Kalphite Queen | OSRS Index

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CrawlingAirborne
Kalphite Queen



Released		7 September 2004 (Update)
Also called		KQ
Members		Yes
Combat level		333
Size		5x5
Examine		I don't think insect repellent will work...
League region		Desert✓

Combat info

Attribute		Kalphite
XP bonus		+5%
Max hit		31
Aggressive		Yes
Poisonous		No
Attack style		Stab, Ranged, Magic
Attack speed		4 ticks (2.4 seconds)
Respawn time		50 ticks (30 seconds)

Slayer info

Slayer level		None
Slayer XP		535.4 xp
Category		Kalphite, Bosses
Assigned by

Combat stats


255	300	300	300	150	1

Aggressive stats


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

Melee defence


+50		+50		+10

Magic defence


+100			40% weakness

Ranged defence


+100		+100		+100

Immunities

Poison		0% resistance
Venom		Converts to poison
Cannons		Not immune
Thralls		Not immune
Burn		Not immune

Open in DPS calculator
Advanced data

Monster ID		963,4303
Link		MOID

A group of players killing the Kalphite Queen

The Kalphite Queen (Kalphiscarabeinae pasha^[1]), also called the KQ, is the strongest of the Kalphites.

She is a powerful opponent that makes use of protection prayers, though they only function as an indicator to players of which attack styles may be most effective rather than outright blocking damage from them. She can use all three combat styles, of which her ranged and magic attacks always land as successful hits, and has two forms.

Unique drops from the Queen include the dragon 2h sword, dragon chainbody, dragon pickaxe and kq head drops. Killing her is additionally a requirement for the Desert Diary, with a hard task requiring players to kill her once and an elite task requiring the player to speak to a mounted head inside their own Player-owned house.

Location

Location	Levels	Members	Spawns	Map	League region
Kalphite Lair	333		1	Show map	Desert✓

The Kalphite Queen resides in the Kalphite Lair south-west of the Shantay Pass. Two ropes are required to access the lair, one to enter the dungeon itself and another to reach the lower level where Kalphite Queen resides. A rope is consumed in process of entering the dungeon. Completion of the hard Desert Diary makes these ropes permanent once placed.

With the completion of the elite Desert Diary, a crevice shortcut can be used with level 86 Agility. The shortcut connects the lair's entrance to the entrance of the lower level.

Players with access to Dorgesh-Kaan can find a tunnel in the Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon that leads through to the Kalphite Lair, emerging near the Kalphite workers.

Fight overview

A player fights the airborne form of the Kalphite Queen.

The Kalphite Queen has a combat level of 333. Each form has 255 Hitpoints, and her Ranged and Magic attacks have 100% accuracy.^[2] She may also use a decently accurate melee attack.

Each of her attacks has a max hit of 31. Her Ranged attacks consist of her shooting barbed spines from her abdomen. Her Ranged attacks will drain 1 prayer point (which may be reduced by spectral spirit shield). If there are players close to the person being targeted with this attack they will also be hit. To avoid this, players can stand on opposite sides of the Kalphite Queen. Her Magic attack bounces from player to player.

In addition to her highly accurate attacks, the Kalphite Queen also makes use of overhead Protection prayers. However, unlike other prayer-using monsters (such as Sigmund), these do not provide full immunity, but rather improved defence against them. The first form will simultaneously have Protect from Magic and Protect from Missiles active, while the second form will only have Protect from Melee active. While it's possible to kill the Queen with one combat style, it is recommended to bring two for an easier fight.

The Kalphite Queen transforming to her second form.

When the first form is killed, it takes 20 game ticks (12 seconds) for the transition into the second airborne form. During this transformation, an animation can be seen where Kalphite Queen legs fall to the ground while the Kalphite Queen sheds her exoskeleton.

If the second form stays alive for over 20 minutes, she will revert to the first form and retain the second form's remaining hitpoints. When the first form is killed again, a second form with full health will emerge, akin to Vet'ion.

If stat-draining special attacks are used on her first form, the stat reductions will carry over to the second form.^[3]

Money making

The following money making guide is available for Kalphite Queen:

Method	Hourly profit	Skills
Killing the Kalphite Queen	473,237	80+ recommended 80+ recommended 80+ recommended 80+ recommended 70+ recommended 85+ recommended

Drops

The player will always receive two items from the Kalphite Queen's drop table: one from the regular drop table, and one from the Consumables table.

