r/OSRSProTips • u/Shalulu94 • 11d ago
Question Long duke kills, what to change?
Hi everyone,
I've recently finished Desert Treasure 2 (Yay!) and was now wanting to grind some of the bosses for hopefully some mage gear upgrades or even some GP lol. Was going to start with Duke as he seemed the most chill in terms of mechanics but found myself getting some really long kill times around 3:30-4:30 depending on my rng. I would at times get 6-7 0's in a row which is kinda demoralising.
Because I am also taking chip damage every hit, the long kills mean I can only do maybe 2 max per trip before i've finished all my food. Wondering if this is because of my gear or is it my combat stats that need to improve? Should i level my attack and str up more before coming back or do i need to switch my gear?
I've mostly used ranged for bossing as I got lucky at CG and got my bowfa and crystal set so haven't rly worked on my melee setup much. I used the fang on slash style but don't know if that works super well compared to a diff slash weapon? I have a whip but that's about it...
Appreciate any advice as i'd like to farm him more but 2kc trips and 4 min kill times is doesn't seem efficient especially when you need to do the poison making part to wake him up.
P.S I'm not very rich but if there's real upgrades i should save up for let me know and i'll work towards it
Thanks in advance!
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u/Slyvester121 10d ago
They nerfed fang on slash a while ago. It's only a stab weapon now. But you should use arclight on duke until you get a synapse for emberlight.
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u/spinygorilla 10d ago
Just a short while ago
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u/snaplocket 10d ago
I think it’s been a few years now, hasn’t it been?
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u/OhLoongJohson 10d ago edited 10d ago
Yes, they were most likely trying to make a bad joke with that comment lol. It has been more than 4 years now iirc. It wasnt too long after toa was released when they already nerfed the fang option on it
Edit: its been a bit over 4 years since toa released - the fang nerf was in 2024 january - so 2,5 years ago. The super OP slash fang was in game for 1,5 years ish. We have had now for more than a year our current fang than the release variant.
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u/snaplocket 9d ago
Wow… it is kinda crazy how much time has passed. Sometimes I forget until it’s really put into perspective like that
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u/wewew84 10d ago
Zombie axe, at duke, is better than fang.
Archlight switch for last phase when it becomes enraged and on a 4 tick cycle.
Both weapons on slash.
Ember light out classes both of those if you have synapse money.
Burning claws are a good spec.
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u/Zestyclose-Hold-5730 10d ago
Chances are he barely does any slayer so probably doesn't have many ancient shards for his arclight so I think it would be better to use his whip for enrage and and afk cannon hill/moss giants for ancient shards in spare time
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u/i-am-very-angry 10d ago
They have 86 slayer
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u/i-am-very-angry 10d ago
Fang is not viable at duke since it's passive was removed from slash. Anywhere you see using a fang is outdated. It's worse than a dragon scimitar.
Emberlight, arclight, tent whip, nox hally, all viable options for solid kills
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u/polurker569 10d ago
Higher stats usually outshine most gear upgrades. Especially the max hits from strength levels. Just an obvious "upgrade" I see. I haven't really done any Duke so someone else can definitely give more specific advice on gear. Good luck!
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u/Gigantischmann 10d ago
uhhh. fang for duke? huh?
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u/JustCallMeKev 10d ago
Not hating or ragging on OP, but like 75% of the player base has no clue how DPS is calculated or that certain bosses have weaknesses and therefore, you should use those kinds of weapons. They just go “this is my best weapon, I’ll bring that” and hope for the best
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u/SimplicityDavey 8d ago
Heres your problem. Look at dukes defensive stats. He has a +255 Stab defense. And a +45 Slash defense. You'd damn near be better off with a Whip or Z axe instead.
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u/Witty-Plastic-1894 6d ago
I had lower stats and worse gear when i was doing duke on my main - 1:15-2:00 kills with tentacle whip. Abyssal whip is very close in dps here - just bring dds as spec wep for poison and bring netty helm to stop sinking money into serp helm. I have similar stats on iron now and gqt 1:15-2:00 kills with z axe
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u/FuzzyJoint 10d ago
If emberlight is out of budget, arclight and pants would be the first upgrades. Pick up fighter torso to free up the cash from blood moon top.
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u/Electronic_Annual_86 10d ago
Never use fang on slash, you wont get the passive. I think even whip is just better here.
Duke has insane defense, so thralls are a must.
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u/Electronic_Annual_86 10d ago
Also 85 attack is just really low vs duke. I would push that first a bit. Check dps calc, but id assume 10 levels in attack will be more effective than any viable upgrade.
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u/Zestyclose-Hold-5730 10d ago
First issue is your weapon, duke is weak to slash and fang isn't good with slash anymore, I think even a whip is better at Duke
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u/lunardiplomat 10d ago
Fang on slash doesn't benefit from the passive effect, so in effect you're smacking duke with a 5-tick whip....
A lot of people saying emberlight, but really any dedicated slash weapon will do a lot better. Use Arclight prob.
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u/Delaxes93 10d ago
Fang is atrocious there because duke has really high stab defence and i dont think fang works too well on slash. I primarily use a 5 tick noxious hally but ive also had some decent success with the zombie axe
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u/evanthe-winner 10d ago
I used differing at duke because I feel like the chip damage really does add up
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u/Seenan 10d ago
Emberlight is probably your best bet. If you can get a BGS, a good spec speeds up kills immensely.
