OSRS Best Mage Offhand Guide for 2025
In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), choosing the right mage offhand can make or break your magical prowess. Whether you’re blasting spells in PvP, tackling PvE bosses, or grinding Magic levels, the offhand slot significantly boosts your accuracy, damage, or utility. With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. This guide dives into the best mage offhands in OSRS for 2025, covering their stats, uses, and how to get them. Let’s explore the top picks to elevate your mage game!
The offhand slot for mages isn’t just a decorative piece—it directly impacts your spellcasting effectiveness. Unlike melee or ranged setups, mage offhands often prioritize magic attack bonuses, magic strength, or unique effects over raw defense. A great offhand can increase your hit chance, amplify spell damage, or even provide utility like infinite runes. With the right choice, you’ll maximize your Magic training efficiency or dominate in combat scenarios.
Key Factors to Consider
When picking a mage offhand, focus on:
- Magic Attack Bonus: Higher accuracy means fewer spell splashes.
- Magic Strength: Boosts damage output, critical for high-level content.
- Requirements: Some offhands need high Magic or Defence levels.
- Cost vs. Benefit: Budget options can still perform well.
- Special Effects: Unique perks like rune-saving or defensive boosts.
Top Mage Offhands in OSRS
Here’s a breakdown of the best mage offhands available in 2025, ranked by their effectiveness for different playstyles and budgets. Each offers unique advantages, so let’s dive into the details.
Elidinis’ Ward (Fortified)
The Elidinis’ Ward (f) is the cream of the crop for mage offhands, offering unmatched stats for high-level players. Obtained as a rare drop from the Tombs of Amascut raid, this fortified version requires 80 Magic and 80 Defence to wield.
Stats:
Why It’s Great: The +5% magic strength boost is a game-changer for PvM, making your spells hit harder against bosses like the Nightmare or Zulrah. Its high magic attack bonus ensures accuracy, and the prayer bonus is a nice touch for prolonged fights.
How to Get It: Upgrade the base Elidinis’ Ward with a Ward Ornament Kit, which comes from the same raid. Expect a grind, as the drop rate is low, and the fortified version costs around 50-60M GP on the Grand Exchange.
Arcane Spirit Shield
For mages prioritizing defense alongside offense, the Arcane Spirit Shield is a stellar choice. Requiring 75 Defence, 70 Prayer, and 65 Magic, it’s a high-end option from Corporeal Beast drops.
Stats:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Magic Attack | +20 |
| Magic Defence | +15 |
| Prayer Bonus | +3 |
Why It’s Great: The Arcane offers robust defensive bonuses, making it ideal for hybrid setups or tanking in raids like Chambers of Xeric. Its magic attack bonus is second only to Elidinis’ Ward (f), ensuring reliable spellcasting.
How to Get It: Hunt the Corporeal Beast, but be prepared for a team effort and a steep price tag—around 80-100M GP if buying outright.
Mage’s Book
The Mage’s Book is a budget-friendly yet powerful offhand for mid-tier mages. It requires 60 Magic and no Defence, making it accessible for pures and mains alike.
Stats:
Why It’s Great: With no Defence requirement, it’s a go-to for PvP pures aiming for accurate spell hits. It’s also cheaper than shields, costing around 5-7M GP, and performs well in Slayer tasks or early PvM.
How to Get It: Purchase it from the Mage Training Arena for 500 Telekinetic, 550 Alchemist, 6,000 Enchantment, and 500 Graveyard points. It’s a grind, but far less costly than raid drops.
Tome of Fire
The Tome of Fire is a niche offhand that shines for fire spell users. Requiring 50 Magic, it’s obtainable by completing the “Tomes of the Elements” collection from volcanic creatures.
Stats:
Why It’s Great: Pair it with Iban’s Blast or Fire Surge for massive damage boosts. It’s perfect for budget mages training with fire spells or tackling fire-weak bosses like Cerberus.
How to Get It: Kill monsters like Fire Giants or Pyrefiends for burnt pages, then charge the tome. It’s affordable, often under 2M GP.
Book of Darkness
The Book of Darkness is a versatile offhand from the Horror from the Deep quest, requiring 60 Magic to equip.
Stats:
Why It’s Great: Its prayer bonus helps sustain Protect prayers in PvM, and the magic attack boost is decent for early-game content. It’s a solid stepping stone before upgrading to a Mage’s Book.
How to Get It: Complete Horror from the Deep and choose the Zamorak book as a reward. Pages cost extra, but the base book is free post-quest.
Comparing Mage Offhands
To help you decide, here’s a quick comparison of the top mage offhands based on key metrics:
| Offhand | Magic Attack | Magic Strength | Requirements | Cost (GP) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elidinis’ Ward (f) | +25 | +5% | 80 Magic, 80 Defence | 50-60M | Endgame PvM |
| Arcane Spirit Shield | +20 | 0 | 75 Defence, 70 Prayer, 65 Magic | 80-100M | Hybrid/Tanking |
| Mage’s Book | +15 | 0 | 60 Magic | 5-7M | PvP, Mid-tier PvM |
| Tome of Fire | +8 | +50% (Fire Spells) | 50 Magic | 1-2M | Fire Spell Training |
| Book of Darkness | +10 | 0 | 60 Magic | ~500K | Early PvM |
Best Offhands for Specific Scenarios
Not every offhand suits every situation. Here’s a guide to picking the right one based on your goals:
PvP Combat
In PvP, accuracy and burst damage are king. The Mage’s Book is ideal for pures due to its low requirements and solid +15 magic attack. For mains, the Elidinis’ Ward (f) maximizes damage output, especially with high-damage spells like Ice Barrage.
PvM and Bossing
For bossing, Elidinis’ Ward (f) reigns supreme thanks to its magic strength boost. If you need defensive stats for raids, the Arcane Spirit Shield is better. Budget players can rely on the Book of Darkness for early bosses like Barrows.
Magic Training
When training Magic, the Tome of Fire is unbeatable for fire spell methods like Fire Bolt splashing or Fire Surge at Maniacal Monkeys. It saves runes and boosts XP rates. For general training, the Mage’s Book offers accuracy without breaking the bank.
Tips for Choosing and Using Your Offhand
To get the most out of your mage offhand, keep these tips in mind:
- Match Your Budget: Don’t splurge on an Arcane Spirit Shield if a Mage’s Book gets the job done.
- Consider Content: PvP, PvM, and training have different priorities—pick accordingly.
- Upgrade Gradually: Start with a Book of Darkness, move to a Mage’s Book, then aim for endgame options.
- Check Requirements: Ensure you meet Magic and Defence levels to avoid wasting GP.
- Monitor Prices: Grand Exchange prices fluctuate, so time your purchase for savings.
By aligning your offhand with your playstyle and goals, you’ll cast spells with confidence and efficiency.
Conclusion
Selecting the best mage offhand in OSRS depends on your level, budget, and content. The Elidinis’ Ward (f) leads for endgame PvM, while the Arcane Spirit Shield excels in defensive setups. Mid-tier players can’t go wrong with the Mage’s Book, and budget mages will love the Tome of Fire or Book of Darkness. Whatever your choice, a good offhand will boost your Magic to new heights. Grab your runes, equip your offhand, and start casting—Gielinor awaits!