Best Monsters to Kill for Money in OSRS 2025

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), slaying monsters is one of the most exciting and profitable ways to earn gold. Whether you’re a low-level player or a seasoned veteran, choosing the right monsters can maximize your profits while leveling up your combat skills. This guide explores the best monsters to kill for money in OSRS as of 2025, focusing on accessibility, profitability, and requirements. From beginner-friendly creatures to high-level bosses, we’ll cover strategies, gear, and expected profits to help you fill your coin pouch.
Combat-based money-making in OSRS is popular because it’s engaging, skill-building, and diverse. Unlike skilling methods, killing monsters offers loot, experience, and the thrill of battle. With the right setup, you can earn millions of gold per hour while progressing toward high-level content like bossing or Slayer. Below, we’ll dive into the best monsters for various player levels, ensuring there’s something for everyone.
Low-Level Monsters for Beginners
New players or those with combat stats below 60 can still make decent money by targeting low-level monsters. These creatures require minimal gear and skills, making them ideal for free-to-play (F2P) or early members.
Chaos Druids
Location: Taverley Dungeon
Requirements: None (Members), 10 Agility for shortcut
Profit: 180K–200K GP/hour
Chaos Druids are a go-to for new players due to their low combat level (13) and valuable herb drops, especially Ranarr Weeds. Found in Taverley Dungeon, they’re easy to kill with basic melee gear like Rune armor. Bring a Falador teleport for quick banking and a looting bag to extend trips. Watch out for aggressive monsters in the dungeon if your combat level is low.
- Recommended Gear: Rune scimitar, Rune armor, Amulet of Strength
- Strategy: Attack Druids, collect herbs, and bank at Falador.
Green Dragons
Location: Wilderness (northwest of Edgeville, Graveyard of Shadows)
Requirements: Anti-dragon shield, 20+ combat (Members)
Profit: 400K–1M GP/hour
Green Dragons are a classic money-maker, dropping Green Dragonhide and Dragon Bones with every kill, worth around 4,000 GP each. Their Wilderness location adds risk from PKers, so stay alert and bring minimal risk gear. Use an Anti-dragon shield to counter their fire breath and a Games Necklace for quick teleports.
- Recommended Gear: Dragon Dagger (p++), Anti-dragon shield, Monk robes
- Strategy: Kill dragons, collect hides and bones, teleport to Edgeville to bank.
Mid-Level Monsters for Steady Profits
Players with combat stats between 60–80 and some Slayer levels can target mid-tier monsters for consistent gold. These require moderate gear and often Slayer tasks for maximum efficiency.
Aberrant Spectres
Location: Canifis Slayer Tower, Stronghold Slayer Cave
Requirements: 60 Slayer, Nose peg/Slayer helmet
Profit: 600K–900K GP/hour
Aberrant Spectres are fantastic for herb and seed drops, including Ranarr Weeds (7,500 GP) and Snapdragon Seeds (60,000 GP). A herb sack and seedbox extend trips, reducing banking time. Use Magic or Ranged for faster kills, as they’re weak to these styles.
- Recommended Gear: Mystic robes, Trident of the Seas, Slayer helmet
- Strategy: Safe-spot in Slayer Tower, collect high-value drops, bank at Canifis.
Gargoyles
Location: Slayer Tower
Requirements: 75 Slayer, Rock hammer
Profit: 700K–1M GP/hour
Gargoyles drop Rune items and alchable loot, making them a solid choice for mid-level Slayers. Their Granite Maul (200K GP) is a rare but lucrative drop. Use a Guthan’s set for AFK kills or high-DPS gear like a Dragon Scimitar for speed.
- Recommended Gear: Dragon Scimitar, Guthan’s armor, Slayer helmet
- Strategy: Kill on Slayer task, use Rock hammer to finish, alch drops on-site.
High-Level Slayer Monsters for Big Bucks
For players with 80+ combat and Slayer levels, high-level monsters offer substantial profits. These require quests, gear, and skill but reward handsomely.
