Thermonuclear Smoke Devil OSRS Ultimate Guide
The Thermonuclear Smoke Devil, affectionately nicknamed “Thermy” by the Old School RuneScape (OSRS) community, is a formidable Slayer boss that offers both challenge and reward for high-level players. Requiring a minimum of 93 Slayer to engage, this boss resides in the Smoke Devil Dungeon and is a prime target for those seeking unique drops like the Smoke Battlestaff and the elusive Pet Smoke Devil. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about tackling Thermy, from requirements and strategies to gear setups and loot potential, ensuring you’re well-prepared to conquer this smoky adversary.
Thermy is the boss variant of the regular Smoke Devil, located in a dedicated section of the Smoke Devil Dungeon south of Castle Wars. Unlike many other bosses, Thermy can only be fought while on a Smoke Devil Slayer task, with the exception of a single kill for the Western Provinces Diary (if you have 93 Slayer without boosts). Its high Slayer requirement and unique mechanics make it a rewarding yet accessible boss for players with the right setup.
Key Characteristics
- Combat Level: 301
- Max Hit: 8 (typeless magical ranged attack)
- Attack Speed: 2 ticks (1.2 seconds)
- Location: Smoke Devil Dungeon (separate boss chamber)
- Requirements: 93 Slayer, Smoke Devil task (except for diary kill)
The boss’s typeless magical ranged attack ignores protection prayers, and its smoky environment mandates wearing a Facemask, Gas Mask, or Slayer Helmet to avoid rapid damage and stat drain. Thermy’s mechanics are relatively simple compared to other Slayer bosses like Kraken, making it an excellent choice for players looking to farm kills efficiently.
Getting to the Thermonuclear Smoke Devil
Reaching Thermy is straightforward, with several teleportation options to access the Smoke Devil Dungeon. The dungeon’s entrance is southwest of Castle Wars, and players must navigate to a crevice in the northwest section to enter the boss’s chamber.
Fastest Travel Methods
- Fairy Ring (Code: BKP): Teleport using the BKP code, then run northeast to the dungeon entrance. This is the quickest method for those with fairy rings unlocked.
- Ring of Dueling: Teleport to Castle Wars, then run southwest to the dungeon entrance.
- House Teleport (POH): If your house is in Rimmington or you have a redirected teleport, use it and run to the dungeon.
Once inside the dungeon, head northwest to find the crevice leading to Thermy’s chamber. Ensure you have a Facemask or Slayer Helmet equipped before entering, as the smoky environment will otherwise deal consistent damage.
Strategies for Defeating Thermy
Thermy’s fight is mechanically simple but requires careful management of its fast, accurate attacks. With a max hit of 8 and an attack speed of 2 ticks, the boss can chip away at your health quickly if not handled properly. Below are the most effective strategies to maximize kills per hour (typically 60–100) while minimizing supply costs.
Step-Under Melee Method
The step-under method is a low-effort, high-efficiency strategy that reduces damage taken by exploiting Thermy’s movement mechanics. After each attack, move under the boss to prevent it from attacking until you’re ready to strike again.
- How It Works: Attack Thermy once, then immediately walk under it. Wait a moment, step out, attack again, and repeat. This limits Thermy to one attack per cycle, drastically reducing damage taken.
- Setup Tips: Use the Menu Entry Swapper to enable “Shift-click Walk Here” for easier movement. Equip melee gear with high slash bonuses, as Thermy is weakest to slash attacks (+4 slash defense).
- Kills Per Hour: Expect 45–55 kills per hour with this method, depending on gear and experience.
Farcasting Magic Method
Magic is highly effective against Thermy due to its low Magic level (1), despite its +800 magic defense. Farcasting with Ancient Magicks, particularly Ice Blitz or Ice Barrage, allows you to freeze Thermy and attack from outside its 8-tile attack range.
- Setup: Use a Trident of the Seas/Swamp with the “Longrange” option, or cast Ice Blitz/Barrage. Mark tiles to maintain distance (e.g., stand on tile 1, freeze Thermy, move to tile 2).
- Healing: Stack smaller Smoke Devils in the chamber with Thermy and use Blood Barrage for group healing, though this is less ideal for pet hunters.
