The short version
30-second read- Kills per trip beat seconds per kill. Banking is dead time, so extending trips raises income more than shaving kill times does.
- Farm where full trips end without deaths. Choose the highest-tier boss you can manage that at, and stay until the next tier feels comfortable.
- Prefer steady drops while building capital. Rare-unique bosses pay mostly through drops at 1/500 or rarer, which only suits players who shrug off long dry streaks.
- Stack Slayer tasks with boss farming. Where the boss is also a Slayer target, the same kills pay you twice.
Best Mid-Game Bosses for Money
The best mid-game bosses for money in OSRS, before you have a raid team, are Vorkath, Zulrah, Barrows, the Dagannoth Kings and General Graardor. Vorkath and Zulrah pay something every kill, Barrows pays runes every chest, and the Kings and Graardor pay mostly through rare uniques.
| Boss | Unlock | What pays | Income type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vorkath | Dragon Slayer II | 2 superior dragon bones and 2 blue dragonhide every kill, plus two drop table rolls; dragonbone necklace, skeletal and draconic visage as uniques | Steady |
| Zulrah | Regicide | 100 to 299 Zulrah's scales every kill, plus two drop table rolls; tanzanite fang, magic fang and serpentine visage as uniques | Steady |
| Barrows | Priest in Peril | Mind, chaos, death and blood runes plus bolt racks from the chest; with all six brothers killed, about 1 chest in 15 has a Barrows piece | Steady with rare uniques |
| Dagannoth Kings | A second player, pet rock + rune thrownaxe, or 85 Agility | Berserker, archers, seers and warrior rings, dragon axe | Rare uniques |
| General Graardor | 70 Strength, a hammer and 40 kill count | Bandos chestplate, tassets, boots and hilt | Rare uniques |
If you want income that does not depend on luck, start with Vorkath or Zulrah, because the guaranteed drops carry every trip. Barrows is the cheapest of the five to learn. For live GP/hour, check the OSRS Wiki money-making pages, and see our mid-level money making guide for non-boss methods at the same stage.
How Boss Income Works
Boss money in OSRS comes from three different places, and confusing them is why people end up disappointed. Some bosses pay you in steady consumables and bulk drops. Some pay almost nothing per kill and everything in a rare unique. Some pay in items your own account needs, which is worth more than GP but does not show up as GP.
This page sorts bosses by what your account can access and tells you which of those three categories each one falls into. That is a durable answer. A GP/hour number is not, because it is a function of live Grand Exchange prices and your own kill times.
Reliable income comes from bosses you can kill for full trips without dying.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Bosses indexed on the site | 97 |
| Three ways bosses pay | Steady consumables, rare uniques, or items your own account needs |
| What decides your actual GP/hour | Kill consistency and trip length, not drop table value |
| Biggest beginner mistake | Chasing a rare-unique boss before you can do long trips |
| Price volatility | Every unique drop's value moves with the Grand Exchange — check live prices |
The Three Kinds of Boss Income
| Income type | What it looks like | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Steady drops | Every kill gives something sellable — runes, herbs, consumables, bulk materials | Anyone who wants predictable income and does not enjoy dry streaks |
| Rare uniques | Most kills give little, and the income is concentrated in a drop at 1/500 or rarer | Players who can do hundreds of kills without losing interest |
| Account value | Drops your own account needs — gear, supplies, slayer uniques, ironman materials | Ironmen, and anyone whose next upgrade is behind a specific boss |
A boss with a spectacular rare unique and nothing else is a lottery ticket with a long queue. A boss with a modest but constant drop table pays your bills. Most players want the second, then convince themselves they want the first.
Mid-Game: Bosses Worth Farming First
These are the tier 2 and tier 3 bosses from our index. Apart from the four Chambers of Xeric rooms, every one is reachable without a raid team or endgame gear.
