OSRS Skeletal Wyvern Guide for Beginners and Pros

Skeletal Wyverns in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) are a tough but rewarding Slayer task. These level 140 monsters in the Asgarnian Ice Dungeon can be a goldmine if you know what you’re doing. I’ve been slaying these bony beasts for years, and let me tell you, they’re no walk in Lumbridge. Their icy breath can freeze you solid, and their high defense makes them a slog without the right setup. But with their valuable drops like wyvern bones and the rare draconic visage, they’re worth the effort. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know, from getting there to gear setups, strategies, and tips to maximize your loot. Whether you’re a newbie with 72 Slayer or a seasoned player chasing profits, I’ve got you covered.

So, why even tackle these guys? For starters, they’re one of the most profitable Slayer tasks at mid-to-high levels. Their drops, like noted magic logs, adamant bars, and granite legs, add up fast. Plus, there’s always that slim chance of snagging a draconic visage, which is worth millions. I remember my first visage drop after hours of grinding; my hands were shaking as I teleported to the bank! But it’s not just about the loot. Killing wyverns is a great way to train Slayer and combat stats while banking some serious gold.

Quick question: Ever gotten a big drop from wyverns? Share in the comments!

Requirements to Slay Skeletal Wyverns

Before you charge into the Asgarnian Ice Dungeon, you need to meet some requirements. Here’s the checklist:

• Slayer Level 72: You need this to damage wyverns. If you’re at 67, a wild pie can boost you, but it’s a hassle to keep reboosting.

• Elemental Workshop I or II: These quests unlock the elemental or mind shield, which are crucial for surviving the wyverns’ icy breath. I’d recommend doing both; they’re quick and worth it.

• High Combat Stats: Aim for 80+ in Attack, Strength, Defense, and Ranged, plus 75+ Magic if you’re maging. Trust me, lower stats make this a nightmare.

• Protective Shield: You’ll need an elemental, mind, dragonfire, or ancient wyvern shield to reduce icy breath damage. Without one, you’re looking at hits of 50+ damage. Ouch.

Pro tip: If you can’t afford a dragonfire shield, the elemental shield from Elemental Workshop I is dirt cheap and works just fine.

Getting to the Asgarnian Ice Dungeon

The wyverns live in the Asgarnian Ice Dungeon, south of Port Sarim and west of Mudskipper Point. Getting there is straightforward, but here are the fastest ways:

• Fairy Ring (Code AIQ): Teleport to Mudskipper Point and run north. This is my go-to method because it’s quick and easy.

• Rimmington House Teleport: If your player-owned house is in Rimmington, teleport there and jog southeast. I moved my house to Rimmington just for wyvern trips, and it’s been a game-changer.

• Giantsoul Amulet: Teleport to Branda and Eldric’s Lair and head east. This is great if you’ve got the amulet from recent updates.

• Port Sarim Rat Pits Teleport: If you’ve done Ratcatchers, this minigame teleport drops you close to the dungeon.

Once you’re at the dungeon entrance, head through the icy area and take the southern path to the wyvern chamber. Be careful not to aggro multiple wyverns at once, especially if you’re new. I learned this the hard way when I got frozen by two wyverns and barely made it out alive!

Combat Basics Know Your Enemy

Skeletal Wyverns are level 140 with 200 hitpoints and hit hard with three attack styles:

• Melee: Up to 13 damage if you’re in close range.

• Ranged: Also hits up to 13 and has a 6-tile range.

• Icy Breath: This is the real killer, dealing 50+ damage without a proper shield. It also freezes you for a few seconds, stopping you from attacking or moving.

Their defenses are high, with 140 in stab, slash, and ranged, so you’ll need good gear to land hits consistently. They’re weak to dragonbane weapons like the dragon hunter crossbow or lance, which I highly recommend if you can afford them. Fun fact: their icy breath isn’t affected by antifire potions, so don’t bother bringing those.

Quick question: Which combat style do you prefer for wyverns? Melee, Ranged, or Magic?

Gear and Inventory Setups

Your gear setup depends on your combat style, budget, and whether you’re safespotting or tanking. Below, I’ll break down the best setups for Melee, Ranged, and Magic, based on my own trips and what’s worked best.