- Kills Per Hour: Up to 60–100 kills per hour with optimal gear and execution.
Redemption Prayer Method
For players with 49+ Prayer and 90+ Hitpoints, the Redemption prayer offers a sustainable way to extend trips by healing when your health drops below 10% of your maximum Hitpoints.
- Mechanics: Redemption heals for 25% of your Prayer level (e.g., 24 HP at 99 Prayer) when triggered. Quickly drink a Prayer Potion or Super Restore to reactivate it.
- Inventory: Bring 10–12 Prayer Potions, a Prayer Regeneration Potion, and a few high-healing foods (e.g., Sharks) for emergencies.
- Tip: Combine with Bloodbark Armor or Ancient Sceptre for passive healing and magic bonuses to outheal Thermy’s damage.
Gear and Inventory Setup
Your gear and inventory setup will depend on your chosen strategy, but the focus is on balancing defense, attack bonuses, and sustainability. Below is a recommended setup for each method, optimized for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Melee Gear Setup
| Slot | Item | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helmet (i) | Black Mask (i) |
| Cape | Fire Cape | Skill Cape (t) |
| Weapon | Abyssal Whip | Dragon Scimitar |
| Body | Bandos Chestplate | Fighter Torso |
| Legs | Bandos Tassets | Obsidian Platelegs |
| Shield | Dragon Defender | Rune Defender |
Notes: Prioritize slash weapons like the Abyssal Whip due to Thermy’s low slash defense. Use Piety for increased damage output.
Magic Gear Setup
| Slot | Item | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helmet (i) | Ahrim’s Hood |
| Cape | Imbued God Cape | God Cape |
| Weapon | Trident of the Seas | Sanguinesti Staff |
| Body | Bloodbark Armor | Ahrim’s Robetop |
| Legs | Bloodbark Legs | Ahrim’s Robeskirt |
Notes: Use Augury and Forgotten Brew/Imbued Heart to boost magic accuracy. Bloodbark Armor provides passive healing, ideal for farcasting.
Inventory Recommendations
- Melee: 1–2 Divine Super Combat Potions, 8–10 Prayer Potions, 10–12 high-healing foods (Sharks or Manta Rays), House Teleport, Ring of Dueling.
- Magic: 1–2 Forgotten Brews, 10–12 Prayer Potions, Prayer Regeneration Potion, 6–8 Sharks, Runes for Ice Blitz/Barrage, House Teleport.
Loot and Profit Potential
Thermy’s loot table includes valuable unique drops, though its common drops are less lucrative compared to bosses like Zulrah or Vorkath. The average kill is worth approximately 22,736 GP (24,828 GP on a Konar task), with potential for significant profits from rare drops.
Notable Drops
- Smoke Battlestaff: ~1.9M GP (1/512 drop rate)
- Occult Necklace: ~492K GP (1/350 drop rate, higher than regular Smoke Devils)
- Jar of Smoke: ~1/2,000 drop rate
- Pet Smoke Devil: ~1/3,000 drop rate
- Dragon Chainbody: ~221K GP (1/2,000 drop rate)
Tip: Wear a Ring of Wealth to remove “nothing” drops from the gem drop table, slightly increasing profit per kill. Konar tasks boost profit with Brimstone Key drops (1/48 chance).
Profitability Considerations
While Thermy’s unique drops are valuable, its junk drops (e.g., coins, runes) can dilute profits. Players seeking consistent money-making may prefer other bosses, but Thermy is ideal for Slayer XP, pet hunting, or specific item goals like the Smoke Battlestaff. Expect to spend ~3–5K GP per kill on supplies, netting ~19,864 GP per kill after costs.
Conquering the Thermonuclear Smoke Devil in OSRS is a rewarding endeavor for high-level Slayers. With the right strategy—whether step-under melee, farcasting magic, or Redemption prayer—you can achieve efficient kills and chase valuable loot. Equip your Slayer Helmet, choose your gear wisely, and dive into the Smoke Devil Dungeon to face Thermy. Happy hunting, and may the Pet Smoke Devil be yours!