Dagannoth Cannon Guide OSRS – Maximize Your Slayer XP

Dagannoths are a staple Slayer task in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), known for their high XP rates and valuable drops. Using a dwarf multicannon can transform this task into one of the most efficient ways to train Slayer, Ranged, and even melee skills. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the best locations, gear setups, inventory management, and strategies to optimize your Dagannoth cannoning experience in OSRS. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, this guide will help you maximize efficiency and profits while tackling these sea monsters.

Cannoning Dagannoths is a popular method due to the monsters’ relatively low defense, high density in multi-combat areas, and excellent XP rates. With the right setup, players can achieve 80k+ Ranged XP per hour and 50k+ Slayer XP per hour, making it a go-to task for those looking to level up quickly. Additionally, Dagannoths drop valuable items like herb seeds, clue scrolls, and bones, which can offset the cost of cannonballs.

Key Benefits of Cannoning Dagannoths

• High XP Rates: Fast kills in multi-combat areas mean rapid XP gains.
• Low Risk: Locations like the Lighthouse and Jormungand’s Prison are relatively safe with proper preparation.
• Profitable Drops: Seeds, bones, and clue scrolls add up over time.
• AFK Potential: With auto-retaliate and prayer, you can minimize active inputs.

Best Locations for Cannon Dagannoths

Dagannoths are found in several locations in OSRS, but not all are suitable for cannoning. The best spots are multi-combat areas where the dwarf multicannon can target multiple enemies at once. Below are the top locations for cannoning Dagannoths, each with its own advantages.

Lighthouse Basement

The Lighthouse basement (accessible after completing Horror from the Deep, reached via fairy ring code ALP) is the most popular spot for cannoning Dagannoths. It houses level 74 (Ranged-based) and level 92 (melee-based) Dagannoths, which are relatively weak compared to other variants. The multi-combat environment allows your cannon to shred through enemies, and the nearby NPC Jossik can un-note food for a small fee, extending trips.

Jormungand’s Prison

Located on the Island of Stone (requires completion of The Fremennik Exiles), Jormungand’s Prison is another excellent cannoning spot. It contains only level 92 melee-based Dagannoths, making it ideal for players using Protect from Melee. The cannon can be placed centrally to maximize kills, and no food is typically needed if praying melee protection. This spot is less crowded than the Lighthouse, offering a more relaxed experience.

Why Avoid Other Locations?

While Dagannoths are also found in the Catacombs of Kourend and Waterbirth Island, these are less ideal for cannoning. The Catacombs is not a multi-combat area, preventing cannon use, and Waterbirth Island’s Dagannoths are stronger and less cannon-friendly due to their higher defense and spread-out spawns. Stick to the Lighthouse or Jormungand’s Prison for optimal results.

Gear and Inventory Setup

Your gear and inventory setup will depend on your combat style, budget, and whether you prioritize XP or cost-efficiency. Below are recommended setups for melee and Ranged, as well as inventory suggestions to balance healing, prayer, and cannon maintenance.

Melee Gear Setup

Melee is the most cost-effective way to cannon Dagannoths, as it requires minimal supplies beyond cannonballs. Focus on high prayer bonus gear to sustain Protect from Melee (or Protect from Missiles in the Lighthouse for level 74 Dagannoths).

Slot	Recommended Gear	Budget Alternative
Head	Proselyte Sallet	Initiate Sallet
Chest	Proselyte Cuisse	Initiate Cuisse
Legs	Proselyte Tasset	Initiate Tasset
Weapon	Abyssal Whip	Dragon Scimitar
Shield	Dragon Defender	Rune Defender
Ring	Ring of Wealth	Ring of Life

Note: A dragonbone necklace and bonecrusher combo can provide infinite prayer if you have 80+ Prayer, eliminating the need for prayer potions.

Ranged Gear Setup

Ranged setups are ideal for players looking to train Ranged alongside Slayer. They require more food due to taking more hits, but the XP rates are exceptional.

