Nightmare Drop Table OSRS Everything You Need to Know

Nightmare Drop Table OSRS Everything You Need to Know

The Nightmare of Ashihama, often simply called The Nightmare, is one of the most challenging and rewarding bosses in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). Located in the Sisterhood Sanctuary beneath Slepe in Morytania, this group-focused boss offers players a chance to earn high-value loot through its unique drop tables. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to bossing, understanding the Nightmare’s drop table is crucial for maximizing your rewards. This blog post dives deep into the Nightmare’s drop table, including its mechanics, unique items, drop rates, and strategies to optimize your loot. Let’s explore everything you need to know about the Nightmare drop table in OSRS.

Introduced in February 2020, The Nightmare is OSRS’s first group-focused boss, designed for up to 80 players, though it can be tackled solo by skilled adventurers. Its health and combat stats scale with the number of players, making it a dynamic challenge. The boss resides in the Sisterhood Sanctuary, accessible after unlocking Morytania, with no additional quest requirements. The Nightmare’s loot system is unique, with rewards scaling based on damage dealt, and a Most Valuable Player (MVP) mechanic that boosts chances for top contributors. Understanding the drop table is key to planning your fights and targeting specific rewards.

Accessing The Nightmare

To fight The Nightmare, head to Slepe via fast travel options like Drakan’s Medallion (teleport to Ver Sinhaza) or an Ectophial with 10,000 coins to pay Andras for a boat ride. The boss is found in the Sisterhood Sanctuary, where players enter its dream realm to battle. Ensure you have high combat stats (85+ recommended) and gear for a prolonged fight.

Phosani’s Nightmare: A Solo Challenge

Phosani’s Nightmare is a harder, solo-only version of the boss, accessible via the Pool of Nightmares. It features faster kill times but harsher mechanics, with unique drops like the Slepey Tablet and Parasitic Egg. Its drop rates for uniques are lower, but increased common loot quantities make it lucrative for skilled players.

Nightmare Drop Table Mechanics

Preview into The Nightmares drop table via JagexCreators twitter

The Nightmare’s drop table is split into multiple categories, with two unique drop tables (one for armor, mace, and staff; another for orbs) and additional tertiary drops. Each kill can roll both unique tables, and a second roll is possible based on party size (capped at 80 players). The MVP, determined by damage dealt, gets a 5% higher chance for tertiary drops, except for the Little Nightmare pet in teams of fewer than five.

Unique Drop Tables

  • Armour, Mace, and Staff Table: Has a 1/83.33 chance to roll in regular Nightmare fights, improving to 1/68.6 with an 80-player team. In Phosani’s, it’s approximately 1/143.
  • Orb Table: Has a 1/320 chance to roll in regular fights, or 1/343 in larger teams, with an effective 1/66.67 chance for any item. In Phosani’s, it’s around 1/533.

Tertiary Drops

Tertiary drops, such as the Little Nightmare pet, Jar of Dreams, or Elite Clue Scrolls, are available to all players who deal sufficient damage. These have separate drop rates, with the pet at 1/800 (1/1400 for Phosani’s) and the jar at 1/2000 (1/4000 for Phosani’s).

Notable Drops from The Nightmare

The Nightmare’s drop table includes some of the most sought-after items in OSRS, from best-in-slot gear to valuable resources. Below is a breakdown of the key drops, their uses, and approximate values as of May 2025 (prices fluctuate, so check the Grand Exchange).

Unique Armour Drops

  • Inquisitor’s Armour Set: Includes the Hauberk, Plateskirt, and Great Helm. Best-in-slot for crush accuracy and strength, ideal for melee setups like the Scythe of Vitur. Value: ~500M-700M for the set.
  • Nightmare Staff: A magic weapon with three orbs (Eldritch, Harmonised, Volatile) that enhance its power. Base staff value: ~50M-70M.

