Kraken Slayer Guide OSRS – Ultimate Strategies for Success
The Kraken in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a fan-favorite Slayer boss, known for its straightforward mechanics, rewarding loot, and accessibility for players with moderate combat stats. Requiring level 87 Slayer and 50 Magic, this underwater beast resides in Kraken Cove and can only be fought on a cave kraken Slayer task. Whether you’re chasing the coveted Trident of the Seas, Kraken Tentacle, or simply looking to rack up Slayer experience, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to conquer the Kraken efficiently.
In this Kraken Slayer guide for OSRS, we’ll cover optimal gear setups, inventory management, combat strategies, and tips to maximize your kills per hour. Let’s dive into the depths of Kraken Cove and release the beast!
The Kraken is a popular choice for OSRS players due to its low mechanical complexity and high-value drops. It’s an excellent boss for mid-to-high-level players looking to combine Slayer training with profit. Here’s why you should consider tackling this aquatic monster:
- Unique Drops: The Kraken is the only monster that drops the Trident of the Seas and Kraken Tentacle, both highly sought-after items.
- Consistent Profit: With drops like Mystic Robe pieces, runes, and alchable items, Kraken trips are often lucrative.
- Slayer Efficiency: Cave kraken tasks provide solid Slayer XP, especially when extended with Bracelets of Slaughter.
- Low Risk: The fight is safe, with no risk of player killers (PKers), and instancing ensures uninterrupted sessions.
Requirements for Kraken Slayer Tasks
Before you can face the Kraken, you need to meet specific requirements and prepare adequately. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Level 87 Slayer: This cannot be boosted, so grind those Slayer levels!
- Level 50 Magic: Necessary to damage the Kraken, as it’s highly resistant to Ranged and immune to Melee.
- Cave Kraken Slayer Task: Assigned by Slayer Masters like Duradel, Nieve, or Chaeldar.
- Access to Kraken Cove: Located southwest of Piscatoris Fishing Colony, easily reached via fairy ring code AKQ.
Getting to Kraken Cove
Reaching the Kraken’s lair is straightforward, but knowing the fastest routes can save you time. The Kraken resides in a secluded section of Kraken Cove, and here are the best ways to get there:
Fastest Travel Methods
- Fairy Ring (AKQ): Teleport to the Piscatoris Hunter Area, then run west to the dungeon entrance.
- Piscatoris Teleport: Use a Piscatoris teleport scroll or the Western Provinces Diary reward to get close.
- House Teleport (Piscatoris Portal): If your Player-Owned House has a Piscatoris portal, this is a quick option.
Once inside Kraken Cove, run north to find the entrance to the Kraken’s lair. If you’re not on a Slayer task, Lieve McCracken will prevent you from attacking any creatures, so ensure you’ve got that task active.
Gear and Inventory Setup
The Kraken is highly resistant to Ranged (dealing 1/7th normal damage) and immune to Melee, making Magic the only viable attack style. Your gear should focus on maximizing Magic damage, defense, and prayer bonus to sustain long trips. Below, we break down the best setups for different budgets.
High-End Gear Setup
For players with a hefty bank, this setup maximizes damage output and efficiency:
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helmet (i) |
| Neck | Occult Necklace |
| Cape | Imbued God Cape |
| Body | Ancestral Robe Top |
| Legs | Ancestral Robe Bottom |
| Weapon | Harmonised Nightmare Staff |
| Shield | Arcane Spirit Shield |
| Gloves | Tormented Bracelet |
| Boots | Eternal Boots |
| Ring | Seers Ring (i) |
Budget Gear Setup
For players on a tighter budget, this setup is affordable yet effective:
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helmet |
| Neck | Amulet of Glory |
| Cape | Ardougne Cloak |
| Body | Mystic Robe Top |
| Legs | Mystic Robe Bottom |
| Weapon | Slayer’s Staff |
| Shield | Book of Darkness |
| Gloves | Combat Bracelet |
| Boots | Mystic Boots |
| Ring | Ring of Wealth |
Inventory Setup
Your inventory should balance combat supplies with utility items. Here’s a recommended setup:
- Prayer Potions (4-6): Restore prayer points to maintain Augury or Mystic Might.
- Super Restore (1-2): For emergency prayer or stat restoration.
- Food (Sharks/Monkfish): 5-10 pieces to heal from tentacle damage.
- Fishing Explosive: Instantly wakes the Kraken, saving time.
