Greater demon

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Greater demons are relatively strong demonic beings found in many remote locations throughout Runescape. As demons, they follow the god Zamorak. They are the third highest-levelled and second most accurate Free-to-play monster, and have the third highest maximum hit for a Free-to-play monster, excluding revenants, Quest monsters, or Dungeoneering monsters. They are the fifth highest-levelled monsters in all of F2P. In accuracy and maximum damage per hit, they were surpassed by the level 85 skeletons from the Stronghold of Security in 2006, and then by the hellhound in 2009.

Greater demons are more powerful than lesser demons, with highly accurate melee attacks that can hit up to 99. They are distinguished from lesser demons by their large wings and slightly greater stature.

Greater Demons are often killed as a good source of crimson charms and as frequent droppers of clue scrolls. They provide good XP as a slayer task due to their low Defence. K'ril Tsutsaroth in the God Wars Dungeon counts as a greater demon for slayer tasks, allowing for a more challenging alternative and granting the use of a Slayer helmet against this boss.

Infernal urns can be useful when killing greater demons to collect the dropped ashes and grant 20% more prayer XP than just scattering them.

Strengths and weaknesses
Greater demons only attack with melee and can hit accurately with hits into the 90s. This can make for a short trip for lower level players that may not have the proper gear to defend against these attacks. While greater demons can hit hard they do have a relatively low Defence, making them easier to kill than their level suggests. They are also classified as a big monster, taking up nine (3x3) squares. This makes them very easy to safe spot and attack with either Magic, Ranged or a halberd (members). Players that choose to fight greater demons in close combat need to make sure they are prepared for the fight. As greater demons are available to be killed in both F2P and P2P worlds the actual level of difficulty will vary depending on equipment available and skills trained. Full rune armour or higher is recommended used when killing greater demons. A weapon with a slash attack should be used as greater demons are weakest to this type of melee. Use of a shield can be helpful especially for those that are lower in Defence or are using rune armour. Like all demons, greater demons are weakest against Magic attacks, although their defence in general is very low anyway, so in most cases any combat style will be effective. Lower leveled players who have never killed greater demons before should bring plenty of good food and possibly an emergency teleport in case a hasty exit is needed. This will allow for the player to judge exactly how much damage they are taking and can adjust equipment as they see fit. At higher combat levels (100+), Greater Demons will pose little to no risk, though food or other supplies may still be necessary if killing large numbers of demons, such as for a slayer task.

Entrana Dungeon
This is not a recommended spot for training, as no weapons or armour can be brought onto Entrana. It is almost completely unusable for warriors, and mages will be stuck with a very low magic bonus due to weapons and armour being banned on the island, despite runes being allowed. If you wish to use ranged, it is suggested to bring bolts or arrows, an unfinished c'bow or bow, c'bow string or bowstring, threads, a needle, and several hides for making your armour. Be sure to not make any of the armour until you have gone into the dungeon or you will be forced off the island. If safe spotting, try to focus mainly on the red demon, as the purple demon moves more and can draw you out of the safe spot.

Brimhaven Dungeon
It is far from the nearest bank, but there are plenty of greater demons. This is a good spot for warriors but not the best for rangers and mages due to a lack of safe spots. It is recommended to go here if you have a combat level of 90 or higher. The aggressive wild dogs can be irritating as well for players under combat level 127 (when they stop being aggressive), although they can be killed for use with Bones to Peaches to extend your trip. Greater demons in this location are relatively easy to kill with very little damage if your combat level is above 100. Wild dogs and greater demons lose their aggression if you stay there long enough. The dungeon entrance fee is 875 coins; however with the use of Karamja gloves 3 the entrance fee will be waived, and the gloves could also be used as a method of banking quickly by teleporting to Shilo Village to restock, coupled with 10 coins for a cart ride back to Brimhaven to return to the dungeon.

Forinthry Dungeon
Although this area is dangerous as it is a PvP area and there is the threat of player killers, it is a multi-combat area and allows the use of a cannon, allowing for much quicker and more numerous kills. It is occasionally used by players training Slayer as it can reach up to 65k Slayer xp per hour. It is highly recommended to bring a one-click teleport such as a house teleport or wear a ring of life because it is possible to become skulled if your cannon hits another player's familiar. It is possible for a player to collect their things after dying to a greater demon here. It is also possible for a player to safespot a greater demon in all of the entrances to their section of the cave.

