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Blue Dragonhide Armor OSRS Ultimate Guide
Blue dragonhide armor in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a go-to choice for rangers looking to balance defense and offense without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a mid-level player tackling slayer tasks or an ironman crafting your own gear, this ranged armor offers solid stats and accessibility. In this guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about blue dragonhide armor, from crafting requirements to combat benefits and how to get it efficiently.
Blue dragonhide armor is a set of ranged armor in OSRS, designed for players who prioritize ranged combat. It requires a minimum of 50 Ranged to wear most pieces, with the body needing 40 Defence as well. Crafted from blue dragon leather, this armor is a step up from green dragonhide and provides better defensive bonuses while maintaining a strong ranged attack bonus. It’s a popular choice for mid-level players due to its affordability and versatility.
Components of Blue Dragonhide Armor
The full set includes several pieces, each with specific requirements and bonuses. Here’s a breakdown:
- Blue d’hide body: Worn in the body slot, requires 50 Ranged and 40 Defence.
- Blue d’hide chaps: Worn in the legs slot, requires 50 Ranged.
- Blue d’hide vambraces: Worn in the hands slot, requires 50 Ranged.
- Blue d’hide boots: Worn in the feet slot, requires 50 Ranged.
- Blue d’hide shield: Worn in the off-hand slot, requires 50 Ranged.
Why Choose Blue Dragonhide?
Blue dragonhide strikes a balance between cost and performance. It offers decent protection against magic and melee attacks, making it ideal for slayer tasks or PvM scenarios where you face mixed combat styles. Unlike higher-tier armors like black dragonhide, it’s more accessible for players with moderate combat stats and budgets.
How to Obtain Blue Dragonhide Armor
There are two primary ways to get blue dragonhide armor: buying it from the Grand Exchange or crafting it yourself. Each method suits different playstyles, especially for ironmen who must rely on self-sufficiency.
Buying from the Grand Exchange
For non-ironman accounts, the easiest way to get blue dragonhide armor is purchasing it directly from the Grand Exchange (GE). As of recent prices, here’s an approximate cost for each piece:
| Item | Price (GP) |
|---|---|
| Blue d’hide body | 5,021 |
| Blue d’hide chaps | 2,143 |
| Blue d’hide vambraces | 1,416 |
| Blue d’hide boots | 1,200 |
| Blue d’hide shield | 6,000 |
You can also buy a packaged set (body, chaps, and vambraces) from the GE for convenience, which is great for quick equipping or trading.
Gathering Blue Dragonhides
To craft the armor, you’ll need blue dragonhides, which are a 100% drop from blue dragons. Blue dragons can be found in several locations, including:
- Taverley Dungeon: A popular spot with multiple spawns, accessible after starting Dragon Slayer I.
- Corsair Cove Dungeon: Requires Dragon Slayer II, has 5 spawns.
- Heroes’ Guild Basement: One spawn, requires Heroes’ Quest.
- Myths’ Guild: Baby blue dragons, easier for lower-level players.
Each blue dragon drops one blue dragonhide, which must be tanned into blue dragon leather at a tanner for 20 GP per hide (45 GP in Canifis). Ironmen often use this method to gather hides while training combat.
Alternative Sources
Besides killing blue dragons, you can get blue dragonhides through:
- Barbarian Assault: Low gambling with points has a 1/32 chance for 10-20 hides.
- Dark Chest (Crumbling Tower): Uncommon chance for 5-10 noted hides, requires 28 Thieving and a Dark Key.
- Impling Hunting: Looting certain implings can yield dragonhides, though this is less reliable.
Crafting Blue Dragonhide Armor
Crafting blue dragonhide armor is a great way to train the Crafting skill while producing useful gear. Each piece requires blue dragon leather, a needle, and thread, along with a specific Crafting level.
Crafting Requirements and Materials
Here’s a detailed look at what you need to craft each piece:
| Item | Crafting Level | Blue Dragon Leather Needed | XP Gained |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue d’hide vambraces | 66 | 1 | 70 |
| Blue d’hide chaps | 68 | 2 | 140 |
| Blue d’hide body | 71 | 3 | 210 |
| Blue d’hide shield | 69 | 2 | 140 |
| Blue d’hide boots | 66 | 1 | 70 |
Tip: Tanning hides with the Tan Leather lunar spell (requires 78 Magic and Fremennik Hard Diary) can save time but is costly, at approximately 914 GP per hide with optimal gear.
Profitability of Crafting
Crafting blue dragonhide armor is generally not profitable due to material costs exceeding the GE price of finished items. For example:
- Blue d’hide body: Costs ~5,511 GP to craft, sells for ~5,021 GP (loss of 485 GP).
- Blue d’hide chaps: Costs ~3,677 GP to craft, sells for ~2,143 GP (loss of 1,539 GP).
Ironmen benefit from crafting for self-use, while regular players may craft for XP and sell at a loss or use the armor themselves.
Stats and Bonuses of Blue Dragonhide Armor
Blue dragonhide armor provides a solid mix of ranged attack and defensive bonuses, making it versatile for various combat scenarios. Here’s the total bonus for the full set (body, chaps, vambraces, boots, shield):
- Ranged Attack: +40
- Magic Attack: -35
- Stab Defence: +74
- Slash Defence: +59
- Crush Defence: +82
- Magic Defence: +48
- Ranged Defence: +70
- Weight: ~12.5 kg
The negative magic attack bonus makes it less ideal for hybrid setups involving magic, but the ranged and defensive stats shine for pure ranged builds.
Comparison with Other Armors
Compared to green dragonhide (40 Ranged, 40 Defence for body), blue dragonhide offers better bonuses across the board. However, it falls short of red or black dragonhide, which require higher Ranged levels (60 and 70, respectively). Blessed dragonhide, obtainable from hard Treasure Trails, provides superior stats but is much harder to acquire.
Best Uses for Blue Dragonhide Armor
Blue dragonhide armor is versatile and suits several in-game activities. Here are the top scenarios where it shines:
Slayer Tasks
Blue dragons are a common slayer task for mid-level players (requires 65 Combat and Dragon Slayer I). Wearing blue dragonhide armor while killing them provides good protection against their magic-based dragonfire attacks, especially when paired with an antifire potion or dragonfire shield.
PvM and Training
For general PvM or ranged training, blue dragonhide is a cost-effective option. It’s great for fighting monsters like blue dragons, fire giants, or moss giants, where magic defence and ranged accuracy are key.
Ironman Progression
Ironmen often use blue dragonhide as a stepping stone before accessing higher-tier armors. Crafting it while killing blue dragons doubles as combat and Crafting XP, making it efficient for account progression.
Tips for Maximizing Efficiency
To get the most out of blue dragonhide armor:
- Use Ava’s Accumulator: Blue dragonhide doesn’t interfere with Ava’s devices, saving ammo during ranged combat.
- Combine with Safespots: When killing blue dragons, use safespots in Taverley Dungeon to minimize damage.
- Boost Crafting: If you’re close to the required Crafting level, use temporary boosts like spicy stews to craft pieces early.
Blue dragonhide armor is a cornerstone of mid-level ranged gear in OSRS. Whether you’re buying it for quick access or grinding hides to craft it, this armor offers reliability and versatility. Start your journey with blue dragonhide today and dominate your ranged adventures!