Summoning



Summoning is a members-only skill released on 15 January 2008 and updated on 31 March. The skill is available to members after completing the Wolf Whistle quest. This acts as an introduction to the skill, similar to Druidic Ritual, the quest that gives access to the herblore skill. It allows players to infuse the essence of a variety of creatures into Summoning pouches, then summon these creatures, called familiars. Each familiar has a unique ability that requires a Summoning scroll, made from a corresponding pouch, to use. Summoning familiars and creating scrolls gives very little experience, so players must create pouches in order to gain experience effectively.

The summoning skill shares many similarities to Prayer, as the skill is trained mostly through one action (infusing pouches) and points are drained when the skill is used to summon a familiar such as a beast of burden, forager, or combat familiar. (See the Familiars section or Summoning points for more details.) Like prayer points, summoning points do not automatically recharge, so must be recharged at a Summoning Obelisk or Small Obelisk, or by drinking a Summoning potion.

Summoning also affects the player's combat level. Previously, the maximum combat level a player could have was 126. When summoning was added to the game, the maximum combat level was raised to combat level 138.

Familiars


Familiars are creatures that players may summon to help them with many tasks. The familiars have many different abilities, from boosting skills to aiding you in combat. All familiars have a special move which can be activated with Summoning scrolls. Only one familiar can be summoned at a time, and must be dismissed before another can be summoned.

In order to summon a familiar, players must use the "Summon" option on a Summoning pouch. Summoning familiars costs summoning points (similar to Prayer points). While a familiar is out, summoning points will be slowly drained until they reach 0, again similar to prayer. The familiar does not disappear when the points reach 0, but any right-click abilities will be unavailable until the summoning points are recharged. Summoning points must be recharged at a Summoning Obelisk or by using Summoning potion(s).

Players can talk to their familiars if they have at least 10 or more summoning levels above the required level to summon that familiar, with some exceptions (i.e. minotaurs). Because of the skill cap of 99 and various other reasons, some familiars cannot be talked to.

Special Abilities
Each familiar has a different special ability that they are able to use. Some are accessed by talking, using the familiar's special button or right clicking a familiar for another option.


 * {| class="wikitable" width=70%

! Abilities !! Description
 * Fighter || These familiar will fight with a player, and have combat levels similar to regular creatures. A player must be actively fighting and taking damage for his or her familiar to fight. Familiars will only fight in multi combat areas, and will not fight for a player.
 * Fighter || These familiar will fight with a player, and have combat levels similar to regular creatures. A player must be actively fighting and taking damage for his or her familiar to fight. Familiars will only fight in multi combat areas, and will not fight for a player.

Fighting familiars do not interfere with Slayer tasks. Even if the familiar delivers the final blow that kills a slayer creature, the kill is credited to your fulfilment of the task.


 * Light enhancer || Some familiars can see well in the dark and will make any light source a player carries brighter.
 * Skill booster || These familiars can either temporarily raise your level in a given skill, or provide an 'invisible' boost that is always active. If that stat has already been raised by a potion the skill boost will not work. Note that invisible skills boosts do not allow you to perform an activity above your level, they simply help you in increasing the efficiency of your activity in your current level.
 * Remote view || These familiars can fly into the air and allow you to see through their eyes, giving you the ability to see things much further away.
 * Beast of Burden || A beast of burden can carry a varying number of items. Certain familiars can only carry specific items, and only abyssal familiars can carry rune essence and pure essence.
 * Healer || These familiars can heal a player HP at a given rate.
 * Forager || A forager will find certain items from time to time, and can carry 30 of a specific type of item. You are only able to 'Withdraw' items from these familiars.
 * }
 * Beast of Burden || A beast of burden can carry a varying number of items. Certain familiars can only carry specific items, and only abyssal familiars can carry rune essence and pure essence.
 * Healer || These familiars can heal a player HP at a given rate.
 * Forager || A forager will find certain items from time to time, and can carry 30 of a specific type of item. You are only able to 'Withdraw' items from these familiars.
 * }
 * Forager || A forager will find certain items from time to time, and can carry 30 of a specific type of item. You are only able to 'Withdraw' items from these familiars.
 * }

Forbidden Areas for Familiars
There are certain places where you can not summon familiars or bring them into:


 * Grand Exchange (excluding the palace)
 * You cannot summon a familiar at a Summoning Obelisk because the summoning energy is too great, but you may bring them if they are already summoned.
 * Some minigames:
 * The Barrows minigame area
 * The Mage Training Arena
 * Pest Control - Familiars cannot enter the Void Knight boats
 * Barbarian Assault - While playing familiars are not allowed

If you try to enter one of these areas with a familiar out or try to summon one you will get a message. If you have a familiar out then you will not be allowed to enter until it is dismissed.