Drop rates are estimated based on 1,384,065 samples from the Drop Rate Project, unless otherwise cited.

Konar task	Average drop value
Konar task	GE	HA
No	42,948.14	11,497.41
Yes	44,534.35	11,975.26

Consumables

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Monkfish	3	1/9	465	414
Shark	2	1/9	2,106	204
Dark crab	2	1/9	2,918	384
Saradomin brew(4)	1	1/9	6,849	120
Prayer potion(4)	2	1/9	18,330	228
Super restore(4)	1	1/9	9,975	180
Super combat potion(2)	1	1/9	6,022	54
Ranging potion(3)	1	1/9	1,397	172
Superantipoison(2)	1	1/9	662	129

Weapons and armour

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Battlestaff	10 (noted)	5/126	71,800	42,000
Rune chainbody	1	4/126	29,611	30,000
Red d'hide body	1	4/126	5,755	6,738
Rune knife(p++)	25	4/126	3,900	2,475
Lava battlestaff	1	2/126	9,223	10,200

Runes and ammunition

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Death rune	150	6/126	27,750	16,200
Blood rune	100	6/126	37,400	24,000
Mithril arrow	500	5/126	3,000	9,500
Rune arrow	250	3/126	11,750	60,000

Herbs

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Grimy toadflax	25 (noted)	2/126	47,475	275
Grimy ranarr weed	25 (noted)	2/126	131,550	450
Grimy snapdragon	25 (noted)	2/126	180,450	300
Grimy torstol	25 (noted)	2/126	73,850	375

Seeds

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Torstol seed	2	4/126	30,926	84
Watermelon seed	25	3/126	5,850	825
Papaya tree seed	2	3/126	2,738	138
Palm tree seed	2	3/126	32,842	304
Magic seed	2	3/126	139,116	506

Resources

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Runite bar	3 (noted)	5/126	36,795	9,000
Bucket of sand	100 (noted)	4/126	700	100
Gold ore	250 (noted)	4/126	36,000	22,500
Magic logs	60 (noted)	4/126	45,840	11,520
Uncut emerald	25 (noted)	3/126	11,825	750
Uncut ruby	25 (noted)	3/126	27,175	1,500
Uncut diamond	25 (noted)	3/126	60,975	3,000

Other

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Wine of zamorak	60 (noted)	10/126	62,160	0
Potato cactus	100 (noted)	8/126	7,100	0
Coins	15,000–20,000	5/126	15,000–20,000	15,000–20,000
Grapes	100 (noted)	5/126	6,400	0
Weapon poison(++)	5 (noted)	5/126	11,395	1,295
Cactus spine	10 (noted)	3/126	14,420	0

Rare drop table

There is a 1/126 chance of rolling the rare drop table.

