Black dragon | OSRS Index

This article has a Slayer task guide here.

Information comparing locations for Slayer tasks will be on this page.

Level 227Level 247
Black dragon



Released		27 February 2002 (Update)
Members		Yes
Combat level		227
Size		4x4
Examine		A fierce dragon with black scales!
League region

Combat info

Attribute		Draconic, Fiery
XP bonus		+2.5%
Max hit		21 (Melee) 50 (Dragonfire)
Aggressive		Yes
Poisonous		No
Attack style		Slash, Dragonfire
Attack speed		4 ticks (2.4 seconds)
Respawn time		30 ticks (18 seconds)

Slayer info

Slayer level		None
Slayer XP		194.7 xp
Category		Black Dragons
Assigned by

Combat stats


190	200	200	200	100	1

Aggressive stats


+0	+0	+0	+0	+0	+0

Melee defence


+0		+70		+70

Magic defence


+60			50% weakness

Ranged defence


+50		+50		+10

Immunities

Poison		0% resistance
Venom		0% resistance
Cannons		Not immune
Thralls		Not immune
Burn		Immune (weak)

Open in DPS calculator
Advanced data

Monster ID		252,253,254,255,256,257,258,259,8084,8085
Link		MOID

Black dragons are the most powerful adult chromatic dragons. As with all adult dragons, protection from dragonfire (such as an anti-dragon shield) is recommended when fighting them, although like other common chromatic dragons, they only use dragonfire at melee range.

Black dragons are the only common chromatic dragons that drop the draconic visage. Notably, the stronger level 247 variant in the Wilderness Slayer Cave drops the draconic visage at a rate of 1/5,000, the most common out of any dragon tied with the King Black Dragon and Vorkath.

Baby black dragons, brutal black dragons, and the King Black Dragon may be killed in place of black dragons for a Slayer task; however, the KBD does not count towards a black dragon task assigned by Krystilia. Likewise, lava dragons do not count towards a black dragon task, despite their black dragonhide drop.

One is fought during Dragon Slayer II and the Recipe for Disaster Sir Amik Varze subquest.

Locations

Location	Levels	Spawns	Map	League region
Charred Dungeon	227	5	Show map	N/A
Corsair Cove Dungeon/Myths' Guild (basement) ^{[l 1]}	227	2	Show map	Kandarin✓
Evil Chicken's Lair^{[l 2]}	227	4	Show map	&
Lava Maze Dungeon	227	2	Show map	Wilderness✓
Mynydd^{[l 3]}	227	1	Show map	Tirannwn✓
Taverley Dungeon^{[l 4]}	227	2	Show map	Asgarnia✓
Taverley Dungeon (Upper Level)^{[l 5]}	227	12	Show map	Asgarnia✓
Wilderness Slayer Cave	247	3	Show map	Wilderness✓

^ Requires completion of Dragon Slayer II
^ Requires partial completion of Recipe for Disaster: Sir Amik Varze
^ Requires completion of Song of the Elves
^ Requires either a dusty key or 70 Agility.
^ Requires a black dragon Slayer task.

Location comparisons

In the Taverley Dungeon, 2 black dragons spawn north-west near the Obelisk of Fire and can be safe-spotted behind the ladder, while 12 spawn in the upper level along with 5 baby black dragons. The ones in the upper level can only be killed when assigned black dragons as a Slayer task, otherwise the player will be stopped by Slieve if they attempt to attack them off-task. A dusty key or 70 Agility (80 if using the strange floor shortcut) is required to access the west side of the dungeon; the task-only area can be accessed by using the steps near the entrance.

The Evil Chicken's Lair contains 4 black dragons. Killing them here requires starting Sir Amik Varze's subquest in Recipe for Disaster, and until the dragon token is redeemed, they will only drop it and these are 100% drops. Accessing this area requires a raw chicken offered to the chicken shrine in Zanaris. The dragon token is no longer obtainable after completing the subquest.

The Corsair Cove Dungeon contains 2 black dragons. Accessing this area requires completion of Dragon Slayer II, but it is the closest location to a bank.

