.0 – Introduction
The Ancient Cavern is one of the most dangerous dungeons in all of RuneScape, so all players entering the area should be well prepared to face dragons and high-level monsters that can attack in more ways than one.
To access the dungeon you need to have learnt funeral pyre burning instructions from Otto Godblessed in his Barbarian Training camp. To access this dungeon, you need to jump into a whirlpool just off the jetty in a lake at Baxtorian Falls. If you need to escape from the dungeon and have no teleport, the only way out is by canoeing on logs down an underground river out of the caves, taking you downstream.
On the lower level, the biggest threat is the Brutal Green Dragons; on the upper floor, the only threat is the Mithril Dragons. On lower levels there are wandering Undead Barbarians and Waterfiends. Lower leveled players visiting the cave should be focusing more on the barbarians and avoiding the dragons if they intend to get chewed bones from corpses. Chewed bones can also be obtained easily from dragons.
Remember, the caves are very dangerous, so it is recommended to pack good combat gear, an anti-dragonfire shield, anti fire-breath potions, super sets, teleport runes and high-healing food.
The Dragon Full Helmet can only be obtained from within the Ancient Caverns (unless you buy it from another player). There are two means by which you can obtain the dragon full helm within the dungeon: dropped by a Mithril Dragon (level-304), or receiving it as a reward when you burn chewed bones with pyre ships. The burning method is much less likely, as it’s much safer.
The Dragon full helmet is one of the strongest helmets in the game, however the third age melee helmet(s), and the barrows helmet(s) have slightly higher bonuses. It doesn’t have the downside of needing to be repaired, though.
Picture Requirements Attack Bonus Defence Bonus Other Bonuses
Stab Slash Crush Magic Range Stab Slash Crush Magic Range Strength Prayer
60 Defence +0 +0 +0 -6 -2 +45 +48 +41 -1 +46 +0 +0
2.0 – Location
As mentioned earlier, the Ancient Cavern can be found south-west of the Barbarian Outpost near Baxtorian Falls.
The most efficient way to arrive at the whirlpool is to use a Games Necklace to teleport to the Barbarian Outpost, then head southwest and jump off the pier.
Ancient Cavern dungeon ,.::;’ full map
3.0 – Monsters
The cavern hosts several different high level monsters. There are Barbarians (level-132) and Skeletons (level-132) found on the lower level. However, they are not that difficult, as they stick to one style of combat like normal monsters, and as a result can easily be defended against using Prayers. There are also Waterfiends (level-115), they use both Magic and Ranged attacks, and are therefore slightly more difficult to kill. It is suggested to wear armour with a high magic defence, and use the protect from range prayer, as they use their ranged attacks more often. Waterfiends drop crimson charms very often, and as a result they attract a lot of people who wish to train Summoning.
All three have fairly high hitpoints and attack but they aren’t the main interest of the dungeon! That would be the dragons, and they will be explained in detail below. Just remember whilst being in the cave that if you are running from the dragons, the other creatures can be dangerous while you are weaker – especially Waterfiends which are just near the logs by the river.
3.1 – Brutal Green Dragons
Brutal green dragon
Combat: 227
Hitpoints: 175
Race: Dragon
Members: Yes
Quest: No
Nature: Aggressive
Attack Style: Magic and Melee
Examine: It appears intelligent and savage.
Kills per min: Average Combat XP per hour:
Average HP XP per hour:
Where Found: Ancient Cavern, lowest floor
Drops: Dragon bones, Green dragonhide (2), Coins (200-3000), Steam rune (37), Lava rune (35), Rune throwing axe (8), Blood rune (20), Mithril hasta, Adamant knife (8), Adamant dart (p) (25), Mithril ore (5), Nature rune (25-30), Chewed bones, Grimy guam, Grimy avantoe, Gold charm (2), Crimson charm (2), Green charm (2), Blue charm (2), Adam 2h sword, clean kwuarm, Curry (1-2), grimy marrentill, Loop Half of Key, Dragonstone (uncut).
Top Drops: Rune chainbody, Rune full helm, Dragon spear, Shield left half, Tooth half of a key, Clue scroll (level-3)
Tactic: Don’t forget to wear a Dragonfire shield at all times!
Range: It is recommended that you stand in or near the alcove directly south of the entrance since you aren’t attacked there. The dragons can attack with melee, magic and dragonfire that travels several spaces; however, if you use range they will only use magic and dragonbreath. Turn on Protect From Magic and start ranging them. Drink anti-dragonfire potions and prayer potions as necessary. Keep your protection prayer on when you run to grab loot, as other dragons will attack you with magic as well (eventually they become unaggressive and this won’t be necessary).
