Ultimate OSRS Zulrah Guide 2025: New Updates, Strategies, and Money-Making Tips

Ultimate OSRS Zulrah Guide 2025: New Updates, Strategies, and Money-Making Tips

Introduction to Zulrah: The Solo Snake Boss of OSRS

Zulrah, the iconic level 725 solo-only snake boss in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), has long been a favorite for players looking to make serious gold while tackling challenging PvM content. Found at the shrine east of Zul-Andra, Zulrah is renowned for its unique rotation-based mechanics, high-profit potential, and demanding combat style switches. In November 2024, Jagex introduced game-changing updates to Zulrah as part of Poll 84, making it more accessible and versatile for players. These updates, including the removal of melee damage immunity and the elimination of the damage cap, have reshaped how players approach this boss, opening new strategies and boosting profit potential.

In this comprehensive 3000+ word guide, we’ll dive deep into Zulrah’s recent updates, explore the best strategies for 2025, provide detailed gear and inventory setups, and share expert tips to maximize your gold per hour (GP/hr) on osrsmoneymaking.guide. Whether you’re a beginner learning Zulrah’s rotations or a veteran optimizing your kill times, this guide is your ultimate resource for mastering Zulrah and banking big in OSRS.

Recent Zulrah Updates: What’s New in 2025?

Poll 84: A Game-Changer for Zulrah

In April 2025, Jagex announced the results of Poll 84, which included a slew of PvM improvements voted on by the OSRS community. Among these, two significant changes to Zulrah have revolutionized its combat dynamics:

  1. Melee Damage Immunity Removal:

    • Historically, Zulrah was immune to melee damage, forcing players to rely solely on Ranged and Magic attacks. Following successful testing in Leagues: Raging Echoes, Jagex removed this immunity, allowing halberd-type weapons to deal damage to Zulrah.

    • This update, implemented in November 2024, means players can now use melee weapons like the Noxious Halberd or Crystal Halberd to engage Zulrah, adding a new combat style to the mix. While melee doesn’t outshine traditional Ranged or Magic setups, it’s a viable alternative, especially during the Crimson (red) phase, where it can outperform some Magic setups.

  2. Damage Cap Removal:

    • Previously, damage dealt to Zulrah was capped at 50, with hits exceeding this threshold randomly dealing 45-50 damage. This cap limited the effectiveness of high-damage weapons and setups.

    • The removal of the damage cap allows players to fully utilize powerful weapons like the Twisted Bow, Tumeken’s Shadow, or max melee gear, resulting in faster kill times and higher efficiency. This change significantly boosts GP/hr for skilled players with top-tier gear.

These updates, detailed in the official OSRS news post titled “More Poll 84 & Yama Prep” (secure.runescape.com), have made Zulrah more accessible to melee enthusiasts and faster to kill for high-level players, enhancing its status as a top money-making method in 2025.

Why Zulrah Remains a Top Money-Making Method

Zulrah is one of OSRS’s most profitable bosses, with an average profit of 153,532 GP per kill based on 20 kills per hour. Skilled players can achieve 24-35 kills per hour, translating to 3.6M to 5.3M GP/hr after accounting for supply costs. Here’s why Zulrah continues to dominate money-making guides in 2025:

  • Consistent Loot: Zulrah’s scales (100% drop, 100-300 per kill) and unique drops like the Tanzanite Fang, Magic Fang, Serpentine Visage, and Uncut Onyx (all 1/128 drop rate) ensure steady profits.

  • Solo-Only Design: No need to compete for loot or rely on a team, making it ideal for solo players.

  • Flexible Strategies: With melee now viable, players have more options to tailor their setups to their combat levels and gear.

  • Scalable Difficulty: Beginners can learn Zulrah with budget gear, while veterans can optimize for maximum efficiency with best-in-slot (BiS) equipment.

With the recent updates, Zulrah’s profitability has only increased, making it a must-master boss for anyone serious about money-making in OSRS.

Getting Started: Requirements and Access

Before you can face Zulrah, you’ll need to meet certain requirements and know how to access the boss.

Quest and Skill Requirements

  • Regicide Quest: You must progress through the Regicide quest to at least the point of reaching Port Tyras. Full completion is required for the Zul-Andra teleport scroll.

