Ultimate Guide to Defeating the Smoke Devil Boss in OSRS
The Thermonuclear Smoke Devil, affectionately known as “Thermy” among Old School RuneScape (OSRS) players, is a formidable Slayer boss that offers exciting challenges and rewarding loot. Requiring a minimum of 93 Slayer to tackle, this boss is a mutated version of the regular smoke devil, found deep within the Smoke Devil Dungeon. Whether you’re hunting for the elusive smoke battlestaff, the pet smoke devil, or simply aiming to complete your Slayer task, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to conquer the Thermonuclear Smoke Devil efficiently. From gear setups to strategies and loot potential, we’ve got you covered!
The Thermonuclear Smoke Devil is a level 301 boss located in a separate chamber of the Smoke Devil Dungeon, south of Castle Wars. Unlike many other Slayer bosses, Thermy uses a unique typeless magical ranged attack, meaning protection prayers like Protect from Ranged won’t reduce damage. Its max hit is only 8, but its blistering attack speed (every 1.2 seconds) and high accuracy make it a relentless opponent if not handled correctly. A Slayer helmet, facemask, or gas mask is mandatory to avoid rapid damage and stat draining from the smoky environment.
Key Requirements
Before you can face Thermy, you’ll need to meet a few prerequisites:
- 93 Slayer: Non-boostable, required to deal damage.
- Smoke Devil Slayer Task: Necessary to attack the boss, except for one kill for the Western Provinces Diary (still requires 93 Slayer).
- Facemask/Slayer Helmet: Essential to survive the dungeon’s toxic environment.
- Access to Smoke Devil Dungeon: Located near Castle Wars, accessible via fairy ring (code BKP) or teleport to Castle Wars.
Why Fight Thermy?
The Thermonuclear Smoke Devil is a popular target for high-level Slayers due to its relatively simple mechanics and valuable drops. It’s less crowded than bosses like Kraken, making it a great choice for consistent kills. Plus, it’s a fun way to rack up Slayer XP while chasing unique rewards like the occult necklace or the rare pet smoke devil.
Best Gear Setups for Thermy
Your gear setup can make or break your Thermonuclear Smoke Devil trips. Since the boss is weak to slash melee attacks and has surprisingly low magic defense (despite a +800 bonus), both melee and magic strategies are viable. Below, we break down the best setups for each combat style.
Melee Gear Setup
Melee is the most popular method for killing Thermy due to its high damage output and ability to extend trips with minimal supplies. Focus on slash weapons to exploit the boss’s low slash defense (+4).
| Slot | Recommended Item | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helmet (i) | Faceguard |
| Cape | Infernal Cape | Fire Cape |
| Weapon | Scythe of Vitur | Blade of Saeldor |
| Body | Bandos Chestplate | Fighter Torso |
| Legs | Bandos Tassets | Obsidian Platelegs |
| Gloves | Ferocious Gloves | Barrows Gloves |
| Boots | Primordial Boots | Dragon Boots |
| Ring | Berserker Ring (i) | Ring of Suffering (i) |
Inventory: Divine super combat potion, 4-6 prayer potions, high-healing food (sharks or better), special attack weapon (dragon claws or dragon dagger), and a teleport (e.g., Ring of Dueling).
Magic Gear Setup
Magic is a safer option, leveraging Thermy’s Magic level of 1 to land consistent hits despite its high magic defense bonus. Use Ancient Magicks (Ice Blitz or Barrage) to freeze the boss and attack from a distance.
| Slot | Recommended Item | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Ancestral Hat | Ahrim’s Hood |
| Cape | Imbued God Cape | Ardougne Cloak |
| Weapon | Harmonised Nightmare Staff | Trident of the Swamp |
| Body | Ancestral Robe Top | Bloodbark Armour |
| Legs | Ancestral Robe Bottom | Ahrim’s Robeskirt |
| Shield | Arcane Spirit Shield | Mage’s Book |
| Ring | Seers Ring (i) | Ring of Suffering (i) |
Inventory: Runes for Ice Blitz/Barrage, prayer potions, imbued heart, high-healing food, and a teleport. Consider a stamina potion for faster dungeon navigation.
Strategies to Defeat the Thermonuclear Smoke Devil
Thermy’s fight is mechanically simple, but its high attack speed demands precision. Here are the top strategies to maximize kills per hour (up to 60–100 with optimal gear) and minimize damage taken.
Melee Walk-Under Method
The walk-under method exploits Thermy’s attack speed (2–2.5 attacks per player attack) to reduce damage by 50–60%. After each attack, step under the boss to pause its attacks until you move out to strike again.
- Step 1: Attack with your primary weapon (e.g., Scythe of Vitur).
- Step 2: Immediately click under Thermy (enable “shift-click walk here” for precision).
- Step 3: Wait 1–2 ticks, step out, and attack again.
- Step 4: Use special attacks (e.g., dragon claws) when available to boost DPS.
Tip: Use Redemption prayer (requires 49+ Prayer) to heal when your hitpoints drop below 10%, extending trips. Bring prayer potions to sustain this.
Magic Safespot Method
Magic users can safespot Thermy by freezing it with Ice Blitz or Barrage and attacking from outside its range (10 tiles). This method minimizes damage but requires attention to maintain the freeze.
- Step 1: Mark safe tiles in the boss room (stand on tile 1 to start).
- Step 2: Cast Ice Blitz to freeze Thermy, then move to tile 2 (out of range).
- Step 3: Attack with your staff, stepping back to tile 3 if Thermy unfreezes.
- Step 4: Re-freeze and repeat, using Redemption to heal if needed.
Tip: Blood Barrage can heal you while attacking the six smaller smoke devils in the room, but stacking them requires practice.
Loot and Rewards
The Thermonuclear Smoke Devil offers a mix of consistent alchable drops and rare uniques, making it a profitable boss for dedicated Slayers. Its loot table includes items shared with regular smoke devils, plus exclusive drops.
Notable Drops
- Smoke Battlestaff (1/512): A valuable magic weapon, exclusive to Thermy.
- Occult Necklace (1/350): Best-in-slot for magic damage, great for Ironmen.
- Pet Smoke Devil (1/3,000): A rare cosmetic pet to flex your kills.
- Jar of Smoke (1/2,000): A decorative item for collectors.
- Clue Scroll (Elite) (1/500): Chance for high-value rewards.
Average Kill Value: Around 25,598 GP on a Konar task, with common drops like rune chainbodies and battlestaves covering supply costs.
Profit Tips
- Ring of Wealth: Increases drop rates for rare and gem tables by removing “nothing” rolls.
- High Alchemy: Alch common drops like rune daggers to boost profits.
- Konar Tasks: Adds a chance for Brimstone keys, increasing loot value.
Tips for Maximizing Efficiency
To get the most out of your Thermy trips, focus on optimizing your setup, movement, and resources. Here are some final tips to elevate your game.
Travel and Preparation
- Fairy Ring (BKP): Fastest way to reach the dungeon; run northeast to enter.
- Ornate Rejuvenation Pool: Restore stats after each kill without teleporting, boosting kills per hour.
- Stamina Potions: Keep run energy high for navigating the dungeon.
Combat Optimization
- Piety/Augury: Boosts melee or magic DPS significantly.
- Special Attack Weapons: Use dragon claws or granite maul to spike damage.
- Minion Management: Ignore smaller smoke devils unless using Blood Barrage for healing.
With these strategies, you’ll be tearing through the Thermonuclear Smoke Devil like a pro. Whether you’re after loot, XP, or just the thrill of the fight, Thermy is a rewarding boss that’s well worth your time. Happy Slaying!