OSRS Melee Brutal Black Dragons: Ultimate Guide for Slayer and Profit

OSRS Melee Brutal Black Dragons: Ultimate Guide for Slayer and Profit


Brutal Black Dragons in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) are a formidable yet rewarding challenge for players looking to level up their Slayer skills or earn some serious gold. Found in the Catacombs of Kourend, these level 318 monsters require 77 Slayer to damage and offer a unique blend of combat difficulty and loot potential. This guide dives deep into taking on Brutal Black Dragons with a melee setup, providing everything you need to know about gear, strategies, and profit. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just hitting the Slayer grind, this post will help you master these beasts efficiently.

Melee combat against Brutal Black Dragons is a popular choice due to its accessibility and effectiveness. While ranged setups are often recommended for their safe-spot potential, melee offers a faster kill rate with the right gear and preparation, making it ideal for players who prioritize speed and Slayer XP. Plus, melee allows you to tackle these dragons head-on, which can be a thrilling change of pace from the typical ranged meta.

Benefits of Melee Over Ranged

  • Faster Kills: High-strength melee gear like the Abyssal Whip or Dragon Scimitar can outpace ranged DPS at closer range.
  • Lower Cost: Melee setups often require less expensive gear compared to top-tier ranged options like the Dragon Hunter Crossbow.
  • Slayer XP Boost: More kills per hour mean more Slayer experience, perfect for leveling up quickly.

Challenges of Melee Combat

Melee isn’t without its downsides. You’ll be in the dragons’ attack range, facing their powerful melee hits alongside magic and dragonfire attacks. This requires careful management of prayers and potions, but with the right approach, these risks are manageable.

Best Melee Gear Setup for Brutal Black Dragons

Loot Tab 3000 Brutal Black Dragons

Your gear setup is critical when fighting Brutal Black Dragons with melee. The goal is to maximize attack and strength while maintaining enough defense to survive their hits. Here’s a breakdown of the optimal and budget-friendly options.

High-End Melee Gear

Budget Melee Gear

Gear Tips

Prioritize strength bonuses over accuracy for faster kills. The Dragonfire Shield is highly recommended for its dragonfire protection and defensive stats, but an Anti-Dragon Shield works in a pinch. If you’re on a Slayer task, the Slayer Helmet (i) boosts both accuracy and damage, making it a must-have.

How to Fight Brutal Black Dragons with Melee

2019 Brutal Black Dragons Guide YouTube

Fighting Brutal Black Dragons requires a solid strategy to mitigate their multi-style attacks: melee, magic, and long-range dragonfire. Here’s how to approach it step-by-step.

Preparation and Inventory

Your inventory should balance combat sustainability with teleports and emergency items. Here’s a suggested setup:

  • Extended Antifire Potion (1-2): Essential for dragonfire protection.
  • Prayer Potions (2-4): To maintain Protect from Magic.
  • Super Combat Potion (1): Boosts Attack, Strength, and Defense.
  • High-Healing Food (10-15): Sharks or Monkfish for health recovery.
  • Xeric’s Talisman: For quick teleports to the Catacombs.
  • House Teleport Tab: To restore stats at a Player-Owned House (POH).

Combat Strategy

  1. Activate Protect from Magic: This, combined with an antifire potion, nullifies magic and dragonfire damage from a distance.
  2. Engage in Melee Range: Stand close to deal damage, but be ready for their melee hits (up to 29 damage).
  3. Monitor Health: Eat food as needed to counter melee damage.
  4. Restore Stats: Teleport to your POH or Ferox Enclave when prayer or health runs low, then return via Xeric’s Talisman.
  5. Loot Efficiently: Pick up high-value drops like Rune items or Dragon bones between kills.

Safe-Spotting with Melee

While melee typically means staying in range, you can briefly step out of melee distance after engaging to avoid their melee attacks. This hybrid approach lets you conserve food while still benefiting from melee’s high DPS.

Loot and Profit Potential

Brutal Black Dragons are a goldmine for melee fighters, offering consistent drops and rare uniques. At 50 kills per hour, you can expect decent profit, with potential spikes from big-ticket items.

Common Drops

Item Quantity Average Value (GP)
Dragon Bones 2 5,000
Black Dragonhide 2 6,000
Rune Longsword 1 18,000
Lava Scale 1-3 3,000-9,000

Rare and Unique Drops

Profit Per Hour

Assuming 50 kills per hour, the average profit ranges from 500,000 to 800,000 GP, factoring in regular drops. Rare drops like the Draconic Visage can push this into the millions, though they’re RNG-dependent. On a Konar Slayer task, expect an extra 2,000-3,000 GP per kill due to her unique drop table bonuses.

Tips and Tricks for Success

To maximize your melee experience against Brutal Black Dragons, consider these pro tips to streamline your trips and boost efficiency.

Optimizing Your Trip

  • Use the Shortcut: Unlock the rope exit in the Dragon’s Den for faster access from Lovakengj.
  • Bank Nearby: Restock at Ferox Enclave or a POH with an ornate rejuvenation pool.
  • Extend Potions: Use extended antifire potions for longer trips without re-dosing.

Managing Aggression

Brutal Black Dragons are aggressive on spawn, so be prepared for an initial high-damage magic hit. Keep Protect from Magic active before engaging to avoid a surprise knockout. Their aggression fades after a few minutes, allowing you to control the pace of combat.

Boosting Slayer Efficiency

If you’re on a black dragon Slayer task, assign it through Konar quo Maten for a chance at her brimstone key drops, adding extra value. Pair this with a Slayer Helmet (i) and watch your XP soar—up to 15,000-20,000 Slayer XP per hour at peak efficiency.

Brutal Black Dragons with a melee setup in OSRS offer a thrilling and profitable adventure for mid-to-high-level players. With the right gear, a solid strategy, and a bit of practice, you’ll be raking in gold and Slayer XP in no time. So, grab your whip, stock up on potions, and head to the Catacombs of Kourend—those dragons won’t slay themselves!