How to Use Ancient Magic for Slayer in OSRS

Ancient Magic in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a powerful tool for players looking to optimize their Slayer training. Unlocked through the Desert Treasure I quest, the Ancient Magicks spellbook offers unique combat spells that can significantly enhance efficiency when tackling Slayer tasks. This guide provides a comprehensive look at how to use Ancient Magic for Slayer, covering requirements, gear, spell choices, strategies, and more. Whether you’re aiming for fast experience rates or trying to maximize profits, Ancient Magic can be a game-changer when used correctly.

Unlocking Ancient Magic

To use Ancient Magic, you must complete the Desert Treasure I quest, which unlocks the Ancient Magicks spellbook. This quest has several prerequisites and requirements:

Required Quests:
- The Dig Site
- Druidic Ritual
- Making History
- Priest in Peril
- Temple of Ikov
- The Tourist Trap
- Troll Stronghold
- Death Plateau
Skill Requirements:
- 50 Magic
- 40 Defence
- 53 Thieving
- 20 Firemaking
- 10 Slayer
Recommended Items:
- Ice gloves (requires 50 Mining) or ice arrows for one of the bosses.
- High combat stats (70+ Attack, Strength, Defence) to make the quest easier.

Once Desert Treasure I is complete, you can switch to the Ancient Magicks spellbook by praying at the altar in the Jaldraocht Pyramid in the Kharidian Desert. A rear tunnel allows direct access to the altar after the quest, but praying there drains all Prayer points to zero. Alternatively, players with 80 Construction can build an ancient altar in their Player-Owned House (POH) to switch spellbooks without Prayer drain.

Why Use Ancient Magic for Slayer?

Ancient Magic is particularly effective for Slayer due to its area-of-effect (AoE) spells, which allow you to attack multiple monsters at once. This is ideal for tasks involving tightly packed, low-defence monsters like Dust Devils, Nechryaels, and Abyssal Demons. The spellbook includes four spell types—Smoke, Shadow, Blood, and Ice—each with unique effects:

Smoke: Poisons targets, dealing minor damage over time.
Shadow: Reduces the target’s attack accuracy.
Blood: Heals the caster for 25% of the damage dealt.
Ice: Freezes targets, preventing movement for up to 20 seconds (Ice Barrage).

These effects, combined with the AoE capabilities of Burst and Barrage spells, make Ancient Magic a top choice for Slayer tasks that involve stacking monsters in multi-combat areas.

Gear Setup for Ancient Magic Slayer

Choosing the right gear is crucial for maximizing damage, accuracy, and efficiency while keeping costs manageable. Below is a recommended gear setup for using Ancient Magic in Slayer, tailored for mid- to high-level players.

Slot	Item	Notes
Head	Slayer Helmet (i)	Provides accuracy and damage boost on Slayer tasks. Imbue at Nightmare Zone.
Cape	Imbued God Cape (Saradomin, Zamorak, or Guthix)	Best magic attack bonus. Obtained from Mage Arena.
Neck	Occult Necklace	+10% magic damage, essential for boosting spell output.
Body	Ancestral Robe Top	Best magic attack and damage bonus. Ahrim’s Robetop as a cheaper alternative.
Legs	Ancestral Robe Bottom	Matches top. Ahrim’s Robeskirt for budget setups.
Weapon	Kodai Wand	High magic attack and 15% chance to save runes. Master Wand or Ancient Staff as alternatives.
Shield	Arcane Spirit Shield	Best magic attack bonus. Mages’ Book or Malediction Ward for budget options.
Gloves	Tormented Bracelet	+5% magic damage. Barrows Gloves as a cheaper alternative.
Boots	Eternal Boots	High magic attack. Infinity Boots or Mystic Boots for budget setups.
Ring	Seers Ring (i)	Boosts magic accuracy. Ring of Suffering (i) for defence or recoil effects.
Ammo	Rada’s Blessing 4	Prayer bonus and chance for extra resources. Optional for Slayer tasks.

