Necklace of Anguish OSRS Ultimate Guide for Ranged Builds

If you’re deep into Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and love slinging arrows or chucking darts, you’ve probably heard of the Necklace of Anguish. This bad boy is a game-changer for ranged combat, and as someone who’s spent countless hours grinding bosses and tweaking my gear setups, I can tell you it’s worth the hype. But is it really the best choice for your build? And how do you even get your hands on one? Let’s dive into everything you need to know about this iconic piece of jewelry, from its stats to its uses, and I’ll throw in some personal tips from my own adventures in Gielinor.

The Necklace of Anguish is a top-tier neck slot item in OSRS, designed specifically for players who want to maximize their ranged damage and accuracy. It’s crafted by enchanting a zenyte necklace with the Lvl-7 Enchant spell, which requires 93 Magic, 20 soul runes, 20 blood runes, and 1 cosmic rune. You’ll also need 75 Hitpoints to equip it. This necklace isn’t just a shiny trinket; it’s a powerhouse for ranged builds, offering the best-in-slot bonuses for ranged attack and strength.

Here’s a quick breakdown of its stats:

Stat	Bonus
Ranged Attack	+15
Ranged Strength	+5
Prayer Bonus	+2

Why does this matter? That +5 ranged strength is a big deal because it directly boosts your max hit, and the +15 ranged attack makes you land those hits more consistently. In my early days as a mid-level ranger, I stuck with an Amulet of Glory, but once I slapped on the Necklace of Anguish, my damage output at bosses like Zulrah felt like it went through the roof.

A Little History Lesson

The Necklace of Anguish came into OSRS as part of the zenyte jewelry set, introduced with the Monkey Madness II update back in 2016. Fun fact: the original developer’s blog proposed a passive healing effect for zenyte jewelry, where it could heal 5% of the damage dealt with a 10% chance, but it didn’t pass the community poll (only 69.1% voted yes, shy of the 75% needed). Honestly, I’m glad it didn’t make it in. The necklace is already strong enough, and adding a healing effect might’ve made it too overpowered.

How to Get the Necklace of Anguish

So, how do you snag this beauty? It’s not as simple as buying a ruby necklace off the Grand Exchange (GE). Here’s the process, based on my own grind and what I’ve learned over the years.

Crafting It Yourself

To craft the Necklace of Anguish, you need a zenyte shard, which is a rare drop from the Thermonuclear Smoke Devil or high-level bosses like Cerberus and Demonic Gorillas. These shards aren’t cheap, often costing millions on the GE. Once you’ve got one, combine it with a gold bar to make a zenyte necklace at a furnace (requires 92 Crafting). Then, enchant it with the Lvl-7 Enchant spell.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Zenyte shard: Dropped by bosses or bought on the GE.
Gold bar: Easy to get, just smelt some gold ore.
93 Magic: For the enchantment spell.
Runes: 20 soul, 20 blood, 1 cosmic.

I remember my first zenyte shard drop from Demonic Gorillas. I was about 200 kills in, and when that shiny shard popped up, I nearly fell out of my chair. It took me a few more hours to grind the Magic level for the enchantment, but the feeling of equipping that fresh Necklace of Anguish was pure bliss.

Buying It

If crafting isn’t your thing, you can buy the Necklace of Anguish directly from the GE. As of my last check in 2025, it hovers around 18-20 million GP, though prices fluctuate. If you’re short on cash, consider flipping items or grinding Slayer for some extra gold. I’ve flipped everything from dragon bones to runes to afford mine back in the day, and it’s a solid strategy if you’re patient.

Last Man Standing Variant

There’s also a version of the Necklace of Anguish in the Last Man Standing minigame. You can get it from chests or crates, but it’s only usable in that minigame and drops on death. I’ve dabbled in LMS for fun, but honestly, the real necklace is what you’re after for PvM or PvP.

Why Is the Necklace of Anguish So Good?

Let’s talk about why this necklace is a must-have for ranged players. The +5 ranged strength is rare—only a few items, like Ava’s assembler or the heavy ballista, offer ranged strength bonuses outside the ammo slot. That extra max hit can make a huge difference when you’re using fast weapons like the toxic blowpipe or chinchompas. Plus, the +15 ranged attack helps you hit more accurately, especially against high-defense bosses.

I’ve used the Necklace of Anguish in all sorts of scenarios, from Slayer tasks to raids. One time, I was struggling with Vorkath using a crossbow and an Amulet of Fury. Switching to the Necklace of Anguish shaved a good 10-15 seconds off my kill times because my dragon bolts were hitting harder and more consistently. It’s not just about raw DPS; it’s about feeling like a ranged god.

Comparing It to Other Necklaces

How does it stack up against other neck slot items? Let’s take a look:

Necklace	Ranged Attack	Ranged Strength	Other Bonuses
Necklace of Anguish	+15	+5	+2 Prayer
Amulet of Fury	+10	0	+10 to all attack styles, +8 defense
Amulet of Glory	+6	0	+3 to all attack styles, +3 Prayer
Amulet of Blood Fury	+10	0	+8 defense, 10% chance to heal 10%

The Amulet of Fury is a solid all-around option, especially if you’re hybridizing or need defense, but it lacks the ranged strength of the Anguish. The Amulet of Glory is great for early-game players, but it’s outclassed by the time you’re tackling endgame content. The Amulet of Blood Fury has a neat healing effect, but for pure ranged DPS, the Necklace of Anguish reigns supreme.