| Boss | Type | Requirement | What it pays in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amoxliatl | Standalone | The Heart of Darkness | Glacial temotli, pendant of ates, Moxi pet |
| Barrows brothers | Minigame-style chest | Priest in Peril | Barrows equipment (Dharok's, Ahrim's, Karil's…) |
| Chaos Fanatic | Wilderness mini-boss | Deep Wilderness | Odium / malediction shard 1 |
| Crazy Archaeologist | Wilderness mini-boss | Wilderness (Fossil Island coastline) | Odium / malediction shard 2, fedora |
| Deranged Archaeologist | Mini-boss | Fossil Island access | Unidentified fossils, Fossil Island notes |
| Hespori | Farming boss | 65 Farming + Hespori seed (Farming Guild) | Bottomless compost bucket, anima seeds |
| King Black Dragon | Standalone dragon | Antifire protection | Dragon pickaxe, draconic visage |
| Kraken | Slayer boss | 87 Slayer + cave kraken task | Trident of the seas, kraken tentacle |
| Sarachnis | Standalone | Slash weapon or knife for the web (Forthos Dungeon) | Sarachnis cudgel, strong herb and seed loot |
| Thermonuclear Smoke Devil | Slayer boss | 93 Slayer | Occult necklace, smoke battlestaff |
| Zalcano | Mining/Smithing boss | Song of the Elves + 70 Mining/Smithing | Crystal tool seed, zalcano shard |
| Ancient Wyverns | Elite monster | 82 Slayer + elemental/mind shield | Granite legs, wyvern visage |
| Artio | Solo Callisto variant | Wilderness singles-plus area | Same unique table at lower rates |
| Basilisk Knights | Elite slayer monster | 60 Slayer + The Fremennik Exiles + mirror shield | Basilisk jaw (neitiznot faceguard) |
| Blood Moon | Moons of Peril boss | Perilous Moons quest | Blood moon armour set, dual macuahuitl |
| Blue Moon | Moons of Peril boss | Perilous Moons quest | Blue moon armour set, blue moon spear |
| Calvar'ion | Solo Vet'ion variant | Wilderness singles-plus area | Same unique table at lower rates |
| Cerberus | Slayer boss | 91 Slayer + hellhounds task | Primordial / pegasian / eternal crystals, smouldering stone |
| Chaos Elemental | Wilderness (multi) | Deep Wilderness | Dragon pickaxe, pet chaos elemental |
| Dagannoth Kings | Three-boss lair | A second player, pet rock + rune thrownaxe, or 85 Agility | Berserker / archer / warrior / seers rings, dragon axe |
| Dagannoth Prime | Magic king | A second player, pet rock + rune thrownaxe, or 85 Agility | Seers ring, Dagannoth Prime pet |
| Dagannoth Rex | Melee king | A second player, pet rock + rune thrownaxe, or 85 Agility | Berserker ring |
| Dagannoth Supreme | Ranged king | A second player, pet rock + rune thrownaxe, or 85 Agility | Archers ring, dragon axe |
| Eclipse Moon | Moons of Peril boss | Perilous Moons quest | Eclipse moon armour set, eclipse atlatl |
| Gauntlet demi-bosses | Prep-phase demi-bosses | Song of the Elves | Crystal shards and paddlefish for the Hunllef fight |
| General Graardor | GWD general (Bandos) | 70 Strength + hammer + 40 kill count | Bandos chestplate and tassets, bandos hilt |
| K'ril Tsutsaroth | GWD general (Zamorak) | 70 Hitpoints + 40 kill count | Zamorakian spear, staff of the dead, zamorak hilt |
| Kalphite Queen | Standalone (two phases) | Two ropes (or the Hard Desert Diary) | Dragon chainbody, Kq head |
| Maggot King | Standalone | The Blood Moon Rises | Elder venator fang, crimson kisten |
| Muttadiles | CoX boss room | Chambers of Xeric | Raid points toward CoX uniques |
| Revenant Maledictus | Revenant Caves boss | Revenant Caves access | Amulet of avarice, ancient relics/emblems |
| Scorpia | Wilderness (multi) | Deep Wilderness | Odium / malediction shard 3 |
| Shellbane Gryphon | Slayer boss | 51 Slayer + gryphon task + Troubled Tortugans | Belle's folly, gryphon feather |
| Skotizo | Slayer mini-boss | Dark totem (base, middle and top pieces) | Dark claw, jar of darkness, skotos pet |
| Spindel | Solo Venenatis variant | Wilderness singles-plus area | Same unique table at lower rates |
| The Mimic | Clue-scroll mini-boss | Mimic casket from an elite or master clue | Ring of 3rd age, 3rd age items |
| The Royal Titans (Branda & Eldric) | Dual boss | None (Asgarnian Ice Dungeon) | Deadeye and Mystic Vigour prayer scrolls, giantsoul amulet |
| Vanguards | CoX boss room | Chambers of Xeric | Raid points toward CoX uniques |
| Vasa Nistirio | CoX boss room | Chambers of Xeric | Raid points toward CoX uniques |
| Vespula | CoX boss room | Chambers of Xeric | Raid points toward CoX uniques |
| Vorkath | Standalone dragon | Dragon Slayer II | Dragonbone necklace, vorki, superior dragon bones |
| Zulrah | Standalone (rotational) | Regicide | Tanzanite fang / magic fang / serpentine visage |
End-Game: Where the Large Numbers Live
Tier 4 and tier 5 bosses have the highest ceilings, and also the highest cost of failure. The gap between an average and a good player is much wider here than in the mid-game.