In the Wilderness, black dragons can be found in two locations: the Lava Maze Dungeon and Wilderness Slayer Cave. 2 spawn in the Lava Maze dungeon, although accessing them requires a lengthy trek through the maze unless the player has 82 Agility (boostable at 77). Some antipoison may be needed due to the presence of poison spiders near the dragons. 3 also spawn in the Wilderness Slayer Cave; these are slightly stronger than the level 227 variant and reside in a multicombat area, but are faster to access compared to the ones underneath the Lava Maze.

Safespots found in the middle of the Taverley Dungeon's upper area. Left is better because the right side is not always safe.
A safespot in the Lava Maze Dungeon.
Safespot location in the Evil Chicken's Lair.
Safespot in the Evil Chickens Lair on the east side near the mines
”Safespot” location in the Wilderness Slayer Cave.
Safespot location in the Corsair Cove Dungeon (Myths' Guild Dungeon).

Money making

The following money making guide is available for Black dragon:

Method	Hourly profit	Skills
Killing black dragons	365,472	80+ recommended 70 recommended

Drops

The following drop rates are provided by Jagex, unless otherwise specified.

Konar task	Average drop value
Konar task	GE	HA
No	8,242.54	1,917.44
Yes	9,384.61	2,261.50

100%

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Dragon bones	1	Always^{[d 1]}	3,324	96
	Black dragonhide	1	Always	3,060	90

^ Dragon bones are dropped in bank note form if players have completed the elite Wilderness Diary and are killing black dragons in the Wilderness.

Pre-roll

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Dragon token	1	Always^{[d 1]}	Not sold	0

^ The dragon token overrides normal drops, and is only dropped during the Sir Amik Varze subquest of Recipe for Disaster if the player doesn't have one already.

Weapons and armour

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Mithril 2h sword	1	4/128	1,245	1,560
Mithril axe	1	3/128	152	312
Mithril battleaxe	1	3/128	825	1,014
Rune knife	2	3/128	316	200
Mithril kiteshield	1	1/128	1,081	1,326
Adamant platebody	1	1/128	9,440	9,984
Rune longsword	1	1/128	18,821	19,200

Runes and ammunition

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Adamant javelin	30	20/128	1,200	2,880
Adamant dart(p)	16	7/128	464	624
Fire rune	50	8/128	250	100
Blood rune	15	3/128	5,610	3,600
Air rune	75	1/128	375	150
Law rune	10	5/128	1,230	1,440

Coins

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Coins	196	40/128	196	196
Coins	330	10/128	330	330
Coins	690	1/128	690	690

Other

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Dragon javelin tips	10	6/128^{[d 1]}	7,110	11,700
Adamantite bar	1	3/128	1,851	384
Chocolate cake	1	3/128	148	42

^ Dragon javelin tips are only dropped after completion of Monkey Madness II. If players have not completed the quest, they will receive nothing.

Rare and Gem drop table

There is a 2/128 chance of rolling the rare drop table. There is also a 3/128 chance of rolling the gem drop table.

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Nothing	N/A	1/68.81; Never^{[d 1]}	N/A	N/A
Coins	3,000	1/390.1	3,000	3,000
Uncut sapphire	1	1/154.57; 1/78.49^{[d 2]}	228	15
Loop half of key	1	1/378.27; 1/352.17^{[d 2]}	9,756	60
Tooth half of key	1	1/378.27; 1/352.17^{[d 2]}	9,887	60
Uncut emerald	1	1/309.13; 1/156.98^{[d 2]}	473	30
Uncut ruby	1	1/618.26; 1/313.96^{[d 2]}	1,087	60
Runite bar	1	1/1,638.4	12,265	3,000
Nature rune	67	1/2,730.67	11,457	7,236
Rune 2h sword	1	1/2,730.67	38,123	38,400
Rune battleaxe	1	1/2,730.67	24,639	24,960
Law rune	45	1/4,096	5,535	6,480
Death rune	45	1/4,096	8,325	4,860
Steel arrow	150	1/4,096	900	1,050
Rune arrow	42	1/4,096	1,974	10,080
Adamant javelin	20	1/4,096	800	1,920
Rune sq shield	1	1/4,096	22,747	23,040
Dragonstone	1	1/4,096	10,735	6,000
Silver ore	100 (noted)	1/4,096	6,200	4,500
Chaos talisman	1	1/1,648.7; 1/837.23^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	236	2
Nature talisman	1	1/1,648.7; 1/837.23^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	268	2
Uncut diamond	1	1/2,473.06; 1/1,255.85^{[d 2]}	2,439	120
Rune kiteshield	1	1/8,192	32,110	32,640
Dragon med helm	1	1/8,192	58,090	60,000
Rune spear	1	1/7,869.24; 1/841.11^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	11,599	12,480
Rune javelin	5	1/4,946.11; 1/2,511.7^{[d 2]}	675	1,200
Shield left half	1	1/15,738.48; 1/1,682.22^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	65,355	66,000
Dragon spear	1	1/20,984.64; 1/2,242.97^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	38,438	37,440