The Anguish Ornament Kit

Want to flex a bit? You can slap an anguish ornament kit on your necklace to create the Necklace of Anguish (or). This kit, obtained from master clue scrolls, is purely cosmetic but makes your necklace look sick. It’s also untradeable once attached, which means you’ll keep it on death against NPCs—a nice perk for hardcore ironmen or anyone who hates losing gear.

The ornament kit costs around 7-8 million GP, and the total cost for the (or) version can hit 26-27 million. I got my kit after grinding clues for weeks, and while it didn’t boost my stats, the compliments I got in the GE hub made it worth it. Fun fact: the design was inspired by a Reddit user named LiterallyPizzaSauce, which just shows how much the OSRS community influences the game.

Where to Use the Necklace of Anguish

This necklace shines in any ranged-heavy scenario. Here are my top picks based on years of playing:

Boss Fights

Zulrah: The extra ranged strength makes your blowpipe or crossbow hit harder, speeding up kills. I noticed a huge difference when I swapped from a Fury to an Anguish here.
Vorkath: Pair it with dragonhunter crossbow for maximum damage. The +15 ranged attack helps land those juicy dragon bolt procs.
Chambers of Xeric: In raids, every bit of DPS counts, and the Anguish is a staple for ranged setups.

Slayer Tasks

If you’re grinding Slayer with a blowpipe or chinchompas, the Necklace of Anguish boosts your XP per hour. I used it for tasks like dust devils and aberrant spectres, and the faster kills meant I could churn through tasks quicker.

PvP Combat

In the Wilderness or PvP worlds, the Necklace of Anguish gives you an edge. That +5 ranged strength can mean the difference between a KO and a near-miss. I’ve had some clutch moments in PvP where my opponent didn’t expect my max hit to be just high enough to finish them off.

Is It Worth the Price?

At 18-20 million GP, the Necklace of Anguish isn’t cheap. So, is it worth it? For me, absolutely. The DPS increase is noticeable, especially with fast weapons like the blowpipe. But if you’re on a budget, you might want to prioritize other upgrades first, like a toxic blowpipe or blessed dragonhide armor. I remember agonizing over whether to buy the Anguish or save for a blowpipe. In the end, I went for the blowpipe first, and I think that was the right call for my playstyle at the time.

Here’s a quick tip: if you’re an ironman or low on cash, focus on getting a Ring of Suffering first. It’s more versatile for raids and bosses due to its defensive bonuses and recoil effect. But for pure ranged DPS, the Anguish is unmatched.

Personal Tips and Tricks

After years of using the Necklace of Anguish, here are some nuggets of wisdom:

Pair it with fast weapons: The +5 ranged strength shines with rapid-fire weapons like the blowpipe or throwing knives. The extra max hit adds up fast.
Use it with Ava’s assembler: The assembler’s ranged strength bonus stacks beautifully with the Anguish for maximum DPS.
Don’t sleep on prayer: That +2 prayer bonus might seem small, but it helps sustain Eagle Eye or Rigour longer, especially in long fights.
Consider the (or) version for ironmen: The untradeable status means you’ll never lose it to NPCs, which is a lifesaver for hardcore accounts.

One time, I was doing a Chambers of Xeric run with my clan, and I forgot to switch to my Amulet of Fury for a melee-heavy room. I still had my Anguish on, and while it wasn’t ideal, the prayer bonus kept me alive longer than I expected. Moral of the story: this necklace is more versatile than you might think.

Common Questions About the Necklace of Anguish

Is the Necklace of Anguish better than the Amulet of Fury?

For ranged combat, yes. The Anguish’s +5 ranged strength and +15 ranged attack outshine the Fury’s balanced stats. But if you’re hybridizing or need defense, the Fury might be better.

Should I get the ornament kit?

If you’ve got the cash and want to flex, go for it. It doesn’t add stats, but it looks cool and protects your necklace on death against NPCs.

Can I use it for PvP?

Absolutely. The extra damage and accuracy make it a killer choice in the Wilderness or PvP worlds.

How do I afford it?

Grind Slayer, flip items on the GE, or tackle bosses like Zulrah or Vorkath. I made my first 20 million by flipping dragon bones and doing Barrows runs.

The Community’s Take

The OSRS community has mixed feelings about the Necklace of Anguish. Some players on Reddit argue it’s overhyped compared to the Ring of Suffering or Lightbearer, especially for ironmen who need versatility. Others swear by it for endgame ranged content like Inferno or Armadyl GWD. I lean toward the latter camp—when I’m ranging, I rarely take it off. But I get why some folks prioritize defensive gear, especially if you’re a “cozy” player who likes to chill and tank hits.

Wrapping It Up

The Necklace of Anguish is a beast for ranged players in OSRS. Its +5 ranged strength and +15 ranged attack make it a no-brainer for bossing, Slayer, and PvP. Whether you’re grinding for a zenyte shard or saving up millions to buy it, the investment pays off in faster kills and better XP rates. From my own experience, it’s been a game-changer at places like Zulrah and Vorkath, and even in PvP, it’s helped me secure some clutch wins.

So, what’s stopping you from grabbing one? If you’re a ranged enthusiast, the Necklace of Anguish should be on your radar. Let me know in the comments what you think—do you love it, or do you think it’s overrated? And if you’ve got any epic stories about using it, I’m all ears!