In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), one of the most rewarding aspects of endgame PvM (Player versus Monster) is the opportunity to face some of the toughest and most profitable bosses the game has to offer. One such boss is Commander Zilyana, the leader of the Saradomin faction in the God Wars Dungeon. Zilyana is known for her high-value drops, including Saradomin's sword, ZGS (Zilyana's God Sword), and a host of other rare and valuable items. As a result, she is a popular target for players seeking to make OSRS gold through bossing.

This guide will walk you through the steps needed to effectively kill Commander Zilyana, as well as provide strategies and insights for maximizing your profit. Whether you're new to bossing or an experienced PvMer, this guide will help you achieve the most efficient kills possible while also optimizing your earnings.

Why Fight Commander Zilyana?

Before diving into the mechanics and strategies for fighting Zilyana, it's important to understand why she is such a sought-after target. Commander Zilyana offers several advantages for those looking to make money in OSRS:

High-Value Drops: Zilyana drops several high-value items, including:

Saradomin's sword (which can be worth 20-30 million GP, depending on market fluctuations),

Zilyana's God Sword (ZGS), a popular weapon for PvM and PvP,

Saradomin brews, Super restore potions, and other useful items.

Herbs, seeds, and other valuable resources that contribute to significant profit per kill.

Accessible for All Players: Zilyana is one of the easier bosses in God Wars Dungeon, especially for players who are adept at Ranged combat. Her mechanics are relatively simple, and her loot is highly sought after, making her a profitable target for both solo players and teams.

Solo and Group Options: Zilyana can be killed solo or as part of a group, and both approaches offer significant rewards. Solo kills are typically more challenging but can yield better rewards in terms of loot per hour, while group kills can be faster and offer a more consistent flow of loot.

Requirements for Killing Zilyana

Before you can begin hunting Zilyana, there are several key requirements and preparations that need to be addressed:

1. Access to the God Wars Dungeon

To fight Zilyana, you need to access the God Wars Dungeon, which requires completing the quest "The Path of Glouphrie". You'll then need to find your way to the Saradomin section of the dungeon, where Zilyana resides. In this area, you will also encounter several of Saradomin's minions, who will attack you on sight.

2. Saradomin's Favour

Once inside the Saradomin faction area of the God Wars Dungeon, you must avoid being attacked by Saradomin's minions. To do so, you need to equip Saradomin-related gear (such as Saradomin's sword or ZGS) or wear an Ava's device, which will give you the required factional favor.

3. Combat Level and Skills

Although Zilyana can be defeated with varying combat levels, a higher level will make the fight significantly easier and more profitable. Here are some recommended requirements:

85+ Combat Level: This will allow you to survive in the dungeon and withstand Zilyana's damage.

70+ Ranged: Since Zilyana's main combat style is magic and melee, Ranged is the safest and most effective method to deal damage. You'll be attacking her from a distance, which allows you to avoid much of her damage.

70+ Prayer: This is necessary for using prayers like Protect from Melee and Protect from Magic, which will help mitigate the damage you take.

70+ Defence: Higher Defence allows you to reduce the damage from Zilyana's attacks.

4. Potions and Supplies

The following supplies are essential for efficiently fighting Zilyana:

Prayer Potions: To maintain your prayers during the fight.

Saradomin Brews: For healing and increasing your defensive stats.

Super Restore Potions: To restore Prayer points and keep you in the fight longer.

Ranging Potions: To increase your Ranged damage output.

Optimal Gear for Killing Commander Zilyana

The gear setup plays a crucial role in your success against Zilyana. Below are some of the best gear setups for both solo and group kills.

Solo Setup

For solo kills, your main priorities are maximizing your Ranged damage while also staying protected against Zilyana's Melee and Magic attacks. Here's a recommended gear setup:

Head: Karil's Hood or Armadyl Helmet (to maximize Ranged damage or Defence).