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Nothing	N/A	1/694.46; Never^{[d 1]}	N/A	N/A
Coins	3,000	1/768	3,000	3,000
Uncut sapphire	1	1/3,225.6; 1/1,638^{[d 2]}	228	15
Loop half of key	1	1/800.15; 1/794.18^{[d 2]}	9,756	60
Tooth half of key	1	1/800.15; 1/794.18^{[d 2]}	9,887	60
Uncut emerald	1	1/6,451.2; 1/3,276^{[d 2]}	473	30
Uncut ruby	1	1/12,902.4; 1/6,552^{[d 2]}	1,087	60
Runite bar	1	1/3,225.6	12,265	3,000
Nature rune	67	1/5,376	11,457	7,236
Rune 2h sword	1	1/5,376	38,123	38,400
Rune battleaxe	1	1/5,376	24,639	24,960
Law rune	45	1/8,064	5,535	6,480
Death rune	45	1/8,064	8,325	4,860
Steel arrow	150	1/8,064	900	1,050
Rune arrow	42	1/8,064	1,974	10,080
Adamant javelin	20	1/8,064	800	1,920
Rune sq shield	1	1/8,064	22,747	23,040
Dragonstone	1	1/8,064	10,735	6,000
Silver ore	100 (noted)	1/8,064	6,200	4,500
Chaos talisman	1	1/34,406.4; 1/17,472^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	236	2
Nature talisman	1	1/34,406.4; 1/17,472^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	268	2
Uncut diamond	1	1/51,609.6; 1/26,208^{[d 2]}	2,439	120
Rune kiteshield	1	1/16,128	32,110	32,640
Dragon med helm	1	1/16,128	58,090	60,000
Rune spear	1	1/17,025.85; 1/1,975.48^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	11,599	12,480
Rune javelin	5	1/103,219.2; 1/52,416^{[d 2]}	675	1,200
Shield left half	1	1/34,051.69; 1/3,950.95^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	65,355	66,000
Dragon spear	1	1/45,402.26; 1/5,267.94^{[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
Kq head (tattered)	1	Once^{[d 1]}	Not sold	30,000
Ensouled kalphite head	1	1/20	996	259
Brimstone key	1	1/54^{[d 2]}	Not sold	N/A
Clue scroll (elite)	1	1/100^{[d 3]}^{[d 4]}	Not sold	12
Kq head	1	1/128^[4]	Not sold	30,000
Dragon chainbody	1	1/128^[4]	182,499	150,000
Dragon 2h sword	1	1/256^[4]	131,999	132,000
Dragon pickaxe	1	1/400	575,223	58,770
Jar of sand	1	1/2,000	634,549	0
Kalphite princess	1	1/3,000^[5]	Not sold	N/A

^ Players will always receive a Kq head (tattered) only on their 256th Kalphite Queen kill, or the first kill after its release if their kill count is above 256.
^ Brimstone keys are only dropped if killed on a Slayer task given by Konar quo Maten.
^ The elite clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/95 after unlocking the elite Combat Achievements rewards tier.
^ Clue scrolls will drop as scroll boxes after the completion of X Marks the Spot.

Combat Achievements

There are 5 Combat Achievement tasks (totalling 18 points) available for Kalphite Queen.

Name	Description	Type	Tier	Comp%
Chitin Penetrator	Kill the Kalphite Queen while her defence was last lowered by you.	Mechanical	Hard (3 pts)	22.7%
Kalphite Queen Adept	Kill the Kalphite Queen 25 times.	Kill Count	Hard (3 pts)	17.9%
Kalphite Queen Veteran	Kill the Kalphite Queen 50 times.	Kill Count	Elite (4 pts)	15.5%
Prayer Smasher	Kill the Kalphite Queen using only the Verac's Flail as a weapon.	Restriction	Elite (4 pts)	11.3%
Insect Deflection	Kill the Kalphite Queen by using the Vengeance spell as the finishing blow.	Mechanical	Elite (4 pts)	12.8%

Changes

Date	Changes
25 June 2025 (Update)	The Kalphite Queen now has a 40% elemental weakness to fire spells.
25 January 2023 (Update)	The Kalphite Queen can now drop the dragon pickaxe at a rate of 1/400.
22 June 2022 (Update)	Ironmen fighting the Kalphite Queen will no longer find her lair devoid of Potato Cacti.
9 March 2022 (Update)	Ironmen now have their own separate Kalphite Queen instance. Two braziers have been added in the Kalphite Lair. One is located near the shortcut, and the other is at a safe spot away from the high-level Kalphite by the entrance. If they are lit it shows there is someone in the Ironman instance.
2 February 2022 (Update)	Implemented more rigorous tracking to detect alternate accounts aiding Iron players by luring the Kalphite Queen. Additionally, if combat against her halts for more than five minutes, she'll reset her health completely so that her next opponent has a fresh boss to fight.
25 November 2020 (Update)	Permanent ropes at the entrance to and inside the Kalphite Lair now require the completion of the Desert Hard diary instead of Elite.
27 February 2020 (Update)	Players can no longer use mithril seeds in the Kalphite Queen's chamber.
19 November 2015 (Update \| poll)	The Kalphite Queen now gives slayer experience reflecting the total hitpoints of both forms, rather than just the second.
16 July 2015 (Update)	The peek option now works when a rope is attached to the tunnel entrance.
2 July 2015 (Update \| poll)	Slayer XP for killing the boss now is awarded to the player who deals the most damage to both forms. The agility shortcut unlocked as a reward from the Elite Desert achievement diary now takes you from the very start of the Kalphite Lair directly to the entrance of the Kalphite Queen boss room.
25 June 2015 (Update \| poll)	Added a 'peek' option to the entrance of this boss, allowing players to see the number of other players currently in the boss room. Drops are now assigned to the player who has done the most damage to both forms, rather than just the second.
18 December 2014 (Update \| poll)	The drop table was buffed and reworked: the Kalphite Queen now always has two drops with the first being food or a potion and the second being a standard drop. The average value of each kill was increased to be roughly 50% higher (based on prices at the time of the update). Most of the drops remained unchanged with some of the lower value loots replaced with new, more valuable drops. Elite clue scrolls were made twice as common.
17 July 2014 (Update \| poll)	Players now have a chance to receive a pet version of this boss after defeating it.
26 June 2014 (Update \| poll)	The Kalphite Queen now offers a much more rewarding range of drops.
6 February 2014 (Update \| poll)	All nearby players are now notified of the dropped loot.
8 May 2007 (Update)	The NPC was graphically updated.
20 February 2006 (Update)	The Kalphite Queen can now drop the dragon 2h sword.
27 September 2004 (Update)	The Kalphite Queen can now use a ranged attack in addition to her magic and melee attacks.

