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Best Places to Kill Imps in OSRS: Top Locations for Beads and Champion Scrolls

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), imps are small, mischievous demons that players often target for their unique drops, such as beads for the Imp Catcher quest or the elusive Champion’s Scroll for the Champions’ Challenge. Despite their low combat level of 2 or 7 (in the God Wars Dungeon), imps can be tricky to kill due to their teleportation ability. Whether you’re an Ironman hunting beads, a completionist chasing scrolls, or just looking to grind some low-level loot, knowing the best places to kill imps is key. This guide dives into the top locations to efficiently slay imps, complete with strategies, tips, and considerations for different player types.
Imps may seem insignificant, but they serve several purposes in OSRS. Their drops and behaviors make them a target for various goals:
- Imp Catcher Quest: Imps drop four colored beads (black, red, white, yellow), each with a 5/128 chance, needed to complete this novice quest for an Amulet of Accuracy and 875 Magic XP.
- Champion’s Scroll: A rare drop (1/5000) that unlocks the Imp Champion fight in the Champions’ Challenge, a must for music cape enthusiasts.
- Hunter Training: At level 71 Hunter, players can catch imps with magic boxes, offering 450 XP per catch.
- Low-Level Combat: With only 8 Hitpoints, imps provide 26.7 combat XP and 8.8 Constitution XP per kill, decent for early-game training.
- Niche Drops: Items like imphide, mind talismans, or ecumenical keys (in the Wilderness God Wars Dungeon) add value for specific players.
Finding the right spot to kill imps depends on your goal—quest completion, scroll hunting, or XP grinding. Below, we explore the best locations and strategies to maximize your efficiency.
Top Locations for Killing Imps
Imps spawn across Gielinor, but some areas stand out for their density, accessibility, and suitability for different combat styles. Here are the top spots, ranked by efficiency and purpose.
Karamja Volcano Resource Dungeon
For players with 25 Dungeoneering, the Karamja Volcano Resource Dungeon is arguably the best place to kill imps. Located inside the volcano, this dungeon houses 11 imp spawns, offering the highest concentration in the game.
- Pros: High imp density allows for 150–200 kills per hour. Nearby lesser demons can be ignored or killed for extra loot. Ideal for Ironmen needing beads or players hunting Champion’s Scrolls.
- Cons: Requires 25 Dungeoneering. Scorpions (level 14) nearby can be a nuisance for very low-level players. Teleportation can scatter imps slightly.
- Strategy: Use Magic or Ranged to minimize running when imps teleport. Bring a few pieces of food if you’re low-level to handle occasional scorpion aggression. Bank at TzHaar City or use the nearby deposit box.
Tip: Wear a ring of wealth to slightly improve bead drop rates if you’re after quest items, though it doesn’t affect Champion’s Scroll chances.
South of Falador
Just south of Falador’s southern entrance, you’ll find three imp spawns near the city walls. This free-to-play (F2P) location is excellent for early-game players or those without Dungeoneering levels.
- Pros: Easy access via Falador teleport or walking from Lumbridge. Yields 130–180 kills per hour. Close to East Falador bank for quick inventory management.
- Cons: Fewer spawns than Karamja, so kills per hour are lower. Imps can teleport into wooded areas, slowing you down slightly.
- Strategy: Stick to Magic (e.g., Earth Strike at level 9 Magic) for quick kills without chasing teleports. Pick up only beads, mind talismans, or ensouled imp heads to maximize efficiency. Low-level players should bring minimal gear to avoid risking much if they die.
Tip: Combine imp killing with pickpocketing guards for extra gold while waiting for respawns.
East of Ardougne Monastery
East of the Ardougne Monastery, near the Tower of Life, four to five imps spawn in a relatively open area, making this a solid choice for members.
- Pros: Decent spawn rate supports 120–160 kills per hour. Accessible via Ardougne teleport or Monastery teleport (with Prayer level 31). Less crowded than Falador.
- Cons: Wooded terrain can make targeting imps tricky when they teleport. Slightly further from a bank compared to Falador.
- Strategy: Use a cannon for faster kills if you’re hunting Champion’s Scrolls, though be mindful of cannonball costs. Ranged attacks with a crossbow or shortbow work well to hit teleported imps quickly.
Tip: If you’re also training Prayer, visit the monastery to restore points between trips.
God Wars Dungeon (Wilderness)
For high-risk, high-reward players, the Wilderness God Wars Dungeon hosts imps with unique drops like ecumenical keys, alongside their standard loot table.
- Pros: Imps here have a combat level of 7 and drop ecumenical keys (1/60 base rate, improved with Combat Achievements). Good for players multitasking demon slayer tasks or Zamorak kill count.
- Cons: Wilderness location means PKer risk. Imps are spread out, reducing kills per hour (80–120). Requires decent gear and supplies to survive.
