View source for Dust devil/Strategies

[[File:Dust_devil.png|right|140px]]
[[Dust devil]]s are a slayer monster requiring 65 [[Slayer]] to kill. Players must start [[Desert Treasure I]] before dust devils may be assigned as a Slayer task. When using [[Ice Barrage]] and fought in the [[Catacombs of Kourend]], dust devils can provide high Slayer experience rates per hour, varying on how well the player can group them and collecting their loot. Valuable common drops like the [[air battlestaff]] as well as [[mystic air staff]] generally compensate the rune cost when bursting. Barraging generally loses money or breaks even, yet yields much better Slayer experience rates.

==Requirements==
*Level {{SCP|Slayer|65}}
*Level {{SCP|Prayer|43}} for [[Protect from Melee]]

===Recommendations===
*Level {{SCP|Magic|94}} for [[Ice Barrage]]. [[Ice Burst]] could be used at {{SCP|Magic|70}}.
*High {{SCP|Defence}} to equip mage armour such as [[ancestral robes]].
*Level {{SCP|Construction|82+}} for an [[ornate pool]] and [[portal nexus]] for a teleport to [[Kourend Castle]]. Alternatively bring a [[xerics talisman|Xeric's talisman]] and use the option Xeric's Heart to teleport to Kourend Castle and a [[ring of dueling]] for teleports to [[Ferox Enclave]] to restore stats.
Additionally, having a [[bonecrusher]] helps save on Prayer potions since burying bones inside the Catacombs of Kourend also restores Prayer points.

==Getting there==
Bank with preferred banking method; Kourend Castle has a bank on the {{FloorNumber|uk=2}}. Use your house portal or Xeric's talisman to teleport to Kourend Castle. Investigate the statue in the courtyard to enter the Catacombs. Run east, then south, then east again. If your room has bloodvelds in it you went too far. This room and the southern room contain the dust devils.

==Mechanics==
===Attack styles===
The dust devils attack only with a [[melee]] attack. [[Protect from Melee]] will prevent all damage.

===Dust===
The dust devils use clouds of dust, sand, ash, and whatever else they can inhale to blind and disorient their victims. Players not wearing a [[facemask]] or [[Slayer helmet]] will take very rapid damage that also drains stats. When using the slayer helmet to check how many kills you have left on the task, take care not to misclick on unequipping the helmet; this can quickly lead to a death with dust devils attacking you.

==Tips==
===Grouping===
The most effective method for dust devils is to group and burst them in the [[Catacombs of Kourend]]. Turn on Protect from Melee, then attack the dust devils with a fast ranged weapon (such as darts or toxic blowpipe) to get them aggressive towards you. Run to a side which has two corners adjacent to each other and run back and forth between the two corners so that the dust devils clump into a small area. Switch to magic attack and use Ice Burst/Barrage.
Since the dust devils have very little Magic defence, magical accuracy doesn't matter much, and players may choose to use equipment with high Prayer bonus to save Prayer potion doses, though you will want to keep your magic attack bonus higher than about -20. Equipment that increases magic strength, such as a [[Tormented bracelet]], Ancestral robes,  Ahrim's Robes, Imbued god cape, [[Occult necklace]] and [[Elidinis' ward]] are still worth bringing for their ability to increase your max hit. 

===Safespotting===
Another option is to [[safespot]] using the corridors in between rooms to shoot/cast on the dust devils without the need to pray although, this is much slower than grouping. 

[[File:Dust devil (Catacombs of Kourend) safespot.png|thumb|295x295px|A safespot in the Catacombs, just south of the Warped Jellies.]]{{clear}}

==Equipment==
===Magic===
{{Equipment
|align = right
|buttons = No
|head = Slayer helmet (i)
|cape = Imbued saradomin cape
|neck = Occult necklace
|ammo = Rada's blessing 4
|weapon = Kodai wand
|torso = Virtus robe top
|legs = Virtus robe bottom
|shield = Elidinis' ward (f)
|gloves = Tormented bracelet
|boots = Devout boots
|ring = Magus ring
}}

{{Inventory
|align = right|Toxic blowpipe|Prayer potion|Prayer potion|Herb sack|Gem bag|Dinh's bulwark|||||||||||||||||||Explorer's ring 4|Bonecrusher|Teleport to house (tablet)|Rune pouch
}}

{{Rune pouch|align=right
|1=Water rune
|2=Blood rune
|3=Death rune
}}

This is the best-in-slot available equipment for maging dust devils. See the table below for an overview of equipment alternatives in case this setup is not accessible or too expensive.

===Notes===
*The [[occult necklace]] (+5%), [[tormented bracelet]] (+5%), [[imbued god capes]] (+2%), and [[virtus robes]] (+2% each) or [[ancestral robes]] (+3% each) increase the maximum hit of the player's Magic spells. However, the tormented bracelet is generally inefficient to use as the [[bracelet of slaughter]] will increase the task's length and maximise overall Slayer experience rates.
*It is recommended to use a staff or wand that can autocast [[Ancient Magicks]]. [[Kodai wand]] provides +15% magic damage bonus as well as infinite water runes and a chance to save runes, making it the most effective.
*Darts, knives or a blowpipe may be used to lure. The special attack of the [[Dinh's bulwark]] in conjunction with a [[Lightbearer]] may also be used to lure, however it may cause stamina issues due to its weight for players with lower agility levels.
*A [[Hunters' crossbow]] or [[Hunters' sunlight crossbow]] is also an effective luring weapon, having the same speed as shortbows and 1 more tile of range. It is also 1-handed, so magic off-hands aren't unequipped. [[Kebbit bolts]] and [[Sunlight antler bolts]] are much more expensive than the cheapest arrows and darts, however.
*A [[Venator bow|Venator Bow]] can also be effectively used.