Budget Gear Alternatives

If you can’t afford BiS gear, consider:

Body/Legs: Ahrim’s Robes or Mystic Robes.
Weapon: Ancient Staff (80,000 GP from Eblis post-quest).
Shield: Book of Darkness or Unholy Book.
Neck: Amulet of Glory or Amulet of Magic.
Boots: Mystic Boots or Wizard Boots.

Inventory Setup

Your inventory should balance runes, supplies, and utility items:

Runes for your chosen spell (e.g., Ice Barrage: 6 Water, 4 Blood, 2 Death per cast).
Prayer potions or Super restores (4–8).
High-healing food (Sharks, Monkfish, or Karambwan).
Emergency teleport (e.g., Teleport to House tablet).
Rune pouch to save inventory space.
Optional: Herb sack, Seed box, or Looting bag for resource-heavy tasks.

Choosing the Right Spells

The Ancient Magicks spellbook offers 16 combat spells, but only a few are practical for Slayer. The table below lists the most relevant spells, their requirements, and their uses in Slayer.

Spell	Magic Level	Runes Required	Max Hit	Effect	Slayer Use
Ice Burst	70	4 Water, 2 Death, 4 Chaos	22	Freezes for 10s, hits up to 9 targets	Great for mid-level tasks like Dust Devils.
Ice Barrage	94	6 Water, 4 Blood, 2 Death	30	Freezes for 20s, hits up to 9 targets	Best for high-level tasks like Nechryaels.
Blood Burst	68	4 Fire, 2 Death, 4 Blood	21	Heals 25% of damage, hits up to 9	Useful for sustain on tanky tasks.
Blood Barrage	92	4 Fire, 4 Blood, 1 Soul	29	Heals 25% of damage, hits up to 9	High sustain for extended trips.

Ice Spells: Preferred for most Slayer tasks due to their freezing effect, which prevents monsters from moving, allowing you to stack them for AoE damage.
Blood Spells: Useful for tasks where you take heavy damage and need healing, such as Abyssal Demons or Smoke Devils.
Smoke/Shadow Spells: Rarely used for Slayer, as their effects (poison and accuracy reduction) are less impactful than freezing or healing.

Spell Selection Tips

Use Ice Barrage if you have 94 Magic and can afford the rune cost. It’s the most efficient for high-level tasks.
Use Ice Burst for mid-level tasks (70–93 Magic) to save on runes while still benefiting from AoE.
Switch to Blood Barrage for tasks where Prayer potions are limited, as the healing effect reduces reliance on food.

Slayer Tasks for Ancient Magic

Not all Slayer tasks are suited for Ancient Magic, as the spellbook shines in multi-combat areas with tightly packed monsters. Below is a table of the best tasks for using Ancient Magic, including locations and strategies.

Monster	Slayer Level	Location	Spell Recommended	Strategy
Dust Devils	65	Catacombs of Kourend, Smoke Dungeon	Ice Burst/Barrage	Stack in multi-combat area, use Protect from Melee, and barrage for fast XP.
Nechryaels	80	Catacombs of Kourend, Slayer Tower	Ice Barrage	Barrage in Catacombs for high XP. Bring alchs for rune item drops.
Abyssal Demons	85	Catacombs of Kourend, Slayer Tower	Ice Barrage	Use in Catacombs for profit and XP. Blood Barrage if taking heavy damage.
Greater Demons	1 (task-specific)	Catacombs of Kourend	Ice Burst/Barrage	Stack in multi-combat area for efficient kills.
Smoke Devils	93	Smoke Devil Dungeon	Blood Barrage	Use Blood Barrage for healing, Protect from Range, and stack for AoE.

Stacking Monsters

To maximize Ancient Magic’s AoE potential, you need to stack monsters in one tile:

Lure: Aggro multiple monsters by running through their spawn area.
Position: Move to a corner or choke point where monsters can’t surround you.
Freeze: Cast Ice Burst or Barrage to freeze them in place.
Attack: Continue casting to hit all stacked monsters simultaneously.

Tip: Use the “Safespot” method in the Catacombs of Kourend by standing near totems or corners to keep monsters bunched up.

