Ankou OSRS Slayer Guide

Ankou OSRS Slayer Guide

Ankou are skeletal, ghostly monsters in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) that make for an excellent Slayer task due to their decent experience rates and valuable drops, such as death and blood runes. Assigned by various Slayer Masters at combat level 40 or higher, Ankous are undead creatures, making them vulnerable to specific gear like the Salve Amulet. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know to efficiently complete an Ankou Slayer task, including locations, gear setups, strategies, and tips to maximize your XP and loot.

Ankou tasks are popular among OSRS players for several reasons. They offer a balance of accessibility, decent Slayer XP, and profitable drops, making them suitable for both mid-level and high-level players.

Key Benefits of Ankou Tasks

  • Decent XP Rates: Ankous provide good Slayer XP, especially when using a dwarf multicannon or bursting in the Catacombs of Kourend.
  • Valuable Drops: Common drops include death and blood runes, with rare chances for clue scrolls and other loot.
  • Undead Advantage: As undead creatures, Ankous are weak to the Salve Amulet’s bonuses, boosting damage and accuracy.
  • Multiple Locations: Ankous can be found in various dungeons, offering flexibility based on your preferences and risk tolerance.

Slayer Masters for Ankou Tasks

Ankou tasks can be assigned by the following Slayer Masters:

For the fastest XP, stick with Nieve or Duradel, as their task lists are optimized for efficiency. Avoid Konar if prioritizing XP, as her tasks can be slower due to location-specific requirements.

Best Locations to Fight Ankous

Ankou OSRS Guide Rune Fanatics

Ankous are found in several locations across Gielinor, each with unique advantages and challenges. Below are the top spots to complete your Ankou Slayer task, along with their pros and cons.

Catacombs of Kourend

The Catacombs of Kourend is the best location for Ankou tasks due to its high spawn density and unique drop table.

  • Spawns: 10 Ankou spawns (combat levels 75–86).
  • Access: Use a Kourend Castle teleport or a portal in your Player-Owned House (POH).
  • Advantages: Multi-combat area allows for bursting or cannon use; access to the Catacombs’ unique drop table, including ancient shards and totem pieces.
  • Drawbacks: Can be crowded during peak hours.

Stronghold Slayer Cave

Located in the Stronghold of Security, this is a great option for free-to-play (F2P) players or those seeking a safer spot.

  • Spawns: 8 Ankou spawns (combat levels 75, 82, 86).
  • Access: Use a Slayer Ring or the Spirit Tree at the Grand Exchange.
  • Advantages: Safe, with a safespot near the rockslide; supports dwarf multicannon use.
  • Drawbacks: Fewer spawns compared to the Catacombs, resulting in slower kills.

Wilderness Slayer Cave

For risk-takers, the Wilderness Slayer Cave offers high XP rates but comes with the danger of player killers (PKers).

  • Spawns: 16 Ankou spawns (combat level 98).
  • Access: Teleport to Ferox Enclave and run east to the level 18 entrance.
  • Advantages: Multi-combat area ideal for cannon use; potential for Wilderness-specific drops like Larran’s keys.
  • Drawbacks: High risk of PKers; requires a risk-controlled inventory.

The Forgotten Cemetery

Another Wilderness option, this location is less crowded but still risky.

  • Spawns: Normal Ankous in a single-combat area.
  • Access: Located around level 30 Wilderness; use a teleport to the Wilderness.
  • Advantages: Safespot behind the southwest coffin; fewer PKers than the Wilderness Slayer Cave.
  • Drawbacks: Single-combat limits XP rates; Wilderness risks apply.

Recommended Gear and Inventory Setups

Ankous use melee attacks with a max hit of 8, making them relatively easy to tank. However, optimizing your gear and inventory can significantly improve efficiency. Below are setups for different combat styles.

Melee Setup

Melee is the most cost-effective and common style for Ankou tasks due to its high damage output and low cost.

