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Best DPS Ranged OSRS Guide for Maximum Damage
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players know that mastering ranged combat is key to dominating PvM and PvP scenarios. Ranged offers high damage per second (DPS) and the safety of attacking from a distance, making it a favorite for tackling bosses like Zulrah or raiding in Chambers of Xeric. In this guide, we’ll explore the best ranged weapons, gear, and strategies to maximize your DPS in 2025, ensuring you get the most out of your ranged setup.
Ranged is one of the three combat styles in OSRS, alongside melee and magic. Its high DPS makes it ideal for PvM, where many bosses are weak to ranged attacks. According to community discussions, ranged is often the go-to for high-tier content due to its ability to deal consistent damage while maintaining distance . Understanding DPS (damage per second) is crucial—it measures how much damage you can output over time, factoring in attack speed, accuracy, and max hit.
Key Factors Affecting Ranged DPS
- Weapon Choice: Faster weapons like the Toxic Blowpipe prioritize speed, while heavy hitters like the Twisted Bow excel against high-defense targets.
- Ammunition: Enchanted bolts or specific arrows can drastically boost DPS.
- Gear Bonuses: Ranged strength and accuracy from gear directly impact your output.
- Prayers and Potions: Eagle Eye and Ranging Potions increase accuracy and damage.
Top Ranged Weapons for Maximum DPS
Choosing the right weapon is the cornerstone of a high-DPS ranged setup. Below, we rank the best ranged weapons in OSRS for 2025, based on their DPS against various targets, using data from DPS calculators like the OSRS Wiki’s tool .
Toxic Blowpipe
The Toxic Blowpipe is a two-handed dart weapon with an attack speed of 3 (2.25 seconds per attack in PvM), making it one of the fastest ranged weapons. Requiring 75 Ranged, it offers a +60 Ranged attack bonus and a 25% chance to inflict venom, which scales to 100% with a Serpentine Helm . It’s ideal for low-to-mid defense targets like Zulrah or general Slayer tasks.
Pros: High attack speed, venom effect, affordable ammo (Zulrah’s scales).
Cons: Less effective against high-defense targets, requires charging.
Twisted Bow
The Twisted Bow is the king of ranged DPS against high-defense, high-magic-level targets. Its damage scales with the target’s Magic level, making it unmatched for bosses like Chambers of Xeric’s Olm or high-level PvM . It requires 85 Ranged and is a rare drop from Chambers of Xeric.
Pros: Unrivaled DPS against high-Magic targets, long attack range.
Cons: Extremely expensive, situational effectiveness.
Armadyl Crossbow
The Armadyl Crossbow shines against high-hitpoint targets when paired with enchanted Ruby or Diamond bolts. With a +100 Ranged attack bonus and the ability to equip a shield, it’s a strong choice for dragons like Vorkath . It requires 70 Ranged.
Pros: High accuracy, bolt enchantments, shield compatibility.
Cons: Slower attack speed (3.6 seconds per attack).
Dwarf Multicannon
While not a traditional weapon, the Dwarf Multicannon boosts DPS by supplementing your attacks. It deals up to 30 (or 35 with granite cannonballs) max hit and provides half Ranged XP per hit . Unlocked via the Dwarf Cannon quest, it’s excellent for training and multi-combat zones.
Pros: Passive DPS, boosts XP rates.
Cons: Restricted areas, decays after 30 minutes.
Bow of Faerdhinen
The Bow of Faerdhinen (Bowfa) is a versatile weapon with a +128 Ranged attack bonus and +106 Ranged strength, requiring 80 Ranged. It’s highly effective against mid-to-high-defense targets and doesn’t require ammo, making it cost-efficient .
Pros: High DPS, no ammo cost, strong in most scenarios.
Cons: Requires Crystal Armour for optimal use, expensive to obtain.
Best Ranged Gear Setups for DPS
Your gear setup is just as important as your weapon. Below is a table of the best-in-slot (BiS) ranged gear for maximum DPS, tailored for high-level players. Mid-tier alternatives are also provided for accessibility.
| Slot | Best-in-Slot (BiS) | Mid-Tier Alternative | Ranged Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head | Masori Mask (f) (+15) | Armadyl Helmet (+10) | +15 / +10 |
| Cape | Ava’s Assembler (+8) | Ava’s Accumulator (+4) | +8 / +4 |
| Body | Masori Body (f) (+43) | Armadyl Chestplate (+33) | +43 / +33 |
| Legs | Masori Chaps (f) (+27) | Armadyl Chainskirt (+20) | +27 / +20 |
| Weapon | Twisted Bow (+70) | Toxic Blowpipe (+60) | +70 / +60 |
| Amulet | Necklace of Anguish (+15) | Amulet of Glory (+10) | +15 / +10 |
| Ring | Venator Ring (+10) | Archers Ring (i) (+8) | +10 / +8 |
Why Masori and Ava’s Assembler Shine
Masori gear offers unmatched Ranged strength and accuracy, boosting DPS significantly. Ava’s Assembler, unlocked via Dragon Slayer II, recovers ammunition and adds +2 Ranged strength, making it essential for sustained DPS .
Budget Gear Tips
For players on a budget, God D’hide armour (Blessed Dragonhide) and a Rune Crossbow with Broad Bolts provide decent DPS at a fraction of the cost. Focus on upgrading your cape (Ava’s Accumulator) and amulet (Amulet of Fury) for the best bang-for-buck improvements.
Optimizing DPS with Combat Modifiers
Combat modifiers like prayers, potions, and special attacks can push your DPS to the next level. Here’s how to optimize them:
Prayers
- Eagle Eye: Boosts Ranged accuracy by 15%.
- Rigour: Increases Ranged accuracy by 20%, damage by 23%, and Defence by 25%. Unlocked via Chambers of Xeric.
Potions
- Ranging Potion: Boosts Ranged level by 4 + 10% (up to +13 at 99 Ranged).
- Bastion Potion: Combines Ranged and Defence boosts, ideal for prolonged fights.
Special Attacks
Weapons like the Armadyl Crossbow (with enchanted bolts) or the Dragon Hunter Crossbow have special attacks that can spike DPS. For example, Ruby Bolts (e) can deal massive hits against high-HP targets, perfect for bosses like TzKal-Zuk .
Strategies for High-DPS Ranged Training
Maximizing DPS isn’t just about gear—it’s about where and how you fight. Here are proven strategies to boost your ranged DPS while training or bossing.
Safe Spotting
Safe spotting allows you to attack enemies without taking damage, maximizing DPS uptime. Popular spots include:
- Sand Crabs: Low-defense targets for early training, ideal with a Dwarf Multicannon.
- Zulrah: Use pillars to avoid damage while unloading with a Toxic Blowpipe.
Slayer for DPS and XP
Training Ranged via Slayer tasks with a Slayer Helmet (i) boosts DPS by 16.67% against assigned monsters. Combine with a Toxic Blowpipe or Bowfa for high XP rates (up to 1M XP/hour at high levels) .
Bossing for Profit and DPS Practice
Bosses like Callisto, Vet’ion, or Cerberus are weak to Ranged and offer great loot. Use a DPS calculator to optimize your setup for each boss’s defense stats . For example:
- Callisto: Bowfa with Crystal Armour for consistent DPS.
- Cerberus: Armadyl Crossbow with Diamond Bolts (e) for high burst damage.
By combining the right weapons, gear, and strategies, you can achieve top-tier ranged DPS in OSRS. Whether you’re grinding Slayer or tackling endgame bosses, this guide equips you to dominate Gielinor’s toughest challenges in 2025.
