Iron dragon


 * This article is about Iron dragons found above ground. For the dragons encountered under Daemonheim, see Iron dragon (Daemonheim).

Iron dragons are one of the four types of metal dragons. Their appearance is that of a dragon entirely composed of iron, except for their eyes, which are red. As with all adult dragons, iron dragons have the ability to breathe fire, so an anti-dragon or dragonfire shield is essential. When fighting them using Ranged, an antifire potion is highly recommended. They can be found deep in the Brimhaven Dungeon, outside the fortress of Ghorrock just out of the Wilderness, and in Kuradal's Dungeon. As with all metal dragons except for the bronze dragon, they have a chance of dropping the famous draconic visage, which is one of the main reasons that metal dragons are hunted.

Strengths and weaknesses
Iron dragons, like all metal dragons, have very high defence. As with all dragons, an anti-dragon shield, dragonfire shield, or super antifire potion is essential when fighting them, and while using either shield, an antifire potion is optional. Without the shield or super antifire potion, you can be hit extremely hard by the dragon's firebreath, while the anti-fire potion will only provide added protection. An antifire potion alone will NOT provide suitable protection. Anti-fire potions are highly suggested to be used in conjunction with an anti-dragon shield or a dragonfire shield as this will provide complete immunity to dragonfire. However, the untradeable super antifire potions alone provide complete protection. Be sure to be two or more steps away from them when using range or magic as they may attack with melee, possibly dealing up to 203 damage per hit.

Dragons will use both melee and dragonfire attacks while in melee range, but will only use a ranged dragonfire attack while the player is out of melee range. Using both an anti-dragon/Dragonfire shield and an anti-fire potion and using Ranged or Magic to kill them will ensure that no damage is taken. Using a rune crossbow along with either mithril or stronger bolts or using fire spells (higher than fire bolt or it won't be very effective) makes killing Iron dragons a lot easier. However, Chaos gauntlets will greatly help players who choose to use bolt spells. Additionally, leaf-bladed swords work well as they have a high stab bonus.

In the Brimhaven Dungeon, the more powerful steel dragons can be found in the same location. Be aware that Steel dragons will try to attack if the player gets too close.

If players are wearing a pair of dragon slayer gloves from the Fist of Guthix activity, they will be rewarded with extra slayer experience when killing these for slayer tasks.

Brimhaven Dungeon
This is a very good location as rangers and mages will find it easy to safespot. However, you can be attacked by steel dragons in the same location. Players using melee will be more affected by this, but this can be combated by standing at one of the four corners. Usually, a couple of iron dragons will gather at the south-eastern corner. A one-click teleport is recommended in case of dire need. A good strategy is to teleport to Camelot, and from there, a player should run south to Catherby, withdraw 1,355 coins, Camelot Teleport runes, and antifire potions (meleers should also bring prayer potions). A boat may then be chartered to Brimhaven, and players may run south to find the Brimhaven Dungeon. However, 875 coins are required to gain entrance into this dungeon. The Amulet of Glory's teleport to Karamja may also be used, and players may walk to West, through the gates, and then walk South West to find the entrance. Kill the dragons and teleport back to Camelot when out of antifires or inventory space. Repeat the cycle. When exiting the dungeon, it is recommended that a player has a fair amount of life points remaining as various monsters in the dungeon may hit for large amounts of damage, possibly resulting in death. Guthan's set may be helpful, but it is generally recommended to teleport out of the dungeon when done.

If a player has Karamja Gloves 3, he/she may teleport to the Shilo Village mining site with the gloves, run to the Shilo bank, withdraw 10 coins, take the cart north to Brimhaven, and walk South to the dungeon from there.

'''Remember: Entrance to the dungeon requires either 875 coins or Karamja gloves 3. Additionally, a hatchet is REQUIRED to cut through dungeon vines. However, there is a bronze hatchet spawn in the pub to the east.'''