- Strategy: Wear Zamorakian items (e.g., Zamorak robe) to prevent imp aggression. Use Protect from Magic and stay alert for PKers. World-hop to reset spawns and avoid prolonged exposure.
Tip: Only bring what you’re willing to lose, and use a looting bag to store drops before banking.
Lumbridge
For absolute beginners, Lumbridge offers a few imp spawns around the castle and cow pen north of the General Store. It’s not the fastest spot but is perfect for new F2P players.
- Pros: Extremely safe and accessible for new accounts. Two imps near the castle and two by the cow pen provide 60–100 kills per hour.
- Cons: Low spawn count and teleportation make it inefficient for serious grinding. Far from a bank for Ironmen.
- Strategy: Use melee for simplicity if you’re level 1–10, or train Magic with Wind Strike to one-shot imps. Focus on learning game mechanics rather than optimizing kills here.
Tip: Combine imp killing with early-game tasks like cowhide collecting to make the most of your time.
Combat Strategies for Efficient Imp Killing
Imps have low stats (8 Hitpoints, minimal offensive capabilities), but their teleportation can frustrate players. Here’s how to optimize your kills:
Choosing Your Combat Style
Each combat style has its merits when fighting imps:
- Magic: Best for efficiency. Spells like Earth Strike (level 9 Magic, max hit 6) or Fire Strike (level 13 Magic, max hit 8) can one-shot imps, reducing time spent chasing teleports.
- Ranged: Great for hitting imps from a distance. A shortbow with bronze or iron arrows is cheap and effective, offering 120–150 kills per hour in dense areas.
- Melee: Viable for beginners but slower due to running after teleports. Use a fast weapon like a scimitar to maximize attack speed.
Using a Cannon
For Champion’s Scroll hunters, a dwarf multicannon can boost kills significantly (up to 200–250 per hour in Karamja’s dungeon). However, it’s costly:
- Cost: Cannonballs cost ~200 gp each, and you might use 500–1000 per hour.
- Setup: Place the cannon centrally in areas like Karamja or Ardougne to hit multiple spawns.
- Drawback: Not cost-effective for bead farming due to low-value drops.
Managing Teleportation
Imps teleport every 30–120 seconds with a 25% chance, often staying on-screen but sometimes moving out of reach. To cope:
- Stay in open areas to keep imps in sight.
- Use auto-pathing to follow teleported imps automatically, but avoid clicking elsewhere to prevent interrupting it.
- World-hop if an imp teleports to an inaccessible spot.
Imp Drops and Their Value
Understanding imp drops helps you prioritize what to pick up. Here’s a breakdown of key items:
Item | Drop Rate | GE Price (Approx.) | Purpose |
---|---|---|---|
Black/Red/White/Yellow Bead | 5/128 each | 800–1000 gp | Imp Catcher quest |
Champion’s Scroll | 1/5000 | Untradeable | Champions’ Challenge |
Mind Talisman | 2/128 | ~200 gp | Runecrafting training |
Imphide | 10/128 | ~500 gp | Crafting |
Ecumenical Key (Wilderness GWD) | 1/60 (base) | Untradeable | God Wars Dungeon access |
Note: Most drops are low-value, so only pick up beads, talismans, or scrolls unless you’re an Ironman collecting everything.
Tips for Specific Goals
Different objectives call for tailored approaches. Here’s how to optimize for each:
Imp Catcher Quest
If you’re not an Ironman, buy beads from the Grand Exchange for ~4000 gp total to complete the quest in minutes. For Ironmen:
- Target Karamja or Falador for the fastest kills.
- Expect 20–50 kills per bead on average due to the 5/128 drop rate.
- Use Magic to speed up kills and conserve run energy.
Champion’s Scroll Hunting
The 1/5000 drop rate means thousands of kills, so efficiency is critical:
- Use Karamja’s resource dungeon with a cannon for maximum kills per hour.
- Track kills with a Runelite plugin to stay motivated.
- Consider multitasking with ecumenical key farming in the Wilderness GWD if you’re comfortable with the risk.
Hunter Training
At 71 Hunter, catch imps instead of killing them:
- Karamja’s dungeon is ideal for its 11 spawns.
- Use bait (e.g., beads) to improve catch rates.
- Bank imp-in-a-box drops for later use (sends two items to the bank).
Final Thoughts
Killing imps in OSRS is a niche but rewarding task for quest-goers, completionists, and early-game adventurers. The Karamja Volcano Resource Dungeon stands out as the top spot for its high spawn count, followed by Falador and Ardougne for accessibility. For risk-takers, the Wilderness God Wars Dungeon adds unique rewards like ecumenical keys. Tailor your combat style—Magic or Ranged for speed, cannon for scrolls—and focus on high-density areas to make the grind worthwhile. Whether you’re collecting beads or chasing that rare Champion’s Scroll, these locations and strategies will set you up for success. Happy imp hunting!