Rune dragon

This article has a money making guide here. Please add tips to the subpage, rather than the article below.

The Old School RuneScape Wiki also has an article on: osrsw:Rune dragon

This article is about the normal rune dragon. For the elite version, see Elite rune dragon.

ArmouredUnarmoured
Rune dragon
Release			15 June 2015 (Update)
Members			Yes
Examine
Its scales seem to be fused with rune metal.
Combat info
Level			LP			XP			XP
127			68,250			4,200			1,386
Equipment XP (2H/MH & Armour/OH)
252 / 168 / 84
Aggressive						Poisonous
Slayer
Level			XP			Category
76			2051			Rune dragons
Assigned by
Offensive
Max hit
1820			1820			1820			10000
Style						Rate
						4 ticks (2.4s)
Combat levels
92				92				92
Accuracy
2577				2577				2577
Abilities used
None
Defensive
Armour				Weakness			Susceptible
2458		90
Affinities
-			50			50			50
Immunities
Immune			Not immune			Not immune			Not immune
Advanced data
NPC ID				21136
Links				bestiary • MRND
FAQ • doc

falseImmunefalseNot immunetrueNot immunetrueNot immunetrue7676205120519292? (edit)0909092929292182018201820182018201820100001000025772577257725772577257724582458505050505050? (edit)ArmouredUnarmouredfalse127127 File:Attack-icon.png&&SPLITPOINT&&File:Magic-icon.png&&SPLITPOINT&&File:Ranged-icon.png&&SPLITPOINT&&File:Dragonfire icon.pngmelee&&SPLITPOINT&&magic&&SPLITPOINT&&ranged&&SPLITPOINT&&dragonfire? (edit)meleemelee68,250682504,20042001,386? (edit)? (edit)? (edit)252 / 168 / 84noneFile:Zero weakness icon.pngnothing-? (edit) dragon bane&&SPLITPOINT&&dragon slayerinquisitor&&SPLITPOINT&&dragon bane&&SPLITPOINT&&dragon slayerinquisitor&&SPLITPOINT&&dragon bane&&SPLITPOINT&&dragon slayerNone File:morvran chathead.png&&SPLITPOINT&&File:Laniakea chathead.png? (edit)falsefalse15 June 2015 (Update)? (edit)YesIts scales seem to be fused with rune metal.? (edit)

4 ticks (2.4s)

Rune dragon? (edit)? (edit)? (edit)? (edit) Rune dragon Rune dragon Rune dragon? (edit)Rune dragonsrune dragons? (edit)surface? (edit)? (edit)? (edit)2113621137? (edit)2113621137bestiary • MRNDbestiary • MRNDbestiary • MRND? (edit){"ranged":92,"slayer_category":"Rune dragons","experience":4200,"acc_ranged":2577,"acc_magic":2577,"acc_melee":2577,"max_spec":10000,"aff_ranged":50,"max_melee":1820,"defence":90,"max_ranged":1820,"assigned_by":"[[File:morvran chathead.png¦30px¦link=morvran]] [[File:Laniakea chathead.png¦30px¦link=laniakea]]","armour":2458,"attack":92,"slayer_experience":2051,"aff_melee":50,"release_date":"15 June 2015","aff_magic":50,"examine":"Its scales seem to be fused with rune metal.","aggressive":false,"slayer":76,"release_update_post":"Adamant and Rune Dragons","style":"[[File:Attack-icon.png¦25px¦link=Melee]] [[File:Magic-icon.png¦25px¦link=Magic]] [[File:Ranged-icon.png¦25px¦link=Ranged]] [[File:Dragonfire icon.png¦25px¦link=Dragonfire]]","lifepoints":68250,"max_magic":1820,"members":"Yes","weakness":"[[File:Zero weakness icon.png¦25px¦link=No weakness]]","level":127,"magic":92,"poisonous":false,"name":"Rune dragon"}{"ranged":92,"slayer_experience":2051,"version":"Armoured","experience":4200,"acc_ranged":2577,"acc_magic":2577,"acc_melee":2577,"max_spec":10000,"aff_ranged":50,"max_melee":1820,"defence":90,"max_ranged":1820,"id":"21136","assigned_by":"[[File:morvran chathead.png¦30px¦link=morvran]] [[File:Laniakea chathead.png¦30px¦link=laniakea]]","armour":2458,"attack":92,"slayer_category":"Rune dragons","release_date":"15 June 2015","aff_melee":50,"aff_magic":50,"examine":"Its scales seem to be fused with rune metal.","aggressive":false,"slayer":76,"release_update_post":"Adamant and Rune Dragons","style":"[[File:Attack-icon.png¦25px¦link=Melee]] [[File:Magic-icon.png¦25px¦link=Magic]] [[File:Ranged-icon.png¦25px¦link=Ranged]] [[File:Dragonfire icon.png¦25px¦link=Dragonfire]]","lifepoints":68250,"max_magic":1820,"members":"Yes","weakness":"[[File:Zero weakness icon.png¦25px¦link=No weakness]]","level":127,"magic":92,"poisonous":false,"name":"Rune dragon"}{"ranged":92,"slayer_experience":2051,"version":"Unarmoured","experience":4200,"acc_ranged":2577,"acc_magic":2577,"acc_melee":2577,"max_spec":10000,"aff_ranged":50,"max_melee":1820,"defence":90,"max_ranged":1820,"id":"21137","assigned_by":"[[File:morvran chathead.png¦30px¦link=morvran]] [[File:Laniakea chathead.png¦30px¦link=laniakea]]","armour":2458,"attack":92,"slayer_category":"Rune dragons","release_date":"15 June 2015","aff_melee":50,"aff_magic":50,"examine":"Its scales seem to be fused with rune metal.","aggressive":false,"slayer":76,"release_update_post":"Adamant and Rune Dragons","style":"[[File:Attack-icon.png¦25px¦link=Melee]] [[File:Magic-icon.png¦25px¦link=Magic]] [[File:Ranged-icon.png¦25px¦link=Ranged]] [[File:Dragonfire icon.png¦25px¦link=Dragonfire]]","lifepoints":68250,"max_magic":1820,"members":"Yes","weakness":"[[File:Zero weakness icon.png¦25px¦link=No weakness]]","level":127,"magic":92,"poisonous":false,"name":"Rune dragon"}Versions: 2