Ghorrock
This location is not recommended because of the far bank (Mage Arena) unless a player has 89 Magic and is on the Lunar Magicks spellbook or has 96 /magic and is on the Ancient Magicks spellbook. However, if a player meets these requirements, this spot becomes an excellent place to kill iron dragons as the Ice Plateau Teleport and Ghorrock Teleport take the player very close to the fortress. This is very helpful, especially if the player is planning on banking all the bones without a pack yak. What makes this spot attractive to some players without access to Kuradal's dungeon is that the iron and steel dragons are separated, precluding the possibility of a player being attacked by the other undesired type of dragon. With 43 prayer and prayer potions (if meleeing), a dragonfire/anti-dragon shield and a couple of antifire potions or a super antifire potion, a player can attack them and take no damage at all. In doing so, he/she will be immune to all attacks. Once a player's prayer points have been depleted, they may either drink a dose of prayer potion or run south to find an altar and recharge their prayer points there. When a player is out of antifires, he/she may either run to the Mage Arena or teleport out. If banking in the Mage Arena, be sure to have extra food in case of revenant attacks. However, it is recommended to teleport out to avoid the risk of being attacked by revenants.

Contrary to popular belief this area is not in the wilderness; the fortress itself is completely safe from revenant attacks (although running through the wilderness from the mage arena may expose a player prior to entering the fortress).

Kuradal's Dungeon
Kuradal's Dungeon may only be accessed if Kuradal assigns a player iron dragons as a slayer task. This is an excellent location as it is generally less busy than the Brimhaven Dungeon, and it is slightly less risky to reach than Ghorrock. The iron dragons here may drop the ferocious ring, a bonus drop only available in this dungeon. The ring increases all damaging hits by 40, provides ring of life functions (teleports to Kuradal at less than 10% life points), and has teleports to Kuradal; it is recommended to wear this ring if received as a drop. The recommended inventory here is the same as the other locations (dragonfire/anti-dragon shield with antifire potions or super antifires; prayer potions for meleers).

Strategies
A recommended strategy for hunting iron dragons when using magic is to use the Fire wave spell. The gear that should be taken with you is armour that increases magic bonus, your anti-dragon or Dragonfire shield, either staff of air or a magic damage boosting staff, 7 times as many fire runes (and air runes if using a different staff than a staff of air) as blood runes, and antifire potions. Go to the south-eastern part of the room with metal dragons in the Brimhaven dungeon. Stand in the corner and attack any of the three iron dragons from at least 2 spaces away. Have auto cast set to fire wave. Drink your antifire potions as needed. You will never be hit because they only attack you with their dragonfire when you stand away from them. This is a very smart way to fight the iron dragons because it is faster than using fire bolt (even with chaos gauntlets) and also faster and more cost effective than doing fire blast because death runes are almost 50 gp more than blood runes. You save even more money using this method because 15 blood runes is a frequent drop from iron dragons.

100% drop

 * Dragon bones
 * 5 Iron Bars

Runes

 * 15 Blood runes (very common)
 * 25, 50 Chaos runes (rare)
 * 15 or 45 Death runes (rare)
 * 45, 90 Law runes (rare)
 * 67 Nature runes (rare)
 * Nature talisman (very rare)
 * 3 Soul runes (common)
 * Saradomin Sword (Very Common)

Armour

 * Adamant square shield
 * Dragon med helm (very rare)
 * Dragon platelegs (rare)
 * Dragon plateskirt (rare)
 * Rune kiteshield (very rare)
 * Rune med helmet (uncommon)
 * Rune square shield (rare)
 * Shield left half (very rare)

Weapons

 * Adamant battleaxe (common)
 * Adamant hatchet (common)
 * Adamant two-handed sword (common)
 * Dragon spear (very rare)
 * Rune battleaxe (uncommon)
 * Rune spear (very rare)
 * Rune two-handed sword (very rare)

Ranging Items

 * 2-12 Adamant bolts
 * 20 Adamant javelins (uncommon)
 * 42 Rune arrows (very rare)
 * 9 Rune darts (p)
 * 4 Rune javelins (common)
 * 5 Rune knives
 * 150 Steel arrows (rare)

Resources

 * 2 Adamantite bars
 * Dragonstone (very rare)
 * Gems
 * Runite bar (rare)
 * Runite limbs (uncommon)
 * 100 Silver ore (noted) (very rare)

Other

 * 270, 550, 3000 Coins
 * Nothing (uncommon)
 * Clue scroll (level 3)
 * 1-2 Curries
 * Draconic visage (extremely rare) (approximately 1/6900; based on 9 drops, 61904 kills)
 * Ferocious ring (only in Kuradal's Dungeon)
 * Half of a key
 * Iron dragon tail-bone (after Fur 'n' Seek)
 * Super attack potion (3 dose)
 * Super defence potion (4 dose) (2 dose in Kuradal's dungeon)
 * Super strength potion (1 dose) (common)
 * Starved ancient effigy