- Rune Pouch: Holds runes for your Magic spell (e.g., Fire Wave or Blood Barrage).
- Toxic Blowpipe: Used to disturb tentacles quickly (optional for budget setups).
- Teleport (Emergency): A teleport tablet for quick escapes if needed.
- Bracelet of Slaughter: Extends your task for more kills (optional).
Tip: The Kraken often drops edible seaweed or sharks. Practice “juggling” these drops (picking them up before they despawn) to extend your trip without needing extra food.
Combat Strategies for the Kraken
The Kraken fight is simple but requires attention to maximize efficiency. The boss is submerged underwater and must be awakened by disturbing whirlpools. Here’s how to approach the battle:
Starting the Fight
To summon the Kraken, you have two options:
- Fishing Explosive: Throw a fishing explosive (60 coins, bought from Slayer Masters) into the large whirlpool to instantly wake the Kraken and spawn four Enormous Tentacles.
- Disturb Whirlpools: Attack the four smaller whirlpools around the large one using a ranged weapon with a range of 7+ tiles (e.g., Toxic Blowpipe or Magic Shortbow). Once all four are disturbed, attack the large whirlpool to summon the Kraken.
Using a fishing explosive is highly recommended, as it’s faster and doesn’t require repositioning.
Fight Mechanics
The Kraken and its tentacles use typeless Magic attacks, meaning Protect from Magic has no effect. Here’s what to expect:
- Kraken Attacks: Max hit of 28, but highly inaccurate. Keep your health above 35 to avoid being comboed out.
- Tentacle Attacks: Max hit of 2, but very accurate. These deal the majority of your damage taken.
- Auto Retaliate: Turn it off to avoid wasting runes on tentacles after the Kraken dies.
Focus all your attacks on the Kraken itself, ignoring the tentacles, as they despawn when the boss is defeated. Use high-damage Magic spells like Fire Wave, Fire Surge, or Blood Barrage (for healing) to speed up kills.
Prayer and Stat Boosts
Since protection prayers don’t work, use these instead:
- Augury: Boosts Magic accuracy and defense, ideal for high-level players.
- Mystic Might: A budget alternative for lower-level Magic users.
- Preserve: If using an imbued heart, pray Preserve to extend the stat boost.
Drink prayer potions as needed to maintain your chosen prayer, and use super restores if your stats are drained by tentacle hits.
Tips for Maximizing Efficiency
To get the most out of your Kraken Slayer tasks, follow these advanced tips:
Instancing for Uninterrupted Kills
The Kraken is a popular boss, so finding an empty world can be tough. Create a private instance for 25,000 coins to avoid competition. Benefits include:
- Longer Item Despawn Time: Items stay on the ground for 30 minutes in an instance, making it easier to juggle food drops.
- Solo Environment: No interruptions from other players crashing your world.
Warning: If you die or log out, items on the ground are lost permanently, so keep an emergency teleport handy.
Extending Your Task
To maximize profit and XP, extend your cave kraken task with these methods:
- Bracelet of Slaughter: Occasionally prevents your task count from decreasing, effectively increasing kills per task.
- Slayer Master Choice: Duradel assigns 100-120 cave krakens, the highest among Slayer Masters, and tasks can be extended for more kills.
Loot Management
The Kraken drops a variety of items, some of which are worth keeping. Prioritize these high-value drops:
- Trident of the Seas: A powerful Magic weapon, tradeable when uncharged or fully charged.
- Kraken Tentacle: Used to create the Abyssal Whip variant.
- Mystic Robe Pieces: Decent alch value and useful for mid-level mages.
- Rune Drops: Chaos, Death, and Blood runes add up over time.
Use a Rune Pouch to collect rune drops for casting or High Level Alchemy, reducing inventory clutter.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using Ranged or Melee: These deal negligible or no damage, wasting time and supplies.
- Forgetting Auto Retaliate: Leaving it on can drain runes by attacking tentacles unnecessarily.
- Ignoring Food Drops: Failing to juggle seaweed or sharks can cut your trip short.
- Overloading Inventory: Bring only essential items to leave space for loot.
With this Kraken Slayer guide for OSRS, you’re equipped to tackle one of the game’s most rewarding bosses. Whether you’re a seasoned PvMer or a Slayer enthusiast, the Kraken offers a perfect blend of profit, XP, and relaxed gameplay. Head to Kraken Cove, release the beast, and start racking up those kills. Happy slaying!