OSRS Ironman Slayer Guide: Block Lists, Masters & Unlocks
Block metal dragons immediately (14 weight, highest in game). Get black mask at 58 slayer for 16.67% damage boost. Unlock superiors first (50 points, imbued heart chance), then slayer helm. Use Duradel for XP, block high-weight tasks you hate. Imbue helm via Emir's Arena in 30 mins.
Slayer is how you gear your ironman. The whip, trident, occult, zenyte shards - they all come from slayer. Here’s how to do it efficiently.
At a glance:
- First priority: Get black mask at 58 slayer (16.67% damage/accuracy boost)
- Points: Unlock superiors (50) → slayer helm (400) → slayer rings (150) → blocks (100 each)
- Best master: Duradel for XP, Konar for milestones only
- Metal dragons: ALWAYS block (14 weight - highest in the game, combined task)
- Block lists are now per-master - set up different blocks for Duradel, Konar, and Turael
Block Lists
You get up to 7 block slots total (1 per 50 quest points, max at 350 QP). You can now have different block lists for each slayer master - set up each one independently via the “View list” interface.
All metal dragons (bronze through rune) are now one combined task with 14 weight - the highest in the game. Block this on every master.
Block list philosophy:
- Block HIGH weight tasks you don’t want - costs points but saves many future skips
- Skip LOW weight tasks - cheaper than blocking, won’t appear often
- Never block tasks you might want for bosses - skip those instead
Duradel Block List - Maximum XP
Block (7 slots):
- Metal dragons (14 weight) - ALWAYS block, highest weight in game
- Hellhounds (9 weight) - unless doing Cerberus pet
- Greater demons (9 weight) - unless doing Skotizo/K’ril/Yama
- Black demons (9 weight) - unless farming zenytes
- Suqahs (8 weight) - bad XP, remote location
- Drakes (8 weight) - slow, bad XP
- Wyrms (8 weight) - slow, underwhelming drops
Skip (low weight, not worth blocking):
- Fire giants (7) - bad XP
- Spiritual creatures (6) - skip unless farming dragon boots
- Trolls (6) - tedious
- Blue dragons (4) - skip (or do Vorkath)
- Cave horrors (4), Elves (4), Kurasks (3), Waterfiends (2)
Extend:
- Dust devils (barrage in Catacombs)
- Nechryael (barrage in Catacombs)
- Bloodvelds (barrage, optional)
Don’t unlock:
- TzHaar (use Steve if you want these)
- Red dragons, Fossil island wyverns
Duradel Block List - Maximum Money
Block (7 slots):
- Metal dragons (14 weight) - unless farming rune dragons
- Abyssal demons (9 weight) - good XP but not great GP
- Hellhounds (9 weight) - unless doing Cerberus
- Nechryael (9 weight) - XP focus, not money
- Fire giants (7 weight) - bad GP
- Suqahs (8 weight) - bad GP
- Wyrms (8 weight) - mediocre GP
Extend:
- Cave kraken (AFK money)
- Dust devils (good GP + XP)
- Gargoyles (AFK money)
- Greater demons (if doing tormented demons)
- Black demons (if doing demonic gorillas for zenytes)
- Basilisks (if doing basilisk knights for jaw)
- Vampires (if doing vyrewatch for blood shards)
Duradel Block List - Pet Hunting
Block (7 slots):
- Metal dragons (14 weight)
- Greater demons (9 weight) - unless hunting K’ril/Yama
- Fire giants (7 weight)
- Nechryael (9 weight)
- Drakes (8 weight)
- Wyrms (8 weight)
- Aberrant spectres (6 weight)
Extend based on pets you want:
- Abyssal demons (Sire pet), Cave kraken (Kraken pet), Greater demons (K’ril pet), Black dragons (KBD pet), Gargoyles (Grotesque Guardians pet), Arachites (Araxyte pet, 92+ slayer)
Turael Block List - Point Boosting
9 Turael tasks → 10th with Duradel = ~100-150 points/hour. See the Turael skipping guide for teleport setups and optimal inventory.
