Slayer 2 Best Slayer Progression Guide: Level 1 to Final

This guide answers the most common question about Old School RuneScape’s Slayer skill: what is the best progression path from level 1 to the final boss tasks? The short answer is: train Slayer exclusively through the highest-level master you can access, use the best combat style for each task, and unlock key rewards like bigger tasks and superior slayer monsters as soon as possible. This article breaks down the optimal route, covering which masters to use, which tasks to skip or block, and how to prepare for the endgame.

How Slayer Works: The Core Loop

Slayer is a skill where you receive assignments from Slayer Masters, each requiring you to kill a specific number of a certain monster. You gain Slayer XP only for kills on task, not for kills off-task. The key to efficient progression is to always be on task, using the best master you can access, and killing monsters that offer good XP and loot.

Your Slayer level determines which monsters you can kill, but your combat level and gear determine how fast you can kill them. The skill is trained alongside combat, so you’ll want to train melee, ranged, or magic while doing tasks. The fastest way to level is to use the highest-level master available, as they assign more monsters per task and often give better XP rates.

Choosing the Right Slayer Master

The Slayer Master you use dictates the tasks you receive. Each master has a minimum Slayer level and a task list that scales in difficulty and XP. Here’s the progression path:

Level 1-20: Start with Turael in Burthorpe or Spria in Draynor Village. They assign easy tasks like rats, goblins, and cows. You’ll want to do this until you reach level 20 Slayer.
Level 20-50: Move to Vannaka in Edgeville. He assigns mid-level tasks like hill giants, moss giants, and ogres. This is a good range to build up your combat stats.
Level 50-70: Use Chaeldar in Zanaris (requires Fairy Tale II – Cure a Queen) or Mazchna in Canifis. Chaeldar is better because she assigns higher-level tasks like abyssal demons, dust devils, and kurasks.
Level 70-85: Switch to Nieve (in the Tree Gnome Stronghold) or Duradel (in Shilo Village). Duradel is the best master until you unlock the final master. He assigns tasks like gargoyles, nechryael, and smoke devils.
Level 85+: Use Konar quo Maten in the Myth’s Guild (requires Dragon Slayer II). She assigns tasks with a location requirement, giving bonus points and loot, but her tasks are often slower. Once you reach level 95 Slayer, you can use Duradel again, but many players prefer Konar for the drops.

The final master, Duradel, is generally considered the best for XP after level 85 because he offers a balance of fast tasks and high XP. Konar is better for profit due to the bonus drops.

Key Unlocks and Rewards

Slayer points are earned by completing tasks, and you can spend them at any Slayer Master. Prioritize these unlocks in order:

Slayer Helmet (400 points): This helmet provides a 15% damage and accuracy boost against your current task. It’s essential for speeding up tasks.
Bigger and Badder (150 points): This unlock allows superior slayer monsters to spawn, which give extra XP and rare drops.
Broader Fletching (300 points): Allows you to fletch broad arrows and bolts, which are useful for ranged tasks and make money.
Malevolent Masquerade (1000 points): Unlocks the ability to combine the slayer helmet with black mask, giving the same boost without needing to wear the full helmet.
Task storage and skips: Save points to skip bad tasks and block the worst ones (like steel dragons).

Always keep at least 100 points in reserve for skipping tasks.

Optimal Task List and Blocking

Not all tasks are equal. Some are fast, some are slow, and some are just annoying. Here’s how to manage your task list:

Skip tasks that are slow or have poor XP rates, like metal dragons (except for Konar’s task), wyverns (unless you need the visage), and spiritual creatures.
Block tasks that you absolutely hate and can’t skip efficiently. Common blocks include: Suqah, Fossil Island Wyverns, and Drakes.
Prefer tasks that give great XP and are fast, like: Abyssal Demons, Dust Devils, Gargoyles, Nechryael, and Smoke Devils.

Use the Slayer master’s task list to your advantage. For example, Duradel assigns a lot of high-level demons, which are great for XP.

Training Methods and Gear

Your combat style should match the monster’s weakness. Here’s a general approach:

Melee: Use a whip or a high-strength weapon for most tasks. For tasks like gargoyles, use a bludgeon or a godsword if you have one.
Ranged: Use a blowpipe with amethyst or rune darts for tasks like dust devils and smoke devils. For boss tasks, use a crossbow with ruby/diamond bolts.
Magic: Use ice burst or ice barrage on tasks like nechryael and dust devils, as they are weak to magic and you can stack them.

Always use the Slayer helmet for the damage boost. For prayer, use a super combat potion and protect from melee if you’re taking damage. For tasks with multiple monsters, use cannonballs (if you’re not an ironman) to speed up kills.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Many players make these errors, which slow down their progression:

Not using the right master: Sticking with a lower-level master because you’re comfortable will reduce your XP rates. Always use the highest-level master you can.
Ignoring slayer points: Don’t spend points on cosmetic rewards early. Save for the helmet and unlocks.
Killing monsters off-task: This is a huge waste of time. Only kill assigned monsters unless you’re farming for a specific drop.
Not using the cannon: For multi-combat areas, a cannon can double your XP rates. Use it on tasks like dagannoths, kalphites, and bloodveld.
Forgetting to switch gear: Always check the monster’s weakness and use the appropriate attack style.

Endgame: Boss Tasks and the Final Selection

At level 95 Slayer, you’ll be assigned boss tasks from Duradel. These are the final stages of Slayer progression. The best boss tasks for XP and profit are:

Cerberus: Requires 91 Slayer, good melee boss with high profit.
Abyssal Sire: Requires 85 Slayer, decent profit and unique drops.
Kraken: Requires 87 Slayer, easy to kill with magic, good profit.
Thermonuclear Smoke Devil: Requires 93 Slayer, fast kills with magic.
Alchemical Hydra: Requires 95 Slayer, highest profit boss task.

Your final selection of tasks should be a mix of these bosses and high-XP regular tasks. Many players choose to block low-profit tasks and prefer boss tasks for the chance at rare drops. The best approach is to keep a balanced list: a few fast tasks for XP, and a few boss tasks for profit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the fastest way to get from level 1 to 99 Slayer?
A: Use the highest-level master you can, always wear the slayer helmet, use a cannon for multi-combat tasks, and skip/block slow tasks. The fastest XP rates come from tasks like dust devils and nechryael with ice barrage.

Q: Should I use Konar or Duradel after level 85?
A: For pure XP, Duradel is better because he assigns more fast tasks. Konar gives bonus drops and points, but her location-locked tasks are often slower. If you want profit, use Konar; if you want XP, use Duradel.

Q: How many Slayer points do I need for the helmet?
A: The Slayer helmet costs 400 points. You can earn points by completing tasks, with a bonus every 10th task. You’ll need to complete about 40-50 tasks to get that many points.

Q: What is the best gear for Slayer?
A: The Slayer helmet is mandatory. For melee, use a whip or a high-strength weapon, with a fire cape, barrows gloves, and a torture amulet. For ranged, use a blowpipe with amethyst darts. For magic, use a staff of the dead or a trident of the seas.

Q: Is it worth using a cannon?
A: Yes, for tasks in multi-combat areas like dagannoths, kalphites, and bloodveld, a cannon can significantly speed up kills, increasing your XP per hour. It costs money in cannonballs, but the time saved is worth it if you can afford it.

Q: What should I block with my Slayer points?
A: Block tasks that you find slow or annoying, such as Suqah, Fossil Island Wyverns, and Drakes. Also block tasks that require a lot of travel or have poor loot. You have 5 block slots at level 50, so choose wisely.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.

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