Ogre Enclave
This is a decent spot for mages and rangers. A single Greater demon can be found wandering in one corner of the dungeon. There is also a cage full of demons in the opposite corner that is ideal for killing them without being hit. Be aware though that ammunition may not be retrieved, other than with Telekinetic Grab. Halberds can also reach the demons, making it a viable location for warriors as well.

Kuradal's Dungeon
This location may only be used by those with a greater demon task assigned by Kuradal (requires 110 combat and 75 slayer), but is a very good location to fight them if you have the requirements. There are a few safespots from which they can be ranged, notably right next to the barrier separating them from the hellhounds. For players with 70+ ranged, making use of darts or throwing knives with a ferocious ring can deal a huge amount of damage very quickly.

Demonic Ruins
For those desiring to stay a long trip, there is a nearby lobster fishing spot, ideal for players with at least level 40 Fishing, providing they have the means to cook the lobsters. It is very far from a bank and the Wilderness obelisks (the fastest way to reach the location) can be unreliable and unpredictable. Since it is located in the Wilderness, be aware that other players may attack you, and if you die, you will drop all your items if you are skulled. This place is normally empty in many worlds due to it's location (high 40s in the wilderness), meaning that if you are lucky enough to avoid PKers, you can gain up to 50-60k combat XP per hour here.

Wilderness Volcano


When ranging and you have less than level 61, you should use a Zanik's crossbow or adamant crossbow, or even a magic shortbow. If you have a range level of less than level 55, ranging these demons is not advised. The bones on the ground and the rocks can be used as a safespot for mages, rangers, and even warriors who are using halberds. However, the volcano is located in the Wilderness, meaning that other players can attack you. Beware if you die from other players, you will drop all your items if you are skulled. Teleport runes are advised and players training here should be aware of PKers who can drop in at any time, though the area is less crowded due to the location in the Wilderness.

Lava Maze
Although this location is seldom crowded, the risk of being attacked by other players combined with the risk of being attacked by poison spiders makes it unattractive to some players. Additionally, the fact that the Lava Maze is located fairly far from a bank and other teleports makes this location more difficult to reach compared to other habitats of greater demons. However, if players manage to keep away from the poison spiders and player killers, they may be able to attain several uninterrupted kills here.

Entrana Dungeon
Sail to the island carrying some food, along with some of the supplies listed, based on the combat style you wish to use:
 * Rangers: Bring a crossbow string, or bow String, and the unstrung version of the best crossbow or unstrung bow that you can make along with your weapon's appropriate type of ammo (bolts/arrows are allowed on to the island). You may also wish to bring dragon leather or regular leather if you have a high enough level to craft it into armour. Remember to bring your own thread, since you cannot find it on the island. A needle is also needed, but you can find one on the island by searching the haystacks. Other suggested items: Zamorak's unholy book or Armadyl's book of law if using a crossbow, and any amulet that helps your ranged attack bonus, such as the amulet of ranging.
 * Mages: Runes are allowed on the island. Construct a dramen staff from the Dramen tree. For other gear, use anything that boosts magic attack that is allowed on Entrana (unholy book, Zamorak robes, ghostly robes, amulets)
 * Close Combat: It is not recommended that you do Melee combat here, as it is much easier to do damage with either Ranged or Magic, but you can try to get by with an amulet of strength, combat bracelet, and a silver sickle (which can be made at the furnace in Entrana). Bring lots of bones to bananas or bones to peaches tablets / runes, because there are three bone spawns near the greater demons, which respawn rather quickly in terms of food usage. It is also suggested to have over 70 defence and use the best armour you can make with the crafting skill. It is not recommended to use prayers here as your prayer is taken to 0 once you enter, and the fact that you won't have any bonuses rather then creating an amulet of glory or amulet of fury.

Players should not assemble their weapons or armour until after they have arrived on the island, or else they will be barred from entry until they get rid of all their worn and carried weapons and armour. Once ready players should then proceed to the north-west to the dungeon from Lost City and navigate through it, where they will find the demons. There are some stalagmites which can be used for cover as the player ranges the demon.

