Black dragon

Black dragons are very powerful monsters, and, like all other adult dragons, an anti-dragon shield, a dragonfire shield, or an antifire potion or even both of them is a must when fighting them as it can reduce the maximum hit of their breath from about 500+ to around 50. They are level 227 in RuneScape and level 200 in RuneScape Classic. They are not as popular as the weaker blue dragons and green dragons, but their chance of dropping the much coveted Draconic visage makes them popular to kill, although the chances of getting one are very slim. Players must kill a Black dragon during the Freeing Sir Amik Varze part of Recipe for Disaster. If one gets black dragons as a slayer task and doesn't want to kill them, baby black dragons work as a substitute.

Locations
Black dragons can only be found in three locations across RuneScape:
 * Taverley Dungeon - Requires dusty key or level 70 agility for use of shortcuts (Only 2 are there).
 * Lava Maze Dungeon in level 42-43 Wilderness.
 * Evil Chicken's Lair after starting the Sir Amik Varze subquest of Recipe for Disaster. (A raw chicken is required to enter the Evil Chicken's lair.)

Strengths and weaknesses
Black dragons have among the highest defence for a monster in RuneScape - even their magic defence is quite high, so maging them is not advisable. As with all dragons, an anti-dragon shield, a dragonfire shield, or an antifire potion is essential when fighting them. Without one, players can be hit extremely hard by dragonfire (up to 500 points of damage). Lower-levelled players could potentially be killed in one hit by this attack. However, with an anti-dragon shield, dragonfire will only deal up to 50 damage. An anti-fire potion used in addition to the shield will completely negate this attack. Additionally, players with a herblore level of 85 may use a super antifire potion which negates the dragon's breath without the need of an anti-dragon shield, allowing players to safely use a two-handed weapon. The dragon's melee attacks can deal up to 210 damage and may be completely negated with Protect from Melee. Using Protect from Melee with prayer potions in conjunction with a suitable shield and antifires, players will take absolutely no damage at all. It is advised if the player is not using protect from melee that they have at least a few prayer points in case a battle turns sour.

They can be ranged or maged safely in all of their locations, though maging them is not advisable due to these dragons' high magic defence. If ranging, it is advisable to use the best possible crossbow (ideally a Rune crossbow with Mithril, Adamant or Broad-tipped bolts) as an Anti-dragon/Dragonfire shield can still be equipped. While the dragonfire is melee range only, unlike that of Metal Dragons and the King Black Dragon, players can be exposed to attack when venturing forth to pick up treasure. Without protection, that can lead to a very nasty surprise.

Using emerald bolts (e), one can poison the black dragon. Since the dragon's Life Points are high, the poison can do a little poison damage before it finally expires, especially if you are of a low ranged level (however in that case it might be better to not kill these dragons). Just remember to switch to a different set of bolts when the poison takes hold (such as broad-tipped bolts).

Players with a high Attack and Strength level could melee them in a Safe spot with a Dragon halberd, as the Special attack does decent damage on them. However this is extremely slow and not recommended.

Prayer method

 * Headwear: Full Slayer helmet / Slayer helmet / Black mask (only for task) or Helm of neitiznot > Fighter Hat (not on task)
 * Body: Bandos chestplate > Proselyte hauberk > Initiate hauberk > Monk's robe (top)
 * Legwear: Bandos tassets > Proselyte cuisse > Monk's robe (bottom) > Initiate cuisse
 * Weapon: Chaotic rapier > Chaotic longsword (on lunge) > Korasi's sword (on lunge) > Zamorakian spear (with superantifire only) > Leaf-bladed sword > Abyssal whip (with 95+ attack only)
 * Shield: Dragon defender (if using super antifire potions) > Dragonfire shield > Anti-dragon shield
 * Neckwear: Amulet of fury > Amulet of glory
 * Footwear: Dragon boots > Bandos boots > Rune boots
 * Hands: Barrows gloves (or dragon or rune gloves) > Regeneration bracelet > Dragon slayer gloves (only for task)
 * Cape: Ardougne cloak 3 > Fire cape > Soul wars cape

Note: Always use turmoil, piety or the 15% attack and strength prayers. These dragons have very high defence and a good amount of health, boosting your offence is certainly a good thing to do.

Tanking method

 * Headwear: Helm of neitiznot > Verac's helm > Torag's helm > Fighter Hat or Full slayer helmet / Slayer helmet (only for task)
 * Body: Torag's platebody > Dharok's platebody > Guthan's platebody > Bandos Chestplate
 * Legwear: Bandos Tassets > Verac's plateskirt
 * Weapon: Chaotic rapier > Chaotic longsword (on lunge) > Korasi's sword (on lunge) > Zamorakian spear/ Leaf-bladed sword > Abyssal whip (only with 95+ attack)
 * Shield: Dragon defender (with soul split or unicorn) > Dragonfire shield
 * Neckwear: Amulet of fury > Amulet of glory
 * Footwear: Dragon boots > Bandos boots
 * Hands: Barrows Gloves (or dragon or rune gloves) > Regeneration bracelet
 * Cape: Ardougne cloak 3 > Fire cape > Soul wars cape
 * Ring: Berserker ring (i) > Onyx ring (i) > Berserker ring > Dragonstone ring (i) > Diamond ring (i)

Note: Even when tanking black dragons, turmoil or piety should be used to increase kill speed and defence levels. Without the +25% defence from praying, tanking these can turn very nasty.

Note: Without super antifire potions, killing these is quite a lot slower due to the loss of +25 stab accuracy from the dragon defender. For those without chaotic weapons, this is even more relevant.

Ranged method

 * Headwear: Void ranged helmet or Full slayer helmet / Slayer helmet / Focus Sight (only for task)
 * Body: Armadyl chestplate > black dragonhide top
 * Legwear: Void knight robe or Armadyl chainskirt > black dragonhide chaps (on task only)
 * Weapon: Chaotic crossbow > rune crossbow or Karil's crossbow (on task only)
 * Shield: Antifire shield or unholy book (on task only)
 * Neckwear: Amulet of fury > Ranging amulet > Amulet of glory
 * Footwear: Ranger boots > Snakeskin boots
 * Hands: Void gloves or Mercenary gloves > Barrows Gloves (or dragon or rune gloves) > Regeneration bracelet (on task only)
 * Cape: Ava's alerter
 * Ring: Archer's ring (i) > archer's ring
 * Ammunition: Runite bolts > diamond bolts (e) > broad-tipped bolts or bolt racks (on task only)

Notes: Ranging these is only recommended if your ranged level exceeds your attack and strength levels by 20 or more. If you do not own a void set with a deflector and you are killing these off-task, you can use the on-task gear to replace it, but void will lead to faster kills. You can range black dragons without antifire measures if you are very careful. You can also bring an antifire shield to use only when running out of your safespot to pick up drops.

Note: It is highly recommended to use prayers like Eagle eye and Rigour to speed up kills, as well as (extreme) ranging potions.

100% drops
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Weapons

 * Dragon Dagger

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Armour

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Ammunition

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Runes/Talismans

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Gems/Ores/Bars

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Other
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Trivia

 * In RuneScape Classic black dragons were the strongest monsters in RuneScape until the release of the King Black Dragon.
 * They are the only chromatic dragon to drop the draconic visage.
 * Like all other dragons in RuneScape, besides the King Black Dragon, the black dragons received a graphical update on July 5, 2010.

Black dragon