Block (7 slots):
- Lizards - very slow, need ice coolers or sulphur lizards
- Bats - spread apart, slow
- Dogs - few spawns, high HP
- Dwarves - slow at White Wolf Mountain
- Skeletons - high HP, tedious
- Wolves - high HP
- Kalphites - critical for task cancelling (see below)
Why block kalphites on Turael: If you get kalphites from Duradel and ask Turael to cancel it, he’ll say “that’s my task too.” But if you block kalphites on Turael, he can cancel it for you. This applies to any task both masters share.
Konar Block List - Hydra Farming
Only use Konar if you’re 95+ slayer and specifically want hydra tasks.
Block (7 slots):
- Metal dragons (14 weight)
- Drakes (8), Wyrms (8)
- Abyssal demons (9), Black demons (9)
- Bloodvelds (9), Cave kraken (9)
Skip everything except hydras.
Best Slayer Master
Duradel (100 Combat, 50 Slayer) - Your Default
Use for: General slayer training, XP, most efficient progression. Highest weight on good tasks (bursting, cannoning). Better XP rates than every other master.
Konar quo Maten (75 Combat) - Milestones Only
Konar forces you to kill monsters in specific locations, which hurts XP significantly.
Only use for:
- Every 10th/50th/100th task (milestone bonus points)
- Hydra farming at 95+ slayer
Nieve/Steve (85 Combat) - TzHaar Tasks Only
Highest TzHaar weight of any master. Use if grinding Jad or Zuk on-task. Duradel is better for everything else.
Turael (3 Combat) - Point Boosting & Task Cancelling
Fastest tasks (birds, cows, rats). Use for 9 Turael → 10th Duradel point boosting early game. Also use to cancel terrible tasks from Duradel - but this resets your streak to 0, so only do it for truly awful tasks. Skipping with points (30 points) is usually better. Full routing guide: Turael skipping.
Krystilia (Wilderness) - Optional
Separate task streak. High points, Larran’s keys (prayer XP, seeds, runes), good money from revenants. But PK risk makes this unsuitable for HCIM. Situational.
Master Comparison
| Master | Level Req | XP Rate (avg) | Points/Task | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turael | 3 | 20-30k | 4 | Point boosting |
| Nieve/Steve | 85 Combat | 40-60k | 12 | TzHaar tasks |
| Konar | 75 Combat | 30-50k | 18 | Milestones, hydra farming |
| Duradel | 100 Combat, 50 Slayer | 50-100k+ | 12 | XP grinding - best overall |
| Krystilia | 3 (Wilderness) | 30-50k | 20+ | Wilderness profit |
Black Mask & Slayer Helm
Black Mask - Get This at 58 Slayer
At 58 slayer, cave horrors drop the black mask. This is your single biggest early priority.
- 16.67% damage AND accuracy boost on task
- Works immediately - no slayer points needed
- 1/512 drop rate - expect 1-2 hours at cave horrors in Mos Le’Harmless (Cabin Fever quest required)
- Bring a light source and antipoison
Slayer Helm - Upgrade from Black Mask
The slayer helm combines the black mask with nosepeg, earmuffs, facemask, and spiny helmet. Same 16.67% melee boost, but works against all slayer monsters that require headgear.
Imbuing adds 15% ranged AND magic boost - essential for bursting and ranged tasks.
| Method | Cost | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emir’s Arena | 200 points | 30-40 mins | Fastest. Points for losing too. |
| Soul Wars | 500 zeal tokens | 2-4 hours | Team-based minigame |
| Nightmare Zone | 1.25M points (625k with Hard CA) | 4-8 hours | AFK but slow |
Recommendation: Emir’s Arena. Even if you lose every match, ~18 matches takes 30-40 minutes. No supplies needed.
Imbue priority: Slayer helm first → berserker ring → archers ring.
