How to Play Barbarian Assault in Old School RuneScape

Barbarian Assault is one of the most engaging team-based minigames in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), offering players a chance to test their coordination and combat skills while earning valuable rewards like the Fighter Torso. Played in the basement of the Barbarian Outpost, this minigame requires a team of five players to work together across ten waves of Penance creatures, culminating in a battle against the Penance Queen. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to master Barbarian Assault, from setup to strategies, making it perfect for beginners and seasoned players alike.

Before diving into the action, you need to prepare and understand the basics. Barbarian Assault is accessible to all players with no strict requirements, though higher combat levels (80+ recommended) improve performance due to the aggressive Penance monsters. The minigame is safe, meaning no items are lost on death, but you cannot bring runes, arrows, capes, or looting bags into the arena. Instead, necessary items like arrows and runes are provided in-game.

Accessing the Barbarian Outpost

The Barbarian Assault arena is located underground at the Barbarian Outpost, north of Baxtorian Falls. Here are the fastest ways to get there:

• Games Necklace Teleport: The quickest method, teleporting you directly to the Outpost.
• Minigame Group Finder: Available after completing the tutorial, this teleports you straight to the arena.
• Barbarian Teleport: A Lunar spell requiring level 75 Magic, three fire runes, two astral runes, and two law runes.
• Tree Gnome Stronghold Shortcut: Requires level 37 Agility and completion of The Grand Tree quest.

Completing the Tutorial

You must complete the tutorial with Captain Cain in the Barbarian Outpost lobby before playing. This mandatory step introduces the minigame’s mechanics, roles, and objectives. Pay attention, as skipping through can leave you confused. After the tutorial, you’ll receive a Queen Tutorial Book, which outlines how to create an Omega egg to defeat the Penance Queen—keep it handy if you’re new.

Understanding the Roles in Barbarian Assault

Barbarian Assault revolves around four roles: Attacker, Defender, Healer, and Collector. A team of five players must fill these roles, with one role having two players (often Healer or Attacker). Each role has specific tasks, and success depends on teamwork and communication via the horn provided to each player.

Attacker Role

The Attacker fights Penance Fighters and Rangers using melee, ranged, or magic. You must use the correct attack style, which the Collector communicates through the horn every 30 seconds. Using the wrong style deals no damage and costs 2 Hitpoints. Pull the Attacker lever to obtain arrows or runes, and focus on high-damage weapons like a Dragon Scimitar or Ranged setups with full Void Knight equipment for efficiency.

Defender Role

The Defender prevents Penance Runners from escaping by luring them to a trap with food dropped in specific locations. The Healer calls the correct food type via the horn. A typical strategy involves dropping three correct foods one square north of the trap, then more near spikes to lure multiple runners. Grab logs and a hammer from the north spawn to repair the trap. The Imcando hammer is recommended to save time.

Healer Role

The Healer keeps teammates alive and kills Penance Healers. Fill vials at the Healer spring (south-west corner) to heal teammates, with healing amounts scaling with your Healer level. The Defender calls the poison type to use on Penance Healers. Monitor teammates’ health closely, especially in later waves, and drink from the spring to restore your own Hitpoints and run energy.

Collector Role

The Collector gathers eggs dropped by Penance creatures and converts them at the yellow dispenser. The Attacker calls the egg color to collect. Use red (explosive) and green (poison) eggs in the egg launcher to kill Runners and other Penance, as blue eggs are less effective. In Wave 10, collect yellow eggs to pass to the Healer for the Penance Queen fight.

Gameplay Mechanics and Strategies

Barbarian Assault consists of ten waves, with increasing difficulty, and the final wave features the Penance Queen. Each wave requires defeating all Penance creatures, and teamwork is critical. If a teammate dies, logs out, or quits, the wave fails, and you must restart it.

Calling Mechanics

Calling is the backbone of Barbarian Assault. Each player uses their horn to communicate actions to teammates. Right-click the horn to select the correct option, which changes every 30 seconds (indicated by flashing white text). The ear icon shows what you need to do, and the mouth icon shows what to call. Failure to call results in penalties, reducing Honour Points. Always prioritize calling, even when busy with your role.

Wave Navigation

At the start of each wave, avoid the center lane to prevent pulling Penance away from their intended targets. Attackers and Collectors run west around the west cannon hill, while Healers and Defenders go east around the east cannon hill. The team leader can quick-start waves by right-clicking the ladder, speeding up gameplay.

Maximizing Honour Points

Honour Points are earned based on your role’s performance and are used to purchase rewards. To maximize points:

• Complete the Hard Kandarin Diary: Grants 10% more points.
• Use the Cannon: Firing red or green eggs at Runners doesn’t deduct points.
• Avoid Penalties: Call promptly and perform the correct actions to prevent -10 point deductions.
• Kill Runners Efficiently: Runners escaping deducts points, so Defenders and cannon users should prioritize them.

Defeating the Penance Queen in Wave 10

Wave 10 is the ultimate challenge, featuring the Penance Queen. She uses ranged attacks from a distance, melee when close, and a powerful group ranged attack. High ranged defense armor, like Barrows equipment, is recommended. The team must create an Omega egg to defeat her.

Omega Egg Creation Process

Role	Task
Collector	Collects yellow eggs and passes them to the Healer.
Healer	Poisons yellow eggs and passes them to the Attacker.
Attacker	Spikes poisoned eggs using petrified mushroom spikes and passes them to the Defender.
Defender	Dips spiked eggs in lava pools and loads them into the cannon.

Once the Omega egg is loaded, all players fire it at the Queen. The team leader can use animation stalls (e.g., short actions) to delay cannon depletion, allowing more shots. Stay near the healing pool to minimize damage, and use Guthan’s armor to heal off Queen Spawns if possible.

Tips for Success and Rewards

Barbarian Assault can be daunting, but these tips will boost your chances of success and make the experience enjoyable.

Team Formation

Join World 306 (the official Barbarian Assault world) during peak hours for active lobbies. To form a team, the leader uses a recruitment scroll to select four players, choosing roles via the scroll. Display Penance armor to show experience, increasing your chances of being picked. If a player underperforms, the leader can kick them after a wave.

Recommended Gear

• Melee Attacker: Dragon Scimitar or Abyssal Whip with Barrows armor.
• Ranged Attacker: Full Void Knight equipment with a blessing to avoid arrow slot conflicts.
• Non-Attackers: High-defense armor like Torag’s or Dharok’s; Excalibur for extra defense.

Rewards and Progression

Honour Points can be spent with Commander Connad for rewards like the Fighter Torso (400 points in each role), Penance skirt, or a chance at the rare Dragon Chainbody via gambling (30 points, very low odds). You can also upgrade role levels or gain bonus XP in Firemaking, Agility, or Mining. For the Kandarin Medium Diary, complete one full game; for the Elite Diary, reach level 5 in all roles.

Barbarian Assault is a rewarding minigame that tests teamwork and strategy. By mastering roles, communicating effectively, and optimizing your setup, you’ll conquer the Penance Queen and claim top-tier rewards. Dive into World 306, form your team, and start your assault today!