Tortoise

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The Tortoise (Testudines Giganteus) are trained tortoises used by the gnomes in battle. The training area is to the west, and slightly north, of the Grand Tree. Trainer Nacklepen is in charge of their combat development.

Fighting
Tortoises have very high hitpoints and low attack, but good defence. They are weak to stab and crush attacks. With a fair variety of drops, they are arguably better than Yaks or Rock Crabs for training purposes, but since they are a much higher level they are rarely used. It is recommended for training only if you can hit high enough to effectively damage them. The best way to damage them is to use a Chaotic Rapier/Zamorakian spear/Korasi's Sword+Dragon Defender, due to their high stab bonuses. Alternatively, if crush attacks are preferred, the Barrelchest anchor/Chaotic Maul/Goliath gloves can be substituted. An abyssal whip could be used, but is not recommended unless over 80 attack. However, because of the abyssal whips cannot be used to train Strength, the use of a Saradomin sword (Fighting in the crush attack style) can be a very good alternative. Dragon Daggers are also pretty effective due to their weakness to stab, even more so if they are poisoned. If you are ranging it is recommended to safespot from outside the fence because most ranging gear has bad melee defence.

When fighting the tortoise with riders, the three gnomes take turns attacking the player. The mage sends a spell, which looks like Water strike, but sounds like Ice Burst. The ranger shoots, and the tortoise attacks with the warrior holding the reins if the player is within their meleeing range. These level 92 tortoises can hit up to 114 with melee, with a speed of 2.4 seconds, and the ranger and mage each hit a max of 60. The level 79 tortoises without riders use only melee, and hit up to 104.

When you kill the tortoise the Gnomes attack you. The Ranger, who says "ARGH!", usually attacks first. After he is dead, the others attack - the Mage yells, "Kill the infidel.", while the Driver sadly says, "Nooooooo, Dobbie's dead!" They become aggressive to ALL players, so low levels should be careful around them. It has been observed that the three gnomes, once dismounted, will attack the player with the lowest combat level within range in preference to any other, including the player that has just killed their tortoise mount.

Two tortoises at the Battlefield of Khazard are ridden by three gnomes: a Gnome archer, Gnome driver, and a Gnome mage, all level 5s. Protection prayers aren't very effective because the riders use range, melee, and magic; however, the tortoises hit hardest with melee, so that prayer will stop the most damage.

Location

 * Battlefield of Khazard, south-west of Ardougne - 2 with gnome riders
 * Tree gnome stronghold North-west of the Grand tree, 1 with gnome riders, 2 without riders

100% drops

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Seeds

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Herbs

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Food

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Runes/Talismans

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Arrows

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Clothing
These items are dropped at the Gnome Stronghold and Khazard Battlefield.


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Barlak XP Items

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Barlak in Dorgesh-Kaan will trade these items for gold and either Crafting or Construction XP. Tortoise shells are also used in Summoning to make war tortoises.

Other

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Trivia

 * The Tortoise exhibit in the basement of the Varrock Museum is the one from before the Gnome Graphic Update.
 * Along with their graphical update, their movement speed was reduced, similar to that of real-life Tortoises.
 * The Gnome archer is always the first to strike when he falls off of the tortoise.
 * When the level 92 tortoise is defeated, the Gnome riders may appear to fall off in one pattern, then appear in another.
 * They seem to drop Spin Tickets fairly commonly.
 * The quote the driver makes after the first gnome dies may be referring to the death of 'Dobby' in the Harry Potter series.