OSRS Dusk and Dawn Guide Mastering the Grotesque Guardians

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers thrilling boss encounters, and the Grotesque Guardians, Dusk and Dawn, are a standout challenge for mid-to-high-level Slayers. Found atop the Slayer Tower, these gargoyle bosses require level 75 Slayer and a specific task to face. This guide dives into everything you need to know about Dusk and Dawn, from mechanics to gear setups, strategies, and rewards, helping you conquer this unique duo efficiently.

Dusk and Dawn, known as the Grotesqueur Guardians, are a pair of boss-level gargoyles introduced to OSRS in October 2017. They reside on the Slayer Tower’s rooftop, accessible only during a gargoyle or Grotesque Guardians Slayer task. To reach them, players need a brittle key, dropped by regular gargoyles at a 1/150 rate while on task. This key permanently unlocks the rooftop stairs, making future visits easier.

Why Fight Dusk and Dawn?

Facing Dusk and Dawn isn’t just about the thrill; it’s a rewarding endeavor. They drop valuable items like the Granite maul, Black tourmaline core, and the coveted Noon/Midnight pet. Plus, they offer decent Slayer experience, making them a solid choice for players grinding gargoyle tasks.

Lore Behind the Guardians

The Grotesque Guardians are steeped in OSRS lore, tied to the dark history of the Slayer Tower. Dawn, the agile flyer, and Dusk, the grounded behemoth, awaken when the Cloister Bell is rung, guarding their domain with ferocious synergy. Their fight draws inspiration from Dark Souls’ Bell Gargoyles, adding a nostalgic nod for gamers.

Preparation for the Fight

Before ringing the Cloister Bell, preparation is key. Dusk and Dawn demand two combat styles—Ranged for Dawn and Melee for Dusk—along with careful inventory and gear planning.

Recommended Stats

To tackle the Grotesque Guardians comfortably, aim for:

• Slayer: 75 (required)
• Attack/Strength: 80+ for Melee
• Ranged: 80+ for Dawn
• Defence: 70+ for survivability
• Prayer: 70+ for Piety and Rigour

Lower stats (e.g., 70s) are viable with good gear and mechanics knowledge, but higher stats speed up kills.

Gear Setup

Your gear should balance Ranged and Melee effectiveness while maintaining defence. Here’s a recommended setup:

Gear Slot	High-End Option	Budget Option
Helmet	Neitiznot faceguard	Helm of Neitiznot
Cape	Fire cape	Skill cape
Body	Bandos chestplate	Fighter torso
Legs	Bandos tassets	Obsidian platelegs
Weapon (Melee)	Abyssal bludgeon	Abyssal whip
Weapon (Ranged)	Toxic blowpipe	Rune crossbow
Shield	Dragon defender	Rune defender
Ammo	Amethyst darts	Mithril bolts

Inventory: Bring a rock hammer (to finish gargoyles), 6-8 prayer potions, 1-2 super restores, a Saradomin godsword (optional for healing), and high-healing food like sharks or manta rays.

Mechanics of the Dusk and Dawn Fight

The Grotesque Guardians fight unfolds in four phases, requiring you to switch combat styles and dodge special attacks. Understanding these mechanics is crucial for consistent kills.

Phase 1: Dawn’s Ranged Assault

The fight begins with Dawn airborne, immune to Melee and resistant to Magic. Dusk is invulnerable, covering himself with his wing. Focus on Dawn using Ranged (e.g., blowpipe with amethyst darts).

• Stone Ball: Dawn fires a grey ball with a 3×3 AoE. If hit, you’re stunned for 5 seconds and take up to 15 damage. Move 2 tiles away when you see it coming.
• Prayer: Use Protect from Melee to mitigate Dawn’s melee hits and Dusk’s proximity damage.

Reduce Dawn to 50% health (225 hitpoints), and she flies away, triggering the next phase.

Phase 2: Dusk’s Melee Clash

Now, Dusk becomes vulnerable, but he’s immune to Magic and Ranged. Switch to Melee (e.g., Abyssal bludgeon) and pray Protect from Melee.

• Explosive Attack: Dusk glows and charges an attack. If you’re adjacent, you take 30+ damage and get knocked back. Move away when his wings glow.
• Falling Debris: Rocks fall randomly, dealing up to 22 damage and stunning if you’re in their 3×3 AoE. Watch for shadows and sidestep.

