Slayer Masters OSRS: A Complete Guide to Choosing the Right Master for YOU
Introduction
Slayer is undeniably one of the most captivating and rewarding skills in Old School RuneScape, a cornerstone of many players’ accounts. It’s not just about hitting monsters; it’s a path to significant wealth, substantial combat experience, and unlocking powerful gear that will elevate your Player versus Monster (PvM) endeavors. However, the efficiency and enjoyment of your Slayer journey hinges heavily on one crucial choice: selecting the right Slayer Master. These non-player characters are your gateway to the Slayer skill, assigning you tasks, providing valuable information, and offering lucrative rewards. Choosing poorly can lead to frustration, wasted time, and a serious dent in your potential gains.
So, who should you be taking Slayer tasks from? This comprehensive guide will delve into the world of Old School RuneScape Slayer Masters. We will break down each Master in detail, providing a clear understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and the types of tasks they assign. Whether you’re a newcomer just starting your Slayer adventure or a seasoned veteran looking to optimize your experience, this article will help you make informed decisions and choose the best Slayer Master based on your combat level, in-game goals, desired task difficulty, and overall preference for gameplay. Prepare to unlock your full Slayer potential!
Understanding Slayer Master Mechanics
Before diving into the individual Masters, it’s important to understand the fundamental mechanics that govern the Slayer skill in Old School RuneScape. This knowledge will empower you to make the most of your interactions with these key non-player characters.
Task Assignment: The Heart of Slayer
Slayer Masters are, at their core, task-givers. They assign you a specific monster (or group of monsters) to defeat. How these tasks are chosen, however, varies significantly between Masters. Each Master has a unique list of potential assignments, and each monster within that list has a specific “weight.” This weight determines how frequently that particular monster will be assigned. For instance, a low-weight monster might only appear once in every one hundred tasks, while a high-weight monster might show up much more often. Understanding these weightings can help you predict the types of tasks you’ll receive from a given Master.
The variety of tasks also differs drastically. Some Masters, particularly those designed for lower-level players, offer a limited range of monsters, focusing on simple and easily accessible targets. Others, aimed at high-level players, provide a much broader selection, encompassing powerful and challenging creatures found throughout Gielinor.
Slayer Points: Currency of the Skilled Slayer
Slayer Points are the currency of the Slayer skill. You earn them by completing Slayer tasks, typically in multiples of five tasks. The higher your Slayer level and the more consecutive tasks you complete from the same Master, the more points you’ll receive. These points are invaluable, as they can be spent on a variety of useful unlocks and benefits.
So, what can you do with Slayer Points? The most common uses include:
- Skipping Tasks: Don’t like a particular task? No problem! For a small fee of Slayer Points, you can skip it and receive a new assignment. This is crucial for avoiding tasks that are slow, inefficient, or simply unenjoyable.
- Blocking Tasks: Some tasks are universally disliked. Blocking a task prevents a Master from ever assigning it to you again. You have a limited number of block slots, so choose wisely! Focus on tasks that are particularly time-consuming or unprofitable.
- Unlocking Rewards: Slayer Points can be used to unlock a range of permanent upgrades and items. These include the ability to craft Slayer helmets, access to the Herb Sack, and the ability to purchase Broad Ammunition.
Effective Slayer Point management is essential. Resist the urge to skip tasks frivolously, and carefully consider which tasks to block. Prioritize unlocks that will significantly improve your Slayer experience.
Slayer Helmets and Masks: The Slayer’s Best Friend
While we will discuss this later in more detail, it’s important to briefly mention Slayer helmets and masks. These items provide a significant damage and accuracy boost when fighting your assigned Slayer task. They are a vital piece of equipment for any serious Slayer player. There are various versions of the helmet and mask, each requiring different materials and Slayer Points to create. Upgrading your helmet as you progress through your Slayer journey is a worthwhile investment.
Detailed Breakdown of Each Slayer Master
Let’s now examine each Slayer Master in Old School RuneScape, providing a comprehensive overview of their individual characteristics and suitability for different players. This is organized roughly by the recommended combat level for each Master.
