OSRS Barrows Brothers Slayer Task: The Ultimate Guide to Mastering This Challenge
Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a variety of exciting activities, and the Barrows Brothers Slayer task stands out as a unique blend of combat, strategy, and rewarding loot. Whether you’re a seasoned player or a newcomer looking to tackle this iconic minigame as part of your Slayer grind, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know. From preparation to execution, we’ll cover strategies, gear setups, and tips to maximize your efficiency and rewards. Let’s dive into the crypts of Morytania and face the wights of the Barrows Brothers!
The Barrows Brothers are six legendary warriors—Ahrim, Dharok, Guthan, Karil, Torag, and Verac—buried in the Barrows, a series of burial mounds east of Mort’ton in Morytania. Introduced in 2005, this minigame has remained a staple of OSRS due to its unique mechanics and the chance to obtain powerful Barrows equipment. As a Slayer task, the Barrows Brothers can be assigned by high-level Slayer masters like Duradel or Nieve/Steve, provided you’ve unlocked the “Like a Boss” perk with Slayer points. This task combines the thrill of bossing with Slayer XP, making it a popular choice for players looking to diversify their training.
The Lore Behind the Barrows Brothers
These Saradominist warriors fought in the God Wars, leading the Morytania Campaign against Lord Drakan’s forces. Empowered by a mysterious stranger (later revealed as Sliske), they gained superhuman strength but ultimately succumbed to their wounds. Buried in six mounds by their retreating army, Sliske’s dark magic revived them as wights, forever guarding their crypts—and their loot.
Why Take on the Barrows Brothers Slayer Task?
Unlike typical Slayer tasks, the Barrows Brothers offer a mix of combat styles, decent XP, and the potential for high-value drops like Barrows armor and weapons. It’s a refreshing break from grinding monsters like dust devils or nechryaels, and the minigame format keeps every run engaging. Plus, with the right setup, you can profit while progressing your Slayer level.
How to Get a Barrows Brothers Slayer Task
To receive the Barrows Brothers as a Slayer task, you’ll need to meet a few prerequisites and optimize your Slayer master interactions. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:
- Unlock “Like a Boss”: This perk, available for 200 Slayer points, allows Slayer masters to assign boss tasks, including the Barrows Brothers.
- High-Level Slayer Masters: Visit Duradel (requires 100 combat and 50 Slayer) in Shilo Village or Nieve/Steve (requires 85 combat) in the Tree Gnome Stronghold for the best chance at boss tasks.
- Task Frequency: The Barrows task typically ranges from 10–35 chests looted, depending on your master and RNG. Each brother killed counts toward your task progress, with the chest loot marking completion.
- Preparation Quests: Complete Priest in Peril to access Morytania, and consider In Aid of the Myreque for Burgh de Rott banking convenience.
Tips for Task Assignment
If you’re aiming for Barrows specifically, use Turael in Burgh de Rott to skip unwanted tasks until you can reset your streak with a higher-tier master. This method, while point-intensive, increases your odds of landing this coveted task.
Gear and Inventory Setup for Barrows Slayer Task
The Barrows Brothers require a hybrid approach due to their varied combat styles. Magic is king here, as five of the six brothers have negligible Magic defense, but you’ll need Ranged or Melee for Ahrim. Below is a recommended setup:
Recommended Gear
| Slot | Item | Alternative (Budget) |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helmet (i) | Black Mask (i) or Helm of Neitiznot |
| Cape | Imbued God Cape | Ardougne Cloak or Fire Cape |
| Body | Rune Platebody | Granite Body |
| Legs | Rune Platelegs | Dragon Platelegs |
| Weapon | Iban’s Staff | Slayer’s Staff (Magic Dart) |
| Shield | Tome of Fire | Book of Darkness |
| Ranged | Toxic Blowpipe | Rune Crossbow |
Inventory Essentials
- Barrows Teleport Tablets: Fastest travel method.
- Prayer Potions (2–4): For Protection Prayers against key brothers.
- Super Restore (1): To counter Ahrim’s stat drain.
- Food (Sharks or Better): 5–10 pieces for emergencies.
- Spade: To dig into the mounds.
- Rune Pouch: With Chaos, Death, and Fire runes for Magic spells.
- Strange Old Lockpick (Optional): Speeds up crypt navigation.
Stat Recommendations
For an efficient run, aim for at least 50 Magic (for Iban’s Blast or Magic Dart), 43 Prayer (for Protection Prayers), and 60+ Defence. Higher stats (70+ Magic/Ranged) will speed things up significantly.
Strategies for Defeating the Barrows Brothers
Each brother has unique strengths and weaknesses, so a smart kill order and combat strategy are crucial. Here’s how to tackle them:
Kill Order and Tactics
- Dharok the Wretched: Weak to Magic, hits hard with Melee as his HP drops. Use Protect from Melee and kill first to conserve Prayer.
- Karil the Tainted: Weak to Magic/Melee, uses accurate Ranged attacks. Pray Protect from Missiles.
- Ahrim the Blighted: Weak to Ranged, uses Magic and stat-draining effects. Switch to your Blowpipe or Crossbow and pray Protect from Magic.
- Guthan the Infested: Weak to Magic, heals himself with Melee spear hits. Use Protect from Melee if Prayer allows.
- Torag the Corrupted: Weak to Magic, hits with Melee hammers. Safe to tank with food.
- Verac the Defiled: Weak to Magic, hits through Prayer with Melee. Tank with food or kill quickly.
Crypt Navigation and Reward Potential
After killing five brothers, one mound leads to a tunnel. Enter it, solve the door puzzle (use RuneLite’s Barrows plugin for ease), and face the sixth brother. Kill crypt monsters (e.g., skeletons, bloodworms) to boost your reward potential to 80%+ for better rune drops. Loot the chest, then teleport out as the crypt collapses.
Slayer XP Breakdown
You’ll earn Slayer XP per brother killed (around 100–150 XP each) and a bonus (up to 5k XP) upon task completion, depending on your master. This stacks with the Slayer Helmet’s bonus, making it a solid XP grind.
Tips and Tricks for Maximizing Efficiency
To turn your Barrows Slayer task into a smooth, profitable experience, consider these pro tips:
Boosting Loot and Speed
- Morytania Hard Diary: 50% more runes per chest, plus unlimited Burgh de Rott teleports.
- Ghommal’s Hilt 2: Negates Prayer drain (from Medium Combat Achievements).
- Strange Old Lockpick: Skip locked doors in the crypt for faster runs.
- Salve Amulet (e): Boosts damage against undead crypt monsters.
Managing Resources
Kill “Prayer boys” (Dharok, Karil, Ahrim) first to minimize Prayer use, then handle “food boys” (Guthan, Torag, Verac) with HP. Bank at Ferox Enclave or Burgh de Rott between runs to restock efficiently.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Don’t skip crypt monsters—low reward potential means fewer runes and less profit. Also, watch Dharok’s HP; his max hit can one-shot you if you’re not praying. Finally, use RuneLite overlays to track brothers and puzzle solutions.
With this guide, you’re ready to conquer the Barrows Brothers Slayer task in OSRS. It’s a fantastic way to blend bossing with Slayer training, offering both XP and the thrill of chasing Barrows gear. Grab your spade, gear up, and descend into the crypts—good luck, and happy looting!