Demonic Gorillas
Location: Crash Site Cavern
Requirements: Monkey Madness II, 69 Slayer
Profit: 1.5M–2M GP/hour
Demonic Gorillas drop Zenyte Shards (15M GP), making them one of the most profitable non-boss monsters. They switch combat.styles, so bring a 4-way switch (melee and ranged). Arclight is ideal for melee DPS, and Void armor boosts efficiency if you’re not on a Slayer task.
- Recommended Gear: Arclight, Blowpipe, Necklace of Anguish, Amulet of Torture
- Strategy: Switch styles to counter their prayers, prioritize Zenyte Shard drops.
Basilisk Knights
Location: Jormungard’s Prison
Requirements: 60 Slayer, The Fremennik Exiles, Mirror shield
Profit: 800K–1.2M GP/hour
Basilisk Knights have a 1/1000 chance to drop the Basilisk Jaw (17.5M GP) on task, alongside consistent alchable loot. Their attacks hit hard, so a Mirror shield is mandatory. Ranged setups with a Crossbow or Blowpipe work best.
- Recommended Gear: Armadyl Crossbow, Mirror shield, Slayer helmet
- Strategy: Use Ranged, safe-spot when possible, bank at Ferox Enclave.
Bosses for Maximum Profits
High-level players with 90+ combat and completed quests can tackle bosses for the highest GP/hour. These require practice and investment but yield massive rewards.
Vorkath
Location: Ungael
Requirements: Dragon Slayer II, 80+ combat stats
Profit: 1.5M–4.5M GP/hour
Vorkath is a solo boss with consistent loot, including Dragon Bones and high-value uniques like the Draconic Visage (7.6M GP). Use a Ranged setup with a Dragon Hunter Crossbow for optimal kills. Master the mechanics (acid pools, fireball) to achieve 20–25 kills/hour.
- Recommended Gear: Dragon Hunter Crossbow, Elite Void, Salve Amulet (e)
- Strategy: Dodge special attacks, use Protect from Magic, bank at Lunar Isle.
The Nightmare of Ashihama
Location: Sisterhood Sanctuary
Requirements: 90+ combat, team of 4–80 players
Profit: 2M–5M GP/hour
The Nightmare is a group boss with rare drops like the Inquisitor’s Mace (536M GP). Smaller teams (4–6 players) yield higher profits per person. Use melee or magic, and coordinate with your team to handle totems and sleepwalkers.
- Recommended Gear: Bandos armor, Scythe of Vitur, Sanguiesti Staff
- Strategy: Rotate roles, focus on high DPS, split loot via CoinShare.
Profit Comparison Table
Monster | Profit (GP/hour) | Combat Level | Slayer Level | Members |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chaos Druids | 180K–200K | 13 | None | Yes |
Green Dragons | 400K–1M | 79 | None | Yes |
Aberrant Spectres | 600K–900K | 96 | 60 | Yes |
Gargoyles | 700K–1M | 111 | 75 | Yes |
Demonic Gorillas | 1.5M–2M | 275 | 69 | Yes |
Basilisk Knights | 800K–1.2M | 204 | 60 | Yes |
Vorkath | 1.5M–4.5M | 732 | None | Yes |
The Nightmare | 2M–5M | 814 | None | Yes |
Tips for Maximizing Profits
To get the most out of your monster-slaying, follow these tips:
- Use Slayer Tasks: Killing monsters on task boosts XP and often increases drop rates for rares.
- High Alchemy: Alch low-value drops like Rune items to save inventory space and boost profits.
- Looting Bags: Essential for Wilderness or long trips to reduce banking time.
- Check GE Prices: Grand Exchange prices fluctuate, so verify drop values before investing in gear.
- Practice Boss Mechanics: For Vorkath and Nightmare, mastering mechanics significantly increases kills/hour.
By targeting the right monsters and optimizing your setup, you can turn combat into a gold-making machine in OSRS. Start with Chaos Druids or Green Dragons if you’re new, progress to Aberrant Spectres or Gargoyles as you level up, and aim for Demonic Gorillas, Vorkath, or The Nightmare for endgame profits. Happy slaying!