Melee Setup

Melee is my favorite way to kill wyverns because it’s fast and efficient. Here’s my Best-in-Slot (BiS) setup and a budget alternative:

Slot	BiS Item	Budget Alternative
Head	Neitiznot Faceguard	Helm of Neitiznot
Neck	Amulet of Torture	Amulet of Glory
Cape	Infernal Cape	Fire Cape
Body	Inquisitor’s Hauberk	Bandos Chestplate
Legs	Inquisitor’s Plateskirt	Bandos Tassets
Weapon	Dragon Hunter Lance	Abyssal Whip
Shield	Dragonfire Shield	Elemental Shield
Gloves	Ferocious Gloves	Barrows Gloves
Boots	Primordial Boots	Dragon Boots
Ring	Berserker Ring (i)	Warrior Ring

Inventory:

• 1 Super Combat Potion

• 2-3 Prayer Potions

• 15-20 high-healing food (sharks or anglerfish)

• Rune Pouch with High Alchemy runes

• Teleport (House Tab or Amulet of Glory)

• Bonecrusher (optional for Slayer tasks)

• Herb Sack and Gem Bag (for extended trips)

Why melee? It’s the fastest for kills per hour, especially with a dragon hunter lance. I once got 90 kills per hour with max melee gear, netting over 1.7M gold per hour. But you’ll take more hits, so bring plenty of food.

Ranged Setup

Ranged is great for safespotting, which I’ll cover later. Here’s the setup:

Slot	BiS Item	Budget Alternative
Head	Armadyl Helmet	Black D’hide Coif
Neck	Necklace of Anguish	Amulet of Glory
Cape	Ava’s Assembler	Ava’s Accumulator
Body	Armadyl Chestplate	Black D’hide Body
Legs	Armadyl Chainskirt	Black D’hide Chaps
Weapon	Dragon Hunter Crossbow	Rune Crossbow
Shield	Ancient Wyvern Shield	Elemental Shield
Ammo	Dragon Bolts (e)	Broad Bolts
Gloves	Barrows Gloves	Black D’hide Vambraces
Boots	Pegasian Boots	Ranger Boots
Ring	Archers Ring (i)	Ring of Wealth

Inventory:

• 1 Bastion Potion

• 2-3 Prayer Potions

• 10-15 food (sharks or better)

• Bolt Pouch (to save inventory space)

• Teleport

• High Alchemy runes

Why ranged? Safespotting makes it safer, and you can pray Protect from Missiles to reduce damage. I used to range wyverns when I had lower defense, and it saved me a ton of food.

Magic Setup

Magic is less common but viable for training Magic alongside Slayer. Here’s the setup:

Slot	BiS Item	Budget Alternative
Head	Ancestral Hat	Ahrim’s Hood
Neck	Occult Necklace	Amulet of Magic
Cape	Imbued God Cape	Regular God Cape
Body	Ancestral Robe Top	Ahrim’s Robetop
Legs	Ancestral Robe Bottom	Ahrim’s Robeskirt
Weapon	Trident of the Swamp	Trident of the Seas
Shield	Ancient Wyvern Shield	Elemental Shield
Gloves	Tormented Bracelet	Barrows Gloves
Boots	Eternal Boots	Infinity Boots
Ring	Seers Ring (i)	Ring of Wealth

Inventory:

• Runes for Fire Surge (or Fire Wave for budget)

• 1-2 Super Magic Potions

• 2-3 Prayer Potions

• 10-15 food

• Teleport

• High Alchemy runes

Why magic? It’s great for training Magic, but it’s costly and slower. I only used Magic when I was grinding for 99 Magic, and Fire Surge worked like a charm against their fire weakness.

Strategies for Killing Skeletal Wyverns

There are two main ways to tackle wyverns: tanking with Melee or safespotting with Ranged/Magic. Let’s break them down.

Tanking with Melee

This is the go-to for max kills per hour. Here’s how I do it:

1. Gear Up: Use the melee setup above. Pop a Super Combat Potion before entering the dungeon.

2. Prayers: Use Protect from Missiles to reduce ranged damage. Flick Piety for faster kills if you’re confident.

3. Positioning: Stand near the entrance to avoid aggroing multiple wyverns. If you get frozen, you can exit the cave to wait it out safely.

