Rune dragon/Strategies

A player fights a rune dragon in the Lithkren Vault.

After completion of Dragon Slayer II, rune dragons can be found and fought in the Lithkren Vault. They are the strongest of all metal dragons, so caution should be exercised at all times.

Attacks

Similar to their mithril and adamant counterparts, rune dragons use standard dragonfire and attack from all sides of the combat triangle. They also have two unique special attacks:

• Electricity: Signalled by throwing two small balls that appear to be electricity on the floor, which will then arc to other tiles around the player, dealing rapid hits of 2-5 damage if the player doesn't move away. This can be reduced to 1-2 damage by wearing insulated boots.
• Life Leech: An augmented ranged attack, similar to the Life Leech effect of enchanted onyx bolts, that hits through Protect from Missiles and heals the dragon for whatever it hits on the player.

Transportation

The fastest way to get to rune dragons is by using a digsite pendant to teleport Lithkren Vault directly. Alternatively, players can take the boat by Jardric, found to the north-west of Fossil Island, to Lithkren, and navigate the ruins there to reach the vault.

Suggested skills

• 90+
• 90+
• 90+
• 94+ (optional)
• 90+
• 70+

Equipment

With base 90 Melee stats and a Osmumten's fang or dragon hunter lance, using melee against rune dragons is a reliable option. With worse weapons magic or ranged may be more effective. Rune dragons have accurate and strong attacks, so Bandos, Justiciar, or Barrows equipment is recommended along with Protect from Magic and Piety in tandem to reduce damage taken. Also, Vengeance can be used for dealing with their healing Ranged attacks. As soon as a number appears in a purple hitsplat on the dragon, prepare Vengeance.

Recommended equipment for Melee

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Slayer helmet (i) (on task)	Torva full helm	Justiciar faceguard (set effect)	Neitiznot faceguard	Helm of neitiznot
	Amulet of rancour	Amulet of torture	Amulet of fury	Amulet of glory	N/A
	File:Infernal cape.pngInfernal cape	Fire cape	Ardougne cloak 4	Ardougne cloak 3	Cape of Accomplishment (t)
	Torva platebody	Bandos chestplate	Justiciar chestguard	Barrows body	Fighter torso
	Torva platelegs	Bandos tassets	Justiciar legguards	Verac's plateskirt	Obsidian platelegs
	Dragon hunter lance	Osmumten's fang	Ghrazi rapier > Noxious halberd	Zamorakian hasta	Abyssal dagger
	Avernic defender	Dragon defender	Dragonfire shield	N/A	N/A
	Rada's blessing 4	File:Peaceful blessing.pngGod blessing / Rada's blessing 3/2	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Ferocious gloves	Barrows gloves	Dragon gloves	Rune gloves	Regen bracelet
	Insulated boots	Primordial boots	Dragon boots	Guardian boots	Bandos boots
	Ultor ring	Berserker ring (i)	Brimstone ring	Ring of suffering (i)	Treasonous ring (i)
	Voidwaker	Dragon claws	Osmumten's fang	Elder maul	N/A

Inventory

• Digsite pendant or a mounted one in POH with house tabs
• Special attack weapon choice
• 1 divine super combat potion, super combat potion or super set
• 1 extended antifire, or extended super antifire if using a shield without dragonfire protection
• 3-4 prayer potions
• Rune pouch with runes to cast Vengeance or High Level Alchemy (set warning value to 162,000) (optional)
• One-click teleport (optional)
• Food (sharks / manta rays / anglerfish / karambwan)
• Bracelet of slaughter (optional, if on task)

With level 90 Ranged and a dragon hunter crossbow, rune dragons can easily be killed due to the crossbow's passive effect, as well as circumventing their melee attack. Armadyl or Karil's equipment is recommended along with Protect from Missiles and Rigour or Eagle Eye in tandem. Also, Vengeance could be used for dealing with their healing Ranged attacks, which hits through Protect from Missiles. As soon as a number appears in a purple hitsplat on the dragon, prepare Vengeance.

