Dark beast/Strategies

This article is a strategy guide for Dark beast. Information on mechanics, setups, and tactics is on this page.

Dark beasts are Slayer monsters requiring 90 Slayer to kill. They can attack with both melee and magic depending on their target's distance to them. They will use melee attacks if their target is within melee distance, otherwise they will use magic attacks. Dark beasts are weak to bolts, making Ranged a recommended way to kill them, but with decent equipment Magic and Melee work just as fine.

Soul Split along with Turmoil, Torment or Anguish can completely negate the need of any kind of healing. If these cannot be used, Protect from Magic or Deflect Magic can help to negate most of the damage Dark beasts deal, the latter also reflecting some of it back at them. Since Dark beasts drop Big bones, wearing Demon horn necklace or its equivalents in conjunction with Bonecrusher will restore Prayer Points, allowing Prayers to be used indefinitely while killing them.

Recommended Equipment

Ranged

Ranged is the easiest way to kill Dark beasts due to their weakness to Bolts and the fact Ranged armour provides good defence against their magic attacks. Long reach of Ranged attacks also reduces the need of moving, allowing more kills per hour.

Recommended equipment for Ranged

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Full slayer helmet /  Mask of Gloom (Task only)	Sirenic mask	Refined Anima Core helm of Zamorak	Pernix cowl /  Anima Core helm of Zamorak	Armadyl helmet
	Farsight blood necklace	Blood amulet of fury	Amulet of souls	Farsight sniper necklace	N/A
	Completionist cape	TokHaar-Kal-Xil	Max cape	Ava's alerter	File:Cape of accomplishment.png Cape of accomplishment
	Sirenic hauberk	Refined Anima Core body of Zamorak	Pernix body /  Anima Core body of Zamorak	Armadyl chestplate	N/A
	Sirenic chaps	Refined Anima Core legs of Zamorak	Pernix chaps/ Anima Core legs of Zamorak	Armadyl chainskirt	N/A
	Ascension crossbow	Death Lotus dart /  Shadow glaive	Chaotic crossbow /  Attuned crystal chakram	Armadyl crossbow	N/A
	Noxious longbow	Royal crossbow /  Zaryte bow /  Attuned crystal bow	Hand cannon	N/A	N/A
	Off-hand Ascension crossbow	Off-hand Death Lotus dart	Off-hand chaotic crossbow /  Off-hand attuned crystal chakram /  Off-hand shadow glaive	off-hand Armadyl crossbow	N/A
	Ascension grips	Pernix gloves	Armadyl gloves	Culinaromancer's gloves 10	N/A
	Flarefrost boots	Pernix boots	Armadyl boots	Silverhawk boots	N/A
	Ferocious ring (Kuradal's dungeon only)	Asylum surgeon's ring	Ring of death	Sixth-Age circuit	N/A
	Reckless aura	Penance aura	Vampyrism aura (if not soulsplit)	N/A	N/A
	Bonecrusher only if using Demon horn necklace	Scrimshaw of cruelty	File:Illuminated god book.png Illuminated god book	File:God Book.png God Book	N/A

Melee

Melee is also a viable way to kill Dark beasts, however due to the shorter range of Melee weaponry this may lead to lower amount of kills per hour. They are also relatively strong against Melee, so accuracy may be an issue with lower tier weaponry.

Recommended equipment for Melee

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Slayer helmet (task only)	Malevolent helm	Refined Anima Core helm of Zaros	Torva full helm/ Anima Core helm of Zaros	Bandos helmet
	Demon horn necklace (with Bonecrusher)	Brawler's blood necklace	Blood amulet of fury	Amulet of souls	Brawler's knockout necklace
	Completionist cape	TokHaar-Kal-Ket	Max cape	File:Cape of accomplishment.png Cape of accomplishment	N/A
	Malevolent cuirass	Refined Anima Core Body of Zaros	Torva platebody/ Anima Core Body of Zaros	Bandos chestplate	N/A
	Malevolent greaves	Refined Anima Core Legs of Zaros	Torva platelegs/ Anima Core Legs of Zaros	Bandos tassets	N/A
	Drygore mace /  Drygore longsword /  Drygore rapier	Blade of Nymora	Tetsu katana /  Lava whip	Chaotic longsword/ Chaotic rapier/ Chaotic claw	N/A
	Noxious scythe	Dragon Rider lance	Mizuyari	Chaotic spear /  Chaotic maul	N/A
	Off-hand drygore mace/ Off-hand drygore longsword/ Off-hand drygore rapier	Tetsu wakizashi	Off-hand chaotic longsword /  Off-hand chaotic rapier /  Off-hand chaotic claw /  Blade of Avaryss	N/A	N/A
	Razorback gauntlets	Torva gloves	Bandos gloves	Culinaromancer's gloves 10	N/A
	Emberkeen boots	Torva boots	Bandos boots	Silverhawk boots	N/A
	Ferocious ring (only in Kuradal's dungeon)	Asylum surgeon's ring	Ring of death	Sixth-Age circuit	N/A
	Berserker aura	Penance aura	Vampyrism aura (if not using Soulsplit)	N/A	N/A
	Bonecrusher	File:Illuminated god book.png Illuminated god book	File:God Book.png God Book	N/A	N/A

Locations

Dark beasts are found in three locations:

Temple of Light

A player ranging Dark beasts in the Temple of Light.

Dark beasts in Mourner tunnels are numerous, and are found throughout the tunnels. Dwarven multicannon can be set up here unlike Kuradal's Dungeon, making this a preferred place for those wishing to use it.

Players can enter through the mourner headquarters, or enter the Death Altar (via Abyss, Underground Pass or Wicked hood) and leave the Temple of Light. If you wish to return this way, ensure that the beam is aimed at the triple barrier, or you will need to go through the other side and set the beam back.

With Within the Light completed, you can use a crystal seed to teleport outside the Temple of Light. With Plague's End completed, you do not need to bring mourner gear; simply grab the new key from the head mourner's desk and use it on the door.

Kuradal's Dungeon

The Dark beasts in Kuradal's dungeon can only be killed while having them as a Slayer assignment. There are six of them in a small room, making it a very convenient place to kill them for those looking to finish their Slayer assignments quickly. Like with all Slayer monsters in the dungeon, Ferocious ring will provide a 4% damage boost against Dark beasts here.

Forinthry Dungeon

There are nine Dark beasts in Forinthry dungeon which are relatively clumped compared to the other two locations. However, the dungeon is in the Wilderness (around levels 28-31 Wilderness), so be aware of your surroundings and have a quick teleport on hand to escape if needed. Bring a shield and pick up every drop you get, as leaving items on the ground can alert other players to your presence in the area.

A bank is relatively close to the dungeon; the merchants Sam and Edmond are the closest to the dungeon. However, it is best to use Sam to rebank and restock on supplies if needed, since Edmond has a large wandering range compared to Sam.