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Drake OSRS Slayer Guide: Master Your Task with This Ultimate Strategy
Welcome to the ultimate Drake OSRS Slayer Guide! If you’re an Old School RuneScape (OSRS) player looking to conquer Drakes as part of your Slayer tasks, you’ve landed in the right place. Drakes are wingless dragons found in the Karuulm Slayer Dungeon, requiring level 84 Slayer to take down. While they offer decent loot like Drake claws and teeth, they’re notorious for being tedious due to their high defense and slow kill times. But fear not—this guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from requirements and gear setups to strategies and loot potential, ensuring you maximize efficiency and profit. Let’s dive into the volcanic depths of Mount Karuulm and slay some Drakes!
Drakes might not be the most glamorous Slayer task, but they have their perks. Understanding why you’d want to tackle them can help you decide whether to keep or skip this assignment. Here’s the rundown:
Rewards Worth Chasing
Drakes drop unique items like Drake claws and Drake teeth, which are used to upgrade boots of stone into boots of brimstone and holy sandals into devout boots, respectively. These upgrades are especially valuable for Ironmen or players seeking best-in-slot gear. Plus, their drop table includes herbs, alchables, and the occasional rare seed, making them a modest money-maker.
Combat and Slayer XP
While Drakes don’t offer top-tier Slayer XP (around 25-35k per hour), they’re decent for training combat stats if you’re using melee or ranged setups. Their draconic nature also makes them a fun challenge for players who enjoy fighting dragonkin creatures.
To Block or Not to Block?
Many players block Drakes due to their slow kill speed and moderate rewards compared to tasks like Gargoyles or Nechryaels. If you’re focused on maxing Slayer XP, consider blocking them. However, if you’re after specific drops or enjoy a chill, AFK-able task, Drakes are worth keeping.
Requirements to Slay Drakes
Before you head to Mount Karuulm, ensure you’re prepared. Drakes aren’t beginner-friendly, so meeting these requirements is key to success.
Slayer Level and Access
- Level 84 Slayer: Mandatory to receive Drakes as a task and deal damage to them.
- Karuulm Slayer Dungeon Access: Located on Mount Karuulm, reachable via fairy ring (code: CIR) or Rada’s Blessing teleport.
- Heat Protection: Wear boots of stone, boots of brimstone, or granite boots to avoid burn damage from the dungeon floor. Completing the Elite Kourend & Kebos Diary removes this requirement.
Recommended Combat Stats
While not mandatory, these stats will make your Drake-slaying experience smoother:
- Melee: 80+ Attack, Strength, Defence, and 70+ Prayer for Piety.
- Ranged: 75+ Ranged for effective bow or blowpipe use.
- Hitpoints: 80+ to tank hits comfortably.
Essential Gear and Inventory
You’ll need the right equipment to handle Drakes’ volcanic breath and high defense. We’ll cover specific setups later, but at minimum, bring:
- Dragonfire protection (e.g., anti-dragon shield or super antifire potion).
- Prayer potions for Protect from Missiles.
- High-healing food (sharks or better).
Best Gear Setups for Drakes
Drakes are considered draconic, so weapons like the Dragon Hunter Lance or Dragon Hunter Crossbow shine here. Let’s break down the best setups for melee and ranged combat.
Melee Setup
Melee is the most popular method due to its simplicity and the effectiveness of dragonbane weapons. Here’s a high-tier setup:
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Helmet | Slayer Helmet (i) |
| Necklace | Amulet of Torture |
| Chest | Bandos Chestplate |
| Legs | Bandos Tassets |
| Weapon | Dragon Hunter Lance |
| Shield | Dragonfire Shield or Avernic Defender (with super antifire) |
| Boots | Boots of Brimstone |
| Ring | Berserker Ring (i) |
Mid-tier alternative: Swap Bandos gear for Fighter Torso and Obsidian Legs, and use an Abyssal Whip if you lack the Lance.
Ranged Setup
Ranged offers faster kills with the right gear, especially if you use a cannon. Here’s an optimal setup:
| Slot | Item |
|---|---|
| Helmet | Slayer Helmet (i) |
| Necklace | Necklace of Anguish |
| Chest | Armadyl Chestplate |
| Legs | Armadyl Chainskirt |
| Weapon | Dragon Hunter Crossbow |
| Ammo | Diamond Bolts (e) |
| Boots | Boots of Brimstone |
| Ring | Archers Ring (i) |
Budget option: Use Black D’hide armor and a Rune Crossbow with Broad Bolts.
Inventory Tips
- Cannon: Speeds up kills significantly (bring 100-200 cannonballs).
- Rune Pouch: Fire and Nature runes for High Alchemy.
- Herb Sack: Drakes drop lots of herbs.
- Prayer Potions: 5-7 for Protect from Missiles.
- Food: 8-11 sharks or manta rays.
- Teleport: Fairy ring (CIR) or house tab for quick banking.
Strategies to Kill Drakes Efficiently
Drakes have unique mechanics that require a bit of strategy. Their high defense and volcanic breath attack can catch you off guard if you’re not prepared.
Handling the Volcanic Breath
After seven auto-attacks, Drakes launch a volcanic breath dealing 6-8 damage per hit (four hits total) unless mitigated:
- Dodge It: Move one tile when the projectile launches to avoid all damage.
- Dragonfire Protection: Use an anti-dragon shield or Dragonfire Shield to reduce damage to 3-4 per hit.
- Super Antifire: Negates all breath damage, letting you use a defender or blowpipe instead of a shield.
Prayer and Combat Tactics
Always use Protect from Missiles to block their ranged attacks. Pair this with:
- Piety (Melee): Boosts your damage output.
- Rigour (Ranged): Enhances accuracy and damage.
- Cannon Placement: Set it in the northern room of the dungeon for multi-target hits.
AFK Method
For a laid-back approach, use a super antifire potion with a Dragon Hunter Lance or Crossbow. Auto-retaliate with Protect from Missiles on, and you can AFK for up to 10 minutes before needing to reset aggression.
Loot and Profit Potential
Drakes won’t make you rich overnight, but their drops add up over time. Here’s what to expect and how to maximize profit.
Drop Table Highlights
- Drake Bones: 100% drop, worth ~2k each, great for Prayer XP.
- Drake Claw: 1/512 on-task, ~400-600k, used for boots of brimstone.
- Drake Tooth: 1/512 on-task, ~200k, used for devout boots.
- Herbs and Seeds: Frequent drops like Ranarr and Snapdragon seeds.
- Brimstone Key: From Konar tasks, worth ~100k+ from the chest.
Average Profit Per Task
A typical task of 150-190 Drakes nets around 500k-1M GP, depending on RNG and whether you’re on a Konar task. High-alching drops like Rune items boosts this further.
Tips to Boost Earnings
- Use a Ring of Wealth to remove “nothing” drops from the gem table.
- Bring a Herb Sack and Looting Bag to extend trips.
- Bank bones if training Prayer isn’t your goal.
With this Drake OSRS Slayer Guide, you’re now equipped to tackle these wingless dragons like a pro. Whether you’re grinding for loot, XP, or just enjoying the Slayer life, Drakes offer a unique challenge worth mastering. Grab your gear, head to Mount Karuulm, and start slaying—happy hunting!