Killing General Graardor

Introduction to General Graardor

General Graardor, the fearsome Bandosian warlord, stands as one of the most iconic bosses in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). Residing in the God Wars Dungeon, this hulking Ourg is a favorite among players seeking high-profit money-making opportunities. Known for his brute strength and devastating melee attacks, Graardor offers a thrilling challenge that rewards skilled adventurers with valuable loot, including Bandos armor and the coveted pet, General’s Shadow. Killing General Graardor is a popular method for players looking to amass wealth, requiring a blend of preparation, combat prowess, and teamwork (or solo expertise) to maximize efficiency and earnings.

Requirements

To take on General Graardor effectively, players need to meet specific prerequisites and possess adequate combat skills. Below are the key requirements:

• Combat Level: A minimum combat level of 100 is recommended, though 110+ is ideal for smoother kills and better survivability.
• Strength Level: 80+ Strength is highly advised to deal significant damage and speed up kills.
• Attack Level: 70+ Attack to wield decent weapons like the Abyssal Whip or better.
• Defence Level: 70+ Defence to equip Bandos armor or other high-tier gear and withstand Graardor’s powerful hits.
• Prayer Level: 70+ Prayer for access to Piety, which boosts melee stats significantly.
• Hitpoints Level: 80+ Hitpoints to endure the boss’s attacks and minion aggression.
• Slayer Task: Optional but recommended—completing a “Bandosian Guard” Slayer task from a high-level Slayer master (e.g., Duradel) allows the use of a Slayer Helmet for bonus damage and accuracy.
• Quests and Items: Completion of Death Plateau and Troll Stronghold (partial) to access the God Wars Dungeon. You’ll also need a rope (first-time entry), a hammer, and 40 Bandos kills (or an Ecumenical Key) to enter the boss room without a kill count.
• Team or Solo: While soloing is possible with high stats and gear, most players opt for a team of 2-4 to split aggro and increase kill speed.

Gear Setup

Your gear setup is critical for surviving Graardor’s onslaught and maximizing damage output. Below is a recommended setup, with budget and high-end options:

Melee Gear (Recommended)

• Notes:
• The Slayer Helmet is a must if on a Slayer task for its bonuses.
• High-end weapons like the Scythe of Vitur excel in multi-target damage (hitting Graardor and minions), while the Abyssal Whip paired with a Dragon Defender is a solid budget choice.
• Prioritize Strength and Attack bonuses over Defence unless soloing, where tankiness becomes more important.

Ranged Option (Alternative)

For those preferring to safe-spot or contribute in a team:

• Head: Armadyl Helmet or Void Ranger Helm
• Body: Armadyl Chestplate or Elite Void Top
• Legs: Armadyl Chainskirt or Elite Void Robe
• Weapon: Twisted Bow or Toxic Blowpipe
• Ammo: Dragon Arrows (Twisted Bow) or Zulrah Scales + Darts (Blowpipe)

Ranged setups are less common but viable for avoiding melee damage, especially in larger teams.

Inventory Setup

Your inventory should balance combat sustainability with loot collection. Here’s a standard setup:

• Prayer Potions: 4-6 Prayer Potions (4) to maintain Piety or Protect from Melee.
• Food: 4-8 Sharks or better (e.g., Manta Rays, Anglerfish) for healing. Solo players may need more.
• Super Combat Potion: 1-2 Super Combat Potions (4) to boost Attack, Strength, and Defence.
• Emergency Teleport: One-click teleport like a Teleport Tab or Rune Pouch with runes for Varrock Teleport.
• Stamina Potion: 1 Stamina Potion (4) for running to and from the boss room.
• Special Attack Weapon: Dragon Claws, Dragon Dagger (p++), or Granite Maul for burst damage.
• Bonecrusher (optional): Automatically buries bones dropped by minions, saving inventory space.
• Empty Spaces: 5-10 slots for loot, depending on trip length.

Team Inventory Adjustments

• In teams, reduce food and potions slightly (e.g., 2-4 Prayer Potions, 2-4 Sharks) since damage is split among players.
• Bring a Guthan’s set or Blood Barrage runes if planning long trips with healing off minions.

