OSRS Bandos Melee Guide for General Graardor

OSRS Bandos Melee Guide for General Graardor

General Graardor, the fearsome Bandos boss in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), is a staple for players seeking high-value drops like the Bandos chestplate or hilt. This comprehensive melee guide will walk you through everything you need to conquer Graardor solo or in a team, optimize your setup, and maximize kills per hour. Whether you’re an Ironman or a main account player, this guide covers requirements, strategies, and gear to make your Bandos trips efficient and profitable.

Before heading to the Bandos Stronghold in the God Wars Dungeon (GWD), ensure you meet the prerequisites and have the right setup. Preparation is key to surviving Graardor’s devastating melee attacks and his minions’ onslaught.

Quest and Stat Requirements

  • Quests: Complete Death Plateau and partially complete Troll Stronghold (defeat Dad).
  • Stats:
    • 70 Strength (required for Bandos Stronghold entry, cannot be boosted).
    • 80+ Attack, Strength, and Defence (recommended for solo).
    • 43+ Prayer (for protection prayers; 70+ for Piety).
    • 80+ Hitpoints (for survivability).

Accessing God Wars Dungeon

The GWD is located north of Trollheim. Use one of these methods to get there:

  • Trollheim Teleport: Requires Eadgar’s Ruse and 61 Magic. Bring two Trollheim teleport tablets and revert one to a house teleport after arriving for emergency exits.
  • Games Necklace: Teleport to Burthorpe, then run to the dungeon with climbing boots and stamina potions.
  • First-Time Access: Bring a rope to enter the dungeon.

You’ll need 40 Bandos-aligned kill count (e.g., goblins) or an Ecumenical Key to enter the boss room. Goblins are the easiest target and may drop a hammer (1/15 chance), which is required to access the Stronghold.

Gear and Inventory Setup

Low Level Bandos General Graardor Solo Guide for EOC and Legacy

Melee is the most straightforward style for fighting Graardor due to its compatibility with tank armour and high damage output. Below are recommended gear setups for different budgets.

Best-in-Slot Gear

Slot Item Alternative (Budget)
Head Neitiznot Faceguard Helm of Neitiznot
Cape Infernal Cape Fire Cape
Neck Amulet of Torture Amulet of Fury
Body Bandos Chestplate Fighter Torso
Legs Bandos Tassets Obsidian Platelegs
Weapon Scythe of Vitur Ghrazi Rapier / Abyssal Tentacle
Shield Avernic Defender Dragon Defender
Gloves Ferocious Gloves Barrows Gloves
Boots Primordial Boots Dragon Boots
Ring Berserker Ring (i) Ring of Suffering (i)

Inventory Setup

Your inventory should balance damage, healing, and utility. A typical solo melee inventory includes:

  • 4-6 Saradomin Brews: Heal and boost Defence, but lower offensive stats.
  • 8-10 Super Restores: Restore Prayer and fix stats lowered by brews.
  • 8-10 Manta Rays/Anglerfish: Quick healing during fights.
  • 1-2 Stamina Potions: For running during kill count or kiting minions.
  • 2 Trollheim Teleport Tablets: One reverts to house teleport after arrival.
  • Bones to Peaches Tablets: Convert bones to peaches for extra healing (32 HP per kill).
  • God Items: Bandos (e.g., bracers) and Zamorak (e.g., boots) to avoid minion aggression.
  • Special Attack Weapon: Bandos Godsword (BGS) or Dragon Warhammer (DWH) for Defence reduction.

Tip: Use the “drop method” to bring an extra food item. Drop a brew, pick up a goblin-dropped hammer, use it on the door, then retrieve the brew.

Combat Mechanics and Strategies

Bandos OSRS Guide How To Win Against General Graardor Rune Fanatics

General Graardor and his three bodyguards (Sergeant Strongstack, Steelwill, and Grimspike) use a mix of melee, ranged, and magic attacks. Understanding their mechanics is crucial for survival.

Graardor’s Attacks

  • Melee: A punch dealing up to 60 damage (2/3 chance per attack). Use Protect from Melee to negate it.
  • Ranged: A ground slam AoE dealing 15-35 damage (1/3 chance, only in melee range). Cannot be fully blocked but mitigated with high Ranged Defence.

Minion Attacks

Prayer flicking the magic minion (Steelwill) can reduce damage, but it’s challenging for beginners. Prioritize killing Steelwill first after Graardor dies.

Solo Melee Strategy: 2:1 Walk Under

The “2:1 walk under” technique is the cornerstone of solo melee Bandos. Graardor’s attack speed is 6 ticks, while most melee weapons (e.g., whip, rapier) are 4 ticks, allowing you to outpace his attacks.

  1. Pot Up: Before entering, drink a Saradomin brew, super restore, and super combat potion (or extreme attack/strength).
  2. Prayers: Activate Protect from Melee, Piety, and Protect Item.
  3. Attack Pattern: Hit Graardor twice, then walk under him to avoid his attack. Repeat this 2:1 ratio (two hits, step under).
  4. Special Attacks: Use BGS or DWH specials early to lower Graardor’s Defence, increasing your hit accuracy.
  5. Minions: After killing Graardor, switch to a fast weapon (e.g., Abyssal Tentacle) and kill Steelwill (magic), then Grimspike (ranged), and Strongstack (melee).
  6. Healing: Eat manta rays/anglerfish below 60 HP to avoid combo damage. Use brews sparingly to avoid stat drain.

Pro Tip: Drop an item under Graardor’s spawn and spam-click it when he targets you to “trap” him, allowing safer melee attacks.

Team Strategies

Teaming up (duo/trio) makes Bandos easier and more efficient, especially for players with lower stats. Roles are split into tank and attackers.

Tank Role

The tank draws Graardor’s aggression and takes most of the damage.

  • Gear: Prioritize defensive gear like Justiciar armour or Bandos with an Elysian spirit shield.
  • Positioning: Stand near Graardor’s spawn to attack first. Use the “step under” technique to eat safely.
  • Prayers: Protect from Melee; flick Protect from Missiles if minions stack damage.

Attacker Role

Attackers focus on dealing damage while the tank holds aggro.

  • Gear: Max strength gear (e.g., Bandos, Torture, Scythe). Bring a Karil’s top for magic defence if needed.
  • Positioning: Stay near the north-western corner by the altar to avoid early aggro.
  • Prayers: Protect from Missiles to block minion ranged attacks.

Team Tip: Use Vengeance Other on the tank to reflect damage and bring runes for High Alchemy to clear rune item drops.

Profit and Rewards

Killing General Graardor is highly profitable due to his unique drop table. On average, each kill yields ~179K GP (including minions), with uniques boosting profits significantly. With optimal setups, expect 27 kills per hour, netting ~4.1M GP/hour after supply costs.

Unique Drops

Other Notable Drops

  • Rune items (longsword, 2h sword, platebody).
  • Noted resources (snapdragon, adamantite ore, coal).
  • Super restores, sharks, and chilli potatoes for extended trips.

Tip: Use Bones to Peaches to convert Ourg bones into 32 HP of healing per kill, reducing food consumption.

With this guide, you’re ready to tackle General Graardor using melee in OSRS. Practice the 2:1 walk under method, optimize your gear, and coordinate with teammates for maximum efficiency. Good luck, and may you score that Bandos hilt!