How to Craft a Slayer Helm in OSRS

How to Craft a Slayer Helm in OSRS

If you’re diving into the world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS), you’ve probably heard about the Slayer Helm—a must-have for any serious slayer enthusiast. It’s not just a cool-looking helmet; it’s a game-changer for boosting your slayer tasks. As someone who’s been slaying monsters in Gielinor for years, I’m excited to share my step-by-step guide on crafting this iconic item. I’ll sprinkle in some personal tips, tricks, and even a few mistakes I made along the way. Ready to craft your own Slayer Helm? Let’s get started!

The Slayer Helm is a powerful piece of headgear that combines the effects of several slayer-related items. It gives you a 15% boost to Attack and Strength when on a slayer task, plus it protects you from specific monster effects (like banshee screams). It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for slayer tasks—versatile and super handy.

Why should you care?

  • It saves inventory space by combining multiple items.

  • It makes slayer tasks faster, meaning more XP and loot.

  • It’s a flex to show off your slayer prowess!

When I first started slaying, I didn’t bother with the helm. Big mistake! I was lugging around a nose peg, earmuffs, and a mirror shield, wasting precious inventory slots. Once I crafted my Slayer Helm, my efficiency skyrocketed. Trust me, you don’t want to skip this one.

Slayer Helm vs. Black Mask: What’s the Difference?

Before we dive into crafting, let’s clear up some confusion. The Black Mask is the base item for the Slayer Helm, and it’s uncharged. The Slayer Helm is the upgraded, combined version. The Black Mask alone gives the 15% boost, but it doesn’t have the protective effects of the helm. Think of the Slayer Helm as the Black Mask’s cooler, more powerful cousin.

Requirements for Crafting the Slayer Helm

Crafting a Slayer Helm isn’t something you can do right off the bat. You’ll need specific skills, items, and a bit of grinding. Here’s what you need:

Skill Requirements

  • 55 Crafting: This is non-negotiable to assemble the helm.

  • Level 1 Slayer: You’ll need to unlock the ability to buy the helm recipe.

  • 20 Defence: To wear the helm or Black Mask.

I remember grinding Crafting to 55 by making gold bracelets in Al Kharid. It was tedious, but the sense of accomplishment was worth it. What’s your least favorite skill to train? For me, it’s always been Crafting!

Quest Requirements

You don’t need to complete any quests to craft the helm, but you’ll need access to certain areas for the items. For example, the Fremennik Isles or Mourning’s End Part II quests can help you get to places where you can buy or kill for the required items.

Items Needed

Here’s the shopping list for crafting a Slayer Helm:

Item

How to Get It

Approximate Cost (GP)

Black Mask (10)

Dropped by Cave Horrors (requires 58 Slayer) or bought from the Grand Exchange.

500k–1M

Nose Peg

Bought from any Slayer Master for 60 GP.

60

Earmuffs

Bought from any Slayer Master for 200 GP.

200

Mirror Shield

Bought from any Slayer Master for 5,000 GP or dropped by Cockatrice/Basilisks.

5k–10k

Facemask

Bought from any Slayer Master for 200 GP.

200

Spiny Helmet

Bought from any Slayer Master for 650 GP or dropped by Wall Beasts.

650–1k

Enchanted Gem

Bought from any Slayer Master for 1 GP.

1

You’ll also need 1,250 Slayer reward points to unlock the “Malevolent Masquerade” ability, which lets you craft the helm. If you’re short on points, I recommend doing a few low-level tasks with a Slayer Master like Turael to rack them up quickly.

Pro Tip: Always check the Grand Exchange prices before buying items. I once overpaid for a Black Mask because I was too eager to craft my helm. Don’t be like me!

Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting the Slayer Helm

Now that you’ve got the requirements, let’s walk through the process. I’ll break it down into simple steps so you can follow along, even if you’re a total noob.

