OSRS Nieve Block List for Efficient Slayer XP

Optimizing your Slayer experience in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is key to leveling up quickly and enjoying the game. One of the most effective ways to do this is by creating a well-thought-out block list for Nieve, the second-highest-level Slayer master in the Tree Gnome Stronghold. A good block list helps you skip undesirable tasks, maximize experience points (XP) per hour, and make your Slayer grind more enjoyable. In this guide, we’ll dive into crafting the perfect Nieve block list for fast Slayer XP, tailored for players aiming for efficiency.

Nieve, located in the Tree Gnome Stronghold, is a popular Slayer master for players with at least 85 combat, offering a variety of tasks that cater to different playstyles. However, not all tasks are created equal—some are slow, unprofitable, or simply not worth your time. By blocking high-weight, low-XP tasks, you can increase the chances of getting faster, more rewarding assignments. This is especially important for players who want to hit 99 Slayer efficiently or farm Slayer points for unlocks like the Slayer helmet.

Understanding Task Weights

Each Slayer master assigns tasks based on a weighting system, where tasks with higher weights are more likely to be assigned. Blocking high-weight tasks you don’t want ensures you get better tasks more often. You can find Nieve’s task weightings on the OSRS Wiki, which lists tasks like Black Demons and Fire Giants as some of the most commonly assigned due to their high weights.

Block Slots and Requirements

To block tasks, you need Slayer reward points and block slots, which are unlocked through quest points. For every 50 quest points, you earn one block slot, up to five slots at 250 quest points. A sixth slot is available after completing the Elite Lumbridge and Draynor Diary. Each block costs 100 Slayer points, so plan your point usage carefully.

Best Tasks to Block for Nieve

Choosing which tasks to block depends on your goals, but for most players, the focus is on maximizing Slayer XP per hour. Below is a recommended block list for Nieve, prioritizing tasks that offer low XP rates, poor drops, or are time-consuming. These are based on high task weights and community consensus from sources like Reddit and Theoatrix’s guides.

Recommended Block List

Here’s a list of tasks to block for Nieve, assuming you’re aiming for fast XP and have access to a cannon and barrage spells:

• Black Demons: High weight, slow to kill without a cannon, and low XP per hour. Even with Demonic Gorillas as an option, they’re not worth the time for XP-focused players.
• Fire Giants: Common task with high weight but poor XP and drops. Only useful for Ironmen seeking rune scimitars, but otherwise a waste of time.
• Hellhounds: Decent XP with a cannon, but their high weight and lackluster drops make them a prime block candidate unless you’re farming Cerberus.
• Wyrms: High weight, especially with Konar, but also frequent with Nieve. Slow to kill and terrible drops make them an easy block.
• Drakes: Similar to Wyrms, these have high weight and poor rewards. Blocking them saves time and frustration.
• Cave Kraken: Slow to kill without the boss task unlocked, and even then, the XP rates are lackluster compared to other tasks.

Tasks to Skip Instead of Block

Some tasks, like Iron and Steel Dragons, have low weights with Nieve, so they’re better skipped than blocked. Skipping costs fewer points (30 points per skip), preserving your block slots for high-weight tasks. Other low-weight tasks to skip include Skeletal Wyverns and Suqah, unless you’re specifically hunting their drops.

Task	Weight	Reason to Block	XP/Hour (Approx.)
Black Demons	9	Slow, low XP, common task	20-30k
Fire Giants	9	Poor drops, low XP	25-35k
Hellhounds	8	Mediocre XP, no good drops	30-40k
Wyrms	7	Slow, bad drops	20-25k
Drakes	7	High weight, poor rewards	20-25k
Cave Kraken	6	Slow without boss task	15-20k

Tasks to Keep and Extend

While blocking bad tasks is crucial, keeping and extending good ones can boost your XP rates significantly. Extending a task increases the number of monsters you need to kill, which is ideal for high-XP tasks that you can cannon or barrage.

Top Tasks to Extend

• Dust Devils: Excellent for barraging in the Catacombs of Kourend, offering 60-70k XP per hour with high Magic XP as a bonus.
• Nechryaels: Another barrage task with great XP (60-80k per hour) and decent drops like runes and alchables.
• Ankou: Fast, cannonable task in the Stronghold Slayer Cave with solid XP rates (50-60k per hour).
• Abyssal Demons: Keep these if you can barrage them in the Slayer Tower or Catacombs. They offer 30-50k Slayer XP and 100k+ Magic XP per hour.

Using Slayer Gear Effectively

To maximize XP, use a Dwarf Multicannon for tasks like Ankou and Suqah, and equip a Slayer helmet for the 16.67% damage and accuracy boost. For barrage tasks, bring an Imbued Heart or Occult Necklace to increase Magic damage. Expeditious and Slaughter Bracelets are also great for speeding up or extending tasks, respectively.

Nieve vs. Duradel for Slayer XP

While Nieve is fantastic for players around 85-100 combat, Duradel (in Shilo Village) becomes the go-to Slayer master at higher levels (100+ combat and 50 Slayer). Duradel assigns longer tasks and has a slightly different task list, so your block list may need tweaking when you switch. For example, Abyssal Demons are a common Duradel task and may be worth blocking if you don’t barrage, unlike with Nieve, where they’re less frequent.

Key Differences in Task Lists

Nieve’s most common task is TzTok-Jad, which is rare but high-XP if you can handle it. Duradel, on the other hand, frequently assigns Abyssal Demons and Smoke Devils, the latter being the highest XP-per-hour task in the game (up to 90k). If you’re sticking with Nieve, focus on cannonable tasks, as her task list has more of these compared to Duradel’s.

Tips for Managing Your Block List

Creating and maintaining a block list is an ongoing process. Here are some tips to keep it optimized:

• Check Task Weights Regularly: Visit the OSRS Wiki and sort Nieve’s tasks by weight to identify the most common ones you dislike.
• Prioritize XP Over Profit: If your goal is fast Slayer XP, block tasks like Fire Giants and Wyrms, even if they have decent drops for Ironmen.
• Use Konar for Milestones: Every 10th, 50th, or 100th task with Konar yields bonus points, so save a block slot for her high-weight tasks like Drakes if you alternate masters.
• Farm Points Early: Use Krystilia or Turael for quick tasks to build up Slayer points for blocks and unlocks.
• Adapt to Your Gear: If you can’t afford a cannon or barrage runes, block tasks like Greater Demons and focus on melee-friendly ones like Ankou.

Adjusting for Ironmen

Ironmen may prioritize tasks with specific drops, like Fire Giants for rune scimitars or Black Demons for zenytes. In this case, consider skipping rather than blocking these tasks and focus blocks on universally bad ones like Wyrms and Drakes.

Community Insights

Reddit threads and YouTube guides, like those from AsukaYen OSRS, emphasize blocking Black Demons, Fire Giants, and Hellhounds for Nieve, as these are consistently cited as low-XP tasks. Community discussions also highlight the importance of extending Dust Devils and Nechryaels for barrage enthusiasts. Always cross-check with the OSRS Wiki for the latest task weights, as updates can shift priorities.

By carefully curating your Nieve block list, you can transform your Slayer grind into a faster, more rewarding experience. Block high-weight, low-XP tasks like Black Demons and Fire Giants, extend high-XP tasks like Dust Devils, and use your gear to its fullest potential. With these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to 99 Slayer in no time!