Priority Unlocks (Point Spending)
| Priority | Unlock | Cost | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bigger and Badder (superiors) | 50 | Best unlock - imbued heart chance |
| 2 | Malevolent Masquerade (slayer helm) | 400 | Combines black mask + all headgear |
| 3 | Ring Bling (slayer rings) | 150 | Teleports to all slayer locations |
| 4 | Block slots | 100 each | Remove bad tasks permanently (up to 7) |
| 5 | Task storage (optional) | 500 | Save boss tasks for later, swap freely after unlocking |
| 6 | Broader Fletching | 300 | If doing broad arrows for fletching |
Bigger and Badder (Superiors)
Get this first. Superior slayer monsters have a 1/200 chance to spawn when you kill their regular version.
| Drop | Rarity | Why You Want It |
|---|---|---|
| Imbued heart | 1/32 from superiors | +10% magic level boost, recharges - BIS for magic |
| Eternal gem | 1/25 from superiors | Infinite slayer gem |
| Dust battlestaff | 1/128 from superiors | Unlimited air + earth runes |
| Mist battlestaff | 1/128 from superiors | Unlimited air + water runes |
The imbued heart is the golden drop. Getting superiors unlocked early maximises your chances across the entire slayer grind.
Key Milestones
| Level | Unlock | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Cave horrors | Black mask - get this immediately |
| 65 | Dust devils | First burst task, major magic XP |
| 70 | Kurasks | Leaf-bladed battleaxe |
| 72 | Skeletal wyverns | Visage chance, good bones |
| 75 | Gargoyles | Very AFK, great GP and alchables |
| 80 | Nechryaels | Best burst task, seeds and herbs |
| 85 | Abyssal demons | Abyssal whip - essential melee weapon |
| 87 | Kraken | Trident - essential magic weapon |
| 91 | Cerberus | Primordial/Pegasian/Eternal crystals |
| 93 | Smoke devils | Occult necklace - BIS magic neck |
| 95 | Hydra | Claw (lance), incredible GP/hr |
Best Bursting Tasks
Dust devils and nechryaels are the premier bursting tasks. This is the fastest way to train magic XP through slayer.
Why burst:
- 200-300k+ magic XP/hr
- Great drops (herbs, seeds, runes)
- Passive prayer XP with bonecrusher
Setup:
- Proselyte armour (prayer bonus) + magic attack items
- Defensive casting (for defence XP)
- Bonecrusher + dragonbone necklace (prayer sustain)
- Rune pouch with blood/death/water runes
Method: Stack monsters in a corner (run through them) → cast Ice Burst/Barrage → collect loot → repeat.
| Task | Method | Slayer XP/hr | Magic XP/hr | Level Req |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dust Devils | Ice Burst | 150-180k | 200-250k | 65 Slayer, 74 Magic |
| Dust Devils | Ice Barrage | 160-200k | 250-300k | 65 Slayer, 94 Magic |
| Nechryaels | Ice Burst | 180-220k | 250-290k | 80 Slayer, 74 Magic |
| Nechryaels | Ice Barrage | 200-260k | 280-330k | 80 Slayer, 94 Magic |
Best Cannon Tasks
Use cannon when you have cannonballs to spare. Best for mid-level tasks where you can’t burst.
| Task | Location | Slayer XP/hr | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dagannoths | Lighthouse | 80-120k | Fast task, good for DK prep |
| Kalphites | Kalphite Lair | 60-90k | If not blocked |
| Bloodvelds | Catacombs | 70-100k | Good XP with cannon |
| Fire Giants | Waterfall | 40-60k | If not skipping |
Expeditious & Slaughter Bracelets
- Expeditious bracelet - 25% chance to not count a kill (speeds up bad tasks)
- Bracelet of slaughter - 25% chance to not count a kill but you still get XP (extends good tasks)
Use expeditious on tasks you want done fast. Use slaughter on burst tasks to extend them.