Brimhaven Dungeon
A strategy for players without Guthan's armour is to bring a super defence potion, though this isn't a necessity. On players with decent Defence (75+) and armour the demons do a minimal amount of damage. With Bones to Peaches, it is possible to fight per normal but kill the usually aggressive wild dogs for their bones whenever healing is needed. If combined with the regen Bracelet, players should not need much food at all.

There's a semi-safe spot at the very end of the greater demon area in Brimhaven dungeon, where attacked demons will mostly position themselves in a spot where they are unable to attack the player. However, ranging and maging are not really recommended in this location.

It is better to kill greater demons here when 127 Combat or greater, as the wild dogs, which slow down slayer training against greater demons with their aggressiveness, are unaggressive at that point.

Ogre Enclave
The Ogre Enclave is a good place to range/mage or even melee them with a halberd without fear of being attacked. Most of the greater demons here are caged. Bring telegrab runes to retrieve drops. If using halberd, an air staff is useful for casting wind rush to make the greater demons approach into the range of the halberd.

The major downside to this location is that all arrows/bolts are unable to be retrieved by an accumulator making it quite costly to kill them here. However since the crystal bow and Zaryte bow uses no ammunition, they are feasible weapons to use. It is also worth noting that accursed urns or infernal urns do collect ashes as they would anywhere else in the world, despite the fact that the demons are barricaded behind the fence.

Kuradal's Dungeon
Notice: Players can only kill greater demons in this area if they are assigned by Kuradal as a Slayer task. It is recommended to wear a Slayer helm and ferocious ring to maximize damage. If using melee, an abyssal whip or chaotic rapier are the best choices, as greater demons are weak to stab and slash attacks. Another option is to bring darklight. The special attack of darklight is able to weaken the demon, making it very vulnerable.

In Kuradal's Dungeon there are also a few safe spots. Greater demons are significantly weaker to magic attacks than they are to melee, even with a stab or slash weapon. As a result, killing them with magic in these spots is recommended, preferably with a polypore staff due to the common fire rune drops. It is possible to range them too, they do not have many lifepoints making them easy to kill.

100% drops

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Runes

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Weapons and armour

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Other

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Different appearance
Since the graphical update on 29 August 2006, greater demons now appear in at least five different variants. Because of this, some new players think one "species" of greater demon appears stronger and tougher due to it looking more intimidating than others. However this is not true, as Jagex affirms that they are equally strong and tough and all have the same stats as one another. The Green object on the head of the No-horned Demon at first appears to be a beard, but it is in fact its tongue, showing that it does not have a bottom jaw, this along with the small/broken horns and torn wings suggest that this type is a "Wounded" Demon; although their stats are the same as the other three.

Before graphical update
Before demons were updated they had heads which resembled that of a horse, or the old head of all the dragons, as well as long thin limbs, fangs, and a solid red skin tone.

In RuneScape Classic, they have reddish-orange skin with horns, and do not have wings.

Trivia

 * The animation of Greater Demons was updated on the 5th of July, 2010. Previously, they didn't move their wings or tail as much.
 * Lesser Demons now appear to be exact replicas of the four types of greater demons, minus the wings.
 * Due to their remote locations, these are almost never killed, unless assigned by a Slayer Master.
 * Their hands seem to shake.
 * They are most commonly killed for their rune full helm drops.
 * According to the Kal'Gerion Notes found in Daemonheim, Greater demons are a weak form of Kal'Gerion.
 * They seem to hit twice, though you only receive damage for one hit. This also applies to lesser demons and black demons.
 * The examine text for the more purple Demons is "Big, purple, and incredibly evil", and for the red normal Demons "Big, red, and incredibly evil". The examine text relates to the colour though they are both the same monster.
 * When found in Daemonheim, these monsters seem to have a high resistance to slash attacks despite having almost no resistance to slash elsewhere. However, they still maintain their weakness to stab attacks. It is unknown whether this is intentional.
 * The mysterious ranger Gaalsien is said to have slain a greater demon with an enchanted gem-tipped bolt.