OSRS: Drake Guide

Drakes are dragon-like creatures in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) that can be a challenging but rewarding Slayer task for high-level players. They drop valuable OSRS items such as Drake Bones (which give more Prayer experience than Dragon Bones), Drake Claws, and Drake Teeth. These items are crucial for upgrading certain equipment, making them highly sought after. In this detailed guide, I will cover everything you need to know about Drakes in OSRS, from requirements to recommended equipment and slayer strategies.

Requirements

To take on Drakes, you must meet the following requirements:

Slayer Level: You need 84 Slayers to be assigned Drakes as a task and to deal damage to them effectively.

Location Access: Drakes are located on Mount Karluum on the continent of Great Kourend. You need access to the Slayer Dungeon in this area to fight Drakes.

Boots of Stone/Brimstone or Granite Boots: You will need special boots to protect yourself from damage in the dungeon, as you will take constant damage without them. These boots can be purchased from Konar, the Slayer Master located near the dungeon entrance.

Quests for Unlocking Great Kourend: You need to complete some quests to fully unlock access to Mount Karluum. Some methods, like Rada's Blessing from the Kourend and Kebos Diaries, can make access easier.

In addition to these requirements, certain state levels will make your task much easier, though they are not mandatory:

Melee: 80 Attack, 80 Strength, 80 Defence, 80 Hitpoints, and 70 Prayer (for Piety).

Ranged: 75 Ranged.

Magic: 85 Magic.

Location

Drakes can be found on Mount Karluum, which requires specific preparations to access:

Fairy Ring (CIR): The easiest way to reach Mount Karluum is by using the fairy ring CIR. This fairy ring is located at the foot of the mountain. From there, simply walk up the mountain to reach the Slayer Dungeon.

Skills Necklace: You can use the Skills Necklace to teleport to the Farming Guild and run north to Mount Karluum. Use the Agility shortcuts to speed up your journey if you have 62 Agility.

Battlefront Teleport: Use the Battlefront Teleport spell from the Arceuus spellbook (requires 23 Magic), then run northwest to Mount Karluum.

Rada's Blessing: If you have Rada's Blessing 3 or Rada's Blessing 4, you can teleport directly to the top of Mount Karluum. Rada's Blessing 3 provides three teleports per day, while Rada's Blessing 4 allows unlimited teleports.

Mechanics of Drakes

Drakes are challenging because of their unique attack mechanics. Here's what you need to know:

Fireball Special Attack: After every seven normal attacks, Drakes will launch a fireball attack aimed at you. This attack deals four hits of 6-8 damage each, which can be devastating if not mitigated.

Avoiding the Fireball Attack:

The fireball can be avoided by simply moving one tile away when you see or hear the attack launching.

Alternatively, you can mitigate the damage by using dragonfire protection like the anti-dragon shield or drinking an antifire potion. For full protection, drink a super antifire potion.

Protect from Missiles: The Protect from Missiles prayer helps block the Drakes' auto attacks completely, making it essential to use, especially when you're staying out of melee distance.

Equipment Recommendations

Your gear setup will depend on your chosen combat style: Melee, Ranged, or Magic. Here are the best equipment setups for each style:

Melee Setup

Best Gear:

Bandos Chestplate and Tassets

Fire Cape

Berserker Ring

Dragon Defender (or Avernic Defender if you have one)

Weapons:

Dragon Hunter Lance (best for Drakes)

Ghrazi Rapier, Blade of Saeldor, Abyssal Whip, or Tentacle Whip (alternatives)

Shields:

Dragonfire Shield (or its variants) to protect against the fireball special attack, or use the anti-dragon shield for a cheaper option.

Ranged Setup

Best Gear:

Armadyl Chestplate and Chain Skirt (or Karil's crossbow for alternatives)

God Dragonhide Armor (for a more budget-friendly alternative)

Archer's Ring and Amulet of Fury or Necklace of Anguish

Ava's Device (for ammo efficiency)

Weapons:

Dragon Hunter Crossbow (best for Drakes)

Armadyl Crossbow, Dragon Crossbow, or Rune Crossbow (alternatives)

Ammunition:

Dragon Bolts (best for Dragon Crossbows)

Enchanted Diamond Dragon Bolts are recommended due to their ability to bypass the Drakes' high defensive stats.

Shields:

Dragonfire Ward or Anti-Dragon Shield for protection against dragonfire.

Magic Setup

Best Gear:

Ancestral Robes (for high damage output)

Occult Necklace

Seer's Ring and God Cape

Rada's Blessing or God Blessing (for teleporting and buffs)

Weapons:

Shadow of Tumeken (best Magic weapon)

Trident of the Swamp or Trident of the Seas

Iban's Staff (if you don't have other options)

Shields:

Ancient Wyvern Shield or Anti-Dragon Shield (both count as Dragonfire shields).

Inventory Setup

Regardless of the combat style you choose, here's a general inventory setup:

Prayer Potions (to maintain Piety or Protect from Missiles)

Holy Wrench (to boost Prayer potion efficiency)

Bonecrusher (if you want to auto-bury the Drake Bones)

Herb Sack (for collecting herbs from Drakes' drops)

Rune Pouch (for storing spells and ensuring you have a good supply of runes)

Conclusion

Fighting Drakes in OSRS is a rewarding but challenging task, especially if you're going for drops like Drake Bones, Drake Claws, and Drake Teeth. The key to success lies in understanding their mechanics, equipping the right gear, and using the appropriate combat style. Whether you're using Melee, Ranged, or Magic, remember to prepare for the fireball special attack and use protection strategies like anti-dragon shields and Prayer potions. With the right gear and strategy, you'll be able to tackle Drakes efficiently and reap the rewards of this high-level Slayer task.

If you're looking to maximize your profits or need a boost with OSRS gold for gear upgrades, there are always opportunities to supplement your Slayer tasks with smart in-game purchases or by leveraging gold farming strategies.