Gallery (historical)


7 September 2004 – 8 May 2007	8 May 2007 – present


7 September 2004 – 8 May 2007	8 May 2007 – present

Gallery

The Kalphite Queen Steam Trading Card.

Trivia

The Kalphite Queen was the first monster to use multiple simultaneous overhead protection prayer symbols.
The Kalphite Queen was developed by Mod Bennett, who also created the outer area of Mor Ul Rek and the TzHaar Fight Cave. During development, the Kalphite Queen was considered an extremely difficult boss to kill, as she was able to kill testers even as they used cheats to heal themselves.^[6]
According to the Kalphite Queen head (mounted), kalphites used to overrun all of Gielinor before being forced underground.
The Kalphite Queen despawns after approximately 1 hour when flinching in a private GIM instance.

References

^ Display case in Varrock Museum natural history exhibit, southern wing. "Kalphite Queen (Kalphiscarabeinae Pasha)"
^ Jagex. Mod Ash's Twitter account. 3 June 2015. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020.
^ Jagex. Mod Ash's Twitter account. 8 May 2017. Archived from the original on 26 May 2020. Mod Ash: "Yes [when the defence is lowered on KQ's first form it stays lowered on the second form], same with Vet'ion."
^ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 Envision. "Drop Rates V2." Old School RuneScape Forums.
^ Jagex. Mod JohnC's Twitter account. 8 September 2014. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Mod JohnC: "Batch 2 of the Boss Pet Drop Rates! How (un)lucky have you been? Kraken, Thermy & Penance queen next week!"
^ Mod Ash. "21 Years at Jagex + RuneFest Medley (Deluxe) music video | AMA". Reddit. 24 July 2025. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Mod Ash: "The TzHaar area was made by Mod Bennett, implementer of much of RS2's original combat code, and one of the most technically proficient devs of the 2004-6 era. [...] Mod Bennett made the KQ too, as the first boss that hadn't been in RS Classic. She was considered so hard that testers died even while using cheats to heal themselves. I believe Mod Bennett was trying out the capabilities of the new combat system he'd written, leaning into the different combat styles that wouldn't have existed in the same way in Classic."

Predecessor	Title	Successor
King Black Dragon	Strongest monster in RuneScape	TzTok-Jad

Kalphite

Monsters

Locations

NPCs	Kalphite Larva Entomologist Weird Old Man
Items	Entomologist's diary Jar of sand Kalphite princess Kq Head ^(tattered)
Other	Crevice Kalphite queen legs

Bosses

World bosses

	The Hueycoatl Scurrius Giant Mole Deranged archaeologist Sarachnis Kalphite Queen Corporeal Beast Gemstone Crab
The Barrows Brothers	Ahrim the Blighted Karil the Tainted Dharok the Wretched Guthan the Infested Torag the Corrupted Verac the Defiled
The Dagannoth Kings	Dagannoth Prime Dagannoth Rex Dagannoth Supreme
God Wars Dungeon	Kree'arra Commander Zilyana General Graardor K'ril Tsutsaroth Nex
Moons of Peril	Eclipse Moon Blue Moon Blood Moon
The Wilderness bosses	Revenant maledictus Chaos Fanatic Crazy archaeologist Scorpia King Black Dragon Chaos Elemental Vet'ion (Calvar'ion) Venenatis (Spindel) Callisto (Artio)