  • Recommended Stats:

    • Ranged: 80+ (for accurate hits with budget gear like Toxic Blowpipe)

    • Magic: 80+ (for effective spells like Fire Surge or Trident of the Swamp)

    • Defence: 70+ (to wear decent armor like Void or Ahrim’s)

    • Hitpoints: 70+ (to survive Zulrah’s high-damage attacks)

    • Prayer: 43+ (for Protect from Missiles and Magic)

    • Agility: 76 (for the Zul-Andra stepping stones, can be boosted)

Accessing Zul-Andra

Zulrah’s shrine is located east of Zul-Andra, accessible via:

  • Zul-Andra Teleport Scroll: The fastest method, but scrolls are expensive (~50k GP each).

  • Fairy Ring (Code: BJS): Requires 76 Agility for the stepping stones. Use a Teleport to House tablet and an ornate rejuvenation pool for quick stat restoration, then fairy ring to Zul-Andra.

  • Charter Ship to Port Tyras: Costs 3200 GP (or less with Ring of Charos). Slower but budget-friendly.

  • Boat from Zul-Andra: Speak to High Priestess Zul-Harcinqa and offer yourself as a sacrifice to board the boat to the shrine.

Zulrah’s Mechanics: Understanding Forms and Rotations

Zulrah’s fight revolves around its three forms, each with distinct attack styles and weaknesses, and a rotation-based pattern that dictates its behavior. Mastering these mechanics is crucial for success.

Zulrah’s Forms

  1. Serpentine (Green):

    • Attacks: Ranged attacks (Protect from Missiles recommended).

    • Weakness: Magic (-45 Magic defence, +50 Ranged defence).

    • Behavior: Spawns toxic clouds and snakelings. During the “Jad phase” (after ~2 minutes), it alternates Ranged and Magic attacks, requiring prayer flicking.

  2. Magma (Crimson/Red):

    • Attacks: Melee tail whip (20-30 damage, stuns if hit). Avoidable by moving two spaces away.

    • Weakness: Magic (+0 Magic defence, +300 Ranged defence).

    • Behavior: Targets the player’s position after a brief stare, spawns toxic clouds.

  3. Tanzanite (Blue):

    • Attacks: Magic (primary) and Ranged (secondary) (Protect from Magic recommended).

    • Weakness: Ranged (+300 Magic defence, +0 Ranged defence).

    • Behavior: Spawns snakelings and toxic clouds, often attacks after cloud placement in post-update rotations.

Rotations

Zulrah follows one of four main rotations, determined by its second form after the initial green phase:

  • Rotation 1 (Red Second): Legacy style, predictable cloud and attack patterns.

  • Rotation 2 (Blue Second): Clouds spawn before attacks, requiring proactive dodging.

  • Rotation 3 (Green Second): Extra clouds on the east side during red phase, no east safespots.

  • Rotation 4 (Jad Phase): Alternating Ranged and Magic attacks, requiring precise prayer flicking.

Use tools like the Zulrah Helper (available on third-party clients like RuneLite) to track rotations and anticipate Zulrah’s moves. Each rotation lasts ~2-3 minutes, and Zulrah dives into the swamp to switch forms and positions.

Snakelings and Venom

  • Snakelings: Spawned via white orbs, these level 90 monsters have 1 HP but hit up to 15 with Magic or Melee. Use a Ring of Recoil or Ring of Suffering (r/ri) to kill them passively. Prioritize tanking Zulrah’s attacks over flicking snakelings.

  • Venom: Zulrah and snakelings inflict venom, starting at 6 damage and increasing by 2 per hit (up to 20). Counter with:

    • Anti-venom+: Instantly cures venom, recommended for efficiency.

    • Serpentine Helm: Provides venom immunity but has negative Ranged/Magic bonuses, better for beginners.

    • Antipoison++: Reduces venom to regular poison, less effective.

New Zulrah Strategies Post-Update

The 2024 updates have expanded Zulrah strategies, particularly with melee now viable. Below are optimized setups for Ranged, Magic, and Melee, along with rotation tips.

Ranged Setup (Best for Tanzanite Phase)

  • Weapon: Twisted Bow (BiS, especially post-damage cap removal) or Toxic Blowpipe (budget-friendly).

