Slayer is one of the most rewarding and versatile skills in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). It allows players to combat unique monsters, earn valuable loot, and gain experience in combat skills. One of the more accessible and popular Slayer tasks is Basilisks, a monster that combines good Slayer experience rates with decent rewards. Whether you're a Slayer veteran or a mid-level player looking for a profitable task, Basilisks are an excellent choice for training.

In this comprehensive OSRS Basilisks Slayer Guide, we'll walk you through how to kill Basilisks efficiently, the best gear setups, task strategies, and OSRS gold you can expect.

What Are Basilisks in OSRS?

Basilisks are reptilian monsters that can be assigned to players as part of a Slayer task. They reside in the Kourend Catacombs on Zeah, a massive dungeon filled with a variety of Slayer monsters. Basilisks are known for their petrifying gaze, which can freeze you in place temporarily. While they are not incredibly difficult to defeat, their unique mechanic requires a bit of preparation.

The most notable rewards from killing Basilisks are Basilisk jaws, which are used to create the Basilisk helmet-a popular item for Slayer tasks due to its slayer experience boost and combat bonuses.

Requirements for Basilisk Slayer Tasks

Before you can take on Basilisks, there are a few requirements and recommendations to consider:

1. Slayer Level

To be assigned Basilisks as a Slayer task, you must have a Slayer level of 40. This is considered a mid-level task, so make sure your Slayer skill is at least level 40 to receive Basilisks as a task from Slayer Masters.

2. Kourend Catacombs Access

Basilisks are located in the Kourend Catacombs, which are found on the continent of Zeah. To access the catacombs, you need to complete The Kinship quest. This quest is relatively short and grants you Slayer experience as well as the ability to enter the catacombs.

3. Recommended Combat Level

Basilisks are relatively high hitpoint monsters with moderate damage, so you'll need to be able to handle them. While level 70-80 combat is ideal for efficiently completing Basilisk tasks, lower-level players can still tackle the task with the proper preparation. Higher-level players with better equipment can kill Basilisks much faster.

4. Prayer Requirement

Although it is not strictly required, having access to the Protect from Melee prayer is highly recommended. Basilisks deal significant melee damage, and using Protection Prayer will reduce the damage you take, making the task more efficient.

Basilisk Mechanics

Basilisks have some unique mechanics, which you need to be aware of to complete the task effectively:

Petrification (Freezing Effect)

Basilisks use their petrifying gaze to freeze players in place. When you are affected by this gaze, you become immobilized for a short period, during which the Basilisk will continue to attack. While it is not a highly dangerous mechanic, it can disrupt your training efficiency.

To avoid the petrification effect:

Use the Protect from Melee prayer, which negates the stun effect entirely.

Alternatively, you can equip a Basilisk Jaw if you are looking to skip the effect entirely, but this is not required for most players.

Best Gear for Killing Basilisks

Basilisks are a melee-based Slayer task, but you can use ranged or magic setups if you prefer. However, melee is typically the best choice due to the Basilisk's melee-based combat style and the fact that they drop useful gear for melee users.

Here's a breakdown of some of the most effective gear setups for this Slayer task:

Melee Setup (Most Common and Efficient)

Helmet: Slayer Helmet (boosts your damage and accuracy for Slayer tasks)

Amulet: Amulet of Glory or Amulet of Power (provides attack and strength bonuses)

Body: Bandos Chestplate or Karil's Cross (both are solid choices for high defense and damage)

Legs: Bandos Tassets or Karil's Cross (focus on defense and offensive stats)

Boots: Dragon Boots or Bandos Boots (good defense and strength bonuses)

Gloves: Barrows Gloves (provides both offense and defense bonuses)

Weapon: Abyssal Whip (excellent weapon for fast kills and high damage output), or Saradomin Sword (good for faster kills and healing with the special attack).

Ring: Ring of Wealth (boosts drop rate of rare items) or Warrior Ring (if you want more damage output).

Cape: Fire Cape (best-in-slot for melee combat) or Ava's Device (if you're using ranged).

This gear setup provides a solid mix of damage output, defense, and Slayer task efficiency.

Alternative Ranged/Magic Setup

If you prefer using ranged or magic for the task:

Ranged: Karil's Crossbow with Broad arrowheads or Blowpipe for faster kills.

Magic: Trident of the Seas or Ahrim's Staff for consistent damage output, though these setups are generally less efficient than melee.

While ranged and magic setups can be effective, melee is generally more resource-efficient for Basilisks due to their low defense and high hitpoints.

How to Kill Basilisks Efficiently

1. Enter the Kourend Catacombs

To start your task, head to the Kourend Catacombs on Zeah, located south of the Shayzien House. Once you're inside, you'll find Basilisks among other Slayer monsters in the catacombs. You can use a games necklace to teleport directly to the catacombs, or you can use fairy rings (if unlocked) for easier access.

2. Activate Protection Prayers

To protect yourself from Basilisk's melee attacks, use Protect from Melee when you're attacking the monsters. If you don't have the protection prayer unlocked, be prepared to eat food and heal with Saradomin brews or Sharks.

3. Efficiently Kill Basilisks

With the right gear and prayer protection, Basilisks are relatively straightforward to kill. Basilisks have high hitpoints, so bringing a high DPS (damage-per-second) weapon like the Abyssal Whip will ensure quicker kills and better Slayer experience rates.

4. Looting and Managing Drops

Basilisks have a decent loot table. Aside from the standard coins and runes, they drop Basilisk jaws (used for making the Basilisk helmet) and Basilisk head (which you can use to prevent petrification effects). Other drops include useful Slayer-related items like cheap RuneScape gold, runes, and herbs.

Rewards from Killing Basilisks

1. Basilisk Jaws and Basilisk Helmet

One of the primary rewards from killing Basilisks is the Basilisk jaw, which can be used to craft the Basilisk helmet. The Basilisk helmet is a unique item that gives you a 10% damage boost on Slayer tasks, making it extremely useful for both training and future Slayer tasks.

2. Slayer Experience

Each Basilisk kill provides slayer experience, with a solid 13.3 XP per kill. The kills are generally quick (with good gear), making it a relatively efficient task for gaining Slayer experience. For most players, 100-200 kills per hour is a reasonable expectation with the right gear.

3. Coins and Other Loot

Basilisks also drop valuable items like coins, runes, herbs, and other Slayer-related resources. Additionally, rare drops like the Basilisk Jaw can be sold for a significant amount of coins in the Grand Exchange, making this task not only a great way to level up Slayer but also a good way to earn money.

Conclusion

The Basilisk Slayer task is an excellent choice for mid-level players looking to level up Slayer, gain valuable rewards, and profit from their efforts. With proper preparation, the task is straightforward and efficient. The Basilisk helmet is an especially valuable item, and the drops from Basilisks, like Basilisk jaws and herbs, can provide excellent returns. Whether you're focused on Slayer experience or making money, the Basilisk Slayer task is a must-do for many players in OSRS.