Slot Best-in-Slot Budget Alternative
Head Slayer Helmet (i) Black Mask
Neck Salve Amulet (ei) Amulet of Glory
Weapon Abyssal Whip Dragon Scimitar
Body Bandos Chestplate Rune Platebody
Legs Bandos Tassets Rune Platelegs

Note: The Salve Amulet (ei) provides a 20% damage and accuracy boost against undead but does not stack with the Slayer Helmet. Use the Salve Amulet if off-task or prioritizing damage.

Ranged Setup

Ranged is viable for safespotting or in multi-combat areas like the Wilderness Slayer Cave.

  • Weapon: Venator Bow (for splash damage in Catacombs) or Toxic Blowpipe.
  • Ammo: Limit to 300 arrows/darts in the Wilderness to minimize risk.
  • Armor: Armadyl or Blessed Dragonhide for high ranged bonuses.

Magic Setup (Bursting)

Bursting Ankous in the Catacombs of Kourend is the fastest XP method but requires high Magic levels and runes.

  • Weapon: Trident of the Seas or Swamp.
  • Armor: Ahrim’s Robes or Ancestral for maximum Magic damage.
  • Spells: Ice Burst or Barrage for multi-target damage.

Inventory Recommendations

  • Food: Sharks or Monkfish for healing.
  • Potions: Super Combat, Prayer Potions, and Ranging/Magic Potions as needed.
  • Teleport: Emergency teleport (e.g., Glory or Slayer Ring) for Wilderness tasks.
  • Cannon: Dwarf Multicannon with cannonballs for multi-combat areas.

Strategies for Efficient Ankou Slaying

To maximize your Slayer XP and loot, employ these strategies tailored to each location and combat style.

Using a Dwarf Multicannon

A dwarf multicannon significantly speeds up Ankou tasks in multi-combat areas like the Wilderness Slayer Cave or Stronghold Slayer Cave.

  • Setup: Place the cannon in the center of Ankou spawns (e.g., middle of the Wilderness Slayer Cave).
  • Tactic: Attack Ankous to aggro them, then stay near the cannon to avoid excessive damage.
  • XP Rates: Expect the highest Slayer XP in the Wilderness Slayer Cave due to the high spawn count.

Safespotting

Safespots allow you to kill Ankous without taking damage, ideal for low-defense accounts or pures.

  • Stronghold Slayer Cave: Trap an Ankou on the northern corner tile of the rockslide, then stand one tile south to keep it stuck.
  • Catacombs of Kourend: Aggro Ankous and stand behind a skeleton in the southeast corner.
  • Forgotten Cemetery: Use the safespot behind the southwest coffin.

Bursting in the Catacombs

For high-level players, bursting with Ice Burst or Barrage in the Catacombs is the fastest way to complete Ankou tasks.

  • Tactic: Lure Ankous to stack them in a tight area, then cast multi-target spells.
  • Runes: Bring plenty of Chaos, Death, and Water runes for Ice Burst.
  • XP Rates: Can exceed 70k Slayer XP per hour with optimal gear and stats.

Tips and Common Mistakes to Avoid

To ensure a smooth Ankou Slayer task, keep these tips in mind and avoid common pitfalls.

Top Tips for Success

  • Use Protect from Melee: Ankous only use melee attacks, so this prayer negates all damage. Bring Prayer Potions to sustain it.
  • Extend the Task: Use Slayer Points to extend Ankou tasks, as they’re worth it for XP (adds ~100 more Ankous).

  • Wilderness Caution: Limit valuable items in the Wilderness and have an escape plan for PKers.
  • Loot Efficiently: Prioritize high-value drops like blood/death runes and clue scrolls to maximize profit.

Common Mistakes

  • Wrong Gear: Not using a Salve Amulet or Slayer Helmet reduces efficiency. Always equip one for undead/Slayer bonuses.

  • Overloading in Wilderness: Bringing too many arrows or valuables risks heavy losses to PKers.
  • Ignoring Safespots: Low-level players may take unnecessary damage without using available safespots.
  • Neglecting Prayer: Failing to use Protect from Melee can drain food supplies quickly.

By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle Ankou Slayer tasks in OSRS with confidence. Whether you’re cannoning in the Wilderness, bursting in the Catacombs, or safespotting in the Stronghold, Ankous offer a rewarding and efficient Slayer experience. Happy slaying!