OSRS Nieve Block List for Efficient Slayer Training

OSRS Nieve Block List for Efficient Slayer Training

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) Slayer is a skill that sends players on thrilling monster-hunting adventures across Gielinor. For those training with Nieve, the second-highest level Slayer Master located in the Tree Gnome Stronghold, optimizing your block list is key to maximizing experience points (XP) and profitability. This guide dives into crafting an efficient Nieve block list, helping you skip undesirable tasks and focus on rewarding ones. Whether you’re aiming for fast XP or better loot, we’ve got you covered with practical tips and strategies.

Nieve, requiring a combat level of at least 85, assigns a diverse range of Slayer tasks, from Abyssal Demons to Skeletal Wyverns. While her tasks offer variety, not all are worth your time. Blocking high-weight, low-value tasks ensures you get more of the assignments that align with your goals, whether that’s XP efficiency or gold per hour (GP/H). A well-crafted block list saves time, resources, and Slayer points, making your grind smoother.

Understanding Task Weighting

Each Slayer Master assigns tasks based on a weighting system, where higher-weighted tasks are more likely to be assigned. For Nieve, tasks like Black Demons and Fire Giants have high weights but often yield poor XP or loot. By checking Nieve’s task list on the OSRS Wiki, you can identify these tasks and prioritize blocking them.

Block Slots and Requirements

Blocking tasks requires Slayer reward points (100 per block) and quest points to unlock block slots. You earn one slot per 50 quest points, up to five slots at 250 quest points. A sixth slot is available after completing the Elite Lumbridge and Draynor Diary. Plan your blocks carefully, as slots are limited, and choose tasks that hinder your goals the most.

Best Tasks to Block for XP Efficiency

For players prioritizing Slayer XP, blocking tasks that are slow, non-cannonable, or in single-combat areas is crucial. Here’s a recommended block list for Nieve, focusing on maximizing XP per hour.

Recommended XP-Focused Block List

  • Black Demons: High task weight, slow to kill without a cannon, and poor XP rates. Better for Demonic Gorillas, but those require Monkey Madness II.
  • Fire Giants: Common task with decent weight but low XP and poor drops unless you’re an Ironman seeking a rune scimitar.
  • Hellhounds: High weight, no cannon option, and mediocre XP. Block unless you’re hunting Cerberus (requires 91 Slayer).
  • Wyrms: High weight, especially with Konar, but slow to kill and lackluster drops. Not worth the time for XP-focused players.
  • Drakes: Similar to Wyrms, these have high weight and poor XP rates. Their volcanic breath adds annoyance without rewarding loot.
  • Cave Kraken: Slow to kill without the Kraken boss (requires boss task unlock), with poor rune cost recovery. Better to block for XP efficiency.

Why These Tasks?

These tasks are commonly assigned due to their high weights but offer subpar XP rates, especially without a cannon or barraging. For example, Black Demons yield around 60-70k XP per hour, while top tasks like Smoke Devils can exceed 100k XP per hour with proper setup. Blocking these ensures you get more Dust Devils, Nechryaels, or other high-XP tasks.

Block List for Profit-Oriented Players

If your goal is to maximize GP/H, your block list will differ. Focus on blocking tasks with low-value drops or high resource costs. Here’s a tailored list for profit-driven Slayer with Nieve.

Profit-Focused Block List

  • Bloodveld: Decent XP but poor drops compared to tasks like Gargoyles or Kurasks. Their loot doesn’t justify the time spent.
  • Ankou: Low-value drops and moderate XP. Better tasks like Skeletal Wyverns offer superior profit potential.
  • Suqah: Good XP with a cannon, but their drops are underwhelming unless you’re after specific rare seeds.
  • Iron Dragons: Slow to kill without dragonbane weapons, and their loot doesn’t compete with tasks like Kurasks or Wyverns.
  • Steel Dragons: Similar to Iron Dragons, these are time-consuming with mediocre returns unless you have high-end gear.

Profit Considerations

Tasks like Gargoyles, Kurasks, and Skeletal Wyverns are goldmines for profit due to their high-value drops (e.g., granite mauls, leaf-bladed weapons, or wyvern visages). Blocking tasks like Bloodveld ensures you get these more often. If you’re not using a cannon, prioritize tasks in multi-combat areas for faster kills.

Comparing Nieve vs. Duradel Block Lists

Nieve is often compared to Duradel, the highest-level Slayer Master, who requires 100 combat and 50 Slayer. While Duradel offers longer tasks and better XP overall, Nieve is ideal for players with combat levels between 85-110 or those who prefer her task variety. Here’s how their block lists differ.

Nieve vs. Duradel: Key Differences

Aspect Nieve Duradel
Combat Requirement 85 100
Task Length Shorter (e.g., 185 Smoke Devils) Longer (e.g., 200 Smoke Devils)
Common Blocks Black Demons, Fire Giants, Hellhounds Abyssal Demons, Black Demons, Hellhounds
Best for Mid-level players, variety High-level players, efficiency

When to Switch to Duradel

If you’re above 100 combat and have 50 Slayer, Duradel is generally better for XP due to longer tasks and a slightly smaller task list, increasing the chance of high-XP assignments. However, Nieve’s cave (Stronghold Slayer Cave) is ideal for cannoning, making her a solid choice for mid-level players. Stick with Nieve if you’re not ready for Duradel’s tougher tasks like TzHaar or Jad.

Tips for Optimizing Your Nieve Block List

Beyond choosing the right tasks to block, here are additional strategies to make the most of your Slayer training with Nieve.

Use the OSRS Wiki for Task Weights

Visit the OSRS Wiki and sort Nieve’s tasks by weight. Block the highest-weighted tasks you dislike, as these are the most frequent. For example, Fire Giants have a weight of 9, making them a prime candidate for blocking.

Skip Low-Weight Tasks

Tasks with low weights, like Steel Dragons (weight 5), are rarely assigned. Skip these with Slayer points (30 points per skip) instead of wasting a block slot. Reserve blocks for high-weight tasks like Hellhounds (weight 8).

Invest in Slayer Unlocks

Unlock “Hot Stuff” for TzHaar and Jad tasks, which offer high XP and potential for rare drops like the Fire Cape. Extend tasks like Dust Devils or Nechryaels for extra kills (around 100 more per task) to boost XP rates. These unlocks cost Slayer points but pay off in efficiency.

Cannon and Barrage for Maximum XP

For tasks you keep, use a Dwarf Multi-Cannon in multi-combat areas like Nieve’s cave to skyrocket XP rates. Barraging tasks like Abyssal Demons or Nechryaels (with an alt to stack monsters) can yield over 100k XP per hour, making it worth keeping these tasks unblocked.

Personalize Your Block List

Not a fan of a specific monster, like Gargoyles, despite their profit? Block them if they ruin your fun. Slayer is a long grind, so tailor your list to balance efficiency and enjoyment. For example, if you hate Ankou’s spooky vibes, block them and enjoy your grind more.

Final Thoughts: Crafting an efficient Nieve block list is about aligning your Slayer goals—XP, profit, or fun—with her task pool. For XP, block high-weight, low-XP tasks like Black Demons and Fire Giants. For profit, skip tasks like Bloodveld and Ankou in favor of Kurasks or Wyverns. Use the OSRS Wiki to guide your choices, and don’t hesitate to personalize your list. With these strategies, you’ll turn Nieve’s tasks into a rewarding, efficient grind. Happy Slaying!