| Boss | Type | Requirement | What it pays in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abyssal Sire | Slayer boss | 85 Slayer + abyssal demons task | Abyssal dagger, bludgeon pieces, abyssal whip |
| Akkha | ToA path boss | Tombs of Amascut | Raid points toward ToA uniques |
| Alchemical Hydra | Slayer boss | 95 Slayer + hydra task | Hydra's claw, hydra leather, brimstone ring pieces |
| Araxxor | Slayer boss | 92 Slayer + spider or araxyte task | Noxious halberd pieces, araxyte fang |
| Ba-Ba | ToA path boss | Tombs of Amascut | Raid points toward ToA uniques |
| Callisto | Wilderness (multi) | Deep Wilderness + anti-PK setup | Voidwaker hilt, dragon pickaxe, tyrannical ring |
| Commander Zilyana | GWD general (Saradomin) | 70 Agility + 40 kill count | Armadyl crossbow, saradomin sword and hilt |
| Corporeal Beast | Standalone | None (games necklace or level 21 Wilderness entrance) | Spirit shield and sigils |
| Crystalline Hunllef | Gauntlet boss | Song of the Elves | Crystal armour seeds, enhanced crystal weapon seed |
| Demonic Gorillas | Elite monster | Monkey Madness II | Zenyte shard, heavy ballista parts |
| Duke Sucellus | DT2 boss | Desert Treasure II (Awakener's orb for Awakened) | Magus vestige, eye of the duke, chromium ingot |
| Grotesque Guardians | Slayer boss (duo) | 75 Slayer + brittle key | Black tourmaline core, granite gloves, granite ring |
| Kephri | ToA path boss | Tombs of Amascut | Raid points toward ToA uniques |
| Kree'arra | GWD general (Armadyl) | 70 Ranged + mith grapple + 40 kill count | Armadyl armour, armadyl hilt |
| Mad Angel (Wyrmscraig) | Post-quest boss | Fallen From Grace | Hallowfell, jar of light, Aggy pet |
| Nylocas Vasilias | ToB boss | Theatre of Blood | Progress toward ToB purple |
| Pestilent Bloat | ToB boss | Theatre of Blood | Progress toward ToB purple |
| Phantom Muspah | Standalone (form swapping) | Secrets of the North | Venator bow shard, ancient icon |
| Sotetseg | ToB boss | Theatre of Blood | Progress toward ToB purple |
| Tekton | CoX boss room | Chambers of Xeric | Raid points toward CoX uniques |
| The Hueycoatl | Standalone (segmented) | Children of the Sun | Dragon hunter wand, hueycoatl hide |
| The Maiden of Sugadinti | ToB boss | Theatre of Blood | Progress toward ToB purple |
| The Nightmare | Standalone (multi-phase) | Priest in Peril (Morytania access) | Inquisitor's armour, nightmare staff, harmonised orb |
| Tormented Demons | Elite monster | While Guthix Sleeps | Burning claws, synapse, tormented synapse |
| TzTok-Jad (Fight Caves) | Wave challenge | Access to the TzHaar Fight Cave | Fire cape, tzrek-jad |
| Vanstrom Klause | Quest boss | Sins of the Father | Blisterwood flail, access to Darkmeyer |
| Venenatis | Wilderness (multi) | Deep Wilderness + anti-PK setup | Voidwaker gem, treasonous ring, dragon pickaxe |
| Vet'ion | Wilderness (multi) | Deep Wilderness + anti-PK setup | Voidwaker blade, ring of the gods, dragon pickaxe |
| Xarpus | ToB boss | Theatre of Blood | Progress toward ToB purple |
| Zebak | ToA path boss | Tombs of Amascut | Raid points toward ToA uniques |
| Awakened DT2 bosses | Awakened variants | Awakener's orb + base boss cleared | Higher unique odds; beating all four unlocks the ancient blood ornament kit |
| Corrupted Hunllef | Corrupted Gauntlet boss | Song of the Elves | Higher enhanced seed rate, blade of saeldor |
| Doom of Mokhaiotl | Endless delve boss | The Final Dawn | Eye of ayak, avernic treads, Mokhaiotl cloth |
| Fortis Colosseum waves | Wave challenge | Children of the Sun | Dizana's quiver, sunfire splinters |
| Great Olm | CoX final boss | Chambers of Xeric | Twisted bow, elder maul, kodai insignia, dragon claws |
| Nex | Ancient Prison boss | The Frozen Door + 70 Agility, Hitpoints, Ranged, Strength | Torva armour, zaryte crossbow, ancient hilt |
| Phosani's Nightmare | Solo-only variant | Priest in Peril; solo only | Higher unique rates, Phosani's pet |
| Sol Heredit (Fortis Colosseum) | Wave challenge | Children of the Sun | Dizana's quiver, sunfire fanatic armour |
| The Leviathan | DT2 boss | Desert Treasure II | Venator vestige, leviathan's lure |