Instanced bosses

	Amoxliatl Brutus (Demonic) Royal Titans (Branda the Fire Queen) (Eldric the Ice King) Zulrah Vorkath Phantom Muspah The Nightmare (Phosani's Nightmare) Yama Doom of Mokhaiotl Maggot King Mad Angel
Sporadic bosses	Obor Bryophyta The Mimic Hespori Skotizo
The Forgotten Four	The Leviathan The Whisperer Vardorvis Duke Sucellus

Slayer bosses

Minigame bosses

Skilling bosses

Raids

Chambers of Xeric	Tekton Vanguard Vespula Vasa Nistirio Muttadile Great Olm
Theatre of Blood	The Maiden of Sugadinti Pestilent Bloat Nylocas Vasilias Sotetseg Xarpus Verzik Vitur
Tombs of Amascut	Akkha Ba-Ba Kephri Zebak Tumeken's Warden Elidinis' Warden

Monarchs and Rulers

Current

	Sir Amik Varze Prince Anlaf King Awowogei King Bolren Queen Ellamaria Emir King Gjuki Sorvott IV Duke Horacio Pharaoh Kemesis Lord Lowerniel Drakan Mawnis Burowgar King Narnode Shareen King Roald III Queen Sigrid King Thoros King Vallance King Vargas
Keldagrim	Consortium Blue Opal Director Brown Engine Director Green Gemstone Director Purple Pewter Director Silver Cog Director White Chisel Director Yellow Fortune Director
Tirannwn	Prifddinas Elders Lord Ieuan Amlodd Lord Baxtorian Cadarn Lord Piquan Crwys Lady Carys Hefin Lord Iestin Iorwerth Lady Kelyn Ithell Lady Ffion Meilyr Lady Tangwen Trahaearn
Kourend	King Artur Hosidius Lord Kandur Hosidius^† Lord Pandur Hosidius Lady Shauna Piscarilius Lord Shiro Shayzien Lord Trobin Arceuus Lady Vulcana Lovakengj
Varlamore	Queen Zyanyi Arkan Prince Itzla Arkan
Monsters	Dagannoth Kings Ice Troll King Kalphite Queen King Black Dragon Sea Troll Queen
Other worlds	King Arthur Fairy Queen King Percival

Former

	Lady Aenwyn Iorwerth^† King Alvis^† King Argenthorg^† Arianwyn Cadarn King Ascertes^† King Baxtorian King Bolrie King Claudius^† King Danthalas^† Efaritay Hallow The Fisher King Queen Glarial^† Hazeel King Healthorg^† Lady Iorwerth^† Lord Iorwerth^† Lady Ithell (Fourth Age)^† Jatizso^† King Lathas^† King Narras^† Neitiznot^† Osmumten^† King Raddallin^† Queen Rashiliyia^† Red Axe Director King Roald I^† King Roald II^† King Tyras^† King Ulthas^† Zaros
Kourend	Council of Elders Grand Lord King Rada I^† King Rada II^† King Rada III^† Lord Arceuus I^† Lord Arceuus II^† Lord Ethrain Hosidius I^† Lord Hosidius II^† Lord Hosidius III^† King Hosidius V^† Lord Lovakengj I^† Lord Lovakengj II^† Lord Lovakengj III^† Lord Piscarilius I^† Lord Piscarilius II^† Lord Seabry Shayzien^† Lord Shayzien I^† Lord Shayzien II^† King Shayzien III^† King Shayzien IV^† King Shayzien VII^† Xeric King Byrne I^† King Byrne II^† King Byrne III^† Queen Biyrene I^† Queen Biyrene II^† King Agata IV^† King Kharedst I^† King Kharedst II^† King Kharedst III^† King Kharedst IV^† Kourend Council Councillor Andrews Councillor Hughes^† Councillor Orson^† Councillor Unkar King Kandur Hosidius^†
Varlamore	King Marhuitz^† King Maximus^† Imafore Tullus^† Mezpah Arkan^†

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