Pouches
Summoning pouches are used to summon familiars. The creation of a pouch is relatively simple: the pouch is infused with the essence of a creature, or familiar, which can then be summoned using the pouch. Infusing pouches yields experience in summoning. A pouch is used up when a familiar is summoned, and it is not restored when the familiar is dismissed.

Scrolls


Summoning scrolls are required to perform a familiar's special move. The special moves the scrolls can perform vary widely and are tied to the familiar. You must have the familiar summoned that the scrolls are tied to in order to use them. You must also have enough energy on the special energy bar to perform the action. They are created from converting familiar pouches into scrolls at a Summoning obelisk.

Pets
Pets are animals that follow you throughout RuneScape. They do not fight or help you like familiars, but are purely decorative. They are similar to pet cats obtained from the Gertrude's Cat quest. An egg must be found and hatched or the pet must be caught using the Hunter skill to receive any pet besides Cats and Dogs (purchased at a pet shop).

Shop items

 * See Summoning Shops for the shop locations.


 * {| class="wikitable" width=70%

! rowspan=2 | Image !! rowspan=2 | Item !! rowspan=2 | Price !! rowspan=2 | Level !! colspan=2 | Attack Bonus !! colspan=6 | Defence Bonus !! rowspan=2 | Holds (unenchanted) ! Magic !! Ranged !! Stab !! Slash !! Crush !! Magic !! Ranged !! Summoning
 * [[Image:Pouch_Summoning.png]] || Pouch ||1 coin||- || - ||-|| -|| -|| -|| -|| -||  -|| -
 * [[Image:Spirit_shard.png]] || Spirit shards ||25 coins ||- || -|| -|| -|| -|| -|| -||  -|| -||-
 * [[Image:Antlers.png]] || Antlers ||100 coins||- || -|| -|| -|| -|| -|| -|| -|| +8|| 5 scrolls
 * [[Image:Lizard skull.png]] || Lizard skull ||200 coins||30 || - || +1 || +2 || +3 ||+4 ||+2 ||+3 ||+12 ||10 scrolls
 * [[Image:Feather_Headdress.gif]] || Feather headdress || 240 coins ||50 ||-1 ||+2 ||+4 ||+6 ||+8 ||+4 ||+4 ||+20 ||15 Scrolls
 * }
 * [[Image:Lizard skull.png]] || Lizard skull ||200 coins||30 || - || +1 || +2 || +3 ||+4 ||+2 ||+3 ||+12 ||10 scrolls
 * [[Image:Feather_Headdress.gif]] || Feather headdress || 240 coins ||50 ||-1 ||+2 ||+4 ||+6 ||+8 ||+4 ||+4 ||+20 ||15 Scrolls
 * }
 * [[Image:Feather_Headdress.gif]] || Feather headdress || 240 coins ||50 ||-1 ||+2 ||+4 ||+6 ||+8 ||+4 ||+4 ||+20 ||15 Scrolls
 * }

Headdresses

 * These items can only store scrolls that are used to attack (not skill helping scrolls like "Egg Spawn").
 * Combat scrolls stored in headdresses will be automatically used while in a multicombat zone with your familiar summoned and when you are wearing the headdress.
 * The scrolls stored in the headdress must match the familiar you have currently summoned for them to be used.
 * The non-specific Summoning items (eg. Adamant full helm) can be enchanted by Pikkupstix, for free, to store Summoning scrolls. (Note: You must have the required Summoning level to get the item enchanted in the first place.) If you wish to have the item disenchanted, simply speak to Pikkupstix and he will remove the enchantment, again for free. (See table below)
 * The specific Summoning items (eg. Antlers, Lizard skull, and Feather headdress) are the only items that require the summoning level to wear. All other items can be worn like normal.