Slayer Gear Progression
Early Game (Pre-Black Mask)
- Helm of neitiznot / berserker helm
- Fighter torso (or rune plate)
- Dragon scimitar + dragon defender
- Rune / climbing boots
Mid Game (Black Mask, Pre-Whip)
- Black mask (swap to slayer helm when unlocked)
- Fighter torso
- Dragon scimitar → leaf-bladed battleaxe (70 slayer)
- Dragon defender
- Dragon boots
Late Game (Post-Whip)
- Slayer helm (i)
- Fighter torso → Bandos / Oathplate
- Abyssal whip + dragon defender → Avernic
- Dragon boots → Primordial boots
Magic (Bursting)
- Slayer helm (i)
- Proselyte top/legs (prayer bonus)
- Ancient staff / kodai wand
- Book of darkness / tome of fire
- Tormented bracelet (if you have zenytes)
Boss Variants (On-Task Only)
Several slayer bosses can only be killed while on task. Plan your blocks/skips accordingly.
| Boss | Task | Level | Notable Drops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken | Cave kraken | 87 | Trident of the seas, Kraken tentacle |
| Thermonuclear smoke devil | Smoke devils | 93 | Occult necklace, Smoke battlestaff |
| Cerberus | Hellhounds | 91 | Primordial/Pegasian/Eternal crystals |
| Grotesque Guardians | Gargoyles | 75 (+ Brittle key) | Granite maul, Black tourmaline core |
| Alchemical Hydra | Hydras | 95 | Hydra’s claw (lance), Hydra leather |
Optimisation Tools
Skilling Discord Slayer Spreadsheet
The most powerful tool for customising your block list is the Skilling Discord Slayer Spreadsheet.
- Calculates optimal blocks based on YOUR goals (XP, money, pets)
- Shows points per task - aim for ~0 for perfect efficiency
- Customisable for your unlocks, gear, and playstyle
How to use:
- File → Make a Copy
- Toggle your settings (gear, alts, unlocks)
- Mark tasks as “Do”, “Block”, “Skip”, or “Don’t unlock”
- Watch the “Points per task” stat - get it close to 0
In-Game Block Interface
The new slayer interface lets you view and block tasks without getting them first:
- Talk to any slayer master → “View list”
- See exact task weights and quantities
- Block/unblock directly - no need to get the task first
Wilderness Slayer
Krystilia in Edgeville assigns wilderness-only tasks on a separate streak from your main assignments.
Worth doing for:
- Larran’s keys - prayer XP (ensouled heads), runes, seeds
- Extra points without touching your main streak
- Some fast tasks (green dragons, ice giants)
Skip entirely on Hardcore. PK risk isn’t worth it.
Common Mistakes
- Not blocking metal dragons - 14 weight means 1 in 7 tasks. Block on every master.
- Not rushing black mask - the 16.67% boost is massive. Get 58 slayer and camp cave horrors.
- Rushing slayer helm before superiors - superiors cost 50 points and drop imbued heart. Get them first.
- Not imbuing slayer helm via Emir’s Arena - it takes 30 mins, not hours.
- Blocking black demons when you need zenytes - skip instead to keep Demonic Gorillas open.
- Blocking hellhounds when you want Cerberus - skip instead until you’re done with the boss.
- Skipping burst tasks - dust devils and nechryaels are 200-300k magic XP/hour. Never skip these.
- Using Konar as main master - forced locations kill XP rates. Milestones only.
Related Guides
- Prayer Guide - 70+ Prayer for Piety makes a huge difference
- Smithing Guide - Cannonballs via Giants’ Foundry
- Food Guide - What to bring to tasks
- Thieving Guide - Fund early Slayer with Ardy Knights and Master Farmers
- Melee Guide - Attack, Strength, and Defence training for Slayer efficiency
- Death’s Coffer Guide - Offset death costs from risky Slayer tasks
- Achievement Diary Guide - Bonecrusher, Slayer block slot, and other diary rewards