Turael/Spria: The Novice’s Choice
- Location: Turael is located in Burthorpe, while Spria is located in Lumbridge.
- Combat Level Requirement: None.
- Task List Overview: Turael/Spria assign very easy tasks, such as killing chickens, cows, goblins, and other low-level creatures.
- Notable Task Weights: N/A – All tasks are relatively common.
- Pros: Perfect for beginners, allows for very quick Slayer Point accumulation through task skipping, safe tasks.
- Cons: Extremely low experience per hour.
- When to Use This Master: Ideal for players just starting out with Slayer, players who need to quickly acquire Slayer Points, or players looking for extremely safe and AFK tasks.
Mazchna: Stepping Up the Difficulty
- Location: Canifis.
- Combat Level Requirement: None.
- Task List Overview: Mazchna assigns slightly more challenging tasks than Turael/Spria, including creatures like Crawling Hands, Cave Crawlers, and Hill Giants.
- Notable Task Weights: N/A – Tasks are generally evenly weighted.
- Pros: Provides a slightly better experience rate than Turael/Spria, introduces players to more varied monster types.
- Cons: Still not a particularly efficient Slayer Master.
- When to Use This Master: A good option for players who want a slightly more challenging experience than Turael/Spria, but still aren’t ready for the more difficult Masters.
Vannaka: A Balanced Approach
- Location: Edgeville Dungeon.
- Combat Level Requirement: Combat Level forty.
- Task List Overview: Vannaka’s tasks are noticeably more challenging, featuring monsters such as Greater Demons, Aberrant Spectres, and Bloodvelds.
- Notable Task Weights: Aberrant Spectres, Bloodvelds.
- Pros: Provides a decent balance of experience and potential profit, introduces players to more profitable and challenging monster types.
- Cons: Can still be somewhat slow compared to higher-level Masters.
- When to Use This Master: A solid choice for players in the mid-game, looking for a good mix of experience and profit.
Chaeldar: A Popular Mid-Game Option
- Location: Zanaris.
- Combat Level Requirement: Combat Level seventy.
- Task List Overview: Chaeldar offers a good variety of tasks, including monsters like Dust Devils, Jellies, and Waterfiends.
- Notable Task Weights: Dust Devils, Jellies.
- Pros: Offers a good balance of experience and profit, known for assigning profitable tasks.
- Cons: Tasks can sometimes be inconsistent in terms of experience and profit.
- When to Use This Master: A popular choice for players in the mid-game looking to make money while training Slayer.
Nieve/Steve: Consistency is Key
- Location: Tree Gnome Stronghold (Nieve), or North of the Ardougne Zoo (Steve)
- Combat Level Requirement: Combat Level eighty-five.
- Task List Overview: Steve is the exact same Slayer Master. Both assign tasks like Black Demons, Gargoyles, and Kurasks.
- Notable Task Weights: Black Demons, Gargoyles.
- Pros: Known for consistent tasks.
- Cons: None.
- When to Use This Master: A popular choice for consistent tasks and xp
Duradel: Efficiency at a Price
- Location: Shilo Village.
- Combat Level Requirement: Combat Level one hundred. Slayer level fifty.
- Task List Overview: Duradel assigns the highest-level and most challenging tasks, including monsters like Black Dragons, Rune Dragons, and Nechryael.
- Notable Task Weights: Black Dragons, Rune Dragons.
- Pros: Offers the best experience per hour for players who can handle the tasks, good profit potential.
- Cons: Tasks can be demanding and require high-level gear and supplies, tasks can be time consuming.
- When to Use This Master: Ideal for high-level players looking to maximize their Slayer experience and profit.
Konar quo Maten: Location Matters
- Location: Mount Karuulm.
- Combat Level Requirement: Combat Level seventy-five.
- Task List Overview: Konar assigns tasks that must be completed in a specific location, adding a unique twist to the Slayer skill.
- Notable Task Weights: Varies depending on the location.
- Pros: Can be quite profitable due to the specific location bonuses, adds variety to the Slayer skill.
- Cons: Can be inconvenient to travel to specific locations, some locations may be less efficient than others.
- When to Use This Master: For players looking for a unique Slayer experience and potential profit.
