Book of Balance OSRS Ultimate Guide
In the vast world of Old School RuneScape (OSRS), the Book of Balance stands out as a unique item tied to the god Guthix, embodying the philosophy of equilibrium. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer, this god book, wielded in place of a shield, offers a blend of utility, lore, and combat benefits that make it a fascinating addition to your inventory. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the Book of Balance in OSRS, from its acquisition to its practical uses, ensuring you can make the most of this item on your adventures.
The Book of Balance is one of the six god books in OSRS, each aligned with a different deity. As the Guthix-aligned book, it symbolizes harmony between opposing forces, such as light and dark or strength and weakness. Unlike traditional shields, it’s equipped in the off-hand slot and provides modest combat bonuses, making it a versatile choice for players who value flexibility and prayer-focused gameplay.
What Makes the Book of Balance Unique?
Unlike other god books that lean heavily into specific combat styles (e.g., Zamorak’s Unholy Book for magic), the Book of Balance offers balanced stats across melee, ranged, and magic defenses, with a notable +5 prayer bonus when completed. This makes it a solid choice for players who don’t specialize in one combat style or who prioritize prayer in their setups. Its ability to bless both holy and unholy symbols further sets it apart, though at a higher prayer point cost than other books.
Lore Behind the Book
In OSRS lore, Guthix is the god of balance, advocating for a world where no single force dominates. The Book of Balance reflects this by allowing players to recite passages that emphasize unity, peace, and equilibrium. These ceremonial aspects, while not impacting gameplay mechanics, add a layer of role-playing depth that many players enjoy.
How to Obtain the Book of Balance
Getting your hands on a Book of Balance requires completing a specific quest and gathering rare pages. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown to guide you through the process.
Starting with Horror from the Deep
The journey begins with the Horror from the Deep quest, which rewards a damaged book upon completion. To start this quest, you’ll need:
- 35 Agility to navigate the dungeon.
- Ability to defeat a level 100 Dagannoth Mother, which changes weaknesses during combat.
- Access to the Lighthouse north of the Barbarian Outpost.
After defeating the Dagannoth Mother, you’ll receive a rusty casket. Speak to Jossik at the Lighthouse, who will ask you to choose a god—select Guthix to receive the Damaged Book of Balance.
Collecting Guthix Pages
The damaged book is just the start. To complete the Book of Balance, you need four torn Guthix pages (pages 1 through 4), which can be obtained in two ways:
- Treasure Trails: Completing clue scrolls (medium, hard, or elite) may reward Guthix pages, though they’re rare drops.
- Grand Exchange: Purchase individual pages or a Book of Balance page set directly from other players.
As of recent market trends, filling the book costs approximately 9,000–13,000 coins when buying pages individually or as a set, making it one of the more affordable god books to complete.
| Item | Approximate Cost (Coins) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Guthix Page 1 | 2,000–3,000 | Treasure Trails / GE |
| Guthix Page 2 | 2,000–3,000 | Treasure Trails / GE |
| Guthix Page 3 | 2,000–3,000 | Treasure Trails / GE |
| Guthix Page 4 | 2,000–3,000 | Treasure Trails / GE |
| Book of Balance Page Set | 10,000–13,000 | Grand Exchange |
Assembling the Book
Once you have all four pages, use them on the damaged book to create a completed Book of Balance. Note that pages cannot be removed once added, so double-check before inserting them. If you lose the book, Jossik will return it with all pages intact at no cost, ensuring you don’t lose your investment.
Book of Balance Stats and Uses
The completed Book of Balance offers a range of combat bonuses and utility functions, making it a practical choice for certain scenarios. Let’s dive into its stats and applications.
Combat Bonuses
When equipped, the Book of Balance provides:
- Attack Bonuses: +4 stab, slash, crush, magic, and ranged.
- Defence Bonuses: +4 stab, slash, crush, magic, and ranged.
- Prayer Bonus: +5.
These balanced stats make it less specialized than other god books, like the Book of War (Bandos) for melee strength or the Book of Darkness (Zaros) for magic. However, its +5 prayer bonus is valuable for prayer-heavy activities, such as bossing or extended slayer tasks.
Special Abilities
The Book of Balance has two key abilities:
- Blessing Symbols: With a Prayer level of 50 or higher, you can bless holy and unholy symbols, costing 6 prayer points per blessing (compared to 4 for other books). This is useful for crafting or quests requiring blessed symbols.
- Preaching Ceremonies: By right-clicking and selecting “Preach,” you can recite Guthix-themed passages, such as:
- “Light and dark, day and night, balance arises from contrast. I unify thee in the name of Guthix.”
- “The trees, the earth, the sky, the waters; All play their part upon this land. May Guthix bring you balance.”
Each recitation consumes 25% of your special attack energy, adding a fun role-playing element.
Comparing the Book of Balance to Other God Books
With six god books in OSRS, choosing the right one depends on your playstyle and goals. Here’s how the Book of Balance stacks up against its counterparts.
Book of Balance vs. Other Books
Each god book caters to different needs:
- Holy Book (Saradomin): Strong magic and ranged defense, ideal for melee-focused players.
- Unholy Book (Zamorak): Boosts magic attack, great for mages.
- Book of War (Bandos): Enhances melee strength, perfect for warriors.
- Book of Law (Armadyl): Improves ranged attack, suited for archers.
- Book of Darkness (Zaros): High magic bonuses, another mage favorite.
The Book of Balance, with its even spread of +4 bonuses, doesn’t excel in any single area but offers versatility. It’s often seen as a budget option due to its lower cost (around 9,000–13,000 coins to complete compared to 100,000+ for others like Zaros).
When to Choose the Book of Balance
Opt for the Book of Balance if:
- You’re on a budget and need a cheap god book.
- You want a prayer bonus for prolonged combat without specializing.
- You enjoy Guthix’s lore and role-playing aspects.
- You need to bless both holy and unholy symbols for quests or crafting.
For best-in-slot (BiS) setups, other books may outperform it, as community discussions note its balanced stats make it “good for nothing” in hyper-specialized scenarios.
Tips for Using the Book of Balance Effectively
To maximize the Book of Balance’s potential, consider these practical tips for integrating it into your OSRS gameplay.
Best Scenarios for Use
The Book of Balance shines in situations where prayer conservation or balanced defenses are key, such as:
- Slayer Tasks: Pair it with prayer-boosting gear for extended trips.
- Low-Level Bossing: Use it at places like the Giant Mole or Barrows for its prayer bonus.
- Questing: Its symbol-blessing ability helps with quests like “One Small Favour.”
Enhancing with Ornament Kits
For a cosmetic upgrade, you can add a shattered relics variety ornament kit to create the Book of Balance (or). This kit, obtainable from Leagues, adds no stat bonuses but gives your book a stylish look. You can revert it anytime to retrieve the kit and book.
Cost-Saving Strategies
To keep costs down:
- Buy the page set from the Grand Exchange for convenience, as it’s often cheaper than individual pages.
- Complete medium or hard clue scrolls yourself to farm pages, saving coins.
- Store pages as a set in your bank to save space until you’re ready to assemble.
With its affordability, versatility, and unique Guthix flavor, the Book of Balance is a worthy addition to any OSRS player’s arsenal. Whether you’re preaching balance or battling foes, this god book offers a harmonious blend of utility and charm for your RuneScape journey.