LOCAL OSRS REFERENCE

God Wars

Source revision 15356297 · Saved 2026-09-27 · Sources & credits

On this page
This article lacks references.
This page has unsourced or disputed statements. Please cite relevant sources. For more information, see here.
The God Wars Dungeon, a remnant of the conflict of the God Wars, where four godly factions fight.

The God Wars was a time of great calamity in Gielinor. The war lasted approximately 4,000 years, spanning the entire Third Age, which is synonymous with the God Wars.

During the Second Age, Zaros and his empire had almost complete control of the world. When he was betrayed and defeated by Zamorak, the Second Age ended, and the other gods began fighting for power, land and influence. However, many gods, the most significant being Saradomin and Zamorak, wanted complete control.

Soon after Zaros's defeat, a massive war broke out. The gods, at the time, could directly interact with the world, which caused destruction far beyond any seen before or after the wars. During the wars, countless civilisations, races, and animal species disappeared. Many were destroyed, while others hid themselves or went under drastic changes in order to survive. A great deal of the world itself changed, with the land being ruined or reformed. Many of these changes were so catastrophic that they continue to affect Gielinor even today.

In fact, the entire world was on the brink of destruction when the fighting awoke Guthix from his sleep. Upon the end of the First Age, Guthix went into a deep slumber that stretched over many millennia. When he awoke, he found his world in ruin. He was so enraged that he instantly ended the fighting and demanded that the gods stopped fighting their wars on Gielinor, and to continue to hold influence only through their followers. Most of the gods were banished by the Edicts of Guthix. It was at this time that the Third Age, which had lasted approximately 4,000 years, finally ended, beginning the Fourth Age.

Combatants

Every race, god, and civilisation of Gielinor was forced to fight in the God Wars at some point. While some fought constantly in the wars, others were quickly destroyed or hid themselves. Below is a partial list of significant individuals that fought in the war, although there were many more whose names have been forgotten or are who played a somewhat lesser role than those listed here.


List of combatants
Faction Individiuals Groups
Armadyleans
  • Armadyl
  • Craw†
  • Flockleader Geerin
  • Flight Kilisa
  • Kree'arra
  • Wingman Skree
Bandosians
  • Bandos
  • General Graardor
  • Sergeant Grimspike
  • Slash Bash†
  • General Snaarldor
  • Sergeant Strongstack
  • Sergeant Steelwill
Guthixians
  • Guthix
  • Ashuelot Reis† (converted from Saradominism)
  • Derwen
Menaphites
  • Elidinis
  • Icthlarin
  • Apmeken
  • Crondis
  • Het
  • Scabaras
  • Akhem
  • Sethos
Saradominists
Serenists
  • Elves
Zamorakians
Zarosians
  • Demons
    • Blood reavers
    • Ripper demons
  • Dragon riders
  • Humans
    • Ghost (Ruins of Camdozaal)†
    • Spiritual mages
    • Spiritual rangers
    • Spiritual warriors
  • Mahjarrat
Miscellanous/Unaffiliated

Major events

The God Wars gave birth to many historical battles and events, which shaped the Gielinor we know today. Listed below are known events that took place during the wars, although there are many others that have long since been forgotten.

  • After the Betrayal of Zaros, Zamorak is allegedly banished by other gods. Zamorak however returns to Gielinor 18 years later, thus beginning the God Wars.
  • Destruction of Uzer by Thammaron, chief lieutenant of Zamorak.
  • Banishing of the Dorgeshuun by Bandos. The Dorgeshuun soon erupt in a civil war, but eventually the battle ends and Dorgesh-Kaan is founded.
  • Forinthry, which was a lush forest filled with many prosperous civilisations in the Second Age, becomes the site of thousands of fierce battles. All of its civilisations are destroyed, and the land is permanently scarred after a cornered Zamorak uses the Stone of Jas to decimate the region. It is now known today as the Wilderness.
  • Lowerniel Drakan and his forces invade the Saradominist kingdom of Hallowvale, and conquer it entirely. The area is renamed to Morytania.
  • An unnamed civilisation that used to dwell in the Lumbridge area was destroyed almost completely; the light creatures in the Lumbridge Swamp Caves are all that remain.
  • The aviansie, a race of avian humanoids devoted to Armadyl, disappear. Several were frozen in a massive battle, and have recently returned to continue their battle.
  • Most of the dwarves flee beneath the surface and seal their capital, Keldagrim, from the rest of the world for thousands of years.
  • The capital of the Zarosian Empire, the city of Senntisten is conquered by Zamorakian forces. The city was later destroyed entirely and taken by Saradominists, who built the city of Saranthium over it. It is now known today as the Digsite.
  • The elves are forced to remain in Tirannwn, due to the danger of the lands beyond Arandar.
  • Zaros's followers are removed from power and exiled to the Kharidian Desert, where they live as bandits. Some of the last known Mahjarrat loyal to Zaros, Akthanakos and Azzanadra, are imprisoned in the desert as well.
  • The gnomes, like the dwarves, are forced to flee beneath the surface of the world. Their capital, the Gnome Stronghold, falls into ruination and remains in ruination until the Fourth Age.[citation needed]
  • Almost all Zarosian settlements such as Paddewwa, Kharyrll, Lassar, Dareeyak, Carrallanger, and Annakarl are destroyed.
  • The Barrows Brothers lead the forces of Saradomin into the heart of Morytania, but are mysteriously killed and buried at the Barrows.
  • A large cavern beneath the Temple of Lost Ancients north of Trollheim plays host to a massive battle between the followers of Bandos, Saradomin, Zamorak, and Armadyl. The cave is hidden during the battle, freezing the combatants. Thousands of years later, in the year 169 of the Fifth Age, the combatants are unfrozen due to tectonic movement in the Wilderness. They then resume their battle.
  • The colossal wyrms, a species of ancient dragons much more powerful than any known dragon today, are slowly wiped out from continued use in combat.
  • Orikalkum, a type of rare metal forged into armour and weapons by the dragonkin, falls into the hands of several other races such as humans and fairies.
  • The knowledge of Ancient Magicks, which were used only by followers of Zaros, is forgotten by most of Gielinor, leaving very few with the knowledge of how to use them.

Major battles

During the God Wars there were thousands of battles and wars between the people of Gielinor. Although many battles and wars of the Third Age have been forgotten, some of the more significant battles are still remembered today, such as the ones listed below.

Sources & credits

“God Wars” by Old School RuneScape Wiki contributors, revision 15356297. Text adapted under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0; adapted text is shared under the same license. Formatting and navigation changed; Wiki scripts and editing controls omitted. Game imagery © Jagex Ltd. Imported image-file descriptions retain their own credits and licensing statements.

Original source address: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/God_Wars?oldid=15356297

This saved page may differ from the current game. Interactive Wiki tools are not reproduced.

About this library and media credits

Game icons © Jagex Ltd, via the OSRS Wiki. Interface icons by Lucide.