  • Armor: Elite Void (boosts damage and accuracy) or Armadyl (high Ranged bonuses).

  • Amulet: Necklace of Anguish.

  • Cape: Ava’s Assembler.

  • Boots: Pegasian Boots.

  • Ring: Archers Ring (i) or Ring of Suffering (r/ri).

  • Inventory:

    • 1-2 Anti-venom+

    • 1-2 Prayer potions

    • 1-2 Ranging potions

    • Food (Sharks or Manta Rays)

    • Teleport to House tablet

    • Zul-Andra teleport scroll

    • Runes for Magic switch (if hybrid)

Strategy:

  • Use Ranged during the Tanzanite (blue) phase for maximum DPS.

  • Switch to Magic for Green and Red phases to exploit weaknesses.

  • With the damage cap removed, Twisted Bow users can deal massive hits, significantly reducing kill times.

Magic Setup (Best for Green and Red Phases)

  • Weapon: Tumeken’s Shadow (BiS) or Trident of the Swamp (budget).

  • Spell: Fire Surge (leverages Zulrah’s 50% fire weakness) or Trident spells.

  • Armor: Elite Void or Ahrim’s Robes.

  • Amulet: Occult Necklace.

  • Cape: Imbued God Cape.

  • Boots: Eternal Boots.

  • Ring: Seers Ring (i) or Ring of Suffering (r/ri).

  • Inventory: Similar to Ranged, with Magic potions instead of Ranging.

Strategy:

  • Magic shines in Green and Red phases due to low Magic defence.

  • Post-damage cap removal, high-damage spells like Fire Surge with Tumeken’s Shadow can chunk Zulrah quickly.

  • Use Protect from Missiles in Green phases and dodge Red phase melee attacks.

Melee Setup (New in 2024)

  • Weapon: Noxious Halberd (BiS) or Crystal Halberd (budget, special attack useful).

  • Armor: Torva (BiS) or Bandos (budget).

  • Amulet: Amulet of Torture.

  • Cape: Infernal Cape or Fire Cape.

  • Boots: Primordial Boots.

  • Ring: Berserker Ring (i) or Ring of Suffering (r/ri).

  • Inventory: Similar to others, with Super combat potions.

Strategy:

  • Melee is most effective in the Crimson (red) phase, where it can outperform some Magic setups.

  • Position yourself carefully, as halberds require specific range to hit Zulrah.

  • Use the Crystal Halberd’s special attack to finish phases quickly.

  • Melee is a fun alternative but doesn’t replace Ranged/Magic for overall efficiency.

Rotation Tips

  • Learn Rotations: Use a Zulrah rotation guide (e.g., JosephsPalace’s Zulrah Helper) to predict Zulrah’s forms and attacks.

  • Prayer Switching: Flick Protect from Missiles (Green) and Protect from Magic (Blue) based on Zulrah’s form. No prayer is needed for Red phase melee if dodged.

  • Dodge Toxic Clouds: Stand in areas where white orbs (snakelings) spawn, as these are free of clouds.

  • Jad Phase: After ~2 minutes, Zulrah may enter the Jad phase, alternating Ranged and Magic. Practice prayer flicking to avoid damage.

Maximizing Profits: Tips for Efficient Zulrah Farming

To hit the top end of Zulrah’s 3.6M-5.3M GP/hr, follow these tips:

  1. Optimize Gear:

    • Invest in BiS items like Twisted Bow or Tumeken’s Shadow for faster kills.

    • Use Elite Void to save inventory slots and boost damage.

  2. Master Rotations:

    • Memorize the four main rotations to minimize mistakes and downtime.

    • Use RuneLite plugins like Zulrah Helper for real-time rotation tracking.

  3. Efficient Banking:

    • Set up a Player-Owned House (POH) with an ornate rejuvenation pool and fairy ring for quick trips to Zul-Andra.

    • Use Zul-Andra teleport scrolls for faster returns to the shrine.

  4. Minimize Supply Costs:

    • Use Anti-venom+ over Serpentine Helm for long-term cost efficiency.

    • Bring only necessary potions (1-2 per trip) and high-healing food like Manta Rays.

