The Kraken is one of Old School RuneScape’s most iconic slayer bosses, a colossal sea monster lurking in the depths of Kraken Cove. While it may seem intimidating at first, defeating it is entirely achievable with the right preparation, gear, and strategy. Unlike complex bosses with intricate mechanics, the Kraken relies on straightforward combat-making it a perfect target for mid-to-high level players seeking valuable drops like the Kraken Tentacle and Trident of the Seas. At the same time, it will also bring you more OSRS gold. This guide breaks down everything you need to know to kill the Kraken efficiently and safely.
1. Meet the Basic Requirements
Before you can face the Kraken, you must meet two non-negotiable requirements. First, you need a Slayer level of 87-this cannot be boosted, so you’ll need to grind Slayer until you reach this milestone. Second, the Kraken is a slayer boss, meaning you can only fight it while on a slayer task to kill (Cave) Krakens.
To get the task, you’ll need a Magic level of at least 50, as Slayer masters like Chaeldar, Konar, Nieve, and Duradel only assign Kraken tasks to players with this Magic minimum. For optimal performance, aim for a Magic level of 75 or higher, as this allows you to equip powerful staves and cast high-damage spells.
2. Gear and Inventory Setup: Prioritize Magic and Defense
The Kraken is immune to melee attacks (it cannot be reached by close-range weapons) and takes only 1/7 of normal damage from Ranged. This makes Magic the only effective combat style-focus on gear that boosts Magic damage and Magic defense to survive its attacks.
For high-level players, the optimal gear setup includes an Ancestral Robe top and bottom, Occult Necklace, Imbued God Cape, Tormented Bracelet, Eternal Boots, and a Ring of Suffering. A Harmonised Nightmare Staff or Sanguinesti Staff (for passive healing) is ideal, paired with a Tome of Fire to amplify fire-based spells like Fire Surge.
If you’re on a budget, use a Slayer Helmet (for Slayer task bonuses), Mystic Robes, Amulet of Power, and a Staff of Fire. A Slayer Staff (e) is also a cost-effective option for slayer tasks.
Your inventory should include: 15-20 high-healing food (Sharks or Manta Rays), 2-3 Prayer Potions (for Augury or Mystic Might), 1-2 Restore Potions (to counter stat drains from its special attack), a Rune Pouch with Air, Fire, and Wrath Runes, and a Fishing Explosive (more on this later). An Emergency Teleport is also recommended to escape if things go wrong.
3. Locating the Kraken and Starting the Fight
The Kraken resides in Kraken Cove, accessible via a Piscatoris Teleport Scroll. After teleporting to the Piscatoris Fishing Colony, head southwest until you reach the cove. Once inside, go north to find the Kraken’s lair-a pool of water with several whirlpools.
There are two ways to start the fight. The first method is to disturb all four smaller whirlpools (use a Ranged weapon with 7+ tile range to reach the back two from the bridge). Once all four are disturbed, interact with the large central whirlpool to awaken the Kraken.
The faster method is to use a Fishing Explosive (costing 60 coins from any Slayer Master) on the large whirlpool. This instantly awakens the Kraken and all four tentacles, saving you time. Note that Kraken Cove is a popular spot, so you may need to hop worlds-or pay 25,000 coins to create a private instance that lasts until you log out or leave.
4. Combat Strategy: Focus on the Kraken, Tank the Tentacles
Once awakened, the Kraken and four Enormous Tentacles will attack you. Both use typeless magical ranged attacks-meaning Protection Prayers (like Protect from Magic) have no effect. The Kraken has a max hit of 28 but is very inaccurate, while the tentacles are more accurate but deal less damage.
Your priority is to focus all your damage on the Kraken. Killing the tentacles is not worth the time-they have high Hit Points and do not grant Slayer XP bonuses. Instead, tank their hits while consistently attacking the Kraken with your chosen Magic spell.
Keep your Hit Points above 45 at all times to avoid being one-shot by a lucky Kraken hit. Use food to heal when needed, and drink Prayer Potions to maintain Augury (boosts Magic defense and accuracy) or Mystic Might (boosts Magic damage). If your stats are drained, use a Restore Potion to get back to full strength.
The Kraken has 255 Hit Points, so the fight should be relatively quick with good Magic gear. If you’re using a Sanguinesti Staff, its passive healing will help you conserve food and extend your trip.
5. Post-Fight Tips and Rewards
Once the Kraken is dead, loot its corpse-you’ll find a variety of rewards, including cheap RS gold, Edible Seaweed, Sharks, and potentially rare drops like the Kraken Tentacle (used to make the Tentacle Whip) or Trident of the Seas (a powerful Magic weapon).
In a private instance, dropped items stay on the ground for 30 minutes (instead of 2 minutes in public worlds), so take your time looting. If you die, the instance collapses, and you’ll lose unprotected items-so always keep an Emergency Teleport handy.
To maximize efficiency, reset your instance (by leaving and re-entering) if you’re on a long slayer task. This allows you to fight the Kraken repeatedly without hopping worlds.
Final Notes for Success
The Kraken is a beginner-friendly slayer boss once you understand its mechanics. The key to success is using Magic, prioritizing the Kraken over its tentacles, and staying prepared with the right gear and supplies.
With practice, you’ll be able to kill the Kraken quickly and consistently-turning it into a profitable task that rewards you with valuable items. Remember: patience and preparation are more important than brute force here. Now, grab your staff, stock up on supplies, and dive into Kraken Cove to defeat this legendary sea monster.
