OSRS Slayer Guide 1–99: Masters, Block List, Unlocks and Gear

Overview

Slayer is the skill that unlocks the rest of PvM. It gates several of the best bosses, it funds itself through drops, and it is the main source of gear upgrades for accounts that are not yet raiding.

It is also the skill where decisions matter most. Which master you use, what you block, what you extend and when you spend points changes your XP per hour far more than your combat gear does.

This guide covers every master and its requirement, how points and streaks work, the unlock order that actually helps, the block list logic, and the task-specific gear you cannot skip.

Quest and Diary Unlocks That Change the Route

Slayer's gating is mostly combat level and quest access to masters. These are the unlocks that change which tasks you can take and how fast you clear them.

Recommended Equipment and Boosts

Slayer gear splits into two groups: the protections a task requires, and the weapons that make specific monsters fast. The Slayer helmet collapses the first group into one item.

Level-by-Level Training Table

Slayer levels come from tasks, so the route is really a sequence of masters. Move up as soon as your combat level allows, since higher masters give better XP and better drops.

Fastest Route

Fast Slayer is Duradel tasks with a tuned block list, the right task-specific weapon every time, and points spent on extensions rather than saved.

1. Reach 55 Slayer and 55 Crafting, then buy the Slayer helmet unlock at 400 points. Do this before optimising anything else.
2. Build combat level toward 100 so Duradel becomes available; he is a large step up from every other master.
3. Block the tasks that are slow and cannot be made fast — the ones where no weapon or location fixes the problem.
4. Extend the tasks that are fast and profitable so you spend more time on them per assignment.
5. Keep every task-specific item in a dedicated bank tab: leaf-bladed weapons, rock hammer, salt, spray, shield.
6. Use a cannon on high-count tasks where the ball cost is worth the time saved.
7. Skip unwanted tasks through Turael or Spria to preserve your streak instead of paying points to block everything.
8. Wear the bonecrusher necklace so Prayer trains itself in the background.

Cheapest and Most Affordable Route

• Slayer funds itself. Drops from tasks generally cover supplies, which makes it one of the few skills that pays while you level.
• Skip the cannon if the ball cost outweighs the time saved for your account.
• Use Konar for brimstone keys when you want income rather than raw XP.
• Do not block tasks you can simply skip through Turael; blocks cost 100 points each.
• Buy the Slayer helmet unlock before any cosmetic or convenience unlock.
• Use the bonecrusher necklace so you are not paying for Prayer training separately.

AFK and Low-Intensity Route

• Slayer is not AFK, but some tasks are close. Large-count low-danger tasks with a safe spot let you settle into a rhythm.
• Cannon-assisted tasks reduce your clicks per kill considerably on high-count assignments.
• Avoid superior slayer monsters when you want low attention — they hit hard and appear without warning.
• Boss tasks are the opposite of AFK; save those for sessions where you are focused.
• If you want genuinely low-attention combat XP, Slayer is the wrong skill for that session.

Profitable Route

• Slayer is one of the most profitable skills in the game because task drops are the point, not a side effect.
• Konar's location-locked tasks drop brimstone keys, which is a reliable income stream at 75 combat.
• Superior slayer monsters, unlocked with Bigger and Badder for 150 points, drop imbue scrolls and the eternal gem.
• High-level tasks feed directly into boss gear: many upgrades come from Slayer monsters rather than bosses.
• Duradel tasks combine the best XP with strong drop tables, which is why they carry most of the late skill.
• Krystilia's Wilderness tasks have a distinct reward table, but you are accepting PK risk as part of the method.

Ironman Route

• Slayer is arguably the most important skill on an Ironman account — it is where most of your gear comes from.
• Prioritise the Slayer helmet unlock; it saves bank space and removes the item-hunting overhead entirely.
• Unlock Bigger and Badder for superior monsters, since imbue scrolls are otherwise very hard to obtain.
• Use the bonecrusher necklace to train Prayer passively instead of farming bones separately.
• Let tasks supply your herbs, seeds and secondaries rather than making dedicated gathering trips.
• Block fewer tasks than a main would; you often want the drops from tasks a main considers a waste of time.

Common Mistakes

• Grinding Slayer before buying the Slayer helmet unlock at 400 points.
• Staying on a lower master after your combat level qualifies you for the next one.
• Blocking tasks that could simply be skipped through Turael, wasting 100 points each time.
• Fighting task monsters without the task-specific weapon, which can multiply your kill time.
• Forgetting a required protection item and travelling back for it.
• Hoarding Slayer points instead of buying extensions on the tasks you actually farm.
• Not wearing the bonecrusher necklace and then training Prayer separately later.
• Skipping Priest in Peril, Lost City or Shilo Village and locking yourself out of the better masters.

Useful Plugins

• Slayer — tracks your task, remaining count and required items.
• NPC Indicators — highlights task monsters in crowded areas.
• Bank Tags — one tab per task type so gear switches take seconds.
• Menu Entry Swapper — removes misclicks in dense multi-monster areas.
• Loot Tracker — shows what a task is actually worth to you.
• Special Attack Counter — useful on tasks where you are weaving specs into kills.

FAQ

Which Slayer master gives the best XP?

Duradel, at 100 combat and 50 Slayer. He is a significant step above every other master, which is why most of 99 happens there.

What should I unlock first with Slayer points?

The Slayer helmet at 400 points, once you have 55 Slayer and 55 Crafting. It replaces every protection item and adds damage and accuracy on task.

What should I block?

Tasks that are slow and cannot be fixed by a weapon, a location or a cannon. If a task can be made fast, extend it instead of blocking it.

Should I block or skip tasks?

Skip through Turael or Spria for tasks you merely dislike, since that preserves your streak for free. Spend the 100 points on a block only for tasks you never want again.

Is Slayer profitable?

Yes — it is one of the most profitable skills in the game, because task drops are the reason to train it. Konar's brimstone keys and high-level task drops carry most of that.

Do I need Slayer for bosses?

For several of them, yes. Slayer level gates some bosses directly, and the Like a Boss unlock lets boss kills count toward tasks.

Related Guides

• Slayer bosses ranked — which task bosses are worth farming.
• Mortimer slayer master — requirements and task list.
• Prayer 1–99 — the bonecrusher pairing.
• Bosses index — every Slayer boss in one place.

Bottom Line

Slayer rewards decisions over hours. Buy the Slayer helmet unlock first, move up masters as soon as your combat level allows, and reach Duradel.

Extend what is fast, skip what you dislike through Turael, and only spend 100 points blocking a task you never want again.

If you want the unlocks and the drops without the task grind, our Slayer training is hand-done to any level.