Best OSRS PvM Weapons for Dominating Bosses in 2025

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) thrives on its challenging Player vs. Monster (PvM) content, where the right weapon can make or break your bossing experience. Whether you’re tackling raids like Chambers of Xeric or slaying Vorkath for profit, choosing the best PvM weapons is critical for maximizing damage, efficiency, and survivability. In this guide, we’ll explore the top weapons across melee, ranged, and magic combat styles, highlighting their strengths, use cases, and why they’re essential for high-level PvM in 2025. From iconic staples like the Abyssal Whip to game-changers like the Twisted Bow, we’ve got you covered with practical insights for every adventurer.
Melee remains a cornerstone of OSRS PvM, offering high damage per second (DPS) and versatility against a wide range of bosses. These weapons excel in scenarios requiring precise, powerful strikes or area-of-effect (AoE) carnage.
Ghrazi Rapier: Precision Stabbing Power
The Ghrazi Rapier is a best-in-slot (BiS) stab weapon, prized for its unmatched accuracy and strength. With a +94 stab attack and +89 strength bonus, it shines against bosses with low to moderate defense, like those in Chambers of Xeric or Slayer tasks such as Cerberus.
- Why it’s great: High DPS for single-target encounters.
- Where to use: Theatre of Blood, Vorkath, and high-level Slayer.
- How to get: Rare drop from Theatre of Blood.
Scythe of Vitur: AoE Melee Mastery
The Scythe of Vitur is the ultimate melee weapon for multi-target scenarios. Its unique ability to hit up to three enemies in a 1×3 area makes it ideal for bosses with minions or large hitboxes, like those in Theatre of Blood.
- Why it’s great: Unrivaled AoE damage for multi-combat.
- Where to use: Nightmare of Ashihama, Tombs of Amascut.
- Costly upkeep: Requires blood runes to charge, costing ~825 GP per swing.
Inquisitor’s Mace: Crushing High-Defense Foes
For bosses weak to crush attacks, the Inquisitor’s Mace is unmatched. Its +95 crush attack bonus and fast attack speed make it a top choice for PvM encounters like Tekton or Cerberus.
- Why it’s great: BiS for crush-based DPS.
- Where to use: Chambers of Xeric, Nightmare.
- How to get: Dropped from Nightmare of Ashihama.
Ranged Weapons for Safe Distance Damage
Ranged weapons offer safety and consistent DPS, making them ideal for bosses with dangerous melee mechanics. These tools let you kite enemies while dealing devastating damage from afar.
Twisted Bow: The Ranged King
The Twisted Bow is arguably the most powerful weapon in OSRS. Its passive effect scales damage and accuracy based on the target’s magic level, making it a must-have for high-level PvM.
- Why it’s great: Scales up to +250 damage against high-magic foes.
- Where to use: Zulrah, Great Olm, TzKal-Zuk (Inferno).
- How to get: Chambers of Xeric rare drop, often costing over 1.5B GP.
Toxic Blowpipe: Versatile and Affordable
The Toxic Blowpipe remains a PvM staple for its rapid attack speed and poison damage. While nerfed in recent updates, it’s still excellent for mid-tier bossing and Slayer.
- Why it’s great: Fast attacks with poison utility.
- Where to use: Fight Caves, low-defense bosses like Kree’arra.
- Ammo tip: Use dragon darts for maximum DPS.
Magic Weapons for Spellcasting Supremacy
Magic weapons dominate in PvM scenarios requiring crowd control, healing, or high burst damage. They’re essential for raids and bosses where melee or ranged fall short.
Kodai Wand: Flexible Magic Powerhouse
The Kodai Wand boosts magic damage by 15% and provides infinite water runes, making it a cost-effective choice for prolonged fights. Its ability to autocast Ancient Magicks is a game-changer.
- Why it’s great: High damage and spell versatility.
- Where to use: Theatre of Blood, Chambers of Xeric.
- How to get: Chambers of Xeric (Kodai Insignia).
Sanguinesti Staff: Sustain and Damage
The Sanguinesti Staff offers built-in healing through its blood-charged attacks, letting you stay in fights longer without food. It’s perfect for endurance-based PvM.
- Why it’s great: Heals 1/6 of damage dealt.
- Where to use: Theatre of Blood, Zulrah.
- Drawback: High cost of blood runes for charges.
Special Attack Weapons for Tactical Advantage
Some PvM encounters demand weapons with powerful special attacks to lower enemy defenses or deal burst damage. These tools are often used in combination with primary DPS weapons.
Dragon Warhammer: Defense Shredder
The Dragon Warhammer is a PvM essential for its special attack, “Smash,” which reduces a target’s defense by 30% on hit. It’s a team favorite for high-defense bosses.
- Why it’s great: Stacks with multiple uses for near-zero defense.
- Where to use: Corporeal Beast, Tekton, Nightmare.
- How to get: Dropped by Lizardman Shamans.
Bandos Godsword: Budget Defense Reduction
The Bandos Godsword (BGS) offers a cheaper alternative to the Dragon Warhammer. Its “Warstrike” special attack drains enemy defense, making it viable for mid-tier PvM.
- Why it’s great: Affordable for newer players.
- Where to use: God Wars Dungeon, general bossing.
- Tip: Pair with a high-DPS weapon like the Rapier.
Choosing the Right Weapon for Your PvM Goals
Selecting the best PvM weapon depends on your combat level, budget, and target boss. Below is a table summarizing key weapons, their roles, and approximate costs to help you decide.
Weapon | Combat Style | Best For | Approx. Cost (GP) |
---|---|---|---|
Ghrazi Rapier | Melee (Stab) | Single-target, low-defense bosses | 200M |
Scythe of Vitur | Melee (Slash) | Multi-target, large bosses | 600M |
Inquisitor’s Mace | Melee (Crush) | Crush-weak bosses | 400M |
Twisted Bow | Ranged | High-magic bosses | 1.5B+ |
Toxic Blowpipe | Ranged | Mid-tier bossing, Slayer | 5M |
Kodai Wand | Magic | Raids, versatile spellcasting | 100M |
Sanguinesti Staff | Magic | Endurance fights | 90M |
Dragon Warhammer | Melee (Crush) | Defense reduction | 50M |
Bandos Godsword | Melee (Slash) | Budget defense reduction | 15M |
Budget vs. Endgame Considerations
For newer players, weapons like the Toxic Blowpipe or Bandos Godsword offer great value without breaking the bank. Endgame players should prioritize BiS options like the Twisted Bow or Scythe of Vitur for maximum efficiency, though their high costs reflect their rarity and power.
Adapting to Boss Weaknesses
Many bosses have specific weaknesses (stab, crush, magic, etc.), so always check the target’s combat style affinity. For example, Vorkath is weak to stab, making the Dragon Hunter Lance (not listed above but notable) a top choice for dragon-slaying PvM.
Upgrading Your Arsenal
Start with affordable options like the Abyssal Whip (not BiS but still viable at ~2M GP) and gradually invest in higher-tier weapons as you farm gold. Completing quests like “Monkey Madness II” or “Song of the Elves” unlocks access to tougher bosses and better loot, fueling your upgrades.
Mastering OSRS PvM is about pairing the right weapon with smart strategy. Whether you’re a budget-conscious adventurer or a maxed-out raider, this lineup of weapons will help you conquer Gielinor’s toughest challenges in 2025. Equip your favorite, sharpen your skills, and dive into the fray!