OSRS Dust Devils Guide: Slayer Task & Bursting Strategy | Tons of XP Blog
Master your Dust Devil Slayer task with our OSRS guide. We cover the mandatory Slayer Helmet/Facemask, the best bursting/barraging spots, and notable drops.
OSRS Dust Devils Guide: Slayer Task & Bursting Strategy
Dust Devils are a popular mid-level Slayer monster, not for their challenge, but for their perfect suitability for one of the fastest training methods in the game: barraging. These dusty whirlwinds require special protection and are a fantastic source of both Slayer and Magic experience.
This guide will cover the essential gear you need, the best locations, and the meta for getting the most out of your Dust Devil task.
The Mandatory Requirement: The Facemask
Before you go anywhere near a Dust Devil, you must protect yourself from their magical dust.
- The Special Attack: Dust Devils constantly emit a cloud of dust that will rapidly hit you for damage and drain your stats if you are not protected.
- The Protection: You must wear either a
Facemask
or aSlayer Helmet
. This will make you completely immune to the dust. Do not attempt to fight them without one.
Locations
While Dust Devils exist in the Smoke Dungeon, one location is superior in every way.
- Catacombs of Kourend (Recommended): This is the go-to spot. There is a small, square room in the southern part of the Catacombs that is packed with Dust Devil spawns.
- Why it's the best: The area is multi-combat, and the monsters are aggressive and tightly packed. This creates the perfect conditions for stacking them up and hitting them all at once with multi-target spells.
The Best Strategy: Bursting and Barraging
Because the Catacombs location is so perfect for it, the meta for killing Dust Devils is to use Ancient Magicks.
- The Method:
- Run into the center of the room to get the aggression of as many Dust Devils as possible.
- They will stack up on top of you.
- Cast
Ice Burst
(70 Magic) orIce Barrage
(94 Magic) on the central Dust Devil. - The spell will splash and hit all the surrounding monsters, resulting in massive XP drops.
- The Gear: Wear your
Slayer Helmet
and your best Magic Damage boosting gear (Ancestral
,Ahrim's
,Occult Necklace
). - The XP: This is one of the best and most popular Slayer tasks for XP, providing huge amounts of both Slayer and Magic experience per hour.
The Melee Alternative
If you don't want to use Magic, you can kill them with Melee in the Catacombs.
- Prayer: They attack with Melee, but their hits are weak and can hit through prayer. Most players simply tank the hits, but
Protect from Melee
can reduce some damage. - Weapon: They are weakest to Crush. A
Leaf-Bladed Battleaxe
or aDragon Mace
are effective. - Strategy: Find a spot where only one or two can attack you at once and use your best Melee gear. This method is much slower than barraging.
Notable Drops
Dragon Chainbody
(1/32,768): An exceedingly rare but iconic drop.- Runes: They drop a good quantity of dust, chaos, and fire runes.
- Mithril Bars: A common noted drop, great for Ironmen.
Ironman Strategy
Dust Devils are a key task for an efficient Ironman Slayer grind.
- The XP: This task is one of the best opportunities for an Ironman to use their rune stockpile for
Ice Burst
orIce Barrage
. The combined Slayer and Magic XP is too good to pass up. - The Supplies: The rune drops help to partially sustain the cost of casting, and the noted mithril bars are very useful for Smithing.
Conclusion
Dust Devils are a top-tier Slayer task for any player looking to gain experience quickly. The Catacombs of Kourend provides the perfect arena to stack them up and unleash powerful multi-target spells for some of the best XP rates in the game. Just don't forget your facemask!
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→ Learn more about this method in our AoE Training Guide