambwan depends on your goals, playstyle, and account progression. Here’s a quick recap to guide your decision:
- Choose Monkfish If: You want a low-effort, semi-AFK fishing method, need food for mid-tier PvM, or have Cooking levels below 90 to avoid burning.
- Choose Karambwan If: You’re tackling endgame PvM, need combo-eating for high-damage bosses, or want faster Cooking XP and don’t mind active fishing.
Both fish have their place in OSRS. Monkfish are the reliable, no-fuss option for most players, while karambwan cater to those chasing efficiency and combat prowess. If you’re still unsure, try fishing both to see which fits your rhythm—after all, variety is what makes RuneScape so engaging!