OSRS Desert Treasure Ironman Guide for Success

Desert Treasure I is one of the most iconic quests in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), especially for Ironman accounts where self-sufficiency is key. This challenging quest unlocks the Ancient Magicks spellbook, a powerful tool for combat and progression. For Ironmen, tackling Desert Treasure requires careful planning due to limited resources and the inability to trade. This guide dives into everything you need to know to conquer Desert Treasure as an Ironman, from preparation to boss strategies, optimized for your journey in Gielinor.
Desert Treasure is a milestone for Ironmen because it grants access to Ancient Magicks, which includes spells like Ice Barrage, crucial for PvM and Slayer tasks. The quest also opens up new content, such as the Smoke Dungeon, and is a prerequisite for high-level quests like Recipe for Disaster. For Ironmen, who can’t rely on the Grand Exchange for supplies, preparation is critical to avoid grinding mid-quest.
Quest Rewards and Benefits
Completing Desert Treasure offers:
- Ancient Magicks Spellbook: Unlocks powerful combat spells.
- 3 Quest Points: Progress toward the Quest Cape.
- 20,000 Magic XP: A significant boost for mid-level Ironmen.
- Access to Smoke Dungeon: Useful for Slayer and dust devil tasks.
- Ring of Visibility: Required for certain miniquests.
Preparation for Desert Treasure as an Ironman
Before starting, ensure you meet the requirements and gather necessary items. Ironmen must source everything themselves, so plan your skilling and grinding sessions efficiently.
Skill and Quest Requirements
You’ll need the following skills (no boosts allowed):
Skill | Level |
---|---|
Thieving | 53 |
Firemaking | 50 |
Magic | 50 |
Slayer | 10 |
Recommended Combat Stats: 70 Magic, 60+ Attack/Strength, 43+ Prayer for protection prayers.
Prerequisite Quests:
Gathering Required Items
Ironmen must collect these items, which can be noted for convenience:
- 650 Coins: Obtain from NPC drops or thieving.
- Ashes: Burn logs (e.g., oak logs from Woodcutting).
- Blood Rune: Craft at the Blood Altar or kill bloodveld.
- Bones: Collect from any NPC kill (e.g., goblins).
- Charcoal: Buy from Shantay Pass or burn logs in a furnace.
- 6 Molten Glass: Craft with a glassblowing pipe (sand from Yanille, seaweed from Fishing).
- 12 Magic Logs: Chop magic trees (Woodcutting 75+ or grow with Farming).
- 6 Steel Bars: Smelt iron and coal (Mining and Smithing).
Recommended Gear and Inventory
Your gear depends on your combat level, but prioritize Magic accuracy and defense:
- Helm: Mystic hat or God mitre.
- Body/Legs: Mystic robes or monk robes for prayer bonus.
- Weapon: Iban’s Staff (requires Underground Pass) or Trident of the Seas.
- Shield: Book of darkness or anti-dragon shield.
- Ammo: Ava’s device (if you have Animal Magnetism).
Inventory Setup:
- 20-50 lockpicks (thieve from rogues or buy at Rogues’ Den).
- 10-15 high-healing food (sharks or monkfish).
- 4-6 prayer potions.
- 2-3 antipoisons (for scarabs and strangers).
- Stamina potions (Herblore or quest rewards).
- Teleport runes (Digsite, Al Kharid, or house tabs).
Step-by-Step Quest Walkthrough
Desert Treasure involves collecting four diamonds (Blood, Ice, Shadow, Smoke) and placing them in a pyramid. Here’s how to navigate it as an Ironman.
Starting the Quest
Begin at Bedabin Camp by talking to Asgarnia Smith near the carpet merchant. Take his etchings to Terry Balando at the Digsite Exam Centre, then return with the translation. Head to the Bandit Camp, buy a drink for 650 coins, and talk to Eblis. Avoid wearing Saradomin or Zamorak items to prevent bandit aggression.
Collecting Items for Eblis
Deliver the required items to Eblis (noted items work). He’ll set up mirrors southeast of the camp, directing you to collect the four diamonds. You can tackle them in any order, but here’s a suggested sequence for efficiency.
Blood Diamond (Kamil)
Kamil, fought in an icy area, uses Magic and drains your stats. Use Fire Bolt or Fire Blast with Protect from Magic.
- Strategy: Wear insulated boots (from Troll Stronghold) and bring chocolate cakes to restore stats. Safe-spot Kamil behind ice pillars if possible.
- Ironman Tip: Pre-make cakes by grinding chocolate bars (from gnome deliveries) and baking cakes.
Ice Diamond (Troll Child)
This section involves rescuing a troll child and fighting ice trolls. Use Protect from Melee and Fire spells.
- Strategy: Kill trolls quickly to avoid being overwhelmed. Bring extra food for the icy path’s damage.
- Ironman Tip: Fish extra salmon or trout for food before heading out.
Shadow Diamond (Damis)
Damis has two forms and hits hard with Melee. Use Protect from Melee and Iban’s Blast or a cannon if available.
- Strategy: Lure Damis to a safe spot or kite him in the dungeon. Watch for lockpick shortages when accessing the chest for Rasolo.
- Ironman Tip: Thieve rogues for lockpicks beforehand to save time.
Smoke Diamond (Fareed)
Fareed is immune to Magic unless you wear ice gloves. Use Melee (dragon scimitar) or Ranged (rune crossbow).
- Strategy: Equip ice gloves (from Ice Queen in White Wolf Mountain) and use Protect from Melee. Dodge his flame attacks.
- Ironman Tip: Get ice gloves early via Heroes’ Quest for convenience.
Final Pyramid
Place the diamonds in the pyramid’s obelisks (southeast of Eblis). Inside, navigate traps and fight scarabs and mummies. Use Protect from Melee and antipoisons. Reach Azzanadra to complete the quest.
Boss Fight Strategies for Ironman
Each boss requires specific tactics, and Ironmen must conserve resources. Here’s how to approach them:
General Tips
- Conserve Prayer: Sip prayer potions sparingly, as Herblore supplies are limited.
- Safe Spots: Exploit terrain to minimize damage (e.g., pillars for Kamil).
- Backup Food: Bring extra food for unexpected scarab swarms.
Handling the Level 95 Stranger
A level 95 stranger may attack when carrying diamonds, using a poisoned dragon dagger. Bank diamonds after each boss to avoid this, or use Protect from Melee and antipoison if caught off guard.
Post-Quest Tips for Ironman Progression
After completing Desert Treasure, leverage your rewards:
- Train with Ancient Magicks: Use Ice Burst on Slayer tasks for efficient XP.
- Buy Ancient Staff: Purchase from Eblis for 80,000 coins or grind mummies for a drop.
- Desert Diary: Complete tasks for rewards like the Desert Amulet.
- Prepare for DT2: Desert Treasure II requires higher stats, so train combat and skilling.
With Desert Treasure done, you’re one step closer to endgame content like Barrows, Vorkath, and the Quest Cape. Stay focused, and enjoy the Ironman grind!