Black Dragons Taverley Dungeon OSRS Guide for Slayers and Loot Hunters
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), Taverley Dungeon is a sprawling underground maze packed with challenges and rewards, and black dragons are among its fiercest inhabitants. These mighty beasts are a prime target for players seeking combat experience, valuable loot, or Slayer task completion. Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or a mid-level player looking to farm dragon bones and black dragonhide, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about tackling black dragons in Taverley Dungeon. From preparation to strategies, safe spots, and loot potential, we’ve got you covered.
Black dragons are the strongest chromatic dragons in OSRS, offering high combat experience and consistent profit through their guaranteed drops. Taverley Dungeon is a popular spot due to its accessibility and the ability to safe-spot these beasts, making it ideal for both melee and ranged combat styles. The dungeon’s black dragon lair also includes baby black dragons, which are easier to kill and can be used to complete Slayer tasks efficiently.
Key Benefits of Farming Black Dragons
- High-Value Drops: Dragon bones and black dragonhide are always dropped, providing steady income.
- Slayer Efficiency: Task-only areas reduce competition and make black dragon tasks quick.
- Safe Spots: Strategic positioning allows you to avoid damage, even at lower combat levels.
- Combat Training: Black dragons offer substantial XP for ranged, melee, or Slayer skills.
Getting to Taverley Dungeon and Accessing Black Dragons
Taverley Dungeon lies south of Taverley and west of Falador, making it relatively easy to reach. However, black dragons are deep within the dungeon, requiring specific preparations to access efficiently.
Travel Options to Taverley Dungeon
Here are the fastest ways to get to the dungeon entrance:
- Falador Teleport: Use a Falador teletab or spell, then walk northwest to the dungeon entrance.
- Explorer’s Ring: Ring 2 or higher teleports you to the cabbage patch south of Falador, a short run from the entrance.
- Games Necklace: Teleport to Burthorpe Games Room and head south.
- Taverley Lodestone: If activated, this is a free and quick option for members.
Navigating to the Black Dragon Lair
Black dragons are located in two areas of Taverley Dungeon: a lower area with two spawns near the Obelisk of Fire and an upper task-only lair with 12 black dragons and 5 baby black dragons. To reach them, you’ll need to navigate the dungeon’s dangers.
Requirements:
- Dusty Key: Needed to access the deeper dungeon unless you have 70 Agility for the pipe shortcut.
- Antipoison: Poisonous monsters like scorpions lurk en route.
- Slayer Task (Optional): Required for the upper lair, guarded by Slieve, who only allows task-assigned players to fight.
To get the dusty key, head south through the dungeon to the Black Knights’ headquarters, kill a jailer (level 39) for a jail key, and free Velrak the Explorer in a cell for the key. Alternatively, players with 70 Agility can use the obstacle pipe near the entrance to skip this step.
Preparation and Gear Setup for Black Dragons
Black dragons are level 227 and use dragonfire, melee, and claw attacks, so proper gear and inventory setup are crucial. They’re weak to bolts, making ranged the preferred combat style for safe-spotting, though melee is viable for high-level players.
Recommended Gear
Here’s a breakdown of gear for different budgets:
| Slot | Budget Setup | Mid-Tier Setup | High-Tier Setup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Rune crossbow | Dragon crossbow | Dragon hunter crossbow |
| Ammo | Broad bolts | Diamond bolts (e) | Dragon bolts (e) |
| Shield | Anti-dragon shield | Dragonfire shield | Dragonfire ward |
| Helmet | Black d’hide coif | Armadyl helmet | Slayer helmet (i) |
| Body | Black d’hide body | Karil’s leathertop | Armadyl chestplate |
| Legs | Black d’hide chaps | Karil’s leatherskirt | Armadyl chainskirt |
| Cape | Ava’s device | Ava’s accumulator | Ava’s assembler |
Inventory Setup
Your inventory should balance combat efficiency and sustainability:
- Antipoison (4): For poisonous monsters in the dungeon.
- Prayer Potions (2-4): To maintain Protect from Melee or Piety.
- Teleport (Falador/Taverley): For quick banking.
- Food (Sharks/Monkfish): In case you take damage.
- Ranging Potion: Boosts ranged accuracy and damage.
- Emergency Teleport: House tab or glory for quick escapes.
Strategies for Killing Black Dragons
Black dragons in Taverley Dungeon can be tackled using ranged safe spots, melee for high-level players, or even cannons for faster kills. The upper lair is single-combat and task-only, reducing competition, while the lower area is open but busier.
Ranged Safe Spot Method
Ranged is the safest and most popular method due to reliable safe spots. In the lower area, stand behind the ladder near the Obelisk of Fire to avoid dragonfire and melee attacks. In the upper lair, position yourself in the middle of the room where dragons can’t reach you, but ensure you’re on a specific tile to avoid dragonfire (one tile off can expose you).
Steps:
- Enter the dungeon and reach the black dragon area (dusty key or 70 Agility required).
- Equip your anti-dragon shield and ranged gear.
- Stand in the safe spot (behind the ladder or middle tile in the upper lair).
- Use Protect from Melee to minimize damage if you misstep.
- Attack with your crossbow, switching to enchanted bolts for higher damage.
Melee Method for High Levels
Players with 80+ combat stats and strong melee gear (e.g., Dragon hunter lance) can fight black dragons head-on. Use Protect from Melee and high-strength gear like Bandos armor. This method is faster but riskier, requiring more food and attention.
Using a Cannon
While Taverley Dungeon is single-combat, cannons can hit multiple targets if you’re not directly engaged. Set up a dwarf multicannon in the upper lair for faster kills, but note that it’s expensive and attracts attention from other players. A reported safe spot near the entrance allows cannon use as if it were multi-combat, though this may be patched.
Loot and Profit Potential
Black dragons are a consistent money-maker due to their guaranteed drops and occasional rare items. The upper lair’s task-only nature ensures you can farm without interruptions, while baby black dragons offer quicker kills for Slayer XP.
Guaranteed Drops
- Dragon Bones: Used for Prayer training, worth around 2-3k each.
- Black Dragonhide: Crafted into black d’hide armor, worth ~3k each.
Notable Rare Drops
| Item | Drop Rate | Approx. Value |
|---|---|---|
| Draconic Visage | 1/10,000 | ~5M |
| Dragon Med Helm | 1/128 | ~60k |
| Rune Longsword | 1/128 | ~18k |
Profit Per Hour
Assuming 20-30 kills per hour in the upper lair with a ranged setup, you can expect:
- Guaranteed Drops: ~100-150k from bones and hides.
- Other Loot: ~20-50k from runes, weapons, and other items.
- Total: 120-200k GP per hour, with rare drops spiking profits significantly.
Baby black dragons yield lower profit (~50-80k/hour) but are faster for Slayer tasks, with similar guaranteed drops.
Farming black dragons in Taverley Dungeon is a rewarding endeavor for OSRS players, blending combat training, Slayer progress, and solid profit. With the right gear, safe spots, and navigation know-how, you can dominate these dragons and walk away richer. Whether you’re after the thrill of the fight or the lure of loot, Taverley’s black dragons are waiting. Grab your crossbow, stock up on antipoison, and dive into the dungeon today!