OSRS Dark Beast Slayer Guide for Maximum Efficiency and Profit
Dark Beasts are one of the most iconic high-level Slayer monsters in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), requiring 90 Slayer to kill and offering unique rewards like the Dark Bow. This guide dives into everything you need to know to tackle Dark Beast Slayer tasks efficiently, from gear setups to strategies and locations. Whether you’re chasing XP, loot, or just want to complete the task quickly, we’ve got you covered.
Before you can take on Dark Beasts, you need to meet specific requirements and prepare adequately. These creatures are locked behind challenging quests and high-level stats, so let’s break it down.
Slayer and Combat Requirements
- 90 Slayer: Essential to harm Dark Beasts.
- 90+ Combat: Recommended for assignment eligibility, though you can bypass this by discussing task difficulty with a Slayer Master.
- High Melee Stats: Aim for 80+ Attack, Strength, and Defence for optimal performance.
Quest Prerequisites
Accessing Dark Beasts requires progress in the Elven questline:
- Mourning’s End Part II: Grants access to Mourner Tunnels. You only need to start it to reach the Dark Beasts, but completion unlocks teleports.
- Song of the Elves (Optional): Unlocks Iorwerth Dungeon, a prime location for killing Dark Beasts.
Best Locations for Dark Beast Slayer Tasks
Dark Beasts spawn in two main locations, each with unique advantages. Choosing the right spot can make your task faster and more profitable.
Mourner Tunnels
Located under West Ardougne, Mourner Tunnels house 19 Dark Beast spawns, making it ideal for AFK tasks.
- Access: Use a Slayer Ring to teleport directly after completing Mourning’s End Part II. Alternatively, enter via the Mourner Headquarters (requires Mourner gear) or the Death Altar through the Abyss.
- Pros: High spawn count, supports cannons, and allows AFK strategies.
- Cons: Requires quest progress and can be crowded.
Iorwerth Dungeon
Found in Prifddinas, this dungeon has 10 spawns and is less crowded, perfect for focused slaying.
- Access: Teleport with a Crystal Seed or House Teleport (if your house is in Prifddinas). Requires Song of the Elves completion.
- Pros: Chance for Crystal Shards (worth ~7.4K per kill), quieter area, and efficient for melee setups.
- Cons: Fewer spawns than Mourner Tunnels, no cannon support.
Optimal Gear and Inventory Setup
Dark Beasts are weak to stab and slash attacks, making melee the go-to combat style. Here’s how to gear up for maximum damage and efficiency.
Melee Gear Setup
Focus on high-damage stab weapons and prayer bonus armor to sustain Protect from Melee.
| Slot | Best-in-Slot | Budget Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helmet (i) | Black Mask (i) |
| Cape | Infernal Cape | Fire Cape |
| Weapon | Abyssal Dagger | Dragon Scimitar |
| Body | Proselyte Hauberk | Initiate Hauberk |
| Legs | Proselyte Cuisse | Initiate Cuisse |
| Gloves | Ferocious Gloves | Barrows Gloves |
| Boots | Primordial Boots | Dragon Boots |
| Ring | Ring of Suffering (i) | Ring of Life |
Inventory Setup
Your inventory should balance combat essentials with profit-maximizing tools.
- Prayer Potions (4-6): Sustain Protect from Melee.
- Saradomin Godsword (Optional): Special attack restores prayer and health.
- Herb Sack & Gem Bag: Collect herbs and gems for extra profit.
- Bonecrusher Necklace: Pair with Bonecrusher to restore prayer points passively.
- Teleport Method: Slayer Ring or Crystal Seed for quick travel.
- Food (4-8): Sharks or better for emergencies.
- Rune Pouch: High Alchemy runes to convert junk drops into gold.
Why Avoid Ranged or Magic?
Dark Beasts have high resistance to Ranged and Magic, making these styles inefficient. Their melee weakness and aggressive behavior favor close-combat strategies, especially with Protect from Melee active.
Combat Strategy and Tips
Dark Beasts attack with both melee (max hit 17) and magic (max hit 8), but they only use magic if you attack first or stay out of melee range. Here’s how to handle them effectively.
Melee Combat Approach
Follow these steps for a smooth task:
- Activate Protect from Melee: This negates their primary damage source.
- Enable Auto-Retaliate: Dark Beasts are permanently aggressive, so you can AFK with minimal input.
- Use High-DPS Weapons: Abyssal Dagger or Zamorakian Hasta for stab damage.
- Monitor Prayer: Use Saradomin Godsword specials or Bonecrusher Necklace to reduce potion use.
Using a Cannon
In Mourner Tunnels, a Dwarven Multicannon can speed up kills significantly.
- Placement: Set it in the center of the main spawn area to hit multiple beasts.
- Ammo Cost: Expect to use ~1,000 cannonballs per task (costing ~200K).
- Benefit: Boosts XP rates to ~50K Slayer XP/hour and increases kills per hour.
Dealing with Night Beasts
Night Beasts, the superior variant, spawn rarely and hit harder (max hit 22). They drop valuable items like the Imbued Heart.
- Strategy: Stay alert, as they require active prayer management. Use the same melee setup but be ready to heal if prayer drops.
- Reward: High chance for Imbued Heart (~1/512) and better loot.
Loot and Profit Potential
Dark Beasts offer decent profit, especially in Iorwerth Dungeon, but their loot table isn’t the most lucrative for a 90 Slayer monster. Here’s what to expect.
Notable Drops
| Item | Drop Rate | Approx. Value |
|---|---|---|
| Dark Bow | 1/512 | ~1M GP |
| Death Talisman | 1/512 | ~5K GP |
| Imbued Heart (Night Beast) | ~1/512 | ~20M GP |
| Crystal Shard (Iorwerth) | Tertiary | ~2K GP |
Average Profit
- Mourner Tunnels: ~5K GP per kill, or ~500K-700K per task.
- Iorwerth Dungeon: ~7.4K GP per kill due to Crystal Shards, totaling ~700K-1M per task.
- Konar Task: ~6.6K GP per kill with Brimstone Keys, adding ~100K-200K.
Extend tasks with 100 Slayer points (“Need More Darkness”) to get 110-135 beasts for better profit and XP (~40K-50K Slayer XP per task).
Tips for Maximizing Profit
- High Alchemy: Alch junk drops like Rune items to boost GP.
- Loot Everything: Herbs, gems, and seeds add up over time.
- Prioritize Iorwerth: Crystal Shards make a noticeable difference.
With the right setup, Dark Beast tasks are a solid mix of AFK convenience, decent XP, and moderate profit. Focus on melee, pick your location wisely, and consider extending tasks for the best results. Happy slaying!