OSRS Best NMZ Bosses for Maximum Points and XP

The Nightmare Zone (NMZ) in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a fan-favorite minigame for training combat skills, earning points, and unlocking powerful imbues. Choosing the right bosses can make or break your efficiency, whether you’re aiming for maximum experience per hour (XP/hr), Nightmare Zone points, or a balance of both. In this guide, we’ll dive into the best NMZ bosses to help you optimize your sessions, covering strategies, setups, and key considerations to dominate this combat gauntlet.

Before picking bosses, let’s quickly recap what Nightmare Zone is all about. Located in Yanille, NMZ is a combat-based minigame where you fight quest bosses you’ve previously defeated, orchestrated by the quirky mage Dominic Onion. You enter a “dream” to battle these foes in modes like Practice, Endurance, or Rumble, with Normal and Hard difficulties. Customizable Hard Rumble is the go-to for most players due to its flexibility and rewards, costing 26,000 coins per session.

The goal? Maximize points for imbues (like Berserker Ring or Slayer Helmet) or XP for combat stats. Your boss selection directly impacts both, so choosing wisely is crucial. Let’s explore the top bosses and why they shine.

Best NMZ Bosses for Points

If your priority is racking up Nightmare Zone points to imbue gear or buy resources, you want bosses that yield high points per kill while being manageable. More bosses enabled generally means more points, but some are more trouble than they’re worth. Here’s a breakdown of the top picks.

Count Draynor

From Vampire Slayer, Count Draynor is a low-level melee boss with minimal hitpoints, making him a quick kill. He’s a staple for point-focused setups because he spawns frequently and offers decent points relative to his ease.

King Roald

Unlocked via What Lies Below, King Roald is another melee-only boss who’s easy to dispatch. His low defense and predictable attacks make him ideal for stacking points without much hassle.

The Kendal

From Mountain Daughter, The Kendal is a melee boss with straightforward mechanics. He provides a solid point yield and doesn’t require special equipment, fitting perfectly into most setups.

Tree Spirit

After completing Lost City, you unlock the Tree Spirit. This boss is a pushover for players with decent melee stats, offering good points and easy kills in Hard Rumble mode.

Desert Treasure Bosses (with Caution)

Desert Treasure bosses like Dessous and Damis (first form) can significantly boost points, especially when paired with Dream Mentor bosses. However, avoid Damis’ second form (it drains Prayer) and Fareed (high defense, requires Ice Gloves). Use Ultimate Force power-ups to clear problematic spawns like these.

Pro Tip: Always enable both Desert Treasure and Dream Mentor bosses together to avoid a massive point penalty (up to 83% reduction). Disable tricky ones like Kamil to keep things smooth.

Best NMZ Bosses for XP

For players grinding combat stats, XP efficiency is king. Certain bosses give bonus XP per damage dealt, making them prime targets. Combine these with a Hard Customizable Rumble and the right gear for optimal gains.

Arrg

From Troll Stronghold, Arrg is the MVP for XP, offering a 17.5% XP boost per damage point. His melee attacks are easy to tank, and he’s a must-have for any XP-focused setup.

Ice Troll King

Unlocked via Fremennik Isles, this boss grants a 12.5% XP boost. He’s melee-focused, but watch out for his occasional ranged attacks if you’re not using Protect from Missiles.

Dad

From Troll Stronghold, Dad provides a 10% XP boost. He’s a simple melee boss with no surprises, making him a reliable pick for consistent XP gains.

Moss Guardian

After Nature Spirit, Moss Guardian offers a 7.5% XP boost. His low defense and melee-only style make him a great addition to XP runs, especially for mid-level accounts.

Supporting Melee Bosses

Round out your setup with easy melee bosses like Khazard Warlord (Fight Arena) or Bouncer (The General’s Shadow). These don’t offer XP boosts but are quick kills, keeping your session flowing.

Bosses to Avoid in NMZ

Not all bosses are worth fighting. Some have mechanics that slow you down, drain resources, or reduce points. Here’s a list of bosses to disable in most cases:

• Elvarg (Dragon Slayer): Her dragonfire requires an anti-dragon shield, which lowers your DPS or forces inventory swaps.
• Corrupt Lizardman (Tale of the Righteous): Hits through absorption potions, ruining your AFK setup.
• Glod (The Giant Dwarf): High defense and knockback make him a slog to kill.
• Chronozon (Family Crest): Requires all four Blast spells to kill, which is impractical for melee or ranged setups.
• Recipe for Disaster Bosses: Flambeed disarms you without Ice Gloves, Gelatinnoth Mother needs specific attack styles, and Karamel interrupts combat—avoid unless you’re prepared.