Lower Dusk to 50% health (225 hitpoints), and both guardians unite for a special attack.

Phase 3: Dawn’s Energy Spheres

Dawn returns, and both perform a lightning attack with 3×3 AoE vortices (blue for Dawn, orange for Dusk), dealing 5-10 damage per tick. Stand on clear tiles to avoid it. Dusk is invulnerable again, so focus on Dawn with Ranged.

• Energy Spheres: Dawn releases three orbs that grow over time. Absorb them quickly to take minimal damage (5-10). If ignored, each heals Dawn for 90 hitpoints.
• Positioning: Trap Dusk under you to reduce his attacks, as shown in guides like Luckycharmgold’s tile markers.

Kill Dawn completely, and Dusk absorbs her essence, starting the final phase.

Phase 4: Dusk’s Final Stand

Dusk, now empowered, uses Melee and Ranged attacks. He alternates styles (1/6 chance to switch, or 1/3 with correct prayer). Pray Protect from Melee initially, but be ready to flick to Protect from Ranged.

• Purple Flame Prison: Dusk traps you in flames. Click outside immediately to escape, or take 60+ damage, healing Dusk. This repeats every 15-20 seconds.
• High Damage: Dusk’s Melee hits through prayer (reduced by 80%), and his Ranged orbs hit twice for up to 15 each. Stay alert.

Finish Dusk with Melee, using a rock hammer to deliver the killing blow, just like regular gargoyles.

Strategies for Success

Mastering Dusk and Dawn requires practice, but these strategies can boost your efficiency and survival rate.

Optimizing Damage

Ranged on Dawn: Use a Toxic blowpipe or Venator bow for high DPS. With the Venator, stack both guardians to hit Dawn twice per shot (bouncing to Dusk and back).

Melee on Dusk: The Abyssal bludgeon or Dragon scimitar maximizes damage. If using a Saradomin godsword, its special attack can heal you, extending trips.

Managing Special Attacks

Anticipate Mechanics: Watch for visual cues like Dusk’s glowing wings or Dawn’s orb release. Moving preemptively saves health and prayer.

Prayer Flicking: In Phase 4, flick between Protect from Melee and Ranged based on Dusk’s attacks. High Prayer (70+) and Rigour/Piety boost your output.

Tile Management

Use tile markers (e.g., from YouTube guides like “OSRS Grotesque Guardians For Idiots”) to trap Dusk in Phase 1 and 3. Stand on specific tiles (e.g., 4 tiles south of the western bell) to control his movement, minimizing his attacks.

Extending Trips

Healing: Bring a Saradomin godsword or Guthan’s set for passive healing. The guardians drop mushroom potatoes occasionally, which heal 20 hitpoints.

Prayer Management: Flick Piety/Rigour to conserve prayer potions. A Lightbearer ring doubles special attack regen, aiding godsword users.

Rewards and Profitability

Defeating Dusk and Dawn yields two rolls on their drop table, with a 100% chance for granite dust. Here’s a breakdown of notable drops:

Item	Drop Rate	Approx. Value (GE)
Granite maul	1/256	150k-200k
Black tourmaline core	1/1,000	3.5m-4m
Noon/Midnight pet	1/3,000	Untradeable
Jar of stone	1/5,000	1m-1.5m

Is It Worth It?

With high stats and good gear, expect 15-25 kills per hour, netting around 500k-800k GP per hour, per Reddit discussions. The pet grind is brutal (1/3,000), but the Black tourmaline core can spike profits. Slayer XP (1,800 per kill) is decent, though superior gargoyles give more XP, as noted in a 2020 Reddit thread.

Combat Achievements

Dusk and Dawn offer 15 Combat Achievement tasks, like “From Dusk…” (kill them 10 times without leaving the instance), worth 59 points. These add replayability and prestige, especially for elite-tier completions.

By mastering their mechanics, optimizing your gear, and practicing strategies, you’ll turn Dusk and Dawn into a rewarding grind. Whether you’re after the Noon pet, GP, or Slayer XP, this boss fight is a fantastic mid-level challenge in OSRS. Ring that Cloister Bell and take them down!