Melee: Attack the dragon in close range and use protect from magic prayer. Drink potions as necessary. It is recommended that you keep auto-retaliate off, as other dragons may attack you after you have killed a dragon, causing you to run away from the loot. Use the cover provided by the alcove to shelter if needed.
Notes: It is recommended that you range them, although melee also works reasonably well. It is strongly recommended that you not mage them, as they have very high magic defence. As with most dragons, crush attacks are effective against Brutal Green Dragons.
Range equipment: Bring full black dragonhide, a rune crossbow with mithril bolts or better, an archer’s helm, and Ava’s Accumulator if you have one. An anti-dragonfire shield is a must, as their breath can hit you from several spaces away. In your inventory, have 3-4 antifire potions, 4-8 pieces of good food, and the rest of your inventory should be prayer potions (range potions and teleport runes are optional, but strongly recommended).
Melee equipment: Strong armour is a must – it is recommended that you use full Torag’s. You will need an antifire shield. Your inventory should consist of 2-3 antifire potions, a super set, 16-20 pieces of food (sharks strongly recommended), and the rest prayer potions. Teleport runes are optional but strongly recommended.
These equipment setups and inventory applies to both dragons. However, depending on your prayer level you may need more or less – experiment your first time going and add on or put less accordingly.
3.2 – Mithril Dragon
Mithril dragon
Combat: 304
Hitpoints: 254
Max Hit: 55
Race: Dragon
Members: Yes
Quest: No
Nature: Aggressive
Attack Style: Melee, Mage and Range
Examine: Experimenting with mithril gone bad!
Kills per min: Average Combat XP per hour:
Average HP XP per hour:
Where Found: Ancient Cavern, upper floor
Drops: Mithril bar (3), Dragon bones (100%), Chewed bones, Ancient page, Coins (600-3000), Adamant dart (p) (14), Rune med helm, Soul runes (10), Blood runes (27), Nature runes (67), Super attack mix, Super strength mix, Super defence mix, Prayer mix, Uncut gems, Runite bar (1-2), Shark (1-6), noted Silver ore (100), Nature Talisman, Fishing potion mix, Green charm (4), Blue charm (4), Crimson charm (4), Gold charm (4)
Top Drops: Dragon full helm, Dragon med helm, Dragon spear, Shield left half, Draconic visage, Clue scroll (level-3), Half of a key, Rune battleaxe, Rune full helm, Rune arrows (8), Rune darts (p) (13-21), Rune javelin (8-14), Rune mace, Rune spear, Rune knife, Rune 2h sword, Rune bolts (11-21), Rune kiteshield
Tactic: It will attack with range, magic, or melee. The recommended strategy is to range it, while protecting from range, and wearing Karil’s armour. This will eliminate the melee attack and the range attack, and severely lower the magic attack (due to your high magic defence bonus). Using a rune crossbow with mithril bolts or better is quite effective.
Melee: Attack the Mithril dragon in close range and use protect from magic prayer. Drink potions as necessary again, but always ensure you are doing the best you can. It is recommended that you keep auto-retaliate OFF, as other dragons may attack you after you have killed a dragon, causing you to run away from the loot.
Notes: Be sure to be wearing an Anti-dragonbreath shield when near these dragons! As with most dragons, crush attacks are effective against Mithril Dragons. Mithril dragons have much stronger attacks than Brutal Green Dragons, so watch out! Immune to poison; Unless a Smoke spell is cast on it. Cannons cannot be used in the Ancient Cavern. Refer to our Ancient Cavern guide for additional information.
Range Equipment: Due to the dragons’ immense strength it is recommended when ranging to use enchanted ruby bolts, which have a chance of taking of 20% of a target’s health. Also as with the Brutal Green Dragons, bring full black dragonhide, a rune crossbow with mithril bolts or better, an archer’s helm, and Ava’s Accumulator if you have one. An anti-dragonfire shield is a must, as their breath can hit you from several spaces away. In your inventory, have 1-2 antifire potions, 1-4 prayer potions, and the rest of your inventory should be good food (range potions and teleport runes are optional, but strongly recommended).
Melee equipment: Strong armour is a must – it is recommended that you use full Torag. You will need an antifire shield. Your inventory should consist of 2-3 antifire potions, a super set, 16-20 pieces of food (sharks strongly recommended), and the rest prayer potions. Teleport runes are optional but strongly recommended.
Leave a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.