4. Dwarf Multicannon: If you’re in the lower cave (not the Slayer-only area), set up a cannon. It speeds up kills, though cannonballs add up in cost. I’ve found the extra drops often cover it.

5. Inventory Management: High Alch rune items and granite legs to save space. Use a Bonecrusher on Slayer tasks to bury wyvern bones automatically.

My experience: Meleeing wyverns feels intense but rewarding. One time, I got cocky and didn’t bring enough food, and I had to teleport out with two wyverns on me. Lesson learned: always over-prepare!

Safespotting with Ranged or Magic

Safespotting is safer and great for lower-level players. Here’s the step-by-step:

1. Lose Aggression: Wait 10-20 minutes near the entrance until wyverns stop attacking you. This is tedious but crucial.

2. Lure the Wyvern: Attack one and lure it behind an obstacle, like the ice structure or cave entrance. Stand one tile northwest of Steve/Pieve for a perfect spot.

3. Attack from Range: Use a crossbow or magic spells from 7+ tiles away to avoid icy breath. Pray Protect from Missiles if you’re not fully safespotted.

4. Stay Patient: Safespotting is slower but requires less food and attention. I used to watch movies while ranging wyverns, clicking every few seconds.

Why safespot? It’s nearly AFK and perfect for Ironmen or players with lower stats. I safespotted for hours when I was training Ranged, and it was chill but profitable.

Drops and Profitability

Skeletal Wyverns are a goldmine thanks to their consistent drops. Here’s what you can expect:

• Guaranteed: Wyvern bones (alch for 96 gp or use for Prayer XP).

• Common Drops: Noted magic logs (35), adamant bars (10), battlestaves (10), runes, and high-alchable rune items.

• Rare Drops: Granite legs, draconic visage (1/10,000 chance), and rare seeds.

Profit breakdown (based on 70 kills/hour):

• Average kill value: ~19,550 gp

• Hourly profit: ~1.3M-1.7M gp with melee, slightly less with ranged/magic

• With max gear and cannon: Up to 2.1M gp/hour

My story: I once got a draconic visage after 1,200 kills, and it felt like winning the lottery. Even without rares, the consistent drops make every trip worthwhile.

Tips and Tricks from Years of Slaying

Here are some hard-earned tips to make your wyvern trips smoother:

• Bring a Bolt Pouch: If ranging, this saves inventory space for bolts.

• Use a Slayer Helmet (i): On task, it boosts damage and accuracy by 16.67%. It’s a must-have.

• High Alch Everything: Rune items and granite legs alch for decent gold. I always bring a rune pouch to avoid banking.

• Avoid Crowded Worlds: The dungeon can get packed, especially during peak hours. Hop worlds to find a quieter one.

• Watch Your Aggro: If you’re not safespotting, stick near the entrance to avoid multi-aggro. I’ve been swarmed before, and it’s not fun.

• Ironman Tip: Bring a Gem Bag, Herb Sack, and Bonecrusher to minimize banking. Wyverns are a great resource for supplies.

Quick question: What’s your favorite wyvern drop? For me, it’s those juicy noted magic logs.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

I’ve seen players (and made these mistakes myself) that can ruin a wyvern trip:

• No Protective Shield: Forgetting an elemental or dragonfire shield is a death sentence. Always double-check.

• Standing in the Middle: This aggroes multiple wyverns, and you’ll get frozen and pummeled. Stick to the edges.

• Low Food: Don’t skimp on food, especially for melee. I once ran out mid-trip and had to scramble for a teleport.

• Ignoring Prayer: Protect from Missiles saves so much damage. Don’t be lazy with prayer potions.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely, Skeletal Wyverns are one of the best Slayer tasks for profit and XP. They’re challenging but manageable with the right setup, and the loot keeps you coming back. I’ve spent countless hours in that icy dungeon, and every trip feels like an adventure. Whether you’re meleeing for max kills or AFK safespotting, there’s a method for every playstyle.

Final thoughts: Get out there, grab your shield, and start slaying. With some practice, you’ll be raking in gold and maybe even that elusive draconic visage. Good luck, and let me know how your wyvern trips go!

Sources:

• OSRS Wiki

• LuckyCharmGold

• VirtGold