Dark Beast - Access and Combat Recommendations

Access Directions

The standard location for dark beasts is along the path between the basement of the mourners' headquarters in West Ardougne, and the Temple of Light. If you've completed Within the Light, you can teleport directly into this area using an elven crystal. Otherwise, you need to go through the headquarters. Bank in north Ardougne. You need to start out wearing only your mourner's gear and a ring; other equipment must be in your inventory. Go west from the bank, cross the log and head southwest to the gate that divides East and West Ardougne. Go through, then head north and enter the mourners' HQ building. Go downstairs and head south to the desk in the head mourner's office. Take a "new key" from his desk and use it to open the door to the west. If your inventory is full, temporarily drop an item next to the door. Take the key, open the door, drop another item on the other side, then come back for the item you initially dropped. Drop the key when done.

I prefer to fight these in the entrance of the first room to the north after you pass the door. If you have 85 Mining, go instead to the room with the runite rock, and mine it when the ore appears.

If you get dark beasts for a Slayer assignment, you can kill them in Kuradal's Dungeon. Get there using a ferocious ring (which you should then wear for its bonuses.)

Equipment

Most players fight dark beasts with Protection from Melee permanently enabled. To do this, bring standard prayer boosting gear. A godsword is very helpful for its attack and strength boosts and Prayer bonus.

Very high-level players can try fighting partially without prayer. For this, I recommend wearing Verac's helm and skirt and a Guthan body (to balance melee defence and prayer boost). A Saradomin godsword is very handy here for its prayer and healing benefits.

For "standard" access to the area, you will need a full set of mourner's gear (six items) to access the mourners' headquarters building. These can be stored in an armor case in your house when not needed, if you have one.

Dharoking dark beasts can be effective, but you need to use caution; prayer is advised.

If you have level 85 Mining, bring a rune pickaxe to use on the runite rock in the area.

If fighting dark beasts for a Slayer assignment, kill them in Kuradal's Dungeon, wearing a ferocious ring.

Supplies

If fighting with prayer, bring four or five 4-dose prayer potions. I recommend two super attacks or Zamorak brews, and two super strengths for their combat benefits; the brews also give you a few prayer points. Bring your holy wrench as well, and I also recommend a bit of cheap food for healing any occasional damage you get from magic attacks, as well as hits from the Zammy brews.

For fighting partially without prayer you need at least two each of Saradomin brew, super restore, super attack and super strength. You will also need additional healing, which could be more Sara brews, Bones to Peaches tablets, high-healing food, a beast of burden carrying extra food, or a healing familiar.

Inventory space is always a problem with fighting dark beasts. One trick is to bring with imp boxes, which you use to send your mourner's gear back to the bank after you get to the dark beasts; then alch or drop the boxes. A beast of burden like a spirit terrorbird or war tortoise is also handy for juggling supplies and holding drops. If you can summon a pack yak, its Winter Storage scroll ability is especially useful!

Familiar

Use a healing familiar if fighting without prayer, a beast of burden otherwise.

Combat Notes

Dark beasts have a very strong melee attack, so be ever vigilant if fighting without Protection from Melee active. They will hit frequently even with 99 Defence and Barrows armor.

The beasts also have a magic attack, but they prefer to melee. They will not initiate attack with magic, and even during combat will try to close to melee range if they can. Normally they will only use magic if you try to range or mage them from a safe spot, but they may occasionally toss a magic attack in at other times as well, so watch if Dharoking, for example.

These monsters are permanently aggressive and love to "tag team", so avoid interrupting battles if at all possible.

Drop Notes

Dark beasts have notoriously poor drops, given their difficulty and the high Slayer level they require. They were improved with the addition of the dark bow, but beyond that their drops are not particularly valuable, with single herbs and coin drops being all too common. On the plus side, they are very good blue charm droppers.