All Items That Can Store Summoning Scrolls

 * {| class="wikitable" width=70%

!Image!!Item!!Summoning Level!!Defence Level!!Number of Scrolls!!Notes
 * [[Image:Antlers.png]] || Antlers || 10 || 1 || 40 || Obtainable from a summoning shop for 100 coins.
 * [[Image:Lizard skull.png]] || Lizard skull || 30 || 1 || 65 || Obtainable from a summoning shop for 200 coins.
 * [[Image:Feather Headdress.gif]] || Feather headdress || 50 || 1 || 150 || Requires level 20 Ranged. Comes in various colours. Craftable at level 79 Crafting, from a coif and 20 coloured feathers.
 * [[Image:Adamant full helmet.png]] || Adamant full helm || 20 || 30 || 50 || Requires level 30 Defence.
 * [[Image:Snakeskin bandana.PNG]] || Snakeskin bandana || 20 || 30 || 50 || Requires level 30 Ranged.
 * [[Image:Splitbark helm.png]] || Splitbark helm || 30 || 40 || 50 || Requires level 40 Magic.
 * [[Image:Rune full helm.gif]] || Rune full helm || 30 || 40 || 60 || Requires level 40 Defence
 * [[Image:Frem helmet.gif]] || All Fremennik helmets || 35 || 45 || 70 || Requires the completion of The Fremennik Trials quest.
 * [[Image:Helm of neitiznot (e).png]] || Helm of Neitiznot || 45 || 55 || 90 || Requires the completion of The Fremennik Isles quest.
 * [[Image:Dragon med helm.png]] || Dragon medium helm || 50 || 60 || 110 || Requires level 60 Defence.
 * [[Image:Lunar helm.png]] || Lunar helm || 55 || 40 || 110 || Requires level 65 Magic.
 * [[Image:Armadylhelmet.png]] || Armadyl helmet || 60 || 70 || 120 || Requires level 70 Ranged and level 70 Defence.
 * }
 * [[Image:Rune full helm.gif]] || Rune full helm || 30 || 40 || 60 || Requires level 40 Defence
 * [[Image:Frem helmet.gif]] || All Fremennik helmets || 35 || 45 || 70 || Requires the completion of The Fremennik Trials quest.
 * [[Image:Helm of neitiznot (e).png]] || Helm of Neitiznot || 45 || 55 || 90 || Requires the completion of The Fremennik Isles quest.
 * [[Image:Dragon med helm.png]] || Dragon medium helm || 50 || 60 || 110 || Requires level 60 Defence.
 * [[Image:Lunar helm.png]] || Lunar helm || 55 || 40 || 110 || Requires level 65 Magic.
 * [[Image:Armadylhelmet.png]] || Armadyl helmet || 60 || 70 || 120 || Requires level 70 Ranged and level 70 Defence.
 * }
 * [[Image:Lunar helm.png]] || Lunar helm || 55 || 40 || 110 || Requires level 65 Magic.
 * [[Image:Armadylhelmet.png]] || Armadyl helmet || 60 || 70 || 120 || Requires level 70 Ranged and level 70 Defence.
 * }
 * [[Image:Armadylhelmet.png]] || Armadyl helmet || 60 || 70 || 120 || Requires level 70 Ranged and level 70 Defence.
 * }

Summoning Shops

 * Taverley
 * Gu'Tanoth
 * Nature Grotto (Wishing Well)

Pet Shops

 * Yanille
 * Taverley

Obelisks
Summoning obelisks (as opposed to small obelisks) are fully charged with summoning energy and can be used to infuse pouches and make scrolls, as well as to recharge summoning points. See the main article for a list of their locations.

Small Obelisks
Small obelisks are partially-charged with summoning energy and may be used to recharge summoning points, but not to infuse pouches or scrolls. They are much more abundant than summoning obelisks. For their locations see the main article.

Training
The majority of summoning experience is gained from making pouches. Making scrolls and using special effects gives very little experience (typically less than 10% of that provided by making pouches). Hence, training summoning quickly involves making a huge amount of pouches.

The four items required for pouch-making are blank pouches, charms, spirit shards, and tertiary ingredients. Pouches must be bought from summoning shops for 1gp each. Charms are untradable, and you must collect them yourself from monster drops (see Charms). Spirit shards cost 25 gp each and are not available from monster drops. They can be traded from other players and bought on the Grand Exchange. However, as most pouches sell at prices under the 70 percent exchange rate for shards, this can be a way to obtain shards at a slightly discounted price. Finally, the tertiary ingredient can usually be bought or collected. Tertiary ingredients trade at significant prices due to their use as a summoning item.

One also needs to find a way to do quick and efficient round trips between a bank and a summoning obelisk (see Obelisk section above), to minimize the time taken to make pouches.

Players are also recommended to trade their pouches with Bogrog in Gu'Tanoth, who will exchange for 70% of the Spirit shard required to make the pouch. This will help the player save money on how many spirit shards one needs to buy, however, it requires the player to be at least 1 level above the level required to make the pouch.