^ The "nothing" drop is removed while wearing a ring of wealth.
^ ^2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 ^2.11 The drop rate is increased while wearing a ring of wealth due to the "nothing" drop being removed.
^ ^3.0 ^3.1 The talisman dropped depends on where the player is located (map); typically, a nature talisman will drop above ground level and a chaos talisman will drop underground.
^ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 Slightly reduced chance of dropping if Legends' Quest has not been completed.

Tertiary

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Looting bag	1	1/3^{[d 1]}	Not sold	N/A
Ensouled dragon head	1	1/35	5,915	390
Brimstone key	1	1/75^{[d 2]}	Not sold	N/A
Clue scroll (hard)	1	1/128; 1/64^{[d 4]}^{[d 5]}^{[d 3]}	Not sold	12
Clue scroll (elite)	1	1/500; 1/250^{[d 7]}^{[d 5]}^{[d 6]}	Not sold	12
Draconic visage	1	1/10,000	3,745,441	450,000

^ Looting bags are only dropped by those found in the Wilderness.
^ Brimstone keys are only dropped if killed on a Slayer task given by Konar quo Maten.
^ The hard clue scroll rarity changes to 1/64 if a Ring of wealth (i) is worn.
^ The hard clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/121; 1/60 after unlocking the hard Combat Achievements rewards tier.
^ ^5.0 ^5.1 Clue scrolls will drop as scroll boxes after the completion of X Marks the Spot.
^ The elite clue scroll rarity changes to 1/250 if a Ring of wealth (i) is worn.
^ The elite clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/475; 1/237 after unlocking the elite Combat Achievements rewards tier.

Wilderness Slayer tertiary

The following drops are only accessible while on a Slayer task given by Krystilia.

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Larran's key	1	1/72	120,992	54
	Slayer's enchantment	1	1/168	1,614	720

Wilderness Slayer Cave drops

The following drop rates are provided by Jagex, unless otherwise specified.

The average black dragon in the Wilderness Slayer Cave kill is worth 12,944.85.

100%

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Dragon bones	1	Always	3,324	96
	Black dragonhide	1	Always	3,060	90

Weapons and armour

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Adamant platebody	1	20/128	9,440	9,984
Rune knife	15	7/128	2,370	1,500
Rune knife	10	6/128^{[d 1]}	1,580	1,000
Adamant 2h sword	1	4/128	3,592	3,840
Adamant battleaxe	1	3/128	2,274	2,496
Rune axe	1	3/128	7,373	7,680
Rune knife	5	3/128	790	500
Rune med helm	1	1/128	11,177	11,520
Rune kiteshield	1	1/128	32,110	32,640
Rune longsword	1	1/128	18,821	19,200

^ 10 rune knives are only dropped if Monkey Madness II has not been completed.

Runes and ammunition

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Death rune	10	8/128	1,850	1,080
Law rune	10	5/128	1,230	1,440
Blood rune	10	3/128	3,740	2,400
Chaos rune	25	1/128	2,650	1,350

Coins

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Coins	500–999	40/128	500–999	500–999
Coins	1,000–1,999	10/128	1,000–1,999	1,000–1,999
Coins	690	1/128	690	690

Other

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Dragon javelin tips	25	6/128^{[d 1]}	17,775	29,250
Adamantite bar	1 (noted)	3/128	1,851	384
Monkfish	2	3/128	310	276

^ Only dropped after completion of Monkey Madness II. If players have not completed the quest, they will receive 10 rune knives instead.

Rare and Gem drop table

There is a 2/128 chance of rolling the rare drop table. There is also a 3/128 chance of rolling the gem drop table.