Recommended equipment for Ranged

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Slayer helmet (i) (on task)	Masori mask (f)	Armadyl helmet	Helm of neitiznot	Void ranger helm
	Necklace of anguish	Amulet of fury	Amulet of glory	N/A	N/A
	Dizana's quiver	Ava's assembler	Ranging cape	Ava's accumulator	N/A
	Masori body (f)	Armadyl chestplate	Karil's leathertop	Blessed body	Elite void top
	Masori chaps (f)	Armadyl chainskirt	Karil's leatherskirt	Blessed chaps	Elite void robe
	Dragon hunter crossbow	Zaryte crossbow	Armadyl crossbow	Dragon crossbow	N/A
	Dragonfire ward	Twisted buckler	Anti-dragon shield	N/A	N/A
	File:Diamond dragon bolts (e).pngDiamond dragon bolts (e)	File:Diamond bolts (e).pngDiamond bolts (e)	File:Runite bolts.pngRunite bolts	N/A	N/A
	Zaryte vambraces	Barrows gloves	Dragon gloves	Rune gloves	Regen bracelet / Void knight gloves
	Insulated boots	Pegasian boots	Blessed boots	N/A	N/A
	Venator ring	Archers ring (i)	Ring of suffering (i)	Ring of the gods (i)	Brimstone ring

Inventory

• Digsite pendant or a mounted one in POH with house tabs
• 1 divine ranging potion or ranging potion
• 1 extended antifire, or extended super antifire if using a shield without dragonfire protection
• 3-4 prayer potions
• Rune pouch with runes to cast Vengeance or High Level Alchemy (set warning value to 162,000) (optional)
• One-click teleport (optional)
• Food (sharks / manta rays / anglerfish / karambwan)
• Bracelet of slaughter (optional, if on task)

Rune dragons have relatively low Magic defence. The most effective weapon for killing rune dragons across all styles is the Tumeken's shadow, surpassing even dragonbane weaponry. For those without a Shadow, Earth spells can be a viable alternative, especially when used with a dragon hunter wand and/or while on a slayer task. Protect from Missiles is recommended due to the dragons' accurate ranged attacks.

Recommended equipment for Magic

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Slayer helmet (i) (on task)	Ancestral hat	Virtus mask	Ahrim's hood	N/A
	Occult necklace	Amulet of fury	Amulet of glory	N/A	N/A
	Imbued god cape	God capes	Ardougne cloak 4	Ardougne cloak 3	File:Infernal cape.pngInfernal cape / Fire cape
	Ancestral robe top	Virtus robe top	Ahrim's robetop	Bloodbark body	Mystic robe top
	Ancestral robe bottom	Virtus robe bottom	Ahrim's robeskirt	Bloodbark legs	Mystic robe bottom
	Tumeken's shadow	Harmonised nightmare staff	Dragon hunter wand/Sanguinesti staff	Trident of the seas/swamp	Slayer's staff (e) (on task)
	Elidinis' ward (f)	Ancient wyvern shield	Arcane spirit shield	Elidinis' ward	Book of darkness / Anti-dragon shield
	Rada's blessing 4	File:Peaceful blessing.pngGod blessing / Rada's blessing 3/2	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Tormented bracelet	Barrows gloves	Dragon gloves	Regen bracelet	N/A
	Insulated boots	Eternal boots	Infinity boots / Aranea boots	N/A	N/A
	Magus ring	Brimstone ring	Seers ring (i)	Ring of suffering (i)	N/A

Inventory

• Digsite pendant or a mounted one in POH with house tabs
• Saturated heart
• 1 extended antifire, or extended super antifire if using a shield without dragonfire protection
• 3-4 prayer potions
• Rune pouch with runes to cast the spell of choice
• One-click teleport (optional)
• Food (sharks / manta rays / anglerfish / karambwan)
• Bracelet of slaughter (optional, if on task)