Method Description, Instructions and Tips for Success

General Description

Like all colored dragons, black dragons are popular monsters for making money, since they give two valuable guaranteed drops on each kill: black dragonhide and dragon bones. In addition, they are the only color-coded dragon that has a chance to drop the much coveted draconic visage (as does the King Black Dragon). The visage is an extremely rare drop, which I estimate at about 1 in 10,000 kills, but if you do get lucky it can be a big boost to your pocketbook!

Black dragons are traditionally ranged, because they hit very hard and have high melee defence. However, the fastest way to kill them is actually using Veracs. This used to be impractically expensive because of the need to use Protection from Magic constantly to prevent high hits from dragonfire, but the new super antifire potions have changed the equation entirely. It is now possible to get a good 25% more kills per hour using Veracs with the Piety prayer and food, and that's what I recommend at extremely high levels. This is dangerous and the benefits are much less at lower levels, so stick with ranging there.

The best place to fight black dragons is the Evil Chicken's Lair in Zanaris. To get there you must complete the Sir Amik Varze portion of the quest Recipe for Disaster. This spot is good because there are four dragons here (as opposed to two in Taverley Dungeon) and the bank is much closer. Crowds used to be a big problem there, but this has become less of an issue recently.

Note that since you are ranging from a safe spot, you can fight without an anti-dragon shield; an unholy book gives you a better Ranged bonus. I recommend bringing one with, though, so you can swap it in when you need to grab drops or if the need arises for other reasons.

Specific Method Details

Start by going to Zanaris and putting on the equipment shown. Set your combat style to "Spike". A Soul Wars cape is the best choice for its defensive and prayer bonuses; if you don't have one, the Ardougne cloak 3 is recommended for both its prayer and stab attack bonus. Take out of the bank a pack yak familiar and summon it, then withdraw 12 strawberry baskets and put them in the yak. Take out of the bank two 4-dose Saradomin brews, one each of 4-dose super restore, super attack and super strength, two 4-dose prayer potions, and both a 4-dose and a 2-dose super antifire. Also take out 4 sets of alching runes, your holy wrench and a raw chicken. Fill the rest of your inventory with salmon or other cheap food.

Run east to the Evil Chicken's shrine. Take a dose of super antifire, set your quick prayer to Piety, and use the raw chicken on the altar. Turn on prayer and start fighting. Once you are down at least a third of your prayer, and at least 15 HP, take two Saradomin brew doses, followed by a super restore, super attack and super strength. Keep fighting, eating the salmon to clear your inventory and picking up drops. Store some bones and hides in the yak, and when needed, withdraw strawberry baskets and use those for healing. (Remember that you can use Protection from Melee if you get in trouble.)

Be sure you take another super antifire dose as soon as you see the warning that it is about to expire -- if you let it lapse and a dragon blasts you, you'll have no protection and likely take serious damage!