OSRS Getting Raid Ready: Your Pre-Raid Checklist!

Thinking about stepping into Old School RuneScape's ultimate PvM challenges – the raids? Whether it's the puzzle-filled Chambers of Xeric (CoX), the brutal Theatre of Blood (ToB), or the customizable Tombs of Amascut (ToA), preparation is crucial. Raids demand strong stats, appropriate gear, essential supplies, and fundamental game knowledge.

This checklist provides a general guideline to help you assess your readiness for venturing into OSRS raids. Remember that specific requirements vary greatly between raids and difficulty levels (especially ToB Normal/Hard and high-invocation ToA).

Use this as a starting point, and always consult detailed guides for the specific raid you plan to attempt!

✅ 1. Combat Stats:

  • Minimum Recommended (Entry/Normal ToA/CoX):
    • Attack: 80-85+
    • Strength: 80-85+
    • Defence: 75-80+
    • Ranged: 80-85+
    • Magic: 80-85+
    • Hitpoints: 85+
    • Prayer: 70+ (Crucial for Piety), 74+ (Rigour), 77+ (Augury) - Having Rigour/Augury unlocked is HIGHLY recommended.
  • Ideal (Normal/Expert ToA/CoX, Normal ToB):
    • Base 90-95+ in all core combat stats (Att, Str, Def, Range, Mage, HP).
    • 77+ Prayer (Rigour & Augury unlocked).
  • Hard Mode ToB / High Invocation ToA:
    • Maxed or very near-maxed combat stats (99s) are standard.

✅ 2. Essential Quests & Unlocks:

  • Core Prayers: King's Ransom (for Piety), appropriate unlocks for Rigour/Augury prayer scrolls (often from CoX itself).
  • Key Gear Unlocks:
    • Recipe for Disaster (for Barrows Gloves - essential).
    • Dragon Slayer I (for Anti-dragon Shield access, Rune/Dragon Platebody).
    • Animal Magnetism (for Ava's Accumulator/Assembler).
    • Horror from the Deep (for God Books).
    • Barbarian Training (parts needed for Dragon Hunter Lance).
  • Raid Access:
    • Priest in Peril (for Morytania/ToB access).
    • Beneath Cursed Sands (for ToA access).
    • Access to Mount Quidamortem (for CoX access).

✅ 3. Gear Foundation (Varies Hugely by Raid & Budget):

  • Melee:
    • Weapon: Abyssal Whip / Dragon Scimitar (Budget) -> Tentacle Whip / Blade of Saeldor / Osmumten's Fang / Ghrazi Rapier -> Scythe of Vitur (High End). Specific Crush/Stab weapons often needed (Dragon Mace -> Cudgel/Bludgeon -> Inquisitor's Mace/Lance).
    • Armour: Fighter Torso / Barrows / Obsidian -> Bandos -> Torva / Inquisitor's (Niche).
    • Defender: Dragon -> Avernic.
  • Ranged:
    • Weapon: Rune Crossbow / Magic Shortbow (i) -> Dragon Crossbow / Bow of Faerdhinen (Bowfa) / Toxic Blowpipe -> Twisted Bow / Zaryte Crossbow.
    • Armour: Blessed D'hide / Karil's -> Crystal Armour / Armadyl -> Masori.
    • Ammo: Broad Bolts -> Ruby/Diamond Bolts (e) -> Dragon Arrows/Amethyst Arrows/Dragon Darts.
    • Ava's: Accumulator -> Assembler -> Dizana's Quiver (Max).
  • Magic:
    • Weapon: Trident of the Seas -> Trident of the Swamp / Sanguinesti Staff -> Kodai Wand / Tumeken's Shadow.
    • Armour: Mystic / Ahrim's -> Ancestral / Virtus.
    • Off-hand: Book of Darkness / Mage's Book -> Ancient Wyvern Shield / Elidinis' Ward -> Arcane Spirit Shield.
  • Standard Essentials: Barrows Gloves, Fire Cape (minimum) / Infernal Cape (ideal), Relevant God Cape (i), Amulets (Glory -> Fury -> Torture/Anguish/Occult), Boots (Dragon -> Primordial/Pegasian/Eternal), Rings (Berserker(i)/Archers(i)/Seers(i) -> Lightbearer/Ultor/Magus/Bellator).
  • Special Attack Weapon: Dragon Dagger (p++) -> Dragon Warhammer / Bandos Godsword -> Dragon Claws / Voidwaker / Ancient Godsword.

✅ 4. Supplies & Utility:

  • Potions: Saradomin Brews, Super Restores, Ranging Potions, Super Combat Potions (or Divines), Stamina Potions, Antidotes/Anti-venoms (as needed).
  • Food: High-healing food (Manta Rays, Sharks, Anglerfish for overheal), Karambwans (combo eats).
  • Runes: Barrage/Burst runes (CoX/ToB), Thrall runes (ToA/ToB/CoX), Vengeance runes (sometimes useful). Rune Pouch essential.
  • Utility: Dragon/Crystal Pickaxe (CoX), Dragon/Crystal Axe (CoX), Relevant Teleports, Escape Crystal (ToB).

✅ 5. Knowledge & Experience:

  • Watch Guides: Study video guides for the specific raid and rooms/bosses you intend to tackle. Understand the core mechanics.
  • Understand Roles (Teams): Know basic roles if applicable (e.g., Freezer/Melee/Ranger in ToB Nylos, Hand runners in CoX Olm).
  • Communication: Be prepared to communicate via voice chat (Discord) or in-game chat, especially for callouts in ToB/ToA.
  • Practice: Don't expect success on your first try. Use Entry Mode ToA/ToB or find learner groups for CoX. Be patient and learn from mistakes.
  • Invocation Understanding (ToA): Know what the invocations you're using do and how they change the raid.

Final Check

Before stepping into a raid, ask yourself:

  • Do I meet the recommended (not just minimum) stats for this raid/difficulty?
  • Is my gear appropriate for the challenges and my role?
  • Do I have the necessary supplies and unlocks (prayers, quests)?
  • Have I watched guides and understand the fundamental mechanics?
  • Am I prepared to learn, communicate (if in a team), and potentially fail multiple times?

If you can answer yes to most of these, you're likely ready to start your raiding journey! Good luck!

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