Gleason's Gielinor Guide

This article has a Slayer task guide: Black dragons.

Information and strategy regarding this Slayer task will be on this page.

Level 227Level 247
Black dragon

Released		27 February 2002 (Update)
Members		Yes
Combat level		227
Size		4x4
Examine		A fierce dragon with black scales!
Combat info
Attribute		Draconic, Fiery
XP bonus		+2.5%
Max hit		21 (Melee) 50 (Dragonfire)
Aggressive		Yes
Poisonous		No
Attack style		Slash, Dragonfire
Attack speed		4 ticks (2.4 seconds)
Respawn time		30 ticks (18 seconds)
Slayer info
Slayer level		None
Slayer XP		194.7 xp
Category		Black Dragons
Assigned by
Combat stats

190	200	200	200	100	1
Aggressive stats

+0	+0	+0	+0	+0	+0
Melee defence

+0		+70		+70
Magic defence

+60			50% weakness
Ranged defence

+50		+50		+10
Immunities
Poison		0% resistance
Venom		0% resistance
Cannons		Not immune
Thralls		Not immune
Burn		Immune (weak)
Open in DPS calculator
Advanced data
Monster ID		252,253,254,255,256,257,258,259,8084,8085
Link		MOID

Black dragons are the most powerful adult chromatic dragons. As with all adult dragons, protection from dragonfire (such as an anti-dragon shield) is recommended when fighting them, although like other common chromatic dragons, they only use dragonfire at melee range.

Black dragons are the only common chromatic dragons that drop the draconic visage. Notably, the stronger level 247 variant in the Wilderness Slayer Cave drops the draconic visage at a rate of 1/5,000, the most common out of any dragon tied with the King Black Dragon and Vorkath.

Baby black dragons, brutal black dragons, and the King Black Dragon may be killed in place of black dragons for a Slayer task; however, the KBD does not count towards a black dragon task assigned by Krystilia. Likewise, lava dragons do not count towards a black dragon task, despite their black dragonhide drop.

One is fought during Dragon Slayer II and the Recipe for Disaster Sir Amik Varze subquest.

Locations

Location	Levels	Spawns	Map
Charred Dungeon	227	5	Show map
Corsair Cove Dungeon/Myths' Guild (basement) ^{[l 1]}	227	2	Show map
Evil Chicken's Lair^{[l 2]}	227	4	Show map
Lava Maze Dungeon	227	2	Show map
Mynydd^{[l 3]}	227	1	Show map
Taverley Dungeon^{[l 4]}	227	2	Show map
Taverley Dungeon (Upper Level)^{[l 5]}	227	12	Show map
Wilderness Slayer Cave	247	3	Show map

^ Requires completion of Dragon Slayer II
^ Requires partial completion of Recipe for Disaster: Sir Amik Varze
^ Requires completion of Song of the Elves
^ Requires either a dusty key or 70 Agility.
^ Requires a black dragon Slayer task.

Location comparisons

In the Taverley Dungeon, 2 black dragons spawn north-west near the Obelisk of Fire and can be safe-spotted behind the ladder, while 12 spawn in the upper level along with 5 baby black dragons. The ones in the upper level can only be killed when assigned black dragons as a Slayer task, otherwise the player will be stopped by Slieve if they attempt to attack them off-task. A dusty key or 70 Agility (80 if using the strange floor shortcut) is required to access the west side of the dungeon; the task-only area can be accessed by using the steps near the entrance.

The Evil Chicken's Lair contains 4 black dragons. Killing them here requires starting Sir Amik Varze's subquest in Recipe for Disaster, and until the dragon token is redeemed, they will only drop it and these are 100% drops. Accessing this area requires a raw chicken offered to the chicken shrine in Zanaris. The dragon token is no longer obtainable after completing the subquest.

The Corsair Cove Dungeon contains 2 black dragons. Accessing this area requires completion of Dragon Slayer II, but it is the closest location to a bank.

In the Wilderness, black dragons can be found in two locations: the Lava Maze Dungeon and Wilderness Slayer Cave. 2 spawn in the Lava Maze dungeon, although accessing them requires a lengthy trek through the maze unless the player has 82 Agility (boostable at 77). Some antipoison may be needed due to the presence of poison spiders near the dragons. 3 also spawn in the Wilderness Slayer Cave; these are slightly stronger than the level 227 variant and reside in a multicombat area, but are faster to access compared to the ones underneath the Lava Maze.

Safespots found in the middle of the Taverley Dungeon's upper area. Left is better because the right side is not always safe.
A safespot in the Lava Maze Dungeon.
Safespot location in the Evil Chicken's Lair.
Safespot in the Evil Chickens Lair on the east side near the mines
”Safespot” location in the Wilderness Slayer Cave.
Safespot location in the Corsair Cove Dungeon (Myths' Guild Dungeon).

Money making

The following money making guide is available for Black dragon:

Method	Hourly profit	Skills
Killing black dragons	412,112	80+ recommended 70 recommended

Drops

The following drop rates are provided by Jagex, unless otherwise specified.

Konar task	Average drop value
Konar task	GE	HA
No	9,209.64	1,917.44
Yes	10,398.12	2,261.50

100%

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Dragon bones	1	Always^{[d 1]}	3,734	96
	Black dragonhide	1	Always	3,599	90

^ Dragon bones are dropped in bank note form if players have completed the elite Wilderness Diary and are killing black dragons in the Wilderness.