Rune dragons are metal dragons that can be found on Mount Firewake, in Kethsi. In order to fight rune dragons (and be assigned them for a slayer task), the player must first complete the quests Ritual of the Mahjarrat and Fate of the Gods.

They won the first RuneLabs poll, alongside adamant dragons, and were first announced in the June 2015 Behind the Scenes.

Rune dragons are found in the remains of Mount Firewake, where the Kethsians kept the Stone of Jas, until it was overused and awakened the Dragonkin. Also located in this area is the laboratory of the Dactyl Forcae, a disciple of Kerapac, who created the adamant and rune dragons.

Getting there:

• Players can teleport to Kethsi using the World Gate.
• The sixth-age circuit and the master quest cape provide the fastest teleport to the World Gate.

If the player dies on Mount Firewake, their gravestone spawns near the World Gate.

Locations

Location	Levels	Members	Spawns	Map
Mount Firewake	127		20	Maplink

Strategy

Rune dragons have a total of 3 phases that must be completed with each kill, with the first phase requiring the use of dragonbane bolts or arrows in order to break through their metallic armour and with the second phase being unreachable with melee weapons.

As with mithril and adamant dragons, rune dragons use all three styles of combat, in addition to the standard dragonfire. Their magic and melee attacks are simply standard attacks, while their ranged attack will freeze the player for one second, which can be avoided with Freedom and Anticipation.

During their second phase, their standard dragonfire is replaced with an "enhanced" dragonfire. The "enhanced" dragonfire is not as strong as it implies; rather, it functions similarly to the Queen Black Dragon's dragonfire (even super antifires with a dragonfire shield/anti-dragon shield cannot fully block - this attack is reduced to the low 400s with full antifire protection, and 800's with standard protection) though it is avoidable.

Armoured phase

• Starts with 68,250 life points
• Dragonbane arrows/bolts or other dragon bane equipment is essential on this phase, as all other attacks, including those of familiars, deal dramatically reduced damage.

Flying phase

• Starts with 45,045 life points. Any attacks during the transition will be reduced to 10% damage. The attack which hits the phase threshold is reduced significantly.
• The dragon begins flying and becomes immune to melee attacks. Dragonbane is no longer required to deal full damage. In addition, the dragon stops using melee attacks and replaces its standard dragonfire attack with the enhanced version.
• Throughout this phase, the rune dragon may breathe a bright blue plume of enhanced dragonfire, dealing magic damage. This attack cannot be fully blocked by a super antifire or wyrmfire potion, and will deal a minimum of 450 magic damage. However, if the player is far enough from the dragon, a small cloud appears under the player indicating the enhanced dragonfire is being used and can be avoided by moving away from it.