Krystilia: Risk and Reward in the Wilderness
- Location: Edgeville (Wilderness).
- Combat Level Requirement: None.
- Task List Overview: Krystilia assigns tasks that must be completed in the Wilderness, making them high-risk, high-reward.
- Notable Task Weights: Wilderness monsters.
- Pros: Extremely profitable due to the Wilderness bonuses, offers a unique and challenging Slayer experience.
- Cons: Extremely risky due to the presence of player killers (PKers), requires a good understanding of Wilderness mechanics.
- When to Use This Master: Only recommended for experienced players who are comfortable in the Wilderness and understand the risks involved.
Morvran: The Pinnacle of Slayer
- Location: Prifddinas.
- Combat Level Requirement: Combat Level eighty-five. Slayer Level eighty.
- Task List Overview: Morvran assigns some of the most difficult and rewarding tasks in the game, including monsters like Dark Beasts, Smoke Devils, and Cerberus.
- Notable Task Weights: Varies, generally high-level monsters.
- Pros: Offers excellent experience and profit potential, provides access to the most challenging Slayer content.
- Cons: Requires high combat and Slayer levels, tasks can be very demanding.
- When to Use This Master: The ultimate goal for most Slayer players, representing the pinnacle of the skill.
Slayer Unlocks and Rewards: Spending Those Hard-Earned Points
Completing Slayer tasks not only levels up your Slayer skill, but also earns you Slayer Points, which can be spent on a variety of useful unlocks and rewards.
Slayer Helmets: Your Damage-Boosting Friend
As mentioned earlier, Slayer helmets and masks provide a significant damage and accuracy boost when fighting your assigned Slayer task. These helmets are essential for maximizing your efficiency and profit. You can upgrade your helmet over time to add additional bonuses, such as protection from certain types of attacks.
Herb Sack: A Slayer’s Best Friend
The Herb Sack allows you to store up to thirty of each type of grimy herb, freeing up valuable inventory space. This is particularly useful for Slayer tasks that drop a lot of herbs.
Broad Ammunition: Efficient Ranging
Broad Ammunition provides a good and relatively inexpensive option for ranging Slayer tasks. It is particularly effective against monsters with low defense.
Tips and Strategies for Efficient Slayer Training
Maximizing your Slayer experience involves more than just choosing the right Master. Here are some tips and strategies to help you train efficiently and effectively:
Gear Up for Success: Equipment Recommendations
The right gear can make a huge difference in your Slayer experience. Consider your combat style and the type of task you’re undertaking when choosing your equipment. Invest in upgrades as you can. Prioritize gear that provides accuracy and damage bonuses, as well as protection from the monster’s attacks.
Inventory Management: Pack Smart
An efficient inventory is essential for maximizing your time spent on Slayer tasks. Bring the necessary supplies, such as food, potions, teleports, and any specific items required for the task. Avoid carrying unnecessary items that will take up valuable space.
Skipping and Blocking: Tailoring Your Tasks
Don’t be afraid to skip or block tasks that you find unenjoyable or inefficient. Identify tasks that are consistently slow, unprofitable, or simply not fun, and use your Slayer Points to avoid them.
Using Slayer Boosters: Temporary Advantage
Slayer boosters provide a temporary boost to your Slayer experience or damage. Use them strategically, especially during tasks that are otherwise slow or challenging.
Multi-Combat vs Single Combat Tasks: Choosing the Right Approach
Some Slayer tasks can be completed in multi-combat areas, where you can fight multiple monsters at once. This can be very efficient for certain tasks, but it can also be more dangerous. Consider the risks and rewards before choosing to complete a task in a multi-combat area.
Conclusion
Choosing the right Slayer Master is a critical decision that will significantly impact your experience in Old School RuneScape. By understanding the mechanics of the Slayer skill and carefully evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each Master, you can tailor your Slayer journey to your individual goals and preferences. Remember, the “best” Slayer Master is subjective and depends on your combat level, Slayer level, in-game goals, and desired level of challenge. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different Masters and task skipping strategies to find what works best for you. So, go out there, slay some monsters, and unlock your full Slayer potential! Happy Slaying!