| The Whisperer | DT2 boss | Desert Treasure II | Bellator vestige, siren's staff |
| Triple Jads (Inferno wave 69) | Wave challenge | Inferno access | Clears the hardest pre-Zuk wave |
| Tumeken's and Elidinis' Warden | ToA final boss | Tombs of Amascut | Tumeken's shadow, masori armour, osmumten's fang |
| TzKal-Zuk (Inferno) | Wave challenge | A fire cape, sacrificed on first entry | Infernal cape, jal-nib-rek |
| Vardorvis | DT2 boss | Desert Treasure II | Executioner's axe head, ultor vestige |
| Verzik Vitur | ToB final boss | Theatre of Blood | Scythe of vitur, ghrazi rapier, avernic defender hilt |
| Yama | Contract boss | A Kingdom Divided | Oathplate armour, Soulflame horn |
Raid content in particular scales differently: your income depends on team competence and scale as much as on your own play, which is why the same raid can be excellent or worthless money depending on who you are with.
Why There Are No GP/Hour Figures Here
Because any number we printed would be wrong within a week, and wrong for you specifically on the day we printed it. Three things move it:
- Grand Exchange prices, which move constantly and sometimes violently after an update
- Your kill times, which vary by a factor of two or more between a learning player and a practised one
- Drop rate changes, which Jagex makes more often than most guides update
The OSRS Wiki maintains money-making pages that recalculate against live prices. That is the right place for a number. This page is the right place for deciding which boss to learn.
How to Actually Make Boss Money
The things that move your income most
- Extend your trips. Kills per trip matters more than seconds per kill, because banking is dead time
- Learn the boss on cheap gear so your deaths are cheap while you are still having them
- Stack Slayer tasks with boss farming where the boss is also a slayer target — you get paid twice for the same kills
- Do the Combat Achievement tasks for a boss while learning it, so the practice has a second payoff
- Check live prices before committing weeks to one boss, especially after a major update
- Track your own results over 50 kills rather than trusting anyone's published average, including ours
FAQ
What is the best money boss in OSRS?
Before raids, Vorkath or Zulrah. Vorkath always drops 2 superior dragon bones and 2 blue dragonhide, Zulrah always drops 100 to 299 Zulrah's scales, and both roll their drop table twice per kill. Past that, the best one is whichever boss you can kill for full trips without dying.
Why don't you list GP per hour?
Because it depends on live Grand Exchange prices, your kill times and current drop rates, all three of which change. The OSRS Wiki money-making pages recalculate against live prices; a frozen number in a blog post cannot.
Should I farm a boss with a rare valuable drop or one with steady drops?
Steady drops, unless you are comfortable going hundreds of kills without a payout. Rare-unique bosses have the same average over a long enough run, but very few people actually complete that run.
Are raids better money than solo bosses?
They can be, but your income depends heavily on team competence and scale. A good team makes raids excellent money; a bad one makes them worse than a solo boss you are already good at.
Do I need best-in-slot gear to make money at bosses?
No. Gear buys speed once you are already surviving. Buying it before you are consistent means paying for speed you cannot use yet.
Is buying gold instead of farming it worth it?
That depends on how much you enjoy the farming. If the GP is a means to an end rather than the point, our gold service is the shorter route — we quote a rate per million and delivery is fast.
Still stuck on a mechanic? Ask the team on our Discord, it is free.
Bottom Line
Pick the highest-tier boss where you can complete a full trip without dying, and farm that until the next tier is comfortable.
Prefer steady drop tables while you are building capital, and only move to rare-unique bosses once a long dry streak will not derail you.
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