Note: If you’re going for points, keep Recipe for Disaster and Desert Treasure bosses enabled for the point multiplier, but use Ultimate Force to clear annoying spawns like Karamel.

Optimal NMZ Strategies and Setups

Choosing the right bosses is only half the battle. Your gear, inventory, and strategy need to align with your goals. Below, we’ll cover setups for both points and XP, plus tips for AFK training.

Gear Recommendations

Your gear depends on whether you’re using Dharok’s for low-HP setups or standard melee gear. Here’s a quick guide:

Setup Type	Recommended Gear	Purpose
Dharok’s (Points/XP)	Full Dharok’s, Berserker Necklace, Fire Cape, Dragon Boots, Rune Gloves	Max damage at 1 HP with Overloads and Absorption potions
Standard Melee (XP)	Obsidian Armor, Berserker Necklace, Toktz-xil-ak, Fire Cape, Primordial Boots	High accuracy and strength for AFK-friendly XP
Prayer Setup (Points)	Proselyte Armor, Amulet of Torture, Dragon Defender, Saradomin Sword	Extend sessions with Prayer potions and Protect from Melee

Inventory Setup

For most NMZ runs, your inventory should include:

• 4-8 Overload Potions: Boosts stats and reduces HP for Dharok’s setups.
• 16-20 Absorption Potions: Absorbs up to 1,000 damage at 1 HP.
• Locator Orb or Dwarven Rock Cake: Lowers HP to 1 for maximum efficiency.
• Special Attack Weapon: Granite Maul or Dragon Claws for Power Surge power-ups.
• Prayer Potions (Optional): For Prayer-based setups to maintain Protect from Melee.

Strategy Tips

To get the most out of your NMZ sessions, follow these steps:

1. Start with Overload: Drink an Overload dose during the 25-second countdown to boost stats and lower HP.
2. Hit 1 HP: Use a Locator Orb or Rock Cake to drop to 1 HP, then sip Absorption potions (aim for 1,000 absorption points).
3. Flick Rapid Heal: Every 50-60 seconds, toggle Rapid Heal on and off to reset your HP regeneration timer, keeping you at 1 HP.
4. Use Power-Ups Wisely: Grab Power Surge for special attacks and Zapper/Recurrent Damage for faster kills, but avoid Ultimate Force unless clearing tough bosses like Damis.
5. Monitor Boss Spawns: If problematic bosses appear (e.g., Fareed), reposition or use Ultimate Force to reset the arena.

AFK Training Tips

For semi-AFK training, stick to Normal Rumble mode with bosses like Count Draynor, Tree Spirit, and King Roald. Use full Obsidian gear with Absorption potions and no Overloads to minimize input. You can AFK for up to 15-20 minutes, checking occasionally to reset your session.

Warning: Hard mode bosses hit harder, so AFK runs are riskier unless you have high Defense (90+).

Choosing Your NMZ Boss Setup

Here’s a quick reference for boss setups based on your goals:

Goal	Recommended Bosses	Notes
Max Points	Count Draynor, King Roald, The Kendal, Tree Spirit, Desert Treasure (selective), Dream Mentor	Enable as many bosses as possible, disable Elvarg, Corrupt Lizardman, Glod
Max XP	Arrg, Ice Troll King, Dad, Moss Guardian, Khazard Warlord	Prioritize XP-boost bosses, use Dharok’s or Obsidian gear
AFK Training	Count Draynor, Tree Spirit, King Roald, Bouncer, Sand Snake	Normal mode, Obsidian gear, Absorption potions only

Balancing points and XP often means mixing these lists. For example, combining Arrg and Count Draynor gives decent XP and points, ideal for mid-level players.

By tailoring your boss selection and strategy, you can turn Nightmare Zone into a goldmine for combat training and rewards. Whether you’re swinging Dharok’s axe at 1 HP or AFKing with Obsidian, these bosses will help you crush it. Got a favorite NMZ setup? Drop it in the comments and share your tips!