Your cart is empty
Ferocious Gloves OSRS Price Guide and Insights for 2025
In the world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS), the Ferocious Gloves are a coveted item for melee enthusiasts, known for their superior offensive bonuses. However, their price, driven by the cost of Hydra leather, fluctuates based on supply, demand, and game updates. This blog post dives into the current price of Ferocious Gloves, factors affecting their cost, how to obtain them, their in-game value, and whether they’re worth the investment. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a mid-level adventurer, this guide will help you navigate the economics of this best-in-slot melee gear.
Ferocious Gloves are melee-focused gloves requiring level 80 Attack and Defence to equip. They’re considered the best-in-slot offensive gloves for melee combat, surpassing the well-known Barrows Gloves. Dropped as Hydra leather by the Alchemical Hydra, these gloves are crafted in the Lithkren Vault after completing the Dragon Slayer II quest. Their high offensive stats make them a staple for high-level PvM activities like bossing and Slayer tasks.
Key Stats of Ferocious Gloves
- Attack Bonuses: +16 Stab, +16 Slash, +16 Crush
- Strength Bonus: +14 Melee Strength
- Defensive Bonuses: 0 (no defensive stats)
- Penalties: -16 Ranged, -16 Magic attack bonuses
These stats make Ferocious Gloves ideal for pure melee scenarios but less versatile for hybrid or multi-combat situations due to their negative ranged and magic bonuses.
Current Price of Ferocious Gloves (Hydra Leather)
As of April 2025, the Ferocious Gloves themselves are untradeable, but their core component, Hydra leather, is tradeable on the Grand Exchange (GE). The price of Hydra leather directly determines the cost of crafting Ferocious Gloves. Based on recent market trends, the price of Hydra leather fluctuates between 4M and 8M GP, with occasional spikes during new content releases or shifts in Alchemical Hydra farming popularity.
Historical Price Trends
When Ferocious Gloves were introduced in 2019, Hydra leather prices started around 10M GP but dropped to as low as 4M GP due to high supply from players farming the Alchemical Hydra. Reddit discussions from 2019 noted surprise at their low cost, with some players expecting 15M–20M due to their best-in-slot status. Prices briefly spiked to 17M in 2020 during periods of reduced Hydra farming, but the ease of killing the boss has kept prices relatively stable since.
Factors Influencing Hydra Leather Prices
- Alchemical Hydra Drop Rate: Hydra leather is a semi-common drop, making supply consistent.
- Player Activity: High-level players farming Hydra for profit increase supply, lowering prices.
- Game Updates: New melee gear or bosses can shift demand for Ferocious Gloves.
- Ironman Accounts: Ironmen must farm Hydra leather themselves, reducing GE supply slightly.
| Year | Average Hydra Leather Price (M GP) | Notable Events |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 8–10 | Introduction of Ferocious Gloves |
| 2020 | 4–17 | Price spikes during low Hydra farming |
| 2023 | 4–6 | Stabilized due to consistent farming |
| 2025 | 4–8 | Current market, minor fluctuations |
How to Obtain Ferocious Gloves
Obtaining Ferocious Gloves is a multi-step process that requires significant time and skill investment, especially for Ironman accounts. Here’s a breakdown of the requirements and steps.
Requirements
- Quests: Completion of Dragon Slayer II (requires 200 quest points and skills like 75 Magic, 70 Smithing, 68 Mining, etc.).
- Skills: 80 Attack and Defence to equip; 95 Slayer for Ironmen to kill Alchemical Hydra.
- Items: Hydra leather, a hammer, and access to the Lithkren Vault.
Step-by-Step Crafting Process
- Acquire Hydra Leather: Buy from the GE (4M–8M GP) or farm Alchemical Hydra (requires 95 Slayer for Ironmen).
- Complete Dragon Slayer II: Unlocks access to the Lithkren Vault.
- Travel to Lithkren Vault: Located on Lithkren island, accessible via Digsite Pendant.
- Craft the Gloves: Take Hydra leather and a hammer to the machinery in the south-west corner of the Vault’s large pool area. Interact with the machine to create the gloves.
- Optional Reversion: Use the same machine to revert gloves back to Hydra leather for selling.
Note: Unlike earlier misconceptions, Barrows Gloves are not required to craft Ferocious Gloves, making them more accessible than some guides suggest.
Are Ferocious Gloves Worth the Price?
At 4M–8M GP, Ferocious Gloves are considered a bargain for a best-in-slot item, but their value depends on your playstyle and goals. Let’s weigh the pros and cons.
Advantages of Ferocious Gloves
- Superior DPS: +4 Stab/Slash/Crush and +2 Strength over Barrows Gloves, boosting max hits in PvM.
- Cost-Effective: At 4M–8M, they’re cheaper than other best-in-slot items like Primordial Boots (30M+).
- PvM Utility: Ideal for Slayer tasks, raids, and bosses like Bandos or Cerberus where melee is dominant.
Disadvantages
- No Defensive Stats: Zero defensive bonuses make them risky in high-damage scenarios.
- Negative Bonuses: -16 Ranged and Magic penalties limit their use in hybrid combat.
- Quest Barrier: Dragon Slayer II is a significant hurdle for newer players.
When to Use Ferocious Gloves
Ferocious Gloves shine in scenarios where maximizing melee DPS is critical. They’re highly recommended for:
- Slayer Tasks: Especially melee-heavy tasks like Abyssal Demons or Dust Devils.
- Bossing: Bandos, Zulrah (melee phase), or Alchemical Hydra itself.
- Raids: Chambers of Xeric or Theatre of Blood, where DPS is prioritized over defence.
For hybrid setups or defensive strategies, Barrows Gloves or Slayer Bracelets may be better. Reddit users in 2019 suggested pairing Ferocious Gloves with Torag’s Legs to offset defence loss, a cost-effective alternative to Bandos Tassets.
Tips for Buying and Using Ferocious Gloves
To maximize the value of Ferocious Gloves, consider these practical tips for acquisition and use.
Buying Hydra Leather
- Monitor GE Prices: Use GE Tracker to catch dips below 5M GP for cost savings.
- Bulk Buy: If you plan to craft multiple pairs (e.g., for PKing), buy during price lows.
- Avoid Spikes: Prices may rise during new boss releases, so stock up beforehand.
Maximizing In-Game Use
- Combine with High-Strength Gear: Pair with items like Torture Amulet or Infernal Cape for maximum DPS.
- Use in Safe Scenarios: Avoid high-risk PvP unless you’re willing to lose the gloves (they revert to leather on death).
- Revert for Profit: If you no longer need the gloves, revert them to Hydra leather to sell on the GE.
Ironman Considerations
Ironmen face a tougher grind, needing 95 Slayer to farm Alchemical Hydra. The gloves are still worth pursuing for end-game PvM, but prioritize other upgrades (e.g., Dragon Hunter Lance) if Hydra is too challenging. Reddit’s r/ironscape community suggests taking breaks from Hydra if the grind feels overwhelming, as the DPS boost is marginal for early Bandos trips.
In conclusion, Ferocious Gloves remain a cost-effective, high-impact upgrade for melee-focused OSRS players in 2025. Their price, driven by Hydra leather’s 4M–8M GP range, makes them accessible for mid-to-high-level players, while their DPS boost justifies the investment for PvM enthusiasts. By understanding market trends, meeting the requirements, and using them strategically, you can leverage these gloves to enhance your combat prowess. Whether you buy Hydra leather or farm it yourself, Ferocious Gloves are a worthy addition to your gear setup.