OSRS Black Dragon Slayer Task Guide: Strategy & Gear

Black Dragons are a classic Old School RuneScape (OSRS) Slayer task, known for their consistent profit through dragon bones and black dragonhide drops. While they are not the most efficient task for Slayer XP, their profitability and straightforward mechanics make them worth doing, especially for Ironmen collecting bones for Prayer. Black dragons are the only common chromatic dragons that drop the draconic visage. Notably, the stronger variant in the Wilderness Slayer Cave drops the draconic visage at a rate of 1/5,000, the most common out of any dragon, tied with the King Black Dragon and Vorkath. We also have separate guides for some Black Dragon variants, such as the Brutal Black Dragon and the King Black Dragon boss.

If you want to see more about Black Dragons variants you can also check out our OSRS Brutal Black Dragons Guide and OSRS King Black Dragon Guide

Variants

Requirements

1.   High combat stats (80+ Ranged or Melee recommended)
   
2.   Anti-dragon shield or Dragonfire protection (Anti-dragon shield + antifire potion, or Dragonfire shield / Dragonfire ward for full protection)
   
3.   Completion of quests:
   
   • Lost city for Evil Chicken's Lair access

• Dragon Slayer I for wielding the anti-dragon shield

Location

The most popular locations are:

• Taverley Dungeon (safe spot available)

• Evil Chicken's Lair (It is accessible during and after the Recipe for Disaster subquest Freeing Sir Amik Varze)

• Corsair Cove Dungeon (less crowded)

• Wilderness Slayer Cave

• Lava Maze Dungeon
  

• Mynydd

Fastest Way to Get There

• Taverley Dungeon: Use the Falador teleport, then run west, or use a Taverley house portal if your house is located there.
• Evil Chicken's Lair: Fairy ring code BJR and run north-east make sure to bring a   raw chicken in inventory.
• Corsair Cove Dungeon: Teleport to POH in Rimmintong and use the Charter ship to the west to Coursair Cove.  
• Wilderness Slayer Cave: Use revenant cave scrolls, enter the cave, then run to the west.
• Lava Maze Dungeon: Use the amulet of glory to Edgeville, then use the lever to teleport you to the wilderness, cut the web, and run south to the Lava Maze Dungeon and climb down the ladder.

Gear Setup

Ranged Setup

Head slot: Masori mask  

Neck slot: Necklace of anguish

Cape slot: Quiver / Ava's assembler

Body slot: Masori's Body / Karil's top

Leg slot: Masori's Chaps / Karil's skirt

Weapon slot: Dragon Hunter Crossbow / Rune c'bow

Ammo slot: Diamond Dragon Bolt (e) / Ruby Dragon Bolt (e)

Glove slot: Zaryte vambraces / Barrows gloves

Shield slot: Dragonfire shield / Anti-dragon shield

Boot slot: Pegasian boots / Snakeskin boots

Ring slot: Venator ring / Archer's ring

Melee Setup

Head slot: Torva Full Helm / Slayer helm (i)
Neck slot: Amulet of Rancour / Amulet of Torture
Cape slot: Infernal cape / Fire cape
Body slot: Torva Platebody / Fighter torso
Leg slot: Torva Platelegs / Obsidian legs
Weapon slot: Dragon Hunter Lance / Abyssal whip
Shield slot: Dragonfire shield / Anti-dragon shield
Ammo slot: Rada's blessing
Glove slot: Barrows gloves / Ferocious gloves
Boot slot: Primordial boots / Dragon boots
Ring slot: Ultor ring / Berserker ring (i)

Inventory

Antifire potions (or extended super antifire for AFK kills)

Prayer potions (if using protect from melee)

Food: Sharks or better for safety.

Teleport out (house tab or royal seed pod)

High alch runes (optional for rune drops)

Range potions or super combat potions (depending on what you are using)

Strategy for Killing Black Dragons

1. Activate Protect from Melee and use an antifire potion with an anti-dragon shield for complete protection.
2. Safe spot in Taverley Dungeon by standing behind the stalagmites.
3. Use the blowpipe/Saradomin Godsword special to heal if needed.
4. Pick up bones and hides for profit, especially as an Ironman for Prayer training.
5. For Brutal black dragons (Black Dragon Variant), use the dragon hunter crossbow or lance, pray protect from magic, and use antifire potions for full defense. These can net up to 1.5m GP/hour.
   
   

Importance for ironman

Black dragons are a consistent source of dragon bones for Prayer training and black dragonhide for Crafting or crafting black d'hide armour sets for ranged tasks. Go to Taverley Dungeon or Myth's Guild basement, avoiding Wilderness black dragons unless completing Wilderness Diaries or Slayer tasks from Krystilia. Bring a Dragon hunter crossbow or Dragon hunter lance if unlocked, but otherwise use a Rune crossbow with Broad bolts for efficiency. Protect from Melee is essential when safe-spotting isn't available.

Their drops of Runite bars, Rune items, and dragon javelin heads provide valuable smithing and ammo supplies. For high-level Ironmen, the Draconic visage drop is an added long-term upgrade target for creating a Dragonfire shield. Always bring an antifire shield or potion, and note bones if on Wilderness dragons with the elite diary completed for efficient banking.

Drops

Unique drops

  Draconic visage (1/10,000)

  Clue scroll (hard) (1/128)

  Clue scroll (elite) (1/500)

  Always

Dragon bones (Always), Black dragonhide (Always)

  Weapons and armour

Mithril 2h sword (1/32), Mithril axe (1/42.67), Mithril battleaxe (1/42.67), Rune knife (1/42.67), Mithril kiteshield (1/128), Adamant platebody (1/128), Rune longsword (1/128)

  Runes and ammunition

Adamant javelin (1/6.4), Fire rune (1/16), Adamant dart(p) (1/18.29), Law rune (1/25.6), Blood rune (1/42.67), Air rune (1/128)

  Coins

Coins (1/3.2), Coins (1/12.8), Coins (1/128)

  Other

Dragon javelin heads (1/21.33), Adamantite bar (1/42.67), Chocolate cake (1/42.67)

  Rare and Gem drop table

Nothing (1/68.81), Uncut sapphire (1/154.57), Uncut emerald (1/309.13), Loop half of key (1/378.27), Tooth half of key (1/378.27), Coins (1/390.1), Uncut ruby (1/618.26), Runite bar (1/1,638.4), Chaos talisman (1/1,648.7), Nature talisman (1/1,648.7), Uncut diamond (1/2,473.06), Nature rune (1/2,730.67), Rune 2h sword (1/2,730.67), Rune battleaxe (1/2,730.67), Law rune (1/4,096), Death rune (1/4,096), Steel arrow (1/4,096), Rune arrow (1/4,096), Adamant javelin (1/4,096), Rune sq shield (1/4,096), Dragonstone (1/4,096), Silver ore (1/4,096), Rune javelin (1/4,946.11), Rune spear (1/7,869.24), Rune kiteshield (1/8,192), Dragon med helm (1/8,192), Shield left half (1/15,738.48), Dragon spear (1/20,984.64)

  Tertiary

Looting bag (1/3), Ensouled dragon head (1/35), Brimstone key (1/75)

Conclusion

Black Dragons remain a reliable and profitable Slayer task in OSRS. For quick Slayer XP, they are average, but the combination of dragon bones and black dragon hides makes them lucrative, especially for Ironmen needing bones. Gear up with your best anti-dragon protection, choose your preferred location, and farm them efficiently to maximize profit and Slayer points.