Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a game known for its wealth of content, challenging quests, and extensive progression systems. One of the most popular features within the game is Slayer, a skill that allows players to train combat while completing tasks for various Slayer masters across the game. While these tasks can often be rewarding, they also come with the downside of certain monsters being tedious, inefficient, or simply difficult to deal with. That’s where Slayer task blocking comes into play.
Slayer task blocking is a system where players can prevent specific monsters from appearing as part of their tasks, ensuring that they only receive tasks that are both profitable and enjoyable. But how do you know which tasks are worth blocking? This article will guide you through some of the best Slayer tasks to block in OSRS gold, explaining why they’re undesirable and offering insight into how to maximize your Slayer experience.
What Is Task Blocking in OSRS Slayer?
Slayer task blocking allows players to block certain monsters from being assigned as part of their tasks by using Slayer reward points. These points can be earned by completing Slayer tasks, and they can then be used to block up to a certain number of monsters from appearing in your future tasks. Blocking a task essentially prevents it from ever being assigned to you again, allowing you to focus on tasks that yield better rewards, are faster to complete, or simply more enjoyable.
When you block a monster, it doesn’t disappear from the game — it simply won’t show up in your personal Slayer assignments. Players who have high-level Slayer unlocks, such as the ability to use the Slayer Helm or Chinchompas, often make task blocking a core part of their Slayer strategy, maximizing the efficiency of their training.
How to Block Tasks
Before we dive into the specific tasks to block, it’s essential to know how to block tasks in OSRS.
Slayer Reward Points: You earn Slayer reward points by completing Slayer tasks. Points are earned based on how many tasks you’ve completed, with extra points awarded for completing tasks faster, completing tasks assigned by harder masters, or achieving certain milestones.
Task Blocking: You can block a task by speaking to a Slayer master and selecting the option to block a task. Each task you block will cost a certain number of Slayer points (usually 30 points per block), and you’re initially limited to blocking only 3 tasks. As you earn more Slayer reward points, you can unlock the ability to block more tasks.
Now, let’s explore some of the best tasks to block in OSRS to maximize your Slayer efficiency.
1. TzTok-Jad (TokHaar-Ket)
TzTok-Jad is one of the most iconic bosses in OSRS, but it can be a real pain when assigned as a Slayer task. This monster is incredibly challenging, and even seasoned players often struggle with its high damage output, rapid attack style, and complicated mechanics. The fight requires quick reflexes and a solid understanding of the attack patterns.
Why Block TzTok-Jad?
Difficulty: The TzTok-Jad fight can take upwards of 30 minutes, depending on your gear and experience. The fight itself is complex and requires intense focus, making it less desirable for a regular Slayer task.
Time-Consuming: It takes a lot of time and preparation, making it much less efficient for Slayer experience per hour.
High Risk: Without proper preparation, such as high-level gear and potions, the risk of failure is high.
Unless you specifically want to fight TzTok-Jad for a chance at his drops or you enjoy the challenge, it’s a good idea to block this task to avoid wasting time and energy.
2. Abyssal Demons
Abyssal Demons are a high-level Slayer monster that drops the highly coveted Abyssal Whip, one of the best weapons for training combat. However, despite their lucrative drop table, there are a few key reasons why many players choose to block them.
Why Block Abyssal Demons?
Location: Abyssal Demons can only be killed in the Abyssal Area or Abyssal Sire cave, which requires the completion of certain quests. These monsters are also spread across multiple locations, making them difficult to efficiently hunt.
High Level Requirement: The monsters require high combat stats to be killed efficiently. They have substantial defense and can hit hard, which means that lower-level players or those with suboptimal gear may struggle.
Time-Consuming: Abyssal Demons are time-consuming to kill, and their drop rate for the Abyssal Whip is low, which means you may end up spending more time than it’s worth.
While the Abyssal Whip is a fantastic reward, many players find that there are other tasks that offer better experience rates and more consistent rewards. Hence, blocking Abyssal Demons might make sense if you’re looking for better alternatives.
3. Banshees
Banshees are a popular low-level Slayer task, but they are one of the worst tasks for both efficiency and enjoyment. They are slow, low-health monsters that drop low-value loot and don’t offer particularly fast experience rates.
Why Block Banshees?
Low Experience: Banshees provide very little Slayer experience per kill, making them an inefficient choice for training the skill.
Weak Drops: The loot they drop is of little value, with most of it being low-tier herbs or bones, which won’t add much to your bank.
Slower Kills: Due to their relatively low combat stats, Banshees aren’t an exciting or quick kill for most players. They are best suited for lower-level players, but for those with higher combat stats, they are a drag.
Banshees are an example of a task that offers little to no benefit in terms of efficiency or rewards. Blocking them ensures you don’t waste time with these low-value assignments.
4. Skeletal Wyverns
Skeletal Wyverns are a high-level Slayer monster known for their powerful attacks and slow kill rates. While they can drop valuable loot, such as Wyvern Bones and Dragon Full Helms, they are often considered a task worth blocking for a few key reasons.
Why Block Skeletal Wyverns?
High Risk: Skeletal Wyverns can deal a lot of damage, especially with their poison attack. You’ll need protection from poison (like an anti-poison or anti-venom potion) and high defense levels to survive the task. This can be a significant resource drain.
Slow Kills: Even with powerful gear, Skeletal Wyverns are slow kills, and their drop rates for valuable items are low. This makes them less profitable and time-efficient.
Not Efficient for Slayer XP: Their slow kills and the need for poison protection make them a poor choice for maximizing Slayer experience per hour.
Unless you’re specifically going for a drop like the Dragon Full Helm or you enjoy the challenge, blocking Skeletal Wyverns is a smart move to focus on faster, more rewarding tasks.
5. Green Dragons
Green Dragons are a relatively popular Slayer task because of their drop of Dragon Bones and Green Dragonhide, both of which are valuable for training Prayer and Crafting. However, there are several reasons why you may want to block them, especially if you’re looking to maximize Slayer efficiency.
Why Block Green Dragons?
Location and Competition: Green Dragons are often located in high-traffic areas, and they can be crowded with other players. This can make completing the task slower and less enjoyable.
Longer Kills: While the drops are valuable, the kills themselves can be slow, especially if you are using inefficient gear or are not using optimal methods.
Inconsistent Profitability: While the loot is good, it can be inconsistent. Players often spend more time traveling and dealing with crowds than they do actually killing dragons efficiently.
Blocking Green Dragons makes sense if you’re looking to complete tasks faster and with less hassle, especially if you aren’t specifically targeting the drops.
Conclusion: Maximize Slayer Efficiency
In Old School RuneScape, Slayer is a key skill for combat training, but not all tasks are created equal. Blocking the right tasks can significantly improve your Slayer experience by making the training process faster, more profitable, and more enjoyable. By blocking tasks like TzTok-Jad, Abyssal Demons, Banshees, Skeletal Wyverns, and Green Dragons, you can focus on tasks that provide better rewards, quicker kills, and higher Slayer experience rates in buy RuneScape gold.
Task blocking isn’t just about avoiding bad tasks — it’s about optimizing your gameplay. The key is to block tasks that hinder your efficiency or enjoyment and focus on those that align with your goals. Whether you’re training for the Abyssal Whip, Dark Bow, or simply to level up your Slayer skill, task blocking is an essential tool to make the most out of your Slayer assignments.