Pre-roll

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Dragon token	1	Always^{[d 1]}	Not sold	0

^ The dragon token overrides normal drops, and is only dropped during the Sir Amik Varze subquest of Recipe for Disaster if the player doesn't have one already.

Weapons and armour

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Mithril 2h sword	1	4/128	1,231	1,560
Mithril axe	1	3/128	120	312
Mithril battleaxe	1	3/128	942	1,014
Rune knife	2	3/128	234	200
Mithril kiteshield	1	1/128	1,003	1,326
Adamant platebody	1	1/128	9,448	9,984
Rune longsword	1	1/128	18,733	19,200

Runes and ammunition

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Adamant javelin	30	20/128	1,590	2,880
Adamant dart(p)	16	7/128	448	624
Fire rune	50	8/128	250	100
Blood rune	15	3/128	5,010	3,600
Air rune	75	1/128	450	150
Law rune	10	5/128	1,220	1,440

Coins

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Coins	196	40/128	196	196
Coins	330	10/128	330	330
Coins	690	1/128	690	690

Other

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Dragon javelin tips	10	6/128^{[d 1]}	7,390	11,700
Adamantite bar	1	3/128	1,934	384
Chocolate cake	1	3/128	143	42

^ Dragon javelin tips are only dropped after completion of Monkey Madness II. If players have not completed the quest, they will receive nothing.

Rare and Gem drop table

There is a 2/128 chance of rolling the rare drop table. There is also a 3/128 chance of rolling the gem drop table.

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Nothing	N/A	1/68.81; Never^{[d 1]}	N/A	N/A
Coins	3,000	1/390.1	3,000	3,000
Uncut sapphire	1	1/154.57; 1/78.49^{[d 2]}	206	15
Loop half of key	1	1/378.27; 1/352.17^{[d 2]}	9,737	60
Tooth half of key	1	1/378.27; 1/352.17^{[d 2]}	9,917	60
Uncut emerald	1	1/309.13; 1/156.98^{[d 2]}	416	30
Uncut ruby	1	1/618.26; 1/313.96^{[d 2]}	1,011	60
Runite bar	1	1/1,638.4	12,185	3,000
Nature rune	67	1/2,730.67	9,112	7,236
Rune 2h sword	1	1/2,730.67	37,862	38,400
Rune battleaxe	1	1/2,730.67	24,603	24,960
Law rune	45	1/4,096	5,490	6,480
Death rune	45	1/4,096	8,460	4,860
Steel arrow	150	1/4,096	1,350	1,050
Rune arrow	42	1/4,096	1,848	10,080
Adamant javelin	20	1/4,096	1,060	1,920
Rune sq shield	1	1/4,096	22,613	23,040
Dragonstone	1	1/4,096	10,989	6,000
Silver ore	100 (noted)	1/4,096	6,700	4,500
Chaos talisman	1	1/1,648.7; 1/837.23^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	213	2
Nature talisman	1	1/1,648.7; 1/837.23^{[d 2]}^{[d 3]}	159	2
Uncut diamond	1	1/2,473.06; 1/1,255.85^{[d 2]}	2,455	120
Rune kiteshield	1	1/8,192	31,997	32,640
Dragon med helm	1	1/8,192	56,692	60,000
Rune spear	1	1/7,869.24; 1/841.11^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	11,769	12,480
Rune javelin	5	1/4,946.11; 1/2,511.7^{[d 2]}	650	1,200
Shield left half	1	1/15,738.48; 1/1,682.22^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	65,429	66,000
Dragon spear	1	1/20,984.64; 1/2,242.97^{[d 2]}^{[d 4]}	37,749	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 Reduced chance of dropping if Legends' Quest has not been completed: reduced by 9.9% with and by 17.9% without wearing a ring of wealth.

Tertiary

Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
Looting bag	1	1/3^{[d 1]}	Not sold	N/A
Ensouled dragon head	1	1/35	6,216	390
Brimstone key	1	1/75^{[d 2]}	Not sold	N/A
Clue scroll (hard)	1	1/128; 1/64^{[d 4]}^{[d 5]}^{[d 3]}	Not sold	12
Clue scroll (elite)	1	1/500; 1/250^{[d 7]}^{[d 5]}^{[d 6]}	Not sold	12
Draconic visage	1	1/10,000	3,258,862	450,000

^ Looting bags are only dropped by those found in the Wilderness.
^ Brimstone keys are only dropped if killed on a Slayer task given by Konar quo Maten.
^ The hard clue scroll rarity changes to 1/64 if a Ring of wealth (i) is worn.
^ The hard clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/121; 1/60 after unlocking the hard Combat Achievements rewards tier.
^ ^5.0 ^5.1 Clue scrolls will drop as scroll boxes after the completion of X Marks the Spot.
^ The elite clue scroll rarity changes to 1/250 if a Ring of wealth (i) is worn.
^ The elite clue scroll drop rate increases to 1/475; 1/237 after unlocking the elite Combat Achievements rewards tier.

Wilderness Slayer tertiary

The following drops are only accessible while on a Slayer task given by Krystilia.

	Item	Quantity	Rarity	Price	High Alch
	Larran's key	1	1/72	124,872	54
	Slayer's enchantment	1	1/168	1,115	720

Wilderness Slayer Cave drops

The following drop rates are provided by Jagex, unless otherwise specified.

The average black dragon in the Wilderness Slayer Cave kill is worth 13,512.76.