Step 1: Unlock the Crafting Ability

Head to any Slayer Master (I usually go to Duradel in Shilo Village because he’s chill) and spend 1,250 Slayer reward points to unlock “Malevolent Masquerade.” This teaches you how to craft the Slayer Helm. If you don’t have enough points, cancel some tasks or do a few quick ones to grind them out.

How long does it take to get 1,250 points?
It depends on your Slayer level, but expect 10–15 tasks if you’re starting from zero. I got mine by chaining tasks with Vannaka in Edgeville—steady and reliable.

Step 2: Gather the Items

Collect all the items listed in the table above. The trickiest one is the Black Mask (10). You can either:

  • Kill Cave Horrors: These are in Mos Le’Harmless, and you’ll need 58 Slayer and a witchwood icon (buy it for 900 GP). The drop rate is about 1/512, so bring good gear and pray for RNGesus.

  • Buy from the Grand Exchange: If you’ve got the cash, this is faster. I went the killing route and spent hours in that creepy cave. Got the mask eventually, but my sanity took a hit!

For the other items, just visit a Slayer Master. They’re cheap and easy to grab.

Step 3: Craft the Helm

Once you have everything, make sure you’ve got 55 Crafting. Go to your inventory, use the Black Mask on any of the other items (like the nose peg), and select the option to craft the Slayer Helm. Boom—you’ve done it!

Fun Fact: The first time I crafted mine, I was so nervous I’d mess it up. Spoiler: You can’t. The game makes it foolproof.

Step 4: Imbue the Helm (Optional)

If you want to make your Slayer Helm even better, you can imbue it at the Nightmare Zone or Soul Wars for 500,000 NMZ points or 250 Zeal Tokens. This upgrades it to a Slayer Helm (i), which keeps the 15% boost even when you’re not on a task (great for bossing).

I imbued mine after saving up NMZ points from killing goblins. It took a while, but the imbued helm is a beast for tasks like Cerberus or Vorkath.

Tips and Tricks from My Slayer Journey

Here are some nuggets of wisdom I’ve picked up over years of slaying:

  • Save Your Points Wisely: Don’t spend Slayer points on anything else until you unlock the helm. I wasted mine on a bigger task list early on—regretted it big time.

  • Use a Cannon for Cave Horrors: If you’re hunting for the Black Mask, a dwarf cannon speeds things up. I didn’t use one at first and spent way too long in that cave.

  • Check Your Inventory: Make sure you have all items before crafting. I once forgot the enchanted gem and had to trek back to a Slayer Master. Embarrassing!

  • Slayer Helm Variants: You can make colored versions (red, green, black, etc.) by using dyes on the helm. I rocked a purple one for a while just to flex at the GE.

What’s your favorite Slayer task? Mine’s dust devils—easy and profitable!

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even seasoned players mess up sometimes. Here’s what to watch out for:

Forgetting to Unlock the Recipe

You can’t craft the helm without spending those 1,250 points. Double-check your Slayer rewards menu before you start.

Not Checking Black Mask Charges

The Black Mask needs to have 10 charges to craft the helm. If it’s uncharged, you’ll need to recharge it with a Slayer Master for 1M GP. I learned this the hard way when my mask was at zero charges.

Skimping on Gear for Cave Horrors

If you’re killing Cave Horrors, bring decent gear (like a whip or dragon scimitar) and protect-from-melee prayer. Those monsters hit hard if you’re underprepared.

Final Thoughts: Is the Slayer Helm Worth It?

Absolutely, yes! The Slayer Helm is a game-changer for anyone serious about slayer. It’s saved me countless inventory slots and made tasks like banshees and basilisks a breeze. Plus, it’s just fun to wear something that screams, “I’m a slayer pro!”

Crafting my first Slayer Helm felt like a rite of passage in OSRS. I still remember the thrill of equipping it and heading out on my first task—dust devils, of course. Whether you’re a newbie or a maxed player, this helm is a must-have.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab those items, grind those points, and craft your Slayer Helm today. Got any slayer tips of your own? Drop them in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories from Gielinor!