Enrage phase

• Starts with 22,522 life points. Any attacks during the transition will be reduced to 10% damage.
• The rune dragon gains a faint blue aura about its head crest after landing, indicative of this phase beginning.
• It is again possible to attack the dragon with melee.
• The dragon gets stronger with every attack. It stops using enhanced dragonfire and returns to standard dragonfire. It also starts using its melee attacks again.

Drops

The average Rune dragon kill is worth 77,854.14 coins.

100% drops

	Item		Quantity	Rarity	GE price	High Alch
	Reinforced dragon bones (m)		1	Always	17,317	0
	Small plated rune salvage		1	Always	14,791	16,000

Charms

Nothing	1	1	1	1
29–33%	11–14%	20–23%	28–31%	5–7%
Represents a 90% confidence range based on a sample of 1,678 kills. 4 items are dropped at a time. Add data to the log (requires JavaScript).

Main drop

	Item		Quantity	Rarity	GE price	High Alch
	Large plated rune salvage		1	27/128	30,777	32,000
	Inert adrenaline crystal (m)		1 (noted)	Common	51,461	2,400
	Dragon platelegs (m)		1	1/256	159,940	162,000
	Dragon plateskirt (m)		1	1/256	162,850	162,000
	Dragon longsword (m)		1	4/128	57,314	60,000
	Off-hand dragon longsword (m)		1	4/128	56,744	60,000
	Rune bolts (unf)		40	10/128	8,040	480
	Uncut dragonstone (m)		2 (noted)	9/128	22,164	1,200
	Black dragonhide		9 (noted)	10/128	27,018	432
	Onyx bolt tips (m)		8	6/128	59,296	43,200
	Necrite stone spirit (m)		2	24/128	4,450	Not alchemisable
	Phasmatite stone spirit (m)		2	24/128	1,462	Not alchemisable
	Magic logs		30 (noted)	12/128	11,580	5,760
	Coins		11,000–14,000	10/128	11,000-14,000	11,000-14,000
	Prayer potion (3)		3	2/128	13,413	273
	Rocktail (m)		2	7/128	10,650	720
	Rare drop table		1	Rare	Not sold	Not alchemisable
	Steadfast scale (m)		1	1/768	13,360,271	30,000
	Glaiven wing-tip (m)		1	1/768	2,613,533	30,000
	Ragefire gland (m)		1	1/768	211,154	30,000
	Draconic visage		1	1/512	1,185,406	450,000

Tertiary drops

	Item		Quantity	Rarity	GE price	High Alch
	Forcae's journal page (m)		1	1/20	Not sold	Not alchemisable
	Sealed clue scroll (hard) (m)		1	14/896	Not sold	Not alchemisable
	Sealed clue scroll (elite) (m)		1	2/896	Not sold	Not alchemisable
	Kethsi ring (m)		1	1/1024	Not sold	Not alchemisable
	Court summons (m)		1	Very rare	Not sold	Not alchemisable

Rare drop table

This monster has access to the rare drop table.
Luck-enhancing items such as a ring of Wealth or luck of the Dwarves are not required to access the table.

Rare drop table:

Rare drop table Item Quantity Rarity GE price High alch value Coins 250–500 Common 250-500 250-500 Uncut sapphire 1 Common 770 15 Uncut emerald 1 Common 2,163 30 Uncut ruby 1 Common 2,204 60 Uncut diamond 1 Common 6,012 120 Uncut diamond 45–55 (noted) Rare 270,540-330,660 5,400-6,600 Loop half of a key (m) 1 Common 13,325 0 Tooth half of a key (m) 1 Common 13,278 0 Uncut dragonstone (m) 1 Uncommon 11,082 600 Uncut dragonstone (m) 45–55 (noted) Rare 498,690-609,510 27,000-33,000 Dragon longsword (m) 1 Common 57,314 60,000 Off-hand dragon longsword (m) 1 Common 56,744 60,000 Dragon spear (m) 1 Rare 35,746 37,440 Battlestaff (m) 180–220 (noted) Rare 545,940-667,260 756,000-924,000 Rune javelin 5 Rare 795 1,870 Huge plated rune salvage 1 Uncommon 38,776 40,000 Huge plated rune salvage 18–22 (noted) Rare 697,968-853,072 720,000-880,000 Shield left half (m) 1 Rare 75,208 66,000 Dragon helm (m) 1 Uncommon 58,395 60,000 Rune arrowheads 113–137 Common 15,368-18,632 678-822 Onyx bolts (m) 135–165 Very rare 1,026,270-1,254,330 1,104,165-1,349,535 Water talisman 68–82 (noted) Rare 280,024-337,676 136-164 Earth talisman 68–82 (noted) Rare 9,792-11,808 136-164 Raw lobster 135–165 (noted) Common 46,575-56,925 22,950-28,050 Raw shark (m) 225–275 (noted) Uncommon 519,525-634,975 40,500-49,500 Big bones 68–82 (noted) Uncommon 24,140-29,110 0 Dragon bones 180–220 (noted) Rare 321,840-393,360 0 Drakolith stone spirit (m) 25–35 Uncommon 9,175-12,845 Not alchemisable Necrite stone spirit (m) 2 Common 4,450 Not alchemisable Phasmatite stone spirit (m) 25–30 Uncommon 18,275-21,930 Not alchemisable Phasmatite stone spirit (m) 2 Common 1,462 Not alchemisable Necrite stone spirit (m) 25–30 Rare 55,625-66,750 Not alchemisable Runite stone spirit 3 Common 4,404 Not alchemisable Orichalcite stone spirit (m) 25–35 Rare 6,750-9,450 Not alchemisable Grimy torstol (m) 90–110 (noted) Uncommon 488,070-596,530 0 Grimy snapdragon (m) 90–110 (noted) Uncommon 158,400-193,600 0 Super restore (4) (m) 45–55 (noted) Uncommon 157,500-192,500 8,100-9,900 Prayer potion (4) 45–55 (noted) Uncommon 273,510-334,290 5,130-6,270 Lantadyme seed (m) 14–16 Uncommon 3,920-4,480 532-608 Dwarf weed seed (m) 14–16 Uncommon 27,062-30,928 532-608 Magic seed (m) 4 Uncommon 109,528 1,012 Palm tree seed (m) 10 Rare 223,670 1,520 Flax 450–550 (noted) Common 66,600-81,400 1,350-1,650 Molten glass (m) 45–55 (noted) Common 27,000-33,000 45-55 Soft clay 450–550 (noted) Uncommon 377,550-461,450 450-550 Yew logs 68–82 (noted) Uncommon 14,756-17,794 6,528-7,872 Yew logs 675–825 (noted) Rare 146,475-179,025 64,800-79,200 Teak plank (m) 45–55 (noted) Uncommon 29,430-35,970 13,500-16,500 Mahogany plank (m) 270–330 (noted) Rare 567,810-693,990 243,000-297,000 Vecna skull (m) 1 Rare 204,763 6,000 Blurberry Special (m) 1 Very rare 15,984 18 Cheese+tom batta (m) 1 Very rare 451 1 Hazelmere's signet ring (m) 1 Very rare 1,991,684,514 300,000 Brawling gloves (Melee) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Magic) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Ranged) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Agility) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Cooking) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (FM) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Fishing) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Hunter) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Mining) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Prayer) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Smithing) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (Thieving) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Brawling gloves (WC) (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Crystal triskelion fragment 1 (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Crystal triskelion fragment 2 (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable Crystal triskelion fragment 3 (m) 1 Very rare Not sold Not alchemisable

Universal drops

Universal drops are dropped by nearly every monster outside of Daemonheim.

These items are dropped alongside main drops.

	Item		Quantity	Rarity	GE price	High Alch
	Key token		1	Rare	Not sold	Not alchemisable
	Mimic kill token (m)		1	Very rare	15,275	Not alchemisable

Achievements

• Forcae's Mettle ( 15) – Complete Forcae's journal. (X/10)
• Jungle Predator ( 0) – Obtained a collection of unique drops from Slayer monsters located within Karamja.
  • Dragon platelegs and plateskirt drops

Gallery

• 

  Concept art of an armoured rune dragon and rune dragon

• 

  A teaser of the former location of the Stone of Jas on Kethsi

Update history

The update history project is a work-in-progress – not all updates to this topic may be covered below. See here for how to help out!

• patch 4 May 2020 (Update):
  • Runite stone spirits have been replaced by necrite and phasmatite stone spirits.

• patch 19 August 2019 (Update):
  • Metallic Dragon trinkets now correctly note reinforced dragon bones after killing elite rune dragons.

• patch 28 May 2019 (Update):.
  • Players fighting rune dragons will no longer be warned about using dragon bane weaponry when non weapon damage is dealt.

• patch 21 January 2019 (Update):
  • The phase transitions for Rune Dragons has been vastly improved and made smoother.
  • The book of death effect should now correctly work when fighting Rune Dragons.

