How to Do Barrows in OSRS – Ultimate Guide for Beginners and Pros
The Barrows minigame in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a thrilling and rewarding PvM activity that pits players against the six undead Barrows Brothers in the eerie swamps of Morytania. Known for its unique armor sets and lucrative loot, Barrows is a staple for mid-level and high-level players looking to make gold or gear up. Whether you’re a newbie tackling your first crypt or a seasoned adventurer optimizing your runs, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to conquer Barrows efficiently.
Located east of Mort’ton, Barrows involves delving into six burial mounds, each housing a Barrows Brother: Ahrim, Dharok, Guthan, Karil, Torag, and Verac. The goal is to defeat these brothers, navigate a randomized underground tunnel, and loot a reward chest packed with potential riches like Barrows equipment, runes, and bolt racks. With low requirements but high rewards, it’s accessible yet challenging, making it a perfect introduction to bossing in OSRS.
What Makes Barrows Unique
Unlike traditional bosses, Barrows blends combat, strategy, and a touch of RNG. Each brother has a distinct combat style, requiring you to adapt your gear and prayers. The randomized tunnel adds a puzzle-like element, and your reward potential hinges on how many brothers and mobs you defeat, balancing risk and efficiency.
Requirements for Barrows
Barrows has minimal mandatory requirements, making it beginner-friendly:
- Quest: Completion of Priest in Peril to access Morytania.
- Combat: No strict level requirements, but 50+ Magic/Ranged and 60+ Melee recommended.
- Prayer: 43+ for Protection Prayers (highly recommended).
Optional but helpful:
- In Search of the Myreque for swamp shortcuts.
- Shades of Mort’ton for teleport access.
- Morytania Hard Diary for 50% more runes and unlimited Burgh de Rott teleports.
Getting to Barrows
Reaching the Barrows mounds efficiently sets the tone for your runs. Several methods cater to different account types and budgets, with the fastest options saving time for more chest loots per hour.
Fastest Travel Methods
For main accounts, prioritize speed:
- Barrows Teleport Tablet: Buy from the Grand Exchange for instant travel to the mounds.
- Barrows Teleport Spell: Requires 83 Magic and 60% Arceuus favor, ideal for high-level mages.
- Player-Owned House (POH) Portal: Build a Barrows portal with 50+ Construction for a reusable teleport.
Ironman-Friendly Routes
Ironmen need sustainable options:
- Morytania Legs 3/4: Unlimited teleports to Burgh de Rott, then run north through Mort’ton.
- Fairy Ring (BIP): Teleport to Mort Myre, run to the swamp boaty, sail to Mort’ton, and head east. Requires 50 Agility and partial completion of Fairy Tale II.
- Mort’ton Teleport Scroll: A slower but viable option if tablets are unavailable.
Pro Tip: Completing In Aid of the Myreque unlocks a bank in Burgh de Rott, perfect for restocking between runs.
Gear and Inventory Setup
Your gear and inventory are critical for surviving the brothers and maximizing efficiency. Since most brothers have low Magic defense, Magic-based setups dominate, with Melee or Ranged for specific fights.
Recommended Gear
Here’s a versatile setup for mid-level players:
| Slot | Item | Budget Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Ahrim’s Hood | Mystic Hat |
| Cape | Imbued God Cape | Ardougne Cloak |
| Body | Rune Platebody | Black D’hide Body |
| Legs | Rune Platelegs | Black D’hide Chaps |
| Weapon | Iban’s Staff | Warped Sceptre |
| Shield | Book of Darkness | God Book |
| Gloves | Barrows Gloves | Combat Bracelet |
| Boots | Mystic Boots | Wizard Boots |
| Ring | Ring of the Gods | Ring of Life |
High-Level Option: Swap to Trident of the Swamp, Virtus Robes, and Occult Necklace for faster kills.
Inventory Setup
A balanced inventory ensures you survive the crypts and tunnels:
- 4-6 Prayer Potions: Counter the Prayer drain effect (negated with Ghommal’s Hilt 2).
- 8-10 Food: Monkfish or Sharks for healing.
- Rune Pouch: Store runes for Magic spells (e.g., Iban’s Blast).
- Barrows Teleport Tablets: For quick travel.
- Teleport to House/Ring of Dueling: Bank and restore stats at Ferox Enclave.
- Spade: To dig into mounds.
- Melee Weapon: Dragon Scimitar or Whip for tunnel mobs and Ahrim/Karil.
Note: Equip Ghommal’s Hilt 2 (from Combat Achievements) to nullify Prayer drain, saving potions.
Strategies for Defeating the Barrows Brothers
Each brother demands a specific approach due to their unique combat styles. Here’s how to tackle them efficiently.
Brother Breakdown and Tactics
Use this table to plan your fights:
| Brother | Combat Style | Weakness | Prayer | Strategy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dharok | Melee | Magic | Protect from Melee | High hits at low HP; kill quickly with Iban’s Blast. |
| Verac | Melee | Magic | Protect from Melee | Ignores armor; use food if hits land. |
| Guthan | Melee | Magic | Protect from Melee | Heals himself; burst down with Magic. |
| Torag | Melee | Magic | Protect from Melee | Low damage; easy Magic kill. |
| Ahrim | Magic | Melee/Ranged | Protect from Magic | Use Melee (Whip) or Ranged for fast kills. |
| Karil | Ranged | Melee | Protect from Missiles | Melee with high Strength gear; watch for rapid hits. |
Kill Order Strategy
To conserve resources, prioritize high-threat brothers:
- Dharok, Ahrim, Karil: These hit hardest and require Prayer. Kill first to minimize potion use.
- Guthan, Torag, Verac: Lower threat, can be tanked with food if Prayer runs low.
Runelite Plugins: Enable the “Barrows Brothers” plugin to track brothers and highlight puzzle answers in tunnels.
Navigating the Tunnels
One random crypt leads to a tunnel with a puzzle door. Solve it quickly (Runelite highlights answers) and face the final brother, either in the tunnel or at the chest. Kill 2-3 mobs (skeletons, worms) to boost reward potential to 80-86% for optimal rune drops without wasting time.
Maximizing Rewards and Efficiency
Barrows is a goldmine if you optimize your runs. A single chest can yield 50k-800k GP, with Barrows equipment being the jackpot.
Reward Potential Explained
Your loot depends on reward potential, increased by killing brothers (major boost) and mobs (minor boost):
- 73-88%: Ideal for max runes, fewer bolt racks.
- Over 88%: Risks more bolt racks, lowering profit.
Aim for 80-86% by killing all brothers and a few mobs.
Notable Drops
Expect these from the chest:
- Barrows Equipment: Ahrim’s Staff, Dharok’s Greataxe, etc. (1/15 chance per run).
- Runes: Chaos, Death, Blood (stackable, high value).
- Bolt Racks: Ammo for Karil’s Crossbow, decent filler.
- Rare: Dragon Med Helm (requires 1012 potential, very rare).
Efficiency Tips
Boost your chests per hour:
- Bank at Ferox Enclave: Use Ring of Dueling to restore stats at the rejuvenation pool.
- Minimap in Tunnels: Complete His Faithful Servants for crypt minimap access.
- Prayer Management: Flick Protection Prayers to stretch potions.
- Strange Old Lockpick: Speeds up tunnel navigation (non-Ironman).
Pro Tip: Average 10-12 chests per hour with practice, netting ~500k-1M GP/hour depending on luck.
Barrows is a perfect blend of accessibility, challenge, and reward in OSRS. With the right gear, strategy, and a bit of practice, you’ll be looting chests like a pro. Start digging, slay those brothers, and watch your bank grow!