Drops

Drops, also known as Monster drops or Loot, are the items monsters leave for the killer when they die. Drops can be picked up by players. Drops often include bones, coins or other items. A lot of monsters have "100% drops", which is an item or items that are always dropped by that monster. 100% drops are most commonly bones or demonic ashes. Certain monsters have more than one type of 100% drops. A good example of monsters who have more than one type of 100% drops are metal dragons, who drop bones as well as metal bars of their corresponding metal composition.

Typically, the player who attacks the monster first will see the drop before other players, and the attacked NPC is marked with an asterisk (*) to denote such "ownership". This does not apply to boss monsters and some post-quest monsters such as Glacors and their glacytes.

Large monsters (that take up more than one square) will always drop their drops in the south-westernmost square. This also applies to any Ranged ammunition that falls to the ground when ranging those monsters.

In very rare occasions, when right clicked the exact same moment as the monster dies, a screen may appear with the 100% drop only (and arrows if ranged is used) and not with the other drops. Then if right clicked on the same spot again, the drops are present. This shows that RuneScape first lets the monster drop its 100% drop, and then quickly calculates the other drops and then they appear too.

Currently, when right-clicking to pick up drops, the member items are in a beige colour while non-member items are in a grey-blue colour.

Loot beam


Since an update on 19 November 2013, valuable and various other rare drops will be highlighted by a beam of light when they're dropped. These beams will only shine for a short while. If multiple items drop with each other that set off a loot beam (e.g a Bandos hilt, worth coins and a Starved ancient effigy) drop at the same time, the effigy's loot beam will be shown rather than the hilt's.

Through Soul Reaper, players can buy a rainbow to replace the regular loot beam. This also changes the chatbox message to Items highlighted by a common beam are:
 * Drops (total value of given drops not counting 100% drops) with a Grand Exchange value of over -  (this threshold is customizable by the player by talking to Death and defaults to )
 * Ascension keystones
 * Champion's scrolls
 * Clue scrolls
 * Court summons
 * Crystal triskelion fragments
 * Dragon eggs
 * Dragon rider boots
 * Dragon rider gloves
 * Dungeoneering journals
 * Ferocious rings
 * Key token
 * Spirit gems
 * Slayer heads
 * Abyssal head
 * Kurask head
 * Crawling hand
 * Cockatrice head
 * Basilisk head
 * Kbd heads
 * Kq head
 * Soulstones

Some items however have another unique item beam, which has a long circular beam orbiting the main beam. This beam appears on the following circumstances:
 * Items worth over 10,000,000 coins on the Grand Exchange
 * Cresbot
 * Ascension signets
 * Ancient summoning stone
 * Starved ancient effigy
 * Clue scroll (elite)
 * Kal'gerion battle commendation
 * Warpriest armour
 * Brawling gloves

Historical
Prior to the Evolution of Combat, drops always awarded to the player who dealt the greatest amount of damage before the monster died. After the Evolution of Combat, drops will be given out depending on what type of monster it is. When against a non-boss common monster, like a Ganodermic beast, the player who "tags" first will receive the drop. When against a unique boss monster or minion, such as Nex, the player who deals the most damage onto her will receive the drops.

After the release of PvP worlds, a randomized drop was given to the winner of a PvP battle. These drops included axes, pickaxes, platebodies, platelegs, potions, food, Corrupt dragon equipment, Ancient Warrior's Equipment (along with their corrupt variants), brawling gloves and Ancient Artefacts. Since the reintroduction of pre-2007 Wilderness on 1 February 2011, PvP worlds no longer exist.