Managing Costs and Profits

Ancient Magic is rune-intensive, with Ice Barrage costing approximately 1,800–2,000 GP per cast (as of April 2025). To offset costs:

High Alchemy: Bring a Fire Staff and Nature Runes to alch valuable drops like rune items.
Looting Bag: Store extra loot to reduce banking trips.
Choose Profitable Tasks: Nechryaels and Abyssal Demons drop valuable items like rune armour and Abyssal Whips.
Rune-Saving Gear: Use Kodai Wand or Staff of Light for a chance to save runes.

Cost vs. XP Trade-Off

Dust Devils: Break even or slight profit with alchs, 50–70k Magic XP/hour.
Nechryaels: 1–2M GP/hour profit, 70–100k Magic XP/hour with Ice Barrage.
Abyssal Demons: High profit potential, 60–80k Magic XP/hour.

Combining with Other Skills

Ancient Magic pairs well with other skills to enhance Slayer efficiency:

Prayer: Use Protect from Melee or Piety to reduce damage and boost accuracy.
Herblore: Super Magic Potions (+12 Magic) or Overloads (if available) increase spell damage.
Agility: Higher stamina for running to stack monsters.
Construction: Build an ancient altar in your POH for easy spellbook switching.

Tips for Efficiency

Slayer Helmet (i): Always wear it on task for the 15% accuracy and damage boost.
Task Skipping: Skip tasks unsuitable for Ancient Magic (e.g., single-target or spread-out monsters like Suqahs).
Cannon: Use a Dwarf Multicannon in multi-combat areas to speed up kills, but note it doesn’t stack with Barrage XP.
POH Teleports: Set up portals to Pollnivneach or Kourend for quick access to Slayer locations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Ancient Magic worth using for all Slayer tasks?
A: No, Ancient Magic is best for multi-combat tasks with tightly packed monsters, like Dust Devils, Nechryaels, and Abyssal Demons. For single-target or spread-out tasks, standard spellbook spells or melee/ranged may be more efficient.

Q: How do I switch to the Ancient Magicks spellbook?
A: Pray at the altar in the Jaldraocht Pyramid (Kharidian Desert) or use an ancient altar in your POH (requires 80 Construction). The pyramid altar drains Prayer to zero, but you can switch even with 0 Prayer points.

Q: What’s the cheapest way to use Ancient Magic for Slayer?
A: Use Ice Burst (70 Magic) with budget gear like Ahrim’s Robes, Ancient Staff, and Mystic Boots. Focus on profitable tasks like Nechryaels and alch drops to offset rune costs.

Q: Can I use Ancient Magic without completing Desert Treasure I?
A: No, the quest is mandatory to unlock the spellbook. You’ll need 50 Magic and the prerequisite quests completed.

Q: Does Ice Barrage work in single-combat areas?
A: Yes, but its AoE effect is wasted. Use Ice Barrage in multi-combat areas to hit multiple monsters for maximum efficiency.

Q: How do I stack monsters effectively?
A: Lure monsters to a corner or choke point, cast Ice Burst/Barrage to freeze them, and keep casting to hit all targets. Watch YouTube guides for specific locations like the Catacombs of Kourend.

Q: Is Blood Barrage worth using for Slayer?
A: Yes, for tasks where you take heavy damage or want to save food, like Smoke Devils. The healing effect (25% of damage dealt) extends trips but costs more runes.

Q: Can Ironmen use Ancient Magic efficiently?
A: Yes, but rune costs are a challenge. Farm runes via Runecrafting or Barrows, and focus on profitable tasks to sustain supplies.

Conclusion

Using Ancient Magic for Slayer in OSRS can transform your training experience, offering some of the fastest Magic and Slayer XP rates in the game. By focusing on multi-combat tasks like Dust Devils, Nechryaels, and Abyssal Demons, and using spells like Ice Barrage or Blood Barrage, you can maximize efficiency while potentially turning a profit. The key is to balance rune costs with loot, choose the right gear, and master stacking techniques to make the most of the spellbook’s AoE capabilities. While Ancient Magic requires significant investment—both in unlocking it and maintaining supplies—the rewards in XP and combat prowess make it a worthwhile choice for dedicated Slayers. Practice your setup, experiment with tasks, and you’ll soon be barraging your way to 99 Slayer with style.