Slawter’s Slayer Academy: Waterfiends Guide
A lot of slayers groan when assigned these high level elemental foes. Some even swap this task in the hope of getting another that will be easier. The perception is that these creatures are ‘difficult’ and ‘costly’ requiring special equipment and expensive consumables.
It’s fair to say that the unprepared slayer may be vexed by these foes but with some fore thought and planning a Waterfiends task can become less of a chore.
While it may cost a certain amount to kill Waterfiends through use of prayer potions, food or familiars, Slayers can at least break even through picking up noted water orbs, noted Snape grass, water talismans, and ranarrs. Water battle-staves can also be high alched for 9,300 coins. Slayers may not want to pick up all items and usually only pick up the stackable items such as water orbs, mithril arrows, and various runes.
Waterfiends have a very high charm drop rate, especially for Crimson charms; you can expect to receive a charm almost eight times in ten, most of these will be crimson but all types can be dropped (gold being the next most likely). Because of this a lot of people will kill Waterfiends for the Crimson charms alone.
Waterfiends are an ‘elemental’ type creature that are very resistant to all types of melee attack except crushing attacks. They have 1260 Life Points and a Combat level of 115, giving 128 Slayer experience per kill. They cannot be poisoned, they are aggressive, they attack with Magic, and Ranged (magic based) attacks that have a maximum hit of 118 Life points. They may drop level 3 Clue Scrolls.
Location
Currently these creatures are found in two locations, that could be considered for tasks; the Ancient Cavern, south of the Barbarian Outpost (under the whirlpool) and in the Chaos Tunnels in the Wilderness.
Both areas can be extremely hazardous, the Ancient Cavern is home to the Brutal Green Dragon and some unpleasant undead Barbarians; the Chaos tunnels are all multi-way combat and many creatures make their home there.
Despite the danger the best hunting ground is in the Ancient Cavern; with the correct equipment and ‘know how’ it is fairly safe to navigate to where the Waterfiends are located. The Chaos Tunnels are not recommended because of the fact that they are multi-way combat and being attacked by five of these things at once it not something that anyone wants. It has been suggested that by using Titans the Chaos Tunnels become an option - this will be tested and any information would be gratefully received.
There are Waterefiends located in the far North, accessible after completing ‘The Temple at Senntisten’ quest. It’s not recommended to trek all the way there, though.
Preparation
Equipment (Weapons and Armour)
When fighting Waterfiends it’s important to remember the following: They’re very resistant to all forms of melee except crush and they have two forms of attack, magic and range.
It’s advised to wear armour with a high magical defence and to use Protect from Missiles prayer (or equivalent curse). Waterfiends attacks are accurate and can hit up to 120 LP. A weapon with a good crush bonus is also necessary; Godsword, Saradomin Sword, Zamorkian Spear, Verac’s Flail, Dragon Mace or Dragon Battleaxe.
Recommended Equipment
Head: Black mask/Slayer helmet (if slaying) / Helm of Neitiznot (strength and prayer bonus)
Chest: Karil’s leather top / Black dragon hide body
Legs: Karil’s leather skirt / Black dragon hide chaps
Hands: Gloves from Recipe for Disaster quest / combat bracelet
Ring: Berserker Ring
Feet: Dragon Boots
Neck: Amulet of Fury / Amulet of Glory
Cape: Soul Wars Cape / Fire Cape / Trimmed Achievement cape / God cape
Weapon: Zamorkian Spear / Saradomin Sword / Godsword (Saradomin by choice) / Torag’s hammers / Verac’s Flail / Dragon Mace / Dragon Battleaxe
Shield: not required/recommended but Dragonfire shield if using one handed weapon
Summoning: Bunyip Pouch(es)
Backpack Items
In addition to anything you require to get to/into the cavern (amulet, Dramen staff, etc.,) the following items are suggested.
Prayer potions: (4 dose) take at least 6 (expect to have to bank) - additionally the Holy Wrench may be taken to boost the potions effects.
Food: Take decent food, you’ll need it. (see Bunyip notes below).
Summoning Potion
Bunyip Pouch: Two is probably enough
Swallow Whole scrolls: Waterfiends drop a lot of raw fish (lobsters and sharks) - using these scrolls (whilst having a Bunyip as your follower) will help lots!
Runes for high-alching: Not essential - but they do drop Adamant Chain bodies, Mithril Full helms and Rune medium helmet - all worth converting into lovely lucre.
*Having a Bunyip is highly recommended along with swallow whole scrolls - raw food is dropped - any spare food could be converted to water runes by ‘using’ the raw item on the Bunyip - recommended for lobsters… sharks should not be wasted in this manner, unless you have plenty already.
Getting There
Walking
There’s a few routes to get to the Ancient Cavern, utilising the ‘front door’ i.e. the whirlpool in the lake located near Otto’s Grotto in northern Kandarin . The Ancient Cavern is marked on your (surface) map with the red exclamation mark of a dungeon - located to the east of the Grant Tree, north of Baxtorian Falls and Otto’s Grotto, south-west of the Barbarian Outpost. That spot marks the whirlpool in the lake - although it sounds a little daunting; jumping into the whirlpool is straight forward and has no ill effects.
Probably the most efficient is to use a Games Necklace to teleport to the Barbarian Outpost and then head south to the whirlpool. Travelling up from Ardougne or the Fishing Guild is also fairly straightforward and even from the Gnome Tree, using an agility route and travelling to the lake.
Summoned creatures cannot enter with you through the whirlpool - summon them once inside.
In the Ancient Cavern
Once through the whirlpool you’re deposited on a ledge next to some steps/stairs leading downwards… pause before venturing further, the creatures below are very dangerous; know what you’re going to do and where you’re going to go before you descend.
Clicking to descend will take you to the lower floor at the spot marked A on the map opposite.
There is usually a Brutal Green Dragon lurking near to where you enter the lower level, so be prepared… Your aim is to get fighting the Waterfiends as quickly as possible avoiding the attentions of the Dragons and the undead Barbarians. It’s quickest to aim to get to the area circled in blue (from the point marked ‘A’ - so make sure run is on, auto-retaliate is off, ready your anti-dragon fire shield (if you’ve brought one along) and consider activating protect from magic until you get into the Waterfiends zone. Go down the stairs… run west as quickly as possible to avoid any lurking Brutal Green Dragons.
Click here to see a larger version of the map in a new window.
Fairy Rings
With the addition of Kuradal to the Slayer Masters a new fairy ring was added (see above map, ‘D’). This new ring requires activating before it can be used, luckily this isn’t a difficult process but can be dangerous as you’ll have to get past some Brutal Green Dragons and tackle some Waterfiends that hang about near the new Fairy Ring. To activate five bittercap mushrooms must be planted on the spot ‘Enchanted land’ in the centre on the un-activated ring (only needs to be done once - a spade is also required!).
The code for this Fairy Ring is BJQ
It’s suggested that if using this method to access the Ancient Cavern that either Edgeville bank or the bank in Canaris are used as your starting/banking base for this task. Both have nearby fairy rings and obelisks to re-charge your summoning points (see further down).
Ferocious Ring
Teleporting to Kuradal via the Ferocious Ring will take you directly into the Ancient Cavern. North of where Kuradal is located are some steps leading down into the lower level (point C on the above map). Caution is advised as there’s two undead Barbarians that lurk near here and to the North in the cavern proper lurk Brutal Green Dragons.
So head up to the groups of Waterfiends that are near or north of the Fairy Ring.