  5. Leverage Melee:

    • Experiment with melee in Red phases to diversify your strategy and reduce reliance on Ranged/Magic supplies.

    • Test Noxious Halberd with max gear for competitive DPS.

  6. Track Loot:

    • Use RuneLite’s Loot Tracker to monitor your profits and adjust strategies.

    • Prioritize high-value drops like Fangs and Visages for maximum GP.

Zulrah Loot Table and Profit Breakdown

Zulrah’s loot table is packed with valuable items, making it a consistent money-maker. Here’s a breakdown of key drops and their impact on profits:

  • Zulrah’s Scales: 100% drop, 100-300 per kill. Used to charge Serpentine items or sold for ~200 GP each.

  • Tanzanite Fang: 1/128, ~1.5M GP. Crafts Toxic Blowpipe.

  • Magic Fang: 1/128, ~1.2M GP. Upgrades Trident of the Seas.

  • Serpentine Visage: 1/128, ~900k GP. Crafts Serpentine Helm.

  • Uncut Onyx: 1/128, ~2.5M GP. Rare but highly valuable.

  • Other Drops: Runes, seeds, herbs, and resources add consistent value.

Profit Example:

  • 20 kills/hour: ~3.07M GP/hr (153,532 GP/kill).

  • 30 kills/hour: ~4.6M GP/hr with BiS gear and optimized rotations.

  • Costs: ~100k-200k GP/hr for potions, food, and teleports.

  • Net Profit: 3.6M-5.3M GP/hr for skilled players.

Beginner Tips: Learning Zulrah on a Budget

If you’re new to Zulrah, don’t be intimidated by its complexity. Here’s how to start:

  1. Budget Gear:

  2. Practice Rotations:

    • Start with fewer switches (e.g., Magic-only with Trident) to learn mechanics.

    • Use a rotation guide and practice in a low-risk environment (items are safe on death).

  3. Venom Protection:

    • Use Serpentine Helm initially to avoid venom management.

    • Transition to Anti-venom+ as you improve.

  4. Safe Death Mechanics:

    • If you die, Priestess Zul-Gwenwynig holds your items. Reclaim them before dying elsewhere to avoid losing gear.

  5. Watch Guides:

    • Check YouTube tutorials or OSRS community guides on osrsmoneymaking.guide for visual rotation walkthroughs.

Advanced Tips: Pushing Zulrah to the Limit

For veteran players aiming for 30+ kills/hour:

  1. Max DPS:

    • Use Twisted Bow or Tumeken’s Shadow to exploit the damage cap removal.

    • Stack damage boosts like Slayer Helm (i) on task, Eagle Eye/Rigour, and potions.

  2. Prayer Flicking:

    • Master prayer flicking in Jad phase to conserve Prayer potions.

    • Flick snakelings only if they overwhelm your Ring of Recoil.

  3. Positioning:

    • Use safespots near pillars to dodge Red phase melee attacks.

    • Anticipate cloud spawns based on rotation for seamless movement.

  4. Hybrid Switching:

    • Combine Ranged and Magic switches for optimal DPS across all phases.

    • Experiment with melee in Red phases for faster clears with Noxious Halberd.

  5. Speedrunning:

    • Aim for sub-2-minute kills by chaining high-damage hits and minimizing downtime.

    • Use RuneLite’s timer to track and improve your kill times.

      Conclusion: Conquer Zulrah and Bank Big in 2025

      Zulrah remains a cornerstone of OSRS money-making in 2025, and the November 2024 updates have made it more exciting and profitable than ever. With melee damage now viable and the damage cap removed, players have unprecedented flexibility to tackle this snake boss with new strategies and gear. Whether you’re wielding a Twisted Bow, casting Fire Surge, or swinging a Noxious Halberd, mastering Zulrah’s rotations and mechanics is the key to unlocking its full profit potential.

      At osrsmoneymaking.guide, we’re committed to helping you maximize your GP/hr with expert guides like this one. Follow our tips, practice your rotations, and optimize your setups to join the ranks of Zulrah slayers earning 5M+ GP/hr. Ready to dive into the swamp? Share your Zulrah kills, profits, and strategies in the comments below, and check out our other OSRS money-making guides for more ways to get rich in Gielinor!