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Nothing	N/A	1/68.81; Never^{[d 1]}	N/A	N/A
Coins	3,000	1/390.1	3,000	3,000
Uncut sapphire	1	1/154.57; 1/78.49^{[d 2]}	228	15
Loop half of key	1	1/378.27; 1/352.17^{[d 2]}	9,756	60
Tooth half of key	1	1/378.27; 1/352.17^{[d 2]}	9,887	60
Uncut emerald	1	1/309.13; 1/156.98^{[d 2]}	473	30
Uncut ruby	1	1/618.26; 1/313.96^{[d 2]}	1,087	60
Runite bar	1	1/1,638.4	12,265	3,000
Nature rune	67	1/2,730.67	11,457	7,236
Rune 2h sword	1	1/2,730.67	38,123	38,400
Rune battleaxe	1	1/2,730.67	24,639	24,960
Law rune	45	1/4,096	5,535	6,480
Death rune	45	1/4,096	8,325	4,860
Steel arrow	150	1/4,096	900	1,050
Rune arrow	42	1/4,096	1,974	10,080
Adamant javelin	20	1/4,096	800	1,920
Rune sq shield	1	1/4,096	22,747	23,040
Dragonstone	1	1/4,096	10,735	6,000
Silver ore	100 (noted)	1/4,096	6,200	4,500
Chaos talisman	1	1/1,648.7; 1/837.23^{[d 2]}	236	2
Uncut diamond	1	1/2,473.06; 1/1,255.85^{[d 2]}	2,439	120
Rune kiteshield	1	1/8,192	32,110	32,640
Dragon med helm	1	1/8,192	58,090	60,000
Rune spear	1	1/7,869.24; 1/841.11^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	11,599	12,480
Rune javelin	5	1/4,946.11; 1/2,511.7^{[d 2]}	675	1,200
Shield left half	1	1/15,738.48; 1/1,682.22^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	65,355	66,000
Dragon spear	1	1/20,984.64; 1/2,242.97^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	38,438	37,440

^ The "nothing" drop is removed while wearing a ring of wealth.
^ ^2.00 ^2.01 ^2.02 ^2.03 ^2.04 ^2.05 ^2.06 ^2.07 ^2.08 ^2.09 ^2.10 The drop rate is increased while wearing a ring of wealth due to the "nothing" drop being removed.
^ ^3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 Slightly reduced chance of dropping if Legends' Quest has not been completed.

Tertiary

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Looting bag	1	1/3	Not sold	N/A
Ensouled dragon head	1	1/35	5,915	390
Clue scroll (hard)	1	1/128; 1/64^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}^{[d 1]}	Not sold	12
Clue scroll (elite)	1	1/500; 1/250^{[d 5]}^{[d 3]}^{[d 4]}	Not sold	12
Draconic visage	1	1/5,000	3,745,441	450,000

^ The hard clue scroll rarity changes to 1/64 if a Ring of wealth (i) is worn.
^ The hard clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/121; 1/60 after unlocking the hard Combat Achievements rewards tier.
^ ^3.0 ^3.1 Clue scrolls will drop as scroll boxes after the completion of X Marks the Spot.
^ The elite clue scroll rarity changes to 1/250 if a Ring of wealth (i) is worn.
^ The elite clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/475; 1/237 after unlocking the elite Combat Achievements rewards tier.

Wilderness Slayer tertiary

The following drops are only accessible while on a Slayer task given by Krystilia.

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Larran's key	1	1/59	120,992	54
	Slayer's enchantment	1	1/120	1,614	720

Wilderness Slayer Cave tertiary

There is approximately a 91/100 chance of rolling the Wilderness Slayer Cave drop table, which includes various items available from Justine's stuff for the Last Shopper Standing.

