King Black Dragon/Strategies

Suggestions for Fighting
An anti-dragon/dragonfire Shield is essential as all dragons can deal well over 500 life points of damage to a player not wielding one (unless you use a super antifire). Using an antifire potion in conjunction with an Antifire shield or a Dragonfire shield completely protects the player from the dragon's breath. There are no specific levels required to fight this monster, but for players who wish to Melee in a team, having a combat level in the mid 80's should be enough and for players who wish to fight using Ranged in a team, having a Ranged level in the mid 60's will suffice for two to three kills if in a two man team with 70+ defence and using ruby bolts (e). If not then ranged level 75+ is recommended.

Remember that the amount of kills you can get per trip depends on the levels of the people on your team, and the amount of people on it. Teams with two players and the levels stated above may only get one, or two kills in one trip, whereas teams with higher level players and/or more players will invariably get more kills each trip.

Cannon does not work, it will blow up.

With a Team
Killing the King Black Dragon in a group of two or more people makes it much easier than doing it alone due to the damage taken being split in half. The most effective way of dealing damage is by using melee or range. For those looking to use regular combat against the dragon, it is recommended to use the Protect from Melee prayer while using an anti-dragon shield. To evade the fire breath completely, use an antifire potion with your shield. It is highly recommended to use super attack and super strength potions to take less damage and make the fight faster. A typical inventory for a person using melee has the following items:


 * One click teleport(in case things go bad or just to leave after you are done)
 * Antipoison potion as the King Black Dragon can poison you sometimes, for players without an Abyssal Whip or another powerful weapon, poison can take affect around 2 or 3 times before the player or KBD dies. For players with powerful 1-handed weapons the KBD will only poison around once every three kills provided the player is hitting 150+ damage and hitting 2 out of every 3 attacks
 * Stat boosting potions for Attack and Strength
 * Antifire potion
 * Prayer Potions
 * Food (Sharks or higher is strongly advised)

Using range is also effective to deal damage. Rangers should remember that using a crossbow is the only powerful way to range while wielding a shield (toktz-xil-ul, throwing knives, darts , javelins and throwing axes still work), so it is the only way to range this tough beast, unless the player has a very high Herblore level to make Super antifires. Rangers are also advised to use antifire potions so as to completely negate the effects of the dragon's fire. Additionally, rangers are also advised to take a ranging potion to boost their level throughout the fight, thus having a higher chance of hitting the Dragon. Rangers are not required to use prayer because they do not take melee damage, but prayers to boost your Ranged level such as Eagle Eye or to reduce damage like Deflect/Protect from Magic. This inventory is typical for a ranger:


 * One click teleport(in case things go bad or just to leave after you are done)
 * Antipoison potion as the King Black Dragon can poison you time over time
 * Stat boosting potions for Ranged
 * Antifire potion
 * Food (monkfish or higher is strongly advised)

The melee and Ranged setups are very basic and you can switch numerous parts of it to better suit your levels (like using an amulet of fury instead of an amulet of glory or using Karil's instead of black dragonhide armour).

Solo
Warning: Soloing the King Black Dragon is DANGEROUS and should not be attempted by low levels and people who are not prepared to lose their items.

Before you attempt to kill the KBD alone, remember that all its attention will be focused on you, so do not rely on the experience from trips to kill the King Black Dragon in a team, to work for a solo trip.