Body: Karil's Crossbow or Armadyl Chestplate (for Ranged DPS or tanky defence).

Legs: Karil's Skirt or Armadyll's Trousers (for maximum Ranged damage and defence).

Weapon: Karil's Crossbow or Dark Bow (preferably with Ava's Device for damage boosting).

Shield: God Book (e.g., Saradomin Book) for prayer bonuses and additional magic defence.

Boots: Pegasian Boots (for Ranged boosts and speed).

Gloves: Barrows Gloves (best all-around option for combat).

Cape: Fire Cape (or God Cape if you prefer the additional defensive stats).

Group Setup

In a group setup, the focus should be on maximizing damage and ensuring that all team members are supported with Protection prayers. A Tank will be needed, especially when dealing with the minions in the area. You'll also want to bring several Ranged DPS and a healer to manage any damage taken during the encounter.

Fighting Zilyana: Battle Strategy

Once you've reached Commander Zilyana's lair, it's time to execute your strategy. Here's a breakdown of the battle mechanics and tips to make the fight go as smoothly as possible:

1. Avoid the Minions

Zilyana is surrounded by her loyal followers, and her minions will attack you on sight. To avoid this, make sure you have the necessary Saradomin gear to protect yourself from them. You can use Saradomin's sword or other Saradomin-related items to stop them from becoming a nuisance during the fight.

2. Prayer Setup

The key to defeating Zilyana efficiently lies in proper prayer management:

Protect from Melee: Use this prayer to mitigate damage from Zilyana's melee attacks.

Protect from Magic: Activate this prayer to reduce damage from her magic attacks.

You will want to keep these prayers active throughout the fight. Prayer potions and Super Restore potions will be necessary to keep your Prayer points topped up.

3. Ranged Attack Strategy

Since Zilyana's melee and magic attacks can be overwhelming, Ranged is the best option to attack her from a safe distance. Use Karil's Crossbow or Dark Bow to deal consistent damage from a distance. Be mindful of your prayer and health—Saradomin Brews can help you maintain high HP while attacking from range.

4. Minions and Mechanics

Zilyana summons minions that can heal her, so it's crucial to take them out quickly. Use Ava's Device to boost your damage output, and make sure to stay focused on Zilyana while managing the minions.

5. Healing and Maintaining Prayer

Keep your Saradomin Brews and Super Restore Potions handy to keep your health topped up and Prayer points restored. The more efficiently you manage your resources, the quicker the kill will be.

Profitable Drops from Zilyana

The loot you receive from Commander Zilyana can be highly profitable. Some of her notable drops include:

Saradomin's Sword: Often one of the most valuable drops, typically worth 20-30 million GP.

Zilyana's God Sword (ZGS): A highly sought-after item for PvM, often worth 10-20 million GP.

Saradomin Brews: These are worth around 10k each and are useful for high-level PvM.

Super Restore Potions: Worth around 5-7k each and can be very profitable when looted in large quantities.

Herbs, Seeds, and Miscellaneous Items: These can add significant value, especially when accumulated over many kills.

Maximizing Profit per Hour

To maximize your moneymaking potential, here are some tips:

Efficient Prayer Management: Minimize the amount of prayer potions you use by being efficient with your prayer switching.

Team Kills: If you're struggling with solo kills, consider teaming up with others. Group kills are faster and can yield a more consistent stream of loot.

Looting and Banking Efficiently: Use teleports such as Home Teleport to quickly bank your loot between kills and maximize your time spent killing Zilyana.

Conclusion

Fighting Commander Zilyana is a highly rewarding PvM activity in OSRS, offering both high XP and significant profit per hour. With the right gear, strategy, and preparation, you can make substantial amounts of cheap RS gold while enjoying a relatively straightforward boss fight. Whether you're a solo player or part of a team, Zilyana offers a lucrative challenge that can easily become one of your go-to moneymaking methods in the game. Happy bossing!