Getting to the Boss

Reaching General Graardor requires navigating the God Wars Dungeon, located north of Trollheim. Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Travel to Trollheim: Teleport to Trollheim using a Trollheim Teleport (requires 61 Magic and Eadgar’s Ruse) or use a Stony Basalt (from Making Friends with My Arm).
2. Enter the Dungeon: Climb down the cliffside using a rope (first visit only) and head north to the main dungeon entrance.
3. Gain Bandos Kill Count: Kill 40 Bandos-aligned monsters (e.g., goblins, ogres, orks) in the dungeon. Each kill counts as 1, but higher-level monsters like Spiritual Warriors are faster. Alternatively, use an Ecumenical Key (up to 3 per day from Wilderness bosses) to skip this step.
4. Enter the Boss Room: Equip at least one piece of Bandos gear (e.g., Bandos Boots) to avoid aggression from NPCs outside. The door is in the northwest corner of the dungeon—bring a hammer to bypass the boulder if needed.
5. Banking: Use a Games Necklace to teleport to Burthorpe for quick banking between trips, then return via Trollheim.

Combat Strategy

General Graardor uses melee attacks exclusively, hitting up to 60+ damage, alongside three minions (Sergeant Steelwill, Strongstack, and Grimspike) who use Magic, Melee, and Ranged attacks, respectively. Here’s how to tackle him:

Solo Strategy

• Prayer: Activate Protect from Melee immediately upon entering to negate Graardor’s damage. Flick Piety on and off to conserve Prayer when safe.
• Positioning: Stand in a corner to lure Graardor away from minions, reducing multi-target damage. Attack, then step away to avoid his melee range briefly.
• Special Attacks: Use Dragon Claws or Granite Maul specials when Graardor’s health is low to finish him quickly.
• Minions: Kill Sergeant Grimspike (Ranged) first if taking excessive damage, then focus Graardor. The others can often be ignored with high Defence.
• Healing: Eat food when below 50 Hitpoints, and sip Prayer Potions to maintain protection.

Team Strategy

• Tank Role: One player (highest Defence) tanks Graardor with Protect from Melee, standing still to hold aggro.
• DPS Roles: Others use Piety and focus on dealing damage, staying out of Graardor’s melee range when possible.
• Minion Control: Assign one player to kill minions if their damage becomes overwhelming, starting with Grimspike.
• Coordination: Call out special attacks to burst Graardor down simultaneously, reducing trip time.

Kill Speed

• Solo: 5-10 kills per trip (10-15 minutes).
• Team (3-4 players): 20-30 kills per hour, depending on gear and coordination.

Loot and Profit

General Graardor’s drops make him a lucrative money-making option. Below are the key items and their approximate values (as of April 2025, subject to market fluctuation):

Notable Drops

• Average Profit per Kill: 100K-200K GP, with rare drops spiking profits significantly.
• Hourly Profit:
• Solo: 1M-2M GP/hour.
• Team (3-4 players): 2M-4M GP/hour per player, assuming loot is split evenly.

Additional Notes

• The Bandos Hilt combines with Godsword Shards to create a Bandos Godsword, a valuable tradeable weapon.
• Common drops like Rune items and coins add consistent income between big drops.
• Use an Herb Sack or Seed Box if collecting secondary drops like Snapdragon Seeds (50K-70K each).

Tips and Tricks

Maximize your efficiency and profits with these expert tips:

• Optimize Kill Count: Wear a Ring of Wealth to increase rare drop chances and use AoE weapons (e.g., Chinchompas) to speed up kill count outside the boss room.
• Prayer Flicking: Master flicking Protect from Melee to save Prayer Potions, especially solo.
• Bank Efficiently: Drop low-value items (e.g., Rune Longswords) under 50K GP to save inventory space for big drops.
• Team Communication: Use Discord or in-game chat to coordinate specials and roles, reducing downtime.
• Slayer Task Boost: Always check for a Bandosian Guard task—Slayer Helmet bonuses increase kills per hour by 10-15%.
• Avoid Peak Hours: Fight Graardor during off-peak server times to avoid competition for worlds.
• Gear Upgrades: Invest profits into better gear (e.g., Scythe of Vitur) to snowball your earnings over time.

Killing General Graardor is a rewarding endeavor that blends high-stakes combat with substantial financial gain. With the right preparation and execution, you’ll be raking in millions of GP while mastering one of OSRS’s most exhilarating bosses. Happy hunting!

Conclusion

Killing General Graardor stands out as a premier money-making method in Old School RuneScape, offering both excitement and substantial rewards for those willing to brave the God Wars Dungeon. With the right combination of combat skills, gear, and strategy, players can turn this hulking Bandosian general into a reliable source of wealth, whether soloing for personal glory or teaming up for shared profits. The potential for multi-million GP drops like the Bandos Chestplate or Tassets, coupled with consistent income from common loot, makes every trip a thrilling gamble. By refining your setup, mastering combat tactics, and applying the tips provided, you’ll not only conquer Graardor but also build a fortune worthy of a true RuneScape legend.