Best Thrall to Use in Old School RuneScape (OSRS)

Thralls in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) are powerful undead allies summoned using the Arceuus spellbook, offering consistent damage in various combat scenarios. Choosing the best thrall depends on the situation, enemy resistances, and your playstyle. This guide explores the types of thralls, their mechanics, and when to use each one to maximize your efficiency in PvM, slayer tasks, and boss fights. Whether you’re tackling high-level bosses like the Phantom Muspah or grinding slayer, understanding thralls can elevate your gameplay.

Thralls are summoned via resurrection spells in the Arceuus spellbook, unlocked after completing the A Kingdom Divided quest. They require the Book of the Dead (equipped or in inventory) and 2–6 prayer points, depending on the spell. Thralls attack your target with a guaranteed hit, ignoring the enemy’s defensive bonuses, making them ideal for prolonged fights or speed-based Combat Achievements. Their damage ranges from 0–3, based on the spell tier, and they attack every 2.4 seconds (attack speed of 4).

Key Thrall Mechanics

• Accuracy: Thralls always hit, ignoring enemy armor, but can roll a 0.
• Damage: Max hit varies by tier (Lesser: 1, Superior: 2, Greater: 3).
• Duration: Depends on your Magic level; boosting (e.g., with Imbued Heart) extends it.
• Cooldown: 10-second cooldown between casts, despawning the current thrall.
• Limitations: Cannot pass between rooms (e.g., Corporeal Beast lobby to arena) or be summoned in certain areas like specific Temple Trekking rooms.

Types of Thralls in OSRS

Thralls come in three combat styles—magic, ranged, and melee—and three tiers: Lesser, Superior, and Greater. Each style and tier has unique spells, rune costs, and prayer requirements. Below is a breakdown of the available thralls and their summoning requirements.

Thrall Type	Spell	Magic Level	Max Hit	Prayer Points	Runes Required
Lesser Ghostly (Magic)	Resurrect Lesser Ghost	38	1	2	1 Death, 3 Body, 5 Air
Lesser Skeletal (Ranged)	Resurrect Lesser Skeleton	38	1	2	1 Death, 3 Body, 5 Earth
Lesser Zombified (Melee)	Resurrect Lesser Zombie	38	1	2	1 Death, 3 Body, 5 Fire
Superior Ghostly (Magic)	Resurrect Superior Ghost	57	2	4	2 Death, 5 Body, 10 Air
Superior Skeletal (Ranged)	Resurrect Superior Skeleton	57	2	4	2 Death, 5 Body, 10 Earth
Superior Zombified (Melee)	Resurrect Superior Zombie	57	2	4	2 Death, 5 Body, 10 Fire
Greater Ghostly (Magic)	Resurrect Greater Ghost	76	3	6	3 Death, 10 Body, 15 Air
Greater Skeletal (Ranged)	Resurrect Greater Skeleton	76	3	6	3 Death, 10 Body, 15 Earth
Greater Zombified (Melee)	Resurrect Greater Zombie	76	3	6	3 Death, 10 Body, 15 Fire

Guardian Thrall: A Special Case

The Guardian Thrall, available in Leagues via the Guardian relic, is unique. Summoned with the Guardian Horn, it automatically uses the combat style the target is weakest to, making it highly versatile. Its appearance can change (e.g., Echo Cuthbert in Varlamore), but it’s not available in the main game, so we’ll focus on standard thralls.

Which Thrall Style Should You Use?

The choice between magic, ranged, and melee thralls often comes down to their attack mechanics and specific boss or slayer task requirements. Here’s a detailed look at each style’s strengths and weaknesses.

Magic Thralls (Ghostly)

Magic thralls are the default choice in most scenarios due to their faster projectile speed, landing hits 1 tick (0.6 seconds) earlier than ranged thralls. This slight edge can lead to faster kills, especially in speed-based challenges. They attack from a distance (6 tiles), reducing downtime compared to melee thralls, which must path to the target.

• Best for: General PvM, bosses without specific resistances (e.g., Corporeal Beast, Olm’s mage hand).
• Examples: Nightmare/Phosani’s Nightmare (extra damage on pillars), most slayer tasks.

Ranged Thralls (Skeletal)

Ranged thralls are nearly as effective as magic thralls, also attacking from 6 tiles but with a slightly slower projectile. They’re a solid alternative when magic thralls are less effective due to enemy resistances or specific mechanics.

• Best for: Situations where ranged is preferred (e.g., Olm’s head phase).
• Examples: Kree’arra (can hit despite melee restrictions), Callisto.

Melee Thralls (Zombified)

Melee thralls are the least preferred in most cases because they must move to melee range, wasting ticks on pathing. However, they shine in specific scenarios where melee is optimal or when the target is stationary.

• Best for: Stationary targets or bosses weak to melee (e.g., Wardens P4, Verzik P1).
• Examples: Group Wardens (thralls can “death dot” without entity hider issues).

Best Thrall for Specific Scenarios

While magic thralls are generally the go-to, certain bosses and tasks require specific thralls for optimal performance. Below are recommendations based on popular OSRS content.

Boss-Specific Thrall Choices

• Phantom Muspah: Use Greater Ghostly Thrall. Thralls ignore Muspah’s defense, and magic thralls deal consistent damage without triggering phase switches (except in the final stand). Pair with Arceuus spellbook for Ward of Arceuus.
• Nightmare/Phosani’s Nightmare: Greater Ghostly Thrall benefits from extra pillar damage, making it the best choice.
• Wardens (Tombs of Amascut): Greater Zombified Thrall for P4, as melee hits both mage and ranged Wardens effectively.
• Corporeal Beast: Greater Ghostly Thrall for consistent damage, as thralls can’t follow into the arena but still attack from the lobby.
• Kree’arra: Greater Skeletal Thrall, as thralls can hit despite melee restrictions, and ranged avoids pathing issues.

Slayer Tasks

For most slayer tasks (e.g., Suqah, Dagannoth, Bloodvelds), Greater Ghostly Thrall is ideal due to its speed and range. Melee thralls may be less effective for mobile enemies like Bloodvelds, as they waste time pathing. If rune costs are a concern, Superior Ghostly Thralls are a cost-effective alternative for mid-level players.

Tips for Maximizing Thrall Efficiency

To get the most out of thralls, consider these strategies:

• Boost Magic Level: Use an Imbued Heart or Magic potion to extend thrall duration, especially for Greater thralls.
• Manage Runes: Stock up on Death, Body, and Air runes, as Greater Ghostly Thralls are rune-intensive. Use combination staves to save inventory space.
• Spellbook Swapping: For bosses like Araxxor, bring spellbook swap runes to combine thralls with Vengeance or Death Charge for maximum DPS.
• Prayer Management: Carry prayer potions to maintain prayer points for summoning, especially in long fights.
• Avoid Restricted Areas: Check OSRS Wiki for locations where thralls can’t be summoned, like certain Temple Trekking rooms.

In conclusion, the Greater Ghostly Thrall is the best all-purpose thrall for most OSRS content due to its faster projectile speed and versatility. However, Greater Skeletal Thralls and Greater Zombified Thralls have niche uses for specific bosses or stationary targets. By understanding enemy mechanics and optimizing your setup, thralls can significantly boost your DPS and efficiency. Experiment with different thralls to find what works best for your playstyle, and happy scaping!