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Blighted anglerfish	1–2	~1/8.1	83–166	30–60
Blighted manta ray	1–2	~1/8.1	106–212	30–60
Blighted karambwan	1–2	~1/12.2	46–92	30–60
Blighted teleport spell sack	1–10	~1/12.2	55–550	19–190
Blighted ancient ice sack	1–10	~1/12.2	348–3,480	21–210
Blighted vengeance sack	1–10	~1/12.2	74–740	18–180
Blighted entangle sack	1–10	~1/6.1	45–450	18–180
Blighted super restore(4)	1	~1/24.4	2,886	24
Revenant cave teleport	1	~1/24.4	513	6
Dareeyak teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	523	1
Wilderness crabs teleport	1	~1/122	18,439	37
Carrallanger teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	2,106	1
Paddewwa teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	504	1
Annakarl teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	2,150	1
Lassar teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	1,542	1
Kharyrll teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	1,949	1
Senntisten teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	1,164	1
Ghorrock teleport (tablet)	1	~1/122	1,819	1
Target teleport	1	~1/122	1,153	1
Magic shortbow scroll	1	~1/304.9	33,047	3,000
Ring of wealth scroll	1	~1/304.9	2,808	3,000
Trouver parchment	2	~1/1,219.8	767,534	240
Looting bag note	1	~1/1,219.8	45,303	54

Deadman mode

The following drops and rarities only apply to Deadman Mode.

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Draconic visage	1	1/1,250	3,745,441	450,000

Combat Achievements

There is 1 Combat Achievement task (totalling 1 point) available for Black Dragon.

Name	Description	Type	Tier	Comp%
Big, Black and Fiery	Kill a Black Dragon.	Kill Count	Easy (1 pt)	71.3%

Gallery

A variant of black dragon.
A variant of black dragon.
A variant of black dragon.
A variant of black dragon.
A variant of black dragon.

Changes

Date	Changes
6 August 2025 (Update)	Black dragon's stab defence has been decreased from 5 to 0.
25 June 2025 (Update)	Black dragon's heavy Ranged defence has been decreased from 15 to 10. Black dragon's stab defence has been decreased from 10 to 5.
29 May 2024 (Update)	Black dragons now have a 50% elemental weakness to water spells. Black dragon's heavy Ranged defence has been lowered from 50 to 15. Black dragon's stab defence has been lowered from 50 to 10.
5 March 2015 (Update \| poll)	Black dragons in the Wilderness now drop noted dragon bones if you have completed the Wilderness Elite Diary.
29 August 2006 (Update)	The NPC was graphically updated.

Gallery (historical)


29 March 2004 – 29 August 2006	29 August 2006 – present

Predecessor	Title	Successor
Elvarg	Strongest monster in RuneScape	King Black Dragon

Freeing Sir Amik Varze

Subquest of Recipe for Disaster

NPCs

	Sir Amik Varze Wise Old Man K'klik
Monsters	Evil Chicken Black dragon

Items

Locations

Scenery

Vanilla plant

Dragons and dragon-like races

	Lava Frost Reanimated Revenant Crystalline Corrupted Fairy Colossal Wyrm
Bosses	Elvarg Galvek Great Olm King Black Dragon Vorkath The Hueycoatl
NPCs	Alvarg Hekala K'klik Mr. Mordaut
Dragonkin	Dragonkin (A Tail of Two Cats) Dragonkin (Dragon Slayer II) Forcae Garak Karuulm Kerapac Orthacas Sakirth Sithaph Skeka Strisath Zorgoth

Merodach

Corsair Cove Dungeon

NPCs

Monsters

	Ogress Shaman Ogress Warrior Spider
Dragons	Baby black dragon Baby blue dragon Baby green dragon Baby red dragon Black dragon Blue dragon Green dragon Red dragon

v t e Evil Chicken's Lair
NPCs	K'klik
Monsters	Baby black dragon Black dragon Evil Chicken
Related	Chicken Shrine Evil Chicken's Lair mine Freeing Sir Amik Varze

v t e Lava Maze
Monsters	Black dragon Black Knight Greater demon Hill Giant King Scorpion Lesser demon Poison spider
Related	Lava eels Lava Maze Dungeon Muddy chest

v t e Taverley Dungeon
NPCs	Eve Lord Daquarius Slieve Velrak the explorer
Monsters	Baby black dragon Baby blue dragon Black Knight Black demon Black dragon Blue dragon Chaos druid Chaos dwarf Dwarf Ghost Giant bat Hellhound Hill Giant Jailer Lesser demon Magic axe Monk of Zamorak Poison Scorpion Poison spider Skeleton Suit of armour
Related	Black Knights' Base Cauldron of Thunder Dusty key Jail key Lava eels Obelisk of Fire Obelisk of Water

Source site	Old School RuneScape Wiki
Canonical source	Black dragon
Content license	CC BY-NC-SA 3.0
License status	declared
Picture	Black dragon · file details