Dark beast

Dark beasts are level 182 monsters found on the path to the Temple of Light. They require level 90 Slayer to kill. They are the only creatures to drop the Dark Bow and the only one besides Dragon implings to drop the Death talisman. When killed as a slayer assignment they earn 225.4 slayer XP.

Dark beasts are accessible only after starting the quest Mourning's Ends Part II.

Location
They are found in the tunnels between the Mourner headquarters in West Ardougne and the entrance to the Temple of Light.

Mourner gear is required to enter the Mourner headquarters basement to access the tunnel to the monsters. An alternative would be going to the Death altar and exiting through the Temple of Light east to the monsters. This method requires the crystal trinket in your inventory or you will be unable to reset the light beam for future use.

Strategy
Auto-retaliate should always be set to ON, this reduces the chance of getting hit by their magic attack. Dark beasts are only topped in risk by Mithril dragons and Skeletal wyverns in the list of assignable monsters.

Protect from Melee
A weapon with a good slash bonus is recommended, as well as a high prayer bonus. If a cannon is used in conjunction with this it is recommended to use a Monk's robe in place of the Proselyte as the cannon will occasionally cause Dark beasts to use their half-blast magical attack and damage from said attack will quickly add up.

Recommended equipment
 * Slayer helmet - Black mask or Helm of neitiznot
 * Proselyte sallet < Initiate sallet or Monk's robe
 * Monk's robe < Proselyte platelegs < Initiate platelegs
 * RFD gloves or Combat bracelet
 * Dragon boots < Rune boots < Climbing boots or Bandos boots - White boots
 * Amulet of fury < Amulet of glory < Amulet of Strength or God stole
 * Cape of accomplishment(t) < God cloak or Fire cape
 * Saradomin godsword < Other Godsword < Abyssal whip - Saradomin sword
 * Falador shield 3 < Unholy Book < Other book or Dragonfire shield < Rune defender
 * Explorer's ring 3 or Ring of life

High Stab defence
Players with high Summoning may wish to take advantage of the Unicorn stallion for scroll effect, this method is riskier than the previously mentioned one but is slightly cheaper. Super defence potions are necessary to avoid taking hits too often and an Abyssal whip is recommended over a Godsword to maximise defence.

Recommended equipment
 * Slayer helmet - Black mask or Torag's helmet - Guthan's helmet
 * Torag's platebody - Dharok's platebody < Bandos chestplate
 * Torag's platelegs - Dharok's platelegs < Bandos tassets
 * RFD gloves < Combat bracelet
 * Dragon boots < Rune boots < Climbing boots
 * Fire cape < Cape of accomplishment - Obsidian cape
 * Amulet of fury < Amulet of glory < God stole < Amulet of Strength
 * Abyssal whip < Dragon scimitar or Saradomin godsword < Godsword
 * Elysian spirit shield < Dragonfire shield
 * Explorer's ring 3 or Ring of life

Ranged
Wealthier players with more time may choose Ranged over Melee. Advantages include the ability to use a Cannon without being 'half-blasted' and less risk during connection losses as well as the convenience of easy places to Range from. Disadvantages include a greater Prayer drain and the cost of ammunition. A crossbow is recommended over a Crystal or Dark bow to utilise the shield slot for a prayer bonus.

Recommended equipment
 * Armadyl helmet < Blessed coif or Mitre < Seers' headband 3
 * Armadyl chestplate < Karil's leathertop - Black d'hide body or Proselyte cuisse - Monk's robe (top)
 * Armadyl plateskirt < Karil's leatherskirt - Black d'hide chaps or Monk's robe (bottom)
 * RFD gloves < Black d'hide vamb
 * Ranger boots < Snakeskin boots or White boots - Bandos boots
 * Ava's accumulator or Cape of accomplishment < God cloak
 * Amulet of fury < Amulet of glory or God stole
 * Rune crossbow < Toktz-Xil-Ul or Crystal bow < Dark bow
 * Unholy book < Falador shield 3 < Falador Shield 2 < Spirit shield
 * Explorer's ring 3

Drops
100% drop:
 * Bones

Coins
 * 64, 95, 152, 220, or 3000

Charms
 * Blue (common)
 * Crimson
 * Gold
 * Green

Weapons
 * Dragon spear
 * Rune spear
 * Rune 2h sword (Rare)
 * Rune battleaxe (Rare)
 * 5 Rune javelins
 * Black 2h sword
 * Black battleaxe
 * Black hatchet
 * 42 Rune arrows
 * 150 Steel arrows
 * Dark Bow (Rare)

Armour
 * Dragon med helm (Rare)
 * Rune chainbody
 * Rune full helm (Uncommon)
 * Rune kiteshield (Rare)
 * Rune sq shield
 * Adamant sq shield

Runes
 * 47 Air runes
 * 10 Chaos runes
 * 67 Nature runes
 * 45 Law runes
 * 3, 4, 5, or 45 Death runes
 * 7 Blood runes

Grimy herbs (1-2)
 * All except Toadflax, Snapdragon, Torstol and Spirit weed

Other
 * Adamantite bar
 * Rune bar
 * 100 noted Silver ores
 * Loop half of a key
 * Tooth half of a key
 * Uncut gems
 * Cut dragonstone
 * 1-2 cooked sharks
 * Death talisman
 * Nature talisman
 * Attack potion(3)
 * Shield left half

Trivia

 * Dark beasts had an unmentioned graphic update that came out with the Dark bow.
 * Most players find it more profitable to kill abyssal demons as the whip drop rate is greater than that of the dark bow. The whip also sells for more and abyssal demons only require 85 slayer to kill, as opposed to 90 required to kill Dark beasts.
 * Dark beasts were involved in the God Wars, as evidenced by the Revenant dark beasts that roam the Wilderness.