• patch 7 January 2019 (Update):
  • Rune dragons no longer drop Rune bars, and instead drop Small plated rune salvage
    • Prior to the Mining and Smithing rework update, rune dragons dropped one rune bar upon death. This was changed to a small plated rune salvage (which requires two bars) to maintain the value of their 100% drop.

• ninja 13 November 2017 (Update):
  • Tier 90 boot component drops from Rune Dragons and Elite Rune Dragons are now more common.

• patch 23 October 2017 (Update):
  • The Book of Death now works against Runite dragons.

• patch 24 April 2017 (Update):
  • Adamant dragons and Rune dragons now have the new luck system applied to them.

• ninja 22 August 2016 (Update):
  • Made changes to rune dragons' phase transitions to allow players to continue attacking throughout. Damage that overshoots the lifepoint thresholds will no longer be healed back, but that hit, and hits during transition, are reduced to 10% power.
    • Originally, as a rune dragon had to reach a specific threshold of life points to move to the next phase, overhitting the mark would result in the dragon regenerating all lost health back to the specific health mark (e.g if the rune dragon had 46,000 life points and was hit by a Tuska's Wrath on a Slayer assignment, it would have 34,000 life points; the next hit would result in its health returning to the transition threshold of 45,050 life points). In addition, rune dragons could not be attacked during phase transition. This was changed with this update due to player complaints.

• patch 11 January 2016 (Update):
  • The Kethsi ring has been added to the drop table of rune dragons.

• patch 6 July 2015 (Update):
  • The early bird bonus for rune and adamant dragons has now ended.
  • The slayer masters' tip for celestial dragons has been tweaked, as rune dragons have usurped them as the strongest dragons.
  • A rune dragon that spawned in an inaccessible corner of Mount Firewake has been moved further north.

• patch 22 June 2015 (Update):
  • Adamant & rune dragons have been added to the "I have killed ..." quickchat.
  • More rune dragons have been added to Mount Firewake.
  • Elite rune dragons will no longer spawn in safe zones.
  • The Adventurer's Log will now show rune dragon drops.
  • Rune dragons are no longer aggressive.
  • Whoever inflicts the most damage on a rune dragon will now get the drop, rather than the first person to attack. Note that - although this is a mechanic typical of boss monsters - rune dragons are still affected by Tuska's Wrath.
  • Rune dragons no longer regenerate when out of combat.
  • Slayer and combat XP from rune dragons has been increased.
  • The enhanced blue dragonbreath used in the flying phase of rune dragons now inflicts fixed damage rather than randomised damage.
  • Barry lives! There is now a rare chance that an elite dragon will spawn with the name 'Barry', in honour of the draconic slayer of dragon slayers.
    • This is a reference to an elite rune dragon nicknamed "Barry" that killed 32 players while stuck in the enrage phase on the day of release.
  • The quantity of summoning charms dropped by adamant dragons & rune dragons has been increased from 3 to 4, to be in line with the desired maximum from mithril dragons.

• patch 22 June 2015 (Update):
  • The Early Bird Bonus for adamant and rune dragons has been extended until the 29th of July - that's increased spawn rates on both types of dragon, increased change for elites to spawn, and twice the chance to get an adamant or rune dragon slayer assignment.

• hotfix 16 June 2015:
  • Rune dragons will no longer build up rage outside of combat.
    • Upon release, there was a bug that caused rune dragons to build up their rage outside of combat, due to players leaving combat during the third phase. This caused them to easily kill players in a single hit. This bug was patched the following day. Without growing their rage, rune dragons will still keep their rage for a long time after leaving combat. If one leaves for a bank trip, it is common to find their already damaged dragon in the same state as it was before leaving.

• update 15 June 2015 (Update):
  • Rune dragons and Adamant dragons added to game.

Trivia

• There is currently a glitch where damage from a dwarf multicannon deals full damage for phase one of the fight, even though dragonbane ammo is required in order to harm them. 
• Using Tuska's Wrath in phase 1 or 2 on a Slayer assignment forces the rune dragon to immediately phase but retain its life points. In phase 3 however, Tuska's Wrath deals full damage.
• If a rune dragon is forced into its next phase via indirect damage, it will turn aggressive towards the player that caused the phase transition.
• Rune dragons (and their elite variant) are the only metallic dragons to have no weaknesses.
• As of 1 February 2018, the highest kill count for these monsters was 69,056 kills.
  • This had not increased by 6 May 2018.