OSRS Ironman Slayer Guide: Strategy & Progression

Training Slayer as an Ironman in Old School RuneScape presents unique challenges and rewards. Unlike regular accounts, Ironmen must be self-sufficient, making Slayer crucial for obtaining essential gear upgrades, supplies, and high-level PvM unlocks. This guide focuses on strategies tailored for Ironman Slayer progression.

Why Slayer is Crucial for Ironmen

  • Gear Unlocks: Slayer is the only way to access many BiS or pre-BiS items:
    • Black Mask / Slayer Helmet (i): Essential DPS boost on task (Cave Horrors, 58 Slayer).
    • Abyssal Whip: Standard high-level melee weapon (Abyssal Demons, 85 Slayer).
    • Trident of the Seas / Kraken Tentacle: Key Magic weapons (Cave Kraken/Kraken, 87 Slayer).
    • Occult Necklace: Best Magic amulet (Smoke Devils/Thermy, 93 Slayer).
    • Dragon Boots: Best F2P-style melee boots (Spiritual Mages, 83 Slayer).
    • Primordial/Pegasian/Eternal Crystals: Best boot upgrades (Cerberus, 91 Slayer).
    • Hydra Claw / Leather: For Dragon Hunter Lance / Ferocious Gloves (Alchemical Hydra, 95 Slayer).
    • Dragon Hunter Crossbow: Possible via specific Slayer tasks (Chambers of Xeric).
  • Supplies: Many tasks provide vital resources like herbs, seeds, runes, alchables, food, and Prayer XP (bones/ashes).
  • Combat Training: One of the primary methods for training combat stats alongside unlocking content.

Ironman Slayer Strategy

Efficiency for Ironmen often differs from main accounts due to supply constraints and the inability to trade.

  • Starting Out: Begin Slayer after achieving decent combat stats (~70-85 Combat recommended) and essential quests (Prayer protection, basic travel unlocks). Complete the Natural History Quiz for an easy boost to level 9 Slayer.
  • Point Boosting: Use Turael for the first 9 tasks, then the highest master available (Konar recommended early for points/keys) for every 10th task milestone to quickly accumulate Slayer Points. Wilderness Slayer (Krystilia) is another option for fast points but carries higher risk.
  • Slayer Master Choice:
    • Konar quo Maten (75 Combat): Excellent choice, especially early and for milestone tasks. Brimstone Keys provide invaluable supplies. Location restrictions can be annoying but often target useful areas.
    • Duradel (100 Combat, 50 Slayer): Generally the best master for high-level tasks targeting key monsters for unlocks and XP. Requires Shilo Village quest.
    • Nieve/Steve (85 Combat): Solid alternative to Duradel, easier access via Slayer Ring/Spirit Tree etc.
  • Cannoning: Generally not recommended for efficiency. The time spent smithing cannonballs outweighs the time saved on most tasks. Exceptions might exist for specific goals or very slow tasks if steel bars are abundant (e.g., Smoke Devils). Focus on Melee/Magic instead.
  • Blocking Tasks: Prioritize blocking tasks that are slow without a cannon and offer poor drops for Ironmen.
    • High Priority Blocks: Kalphites, Suqah, Hellhounds (until ready for Cerberus), Black Demons (until ready for Gorillas/good gear), Wyrms, Drakes.
    • Consider Blocking: Iron/Steel Dragons (pre-lance), Fire Giants (post-early game), Trolls.
  • Skipping Tasks: Use points conservatively to skip bad tasks not on your block list, especially metal dragons or others requiring difficult setups without good gear.
  • Point Spending Priorities:
    1. Superior Slayer Encounters (Bigger and Badder)
    2. Slayer Helmet unlock (Malevolent Masquerade)
    3. Block Slots (fill ASAP)
    4. Broad Fletching (essential for Rune Crossbow ammo)
    5. Slayer Rings (Ring Bling)
    6. Herb Sack / Rune Pouch (if not obtained elsewhere)
    7. Task Extensions (only for highly desired tasks like Kraken/Smoke Devils/Hydra once unlocked)
  • Gear Progression: Focus on Melee strength initially (Dragon Scimitar -> Whip -> Tentacle/Fang/Rapier). Use best available Ranged/Magic gear for specific tasks (Rune Crossbow w/ Broad Bolts, Iban's Staff (u), Trident). Aim for Fighter Torso, Barrows equipment (especially Dharok's for NMZ training, Guthan's for sustain), Dragon Defender.
  • Combat Stat Priority: 75 Attack (Arclight) -> 70 Defence (Barrows) -> High Strength -> Abyssal Whip (70 Attack) -> Controlled style/Attack/Defence as needed.
  • Resource Management:
    • Bonecrusher: Highly valuable with Morytania Hard Diary for passive Prayer XP and prayer restore in Catacombs.
    • Ash Sanctifier: Similar value with Kourend Hard Diary for ash-dropping tasks.
    • Herb Sack/Seed Box: Essential for managing drops on relevant tasks.
    • Alchemy: High Alch valuable drops to save space and fund runes/other costs.

Key Ironman Slayer Task Goals

Focus on tasks that unlock major upgrades or provide essential resources:

  • Cave Horrors (58 Slayer): Black Mask drop.
  • Gargoyles (75 Slayer): Consistent GP/alchables via Granite Maul, Rune items, noted bars. Good AFK task with Guthan's.
  • Kurasks (70 Slayer): Good herbs, seeds, alchables (Leaf-bladed items).
  • Spiritual Mages (83 Slayer): Dragon Boots drop.
  • Abyssal Demons (85 Slayer): Abyssal Whip drop.
  • Cave Kraken / Kraken (87 Slayer): Trident of the Seas, Kraken Tentacle.
  • Thermonuclear Smoke Devil (93 Slayer): Occult Necklace, Smoke Battlestaff.
  • Cerberus (91 Slayer - Hellhound Task): Primordial, Pegasian, Eternal Crystals.
  • Alchemical Hydra (95 Slayer - Hydra Task): Hydra Claw (Lance), Hydra Leather (Ferocious Gloves), Brimstone Ring pieces.

Conclusion

Slayer is arguably the most important skill for Ironman progression, gating access to many powerful items and serving as a primary combat training method. While lacking the convenience of the Grand Exchange or cannons, strategic task selection, efficient point usage, and focusing on key gear milestones will allow Ironman players to successfully navigate the Slayer grind and unlock the best gear the game has to offer.

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