Slot	Recommended Gear	Budget Alternative
Head	Armadyl Helmet	Black D’hide Coif
Chest	Armadyl Chestplate	Black D’hide Body
Legs	Armadyl Chainskirt	Black D’hide Chaps
Weapon	Venator Bow	Rune Crossbow
Ammo	Amethyst Arrows	Mithril Bolts
Ring	Ring of Wealth	Ring of Life

Tip: The venator bow is highly recommended in multi-combat areas as it can hit multiple targets, reducing the need to run back and forth to reload the cannon.

Inventory Setup

Your inventory should balance cannon supplies, food, and prayer restoration while leaving space for loot. A typical setup includes:

• Dwarf Multicannon: Essential for this method (1 inventory slot).
• 1,000-2,000 Cannonballs: Adjust based on task length (4-8 slots).
• Food: 10-15 monkfish or sharks for melee; 15-20 for Ranged (10-20 slots).
• Prayer Potions: 2-4 for melee; 4-6 for Ranged (2-6 slots).
• Teleport: Emergency teleport like a teleport tablet (1 slot).
• Loot Management: Seed box and bonecrusher (if available) to save space.

Pro Tip: Sell noted food to Jossik in the Lighthouse and buy it back un-noted to extend trips without banking.

Cannoning Strategy and Tips

Proper cannon placement and combat strategy are key to maximizing efficiency. Follow these steps to ensure smooth and profitable Dagannoth tasks.

Cannon Placement

In the Lighthouse, place your cannon in the center of the room to cover the most area. In Jormungand’s Prison, position it centrally in the main chamber where Dagannoths spawn densely. Avoid placing the cannon in corners, as it reduces its effectiveness. Be cautious in crowded worlds, as other players may compete for spawns, and overloading the server with too many Dagannoths can cause lag.

Combat Tactics

• Prayer Management: Use Protect from Melee in Jormungand’s Prison or against level 92 Dagannoths in the Lighthouse. For level 74 Dagannoths in the Lighthouse, use Protect from Missiles to reduce damage from their Ranged attacks.
• Auto-Retaliate: Turn on auto-retaliate to AFK while the cannon does most of the work. For melee, use area-of-effect abilities like Cleave or Hurricane to hit multiple Dagannoths.
• Venom Strategy: For ironmen or low-budget players, a serpentine helm can apply venom to Dagannoths, letting them die passively, though this sacrifices combat XP.
• Aggression Management: Dagannoths become tolerant after 10 minutes. To reset aggression, run out of the room and back in. In the Lighthouse, hugging a pillar can keep you safe while the cannon works.

Dealing with Crowded Worlds

The Lighthouse can be busy, especially during peak hours. If another player is already cannoning, hop worlds or switch to Jormungand’s Prison, which is less crowded. Alternatively, use the Slayer-only instance in the Lighthouse (if on a Slayer task) to avoid competition.

Maximizing Profits and Efficiency

While cannoning Dagannoths is primarily about XP, you can also turn a profit with the right approach. Here’s how to make the most of your trips.

Loot to Prioritize

• Herb Seeds: High-level seeds like ranarr and snapdragon are valuable.
• Dagannoth Bones: Sell or use for Prayer XP; noted with Fremennik Elite Diary.
• Clue Scrolls: Medium and hard clues can yield significant rewards.
• Talismans: Chaos and nature talismans drop depending on location.

Note: A Ring of Wealth removes the “nothing” drop, increasing the chance of valuable items.

Cost Management

Cannonballs are the biggest expense, costing around 200-300 GP each. To offset this:

• Use a seed box to collect herb seeds without banking.
• Bring noted food to sell and un-note at Jossik, reducing banking trips.
• Complete the Fremennik Elite Diary for noted bone drops, increasing profit.

Advanced Tips for Veterans

• Reanimation Strategy: Use the Expert Reanimation Arceuus spell on ensouled Dagannoth heads near the Dark Altar for Prayer XP, though this reduces combat XP.
• Group Tasks: If on a Konar task, consider tackling Dagannoth Kings for high-value drops like rings or the dragon axe, but only if you’re experienced.
• AFK Setup: With high prayer bonus gear, a bonecrusher, and a dragonbone necklace, you can AFK indefinitely in Jormungand’s Prison with minimal input.

By combining the right location, gear……