Solo Melee
Weapon: Chaotic rapier > Chaotic longsword > Saradomin Godsword > Any other Godsword > Korasi's Sword > Leaf-Bladed Sword > Whip

Helmet: (Full) Slayer Helmet (if on slayer task) > Helm of Neitiznot > Fighter Hat > Void Melee Helm

Amulet: Amulet of fury > Amulet of glory

Cape: Soul Wars cape > Ardougne Cape 3 or 4 > Firecape > Skillcape > Obsidian cape > Legends cape

Platebody: Bandos chestplate > Proselyte Platebody > Verac's Brassards > Initiate Platebody > Monk's Robe > (Elite) Void Knight Top

Platelegs: Bandos tassets > Proselyte Cuisse/Sallet > Verac's plateskirt > Initiate Cuisse/Sallet > (Elite) Void Knight Robe

Shield: Dragonfire Shield > Dragon Defender > Rune Defender > Any Spirit Shield > Anti-Dragon Shield

Gloves: Barrow Gloves > Any RFD Gloves > Void Knight Gloves

Boots: Dragon boots > Bandos boots > Rune boots

Armour like Proselyte/Initiate is generally most used, but (Elite) Void is often considered to be way stronger, although Void isn't very useful when a Slayer Helmet can be used.

!! An Anti-Dragon or Dragonfire Shield should always be worn if not using SUPER Antifires (85+ Herblore Required) !!

Solo Range
Weapon: Chaotic crossbow > Rune crossbow

Helmet: Full Slayer Helmet (if on slayer task) > Armadyl Helmet > Karil's Coif > Archer Helm > Void Ranger Helm

Amulet: Amulet of Ranging > Amulet of fury > Amulet of glory

Cape: Ava's alerter > Soul Wars cape > Ardougne Cape 3 or 4 > Skillcape (t) > Skillcape > Obsidian cape > Legends cape

Platebody: Armadyl Chestplate > Karil's leathertop > Dragonhide body > (Elite) Void Knight Top

Platelegs: Armadyl Plateskirt > Karil's skirt > Dragonhide chaps > (Elite) Void Knight Robe

Shield: Any Prayer Book > Any Spirit Shield > Dragonfire Shield > Anti-Dragonshield

Gloves: Barrows gloves > Void Knight Gloves

Boots: Ranger boots > Snakeskin boots > Frog-leather boots

Basic ranged armour is very effective, but higher leveled rangers will have more benefit from (Elite) Void, though Void isn't very useful when a Slayer Helmet can be used.

!! An Anti-Dragon or Dragonfire Shield should always be worn if not using SUPER Antifires (85+ Herblore Required) !!

For a rough estimate, you should be level 90+ combat to get at least one kill by using melee and if you are ranging, then your ranged should be around 75 or more. Some level 60s - 80s have soloed the King Black Dragon (non-pures) but this is very hard to achieve. However, using Ruby bolts (e) you can solo the kbd with level 61+ ranged. Please remember that these are very rough numbers; the KBD can be killed with lower stats, but the lower your level the harder it becomes and even at these levels, its not easy to do. Melee users should use Prayer retaining armour such as Initiate armour or Proselyte armour and the Protect from Melee prayer as well as Super attack, super defence and a super strength potion. Rangers are advised to use Karil's armour and at least Ruby bolts with a Ranging potion/Extreme Ranging potion.



Melee users as well as rangers are advised to use the inventories previously stated with a few changes, these items are more of a necessity than a recommendation:


 * A one click teleport (Ectophial will work)
 * Stat enhancing potions
 * Antifire potion or Super antifire
 * Super anti-poison
 * Food (at least sharks)
 * Summoning pouches for a combat familiar or Beast of Burden (not necessary but very helpful)
 * Dragon dagger (super poisoned) (melee only, use at start of fight and when special bar recovers)

Remember that when you solo, the dragon will focus only on you, increasing the damage done in comparison with a team, so you must watch your life points, as well as your prayer points very carefully.

Those with level 85 herblore to make super antifire potion (a normal antifire potion WILL NOT WORK) are highly recommended to wield a Zamorakian spear. Its stab bonus makes it very accurate and if using extreme potions and turmoil it has been known to crash teams of up to five level 99 rangers. Korasi's Sword and the dragon defender is just as good as Zamorakian spear, with 1 more strength bonus, and much less worth. Remember super antifire, normal antifire potions still don't work. The King Black Dragon is far weaker to stab than anything else, even ranged.