Minimize cost
Based upon minimizing the cost due to the number of spirit shards used:

Table below shows minimum cost assuming players buy all the components (pouches, shards, tertiary ingredients).
 * {| class="wikitable" width=70%

!Level!!Shards!!Tertiary!!Method!!Cost!!Notes
 * 1 - 4 || 14 || Wolf bones || Starting point ||align="right"| - || At completion of Wolf Whistle quest
 * 4 - 10 || 760 || Raw chicken || 95 Dreadfowl pouches ||align="right"| 0 coins || Uses gold charms from quest
 * 10 - 16 || 1,008 || Spider carcass || 126 spider pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms from quest
 * 16 - 18 || 378 || Iron ore || 54 Granite crab pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses up the remaining gold charms from quest
 * 18 - 40 || 10,927 || Iron ore || 1,561 Granite crab pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms
 * 40 - 52 || 17,930 || Marigolds || 1,630 Bull ant pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms
 * 52 - 66 || 65,364 || Raw bird meat || 5,447 Spirit terrorbird pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms
 * 66 - 67 || 6,545 || Swamp toad || 595 Barker toad pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms
 * colspan=6 | From this point up, the rarity and cost of the tertiary component may be your primary constraint.
 * 67 - 82 || 31,964 || Tortoise shell || 31,964 War tortoise pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms
 * 83 - 86 || 3,226 || Dagannoth hide ||3,226 Spirit dagannoth pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses crimson charms
 * 86 - 99 || 12,469 || Runite bar ||12,469 Rune minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches. And without taking into consideration later alching of made pouches.
 * }
 * 66 - 67 || 6,545 || Swamp toad || 595 Barker toad pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms
 * colspan=6 | From this point up, the rarity and cost of the tertiary component may be your primary constraint.
 * 67 - 82 || 31,964 || Tortoise shell || 31,964 War tortoise pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms
 * 83 - 86 || 3,226 || Dagannoth hide ||3,226 Spirit dagannoth pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses crimson charms
 * 86 - 99 || 12,469 || Runite bar ||12,469 Rune minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches. And without taking into consideration later alching of made pouches.
 * }
 * 83 - 86 || 3,226 || Dagannoth hide ||3,226 Spirit dagannoth pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses crimson charms
 * 86 - 99 || 12,469 || Runite bar ||12,469 Rune minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches. And without taking into consideration later alching of made pouches.
 * }
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches. And without taking into consideration later alching of made pouches.
 * }

At around level 16 this will use up all the gold charms from the quest. Raw chicken meat can be obtained through killing Chickens, bought in a store in Canifis or from Ali Morisanne. Iron ores are easily mined or purchased from the Grand Exchange. It also will require just over 2,000 Spirit shards at 25 coins each. It will cost around 50,000 coins to reach level 18. Expect to spend at least 3 times that to make the hiscores at level 30. Players can also make a few extra GP from using Alchemy on the pouches.

Minimize time
For minimum time you must create pouches from whatever charms you get and you must create the highest level pouches that you can make with the charms you obtain. It is strongly recommended that you use Crimson Charms, as they give the best xp per coin, and are fast to use. The fastest ways to get Crimson Charms include killing Waterfiends, Rock Lobsters, Cockroach Soldiers and Dust Devils.

Minimize charms
This method minimizes the charms used to gain levels:


 * {| class="wikitable" width=70%

!Level!!Shards!!Tertiary!!Method!!Cost!!Notes
 * 1 - 4 || 14 || Wolf bones || Starting point ||align="right"|- || At completion of Wolf Whistle quest
 * 4 - 10 || 760 || Raw chicken || 95 Dreadfowl pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms from quest
 * 10 - 16 || 1,008 || Spider carcass || 126 spider pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms from quest
 * 16 - 17 || 126 || Iron ore || 18 Granite crab ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms from quest
 * 17 - 19 || 18 || Proboscis || 18 Spirit mosquito ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses gold charms from quest
 * 19 - 25 || 2,679 || Bronze claws || 47 Spirit scorpion pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses crimson charms
 * 25 - 36 || 3,927 || Potato cactus || 77 Spirit kalphite pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 36 - 46 || 13,974 || Bronze bar || 137 Bronze minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 46 - 55 || 30,500 || Iron bar || 244 Iron minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 55 - 56 || 5,436 || Jug of water || 36 Spirit jelly pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 56 - 58 || 11,562 || Steel bar || 82 Steel minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 58 - 66 || 76,608 || Empty fishbowl || 532 Karamthulhu overlord pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 66 - 76 || 219,944 || Mithril bar || 1,447 Mithril minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 76 - 86 || 486,864 || Adamantite bar || 3,381 Adamant minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 86 - 99 || 12,469 || Runite bar || 12,469 Rune minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 1 - 99 || 865,889 || All above || All above || 287,153,267 coins || All above
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches.
 * }
 * 55 - 56 || 5,436 || Jug of water || 36 Spirit jelly pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 56 - 58 || 11,562 || Steel bar || 82 Steel minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 58 - 66 || 76,608 || Empty fishbowl || 532 Karamthulhu overlord pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 66 - 76 || 219,944 || Mithril bar || 1,447 Mithril minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 76 - 86 || 486,864 || Adamantite bar || 3,381 Adamant minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 86 - 99 || 12,469 || Runite bar || 12,469 Rune minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 1 - 99 || 865,889 || All above || All above || 287,153,267 coins || All above
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches.
 * }
 * 76 - 86 || 486,864 || Adamantite bar || 3,381 Adamant minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 86 - 99 || 12,469 || Runite bar || 12,469 Rune minotaur pouches ||align="right"|0 coins|| Uses blue charms
 * 1 - 99 || 865,889 || All above || All above || 287,153,267 coins || All above
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches.
 * }
 * colspan="6"|Costs are based on current exchange prices plus the cost of shards and pouches.
 * }
 * }

Getting to 30 Summoning
For players wishing to get on highscores for summoning, it is advised to use the gold charms obtained from Wolf Whistle quest to get to 18 summoning using the methods described above. Getting from 18 to 30 summoning requires 456 gold charms if the player is making Granite crab pouch, which is a relatively cheap way to train. This method also requires 456 Summoning pouches, 3192 Spirit shards, and 456 iron ore. To do this would cost exactly coins. For a list of monsters to kill for gold charms, please see Gold charms. Playing Penguin Hide and Seek is also a good way to train summoning.

Chaos Tunnels
The Chaos Tunnels were released in conjunction with Summoning. They are one of the best areas to obtain charms. Players should be warned that the area is multicombat: see the main article for details.

Armour
For details of summoning defence bonuses, see armour

Updates

 * 15 January 2008: Summoning release
 * 21 January 2008: Spirit shards were halved in price, from 50 coins to 25 coins each. Anyone who had bought shards for 50 coins before the price cut were given the number of shards they had bought, for free, as compensation.
 * 31 March 2008: Summoning part 2
 * 7 May 2008: Update:Perils of Ice Mountain - Bogrog will swap Summoning pouches for spirit shards at a 70% rate.
 * 15 October 2008: Update:PvP Worlds - Bogrog will swap Summoning scrolls for spirit shards at a 70% rate.

Cape of Accomplishment


Once players have mastered the skill and reached level 99, Pikkupstix (in Taverley) will sell them a Summoning Cape. Refer to the Capes guide for more details.

Music

 * Scape Summon - The opening music at the Welcome to RuneScape screen when the skill was released
 * Animal Apogee - in room with Summoning Obelisk

Trivia

 * You can log onto a Free-to-Play world and you will see your combat level without the bonus from summoning.
 * Apparently, a hidden monster could be seen by using paint on the Summoning Log-in screen or by turning your brightness and contrast down to minimum. However, this may have been the result of pareidolia, which occurs when random shapes appear to resemble an actual object.
 * On 13 February, the Summoning log-in screen was taken away, to be returned on 31 March (with the release of Summoning batch 2).
 * The chocotrice that could be commanded during the 2008 easter event is the only creature that could be controlled by non-member players.
 * From the Update on 'Summoning Wallpaper #4' on the 27 March 2008, the picture along side the article on the Runescape homepage, when saved to your hard drive, has the name 'abyssal_titan.gif' showing yet another summoning familiar. This links with the Update description of 'It is element-ary that we would release a new wallpaper for something as titan-ic as Summoning 2'. Then from this description you see that 'element-ary' directly links with the wallpaper of 4 creatures based on the elements.
 * When Summoning 2 update came out, the login screen became the summoning one once again. Then after the Treasure Trails update, the summoning log-in was taken away again.
 * When your combat level increases due to leveling up in Summoning, you do not get the congratulations message for leveling up combat.