Orb Drops

  • Eldritch Orb: Adds a special attack to the Nightmare Staff, restoring prayer points. Value: ~100M-150M.
  • Harmonised Orb: Increases the staff’s magic attack speed for certain spells. Value: ~200M-300M.
  • Volatile Orb: Adds a powerful special attack for PvM. Value: ~150M-200M.

Other Notable Drops

  • Inquisitor’s Mace: A top-tier crush weapon, rivaling the Elder Maul. Value: ~400M-500M.
  • Slepey Tablet (Phosani’s only): Grants faster access to Phosani’s Nightmare. Value: ~10M-20M.
  • Parasitic Egg (Phosani’s only): Unlocks a cosmetic pet skin. Value: ~5M-10M.
Item Drop Table Approx. Value (M) Use
Inquisitor’s Hauberk Armour Table 300-400 Best-in-slot crush gear
Nightmare Staff Armour Table 50-70 Magic weapon base
Harmonised Orb Orb Table 200-300 Faster magic attacks
Little Nightmare Pet Tertiary N/A Cosmetic pet
Slepey Tablet Phosani’s Tertiary 10-20 Faster boss access

Strategies to Maximize Nightmare Loot

To get the most out of the Nightmare’s drop table, you need a solid strategy. Here are tips to boost your chances of landing unique drops and maximizing loot efficiency.

Team Composition and Roles

In group fights, coordinate roles like DPS, tank, and prayer disabler. Use high-damage weapons like the Scythe of Vitur or Bow of Faerdhinen to increase your damage output, improving your chances for MVP status. In larger teams (50-80 players), drop rates for uniques improve, but competition for MVP intensifies.

Gear and Inventory Setup

Recommended Gear:

  • Melee: Torva or Bandos armor, Scythe of Vitur, or Inquisitor’s Mace.
  • Magic: Ancestral robes, Sanguiesti Staff, or Nightmare Staff with Harmonised Orb.
  • Ranged: Armadyl armor, Bow of Faerdhinen, or Toxic Blowpipe.

Bring Saradomin brews, Super Restores, and a one-click teleport for emergencies. Keep Protect from Magic active and switch to Protect from Missiles for ranged attacks.

Phosani’s Nightmare Tips

For solo players, Phosani’s requires mastering mechanics like dodging Grasping Claws and handling sleepwalkers. Use high-damage setups and practice prayer flicking to minimize damage. The faster kill times can offset the lower unique drop rates with more consistent common loot.

Is The Nightmare Worth Farming?

Farming The Nightmare is highly rewarding but requires significant skill and investment. The Inquisitor’s Armour and Nightmare Staff orbs are among the best gear in OSRS, making them worth the grind for endgame players. Common drops like runes, herbs, and resources provide steady income, averaging 100k-200k per kill, while unique drops can net hundreds of millions. However, the fight’s difficulty and reliance on team coordination (or solo mastery for Phosani’s) mean it’s not beginner-friendly.

Pros of Farming The Nightmare

  • High-Value Loot: Inquisitor’s set and orbs are best-in-slot for specific setups.
  • Scalable Challenge: Group or solo options cater to different playstyles.
  • Consistent Income: Common drops ensure profitability even without uniques.

Cons of Farming The Nightmare

  • High Skill Ceiling: Requires precise mechanics and gear knowledge.
  • Team Dependency: Group fights rely on competent teammates.
  • RNG-Based Rewards: Unique drops are rare, requiring many kills.

In conclusion, the Nightmare drop table in OSRS offers some of the game’s most coveted rewards, from the Inquisitor’s Armour to the Nightmare Staff and its orbs. Whether you’re tackling the group fight or Phosani’s solo challenge, understanding the drop mechanics and optimizing your strategy is essential for success. With the right gear, team, and persistence, farming The Nightmare can be a lucrative and exciting endeavor. Start preparing your setup, join a team, or practice Phosani’s mechanics, and dive into the Sisterhood Sanctuary for a shot at OSRS’s top-tier loot!