War tortoise

For the Familiarisation NPC, see War tortoise (Familiarisation).

War tortoise
Release		15 January 2008 (Update)
Summoning level		67
Duration (mins)		48
Points cost		70
Familiar size		2x2
Race		Tortoise
Abilities		Beast of Burden (18)
Special moves		Testudo
Combat level		80
Examine		Definitely not teenaged, although the jury is out on its ninja skills.
Combat stats
Life points		Max hit
30,500		878
Attack	Defence	Ranged	Magic
61	54	61	61
Immune to poison		Yes
Attack style		Melee
Attack speed		Unknown edit
Infobox • Talk page

The war tortoise is a level 80 combat Summoning familiar that a player is able to summon at level 67 Summoning. The war tortoise has the capability of holding up to 18 items for a player, with a value up to 5 million coins. It is the fourth best general-use Beast of Burden and a common choice for mid- to high-level summoners who can't summon the Pack Yak or Pack mammoth yet.

War tortoise pouch

War tortoise pouch

	Shards	Cost/XP	Charm	Tertiary
	1 ( 25)	454.6 coins		Tortoise shell
	Create XP	Use XP	Low alch	Hi alch	GE price
	58.6	0.7	179	269	26,082 (info)
	GE Database	Cost to make	Bogrog shard return		Shard return level
	Look up price	26,642	1 (25)		72
	Loading...
	Examine text
	I can summon a war tortoise familiar with this.

[view] • [talk]

A war tortoise pouch is made by using a Summoning pouch on an obelisk with a spirit shard, a gold charm and a tortoise shell in the player's inventory. Using the pouch to summon a war tortoise costs 70 Summoning points. If players exchange their war tortoise pouches at Bogrog, they will receive a spirit shard per pouch. Players must also have level 72 Summoning to be able to exchange this pouch.

A perfect shell may not be used in place of a regular tortoise shell.

War Tortoise scroll (Testudo)

War Tortoise scroll (Testudo)

	Create XP	Use XP	Special move points
	0.7	0.7	20
	Low Alch	High Alch	GE Price
	17	26	186 (info)
	GE Database	Bogrog shard return	Shard return level
	Look up price	1/18 (1)	72
	Loading...
	Examine text
	A scroll for a war tortoise familiar.

[view] • [talk]

The War Tortoise scroll (Testudo) enables the use of the testudo special ability for a war tortoise. Using a war tortoise pouch on a Summoning obelisk creates ten War Tortoise scroll (Testudo)s.

Testudo

A player activating the scroll.

Testudo is a special move of the war tortoise, activated by a War Tortoise scroll (Testudo). When activated, it temporarily boosts Defence by 8 points. Each use of a War Tortoise scroll (Testudo) requires 20 special move points.

When used in conjunction with potions and more scrolls, this effect will NOT stack on top of what has already been boosted. Because of this, even players with a war tortoise following them will typically prefer a defence potion, super defence potion or saradomin brew for raising their defence.

Dialogue

This article on a Summoning familiar has an associated dialogue page. Click here for a transcript of possible conversations and other messaging related to this familiar.

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included—see here for how to help out!

• patch 23 September 2019 (Update):
  • Using Rover as an override for the War Tortoise will no longer cause the body of Rover to stretch and deform when summoned.

• ninja 5 February 2018 (Update):
  • The maximum stack value on a Beast of Burden has been increased from 5m GP to 15m GP.

• ninja 5 January 2015 (Update):
  • Graphically updated the War Tortoise familiar.

• patch 10 August 2009 (Update):
  • Typo in war tortoise chat.

• update 15 January 2008 (Update):
  • Added to game.

Trivia

• Testudo is the Latin word for "tortoise", and is a genus of tortoises found in North Africa, Western Asia, and Europe. It is also a battle formation used in Ancient Roman Warfare. Soldiers would use their shields to cover the front and top of the unit to increase defence against incoming arrows.
• The examine text refers to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
• War Tortoise may also be a reference to the Pokemon, Wartortle.