===Equipment upgrades and downgrades===
{{Recommended equipment
| style = 
| head1 = {{Plink|Slayer helmet (i)}}
| head2 = {{Plink|Facemask}}
| neck1 = {{Plink|Occult necklace}}
| neck2 = {{plink|Dragonbone necklace}} /<br/>{{plink|Bonecrusher necklace}}
| neck3 = {{plink|Stole|pic=Saradomin stole}}
| neck4 = {{plink|Holy symbol}}/{{plink|Unholy symbol}}
| neck5 = {{plink|Amulet of fury}}
| cape1 = {{plink|God capes#Imbuing|txt=Imbued god cape|pic=Imbued saradomin cape}}
| cape2 = {{plink|Soul cape|pic=Soul cape (red)}}
| cape3 = {{Plink|Ardougne cloak 4}}
| cape4 = {{Plink|Ardougne cloak 3}}
| cape5 = {{Plink|Ardougne cloak 2}}
| body1 = {{Plink|Virtus robe top}}
| body2 = {{Plink|Ancestral robe top}}
| body3 = {{Plink|Sunfire fanatic cuirass}}
| body4 = {{Plink|Zealot's robe top}} /<br/> {{plink|Proselyte hauberk}}
| body5 = {{plink|Ahrim's robetop}} /<br/> {{plink|Blue moon chestplate}} /<br/> {{Plink|Vestment robe top|pic=Armadyl robe top}}
| legs1 = {{Plink|Virtus robe bottom}}
| legs2 = {{Plink|Ancestral robe bottom}}
| legs3 = {{Plink|Sunfire fanatic chausses}}
| legs4 = {{plink|Zealot's robe bottom}} /<br/> {{Plink|Proselyte cuisse}}
| legs5 = {{plink|Ahrim's robeskirt}} /<br/> {{plink|Blue moon tassets}} /<br/> {{Plink|Vestment robe legs|pic=Armadyl robe legs}}
| weapon1 = {{Plink|Kodai wand}}
| weapon2 = {{Plink|Nightmare staff}}
| weapon3 = {{Plink|Ancient sceptre}}
| weapon4 = {{Plink|Blue moon spear}}
| weapon5 = {{Plink|Master wand}} / <br/> {{Plink|Ancient staff}}
| shield1 = {{Plink|Elidinis' ward (f)}}
| shield2 = {{Plink|Elidinis' ward}}
| shield3 = {{Plink|Malediction ward}} / {{plink|Ancient wyvern shield}} / {{plink|Mage's book}}
| shield4 = {{Plink|Book of darkness}}
| shield5 = {{Plink|Broodoo shield|pic=Broodoo shield (combat)}} <br>/{{plink|Tome of water}} (charged) <ref>If not using [[Kodai wand]], to save on water runes.</ref> <br>/ {{Plink|God book}}
| ammo1 = {{Plink|Rada's blessing 4}}
| ammo2 = {{plink|God blessing|pic=Peaceful blessing}} <br/> {{plink|Rada's blessing 3|txt=Rada's blessing 3/2}}
| hands1 = {{plink|Bracelet of slaughter}}
| hands2 = {{Plink|Tormented bracelet}}
| hands3 = {{Plink|Barrows gloves}}
| hands4 = {{Plink|Dragon gloves}} <br/> {{Plink|Infinity gloves}}
| feet1 = {{Plink|Eternal boots}} / {{Plink|Devout boots}}
| feet2 = {{Plink|Echo boots}}
| feet3 = {{Plink|Holy sandals}}
| feet4 = {{plink|Guardian boots}}
| feet5 = {{plink|Zealot's boots}} <br/> {{plink|Ancient ceremonial boots}} <br/> {{plink|White boots}} <br/> {{plink|Blessed boots|pic=Ancient d'hide boots}}
| ring1 = {{Plink|Magus ring}}
| ring2 = {{Plink|Lightbearer}} <ref name=Spec>Particularly useful if paired with Dinh's bulwark special attack.</ref>
| ring3 = {{Plink|Ring of the gods (i)}}
| ring4 = {{Plink|Ring of suffering (i)}}
| ring5 = {{plink|Ring of shadows}} / <br/> {{plink|Explorer's ring 4}} / <br/> {{Plink|Ring of wealth}} <ref name=Wealth>For coin drops.</ref>
| special1 = {{Plink|Eldritch nightmare staff}}
| special2 = {{Plink|Dinh's bulwark}} <ref>Optional for luring.</ref>
| special3 = {{Plink|Saradomin godsword}}
| special4 = 
| special5 = 
}}

[[Category:Strategies]]