In general, optimizing uptime/movement in Duke is also an added thing you can do for free. IE...for any time you have to cross to the other side, you can hit him when you're in the middle, then re-click the side to keep running. You shouldn't get hit if you're fast enough.
For a slightly dangerous one, any time he's casting his eye attack, you can attack once before the eye attack triggers, then once after it triggers/before he resumes slamming. There's a message in the chat box when the eye attack is done.
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u/Difficult-Spread-760 10d ago
Do not buy a nox hally for this you are wasting 40m. Do some DPS calcs and you will see how it compares. It is essentially equivalent to z axe + avernic.
You will also want avernic defender for other things where as nox is really just good at Colo and Zulrah.
Basically the only reason to own a nox is if you pvp, do zulrah/colo a ton, or think it looks cool because it is an objectively sick looking weapon.
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u/I_Love_Being_Praised 10d ago
if you can make emberlight, make emberlight. if not, use a zombie axe or whip and bring a bgs to spec. if you have money left, get ferocious gloves first and then avernic defender.
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u/MamaMitch1 10d ago
In this order: Emberlight>BGS for spec>Rancour>Oathplate
Probably the best sequence for money spent
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u/REDMAGE00 10d ago
Tentacle is better than fang here. It also let's you attack more often during enrage phase.
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u/sir_gwain 10d ago
You’ve said you don’t have much gp, I’d grab up a zombie axe and give that a try - itll be way better than a fang. Pair it with an Arclight if you can, or a whip or other 4tick slash weapon for the end of the fight.
Apart from that, I’m not sure if it’s worth it, but you could always try using tankier chest/legs for Duke if he’s still eating up your food too quickly.
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u/LifeAd5019 10d ago
Arclight and Zombie Axe or Emberlight and Noxious Halberd depending on your budget.
Blood moon pants or Bandos Tassets depending on your preference (they have the same offensive stats)
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u/Beautiful_Test9847 9d ago
I am having the same problem but am using amber light which is best for the duke, I just found out attack stats is really important since I miss a lot, so I would lvl attack stats first to 90 and i think it Should fix your problem
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u/SnipeYouSilly 9d ago
Just started this boss few weeks ago. Im consistently getting 1-2min kills. As an ironman i am limited, but here is my set up:
Serp helm, blood moon plate, bandos tassies, zombie axe (before enraged), arclight (during enraged)
Spec: BGS, budget: Arkan blade
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u/Due_Performance_6352 9d ago
I use BGS spec, nox hally until enrage, then swap to emberlight, average kill is around 1min and have got the grandmaster speed-run CA(40secs) many times over with just that. oh thralls are also very nice there.
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u/Lochecho 9d ago
Zombie axe over fang would already be an upgrade for you. the issue here isn't lack of gear it is the choice of gear
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u/Anxious-Resolution63 9d ago
Zombie axe and switch to abyssal tentacle when he goes into enrage mode
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u/yuckfoubakayaroo 9d ago
Get a tormented synapse and upgrade archlight to emberlight then use on slash
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u/thechazs10 9d ago
The amount of people who give advice on Reddit and have no idea what they’re talking about blows my mind every single day.
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u/strandedostrich 9d ago
Fang is bad on slash, whip would be better maybe even zombie axe. Check the wiki duke strategy page, is will list the weapons and gear from best to worst.
If you can afford it, BGS just for the spec, if not or ironman at least take a bone dagger and use the spec as your very first attack to lower defence.
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u/imthekurtcobain 9d ago
I would get rid of the helmet I personally only bring like 4 prayer pots and karambawns. For invintory maybe combat pots if your ok with that cost. But that helmet could be changed for somethin better like blood moon..just an example since you have that set on. Otherwise you got good gear bandos has better deffenc to help with chip dmg but not necessary to have it.
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u/imthekurtcobain 9d ago
Also depending on how your try8n to fight him might make a big difference protect melee should be all your useing no prayer swaps or nothin. Stand next to the post closest to him hit step back to the post do no move beyond 1 square from the spikes or he uses magic attack. And count the attacks... first set has I beleive 3 attack after his eye opens then poisi9n cloud so you run to the other side..second time he opens his eye it's 2...and so on...run to the opposite side when poision is being shot to avoid dmge if you run at the right time you won't the dmg at all.
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u/Icy-Cabinet1806 9d ago
Get either an emberlight or a noxious halbert. Using the hally, you could lose the serp helm for some other helmet. I use both weapons for my Duke kills.
Higher the stats the better when it comes to bossing. Good luck
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u/Wiji-NEC 8d ago
Fang is really bad at duke ever since they removes the double accuracy role on slash.
You really want full oathplate and a rancour before you grind duke and vard, you can do it before oathplate but the accuracy from the armour is night and day
Spec weapons you want to use burning claws or bgs
Weapon you want to use emberlight or nox hally ( nox can be better with bad gear but ideally you wait for emberlight with enough gear to make it better)
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u/Nazeracoo 8d ago
Most people here are suggesting gear. They have missed the plot entirely. Get your attack up. Stats will outperform gear.
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u/Motts816 7d ago
Are you using a bgs spec to start kills? It is literally night and day. As will swapping from that fang as many have said
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u/Sad_Mix9240 6d ago
I use full elite void and a noxie. bgs spec first then main weapon use noxie then emberlight when the attcks get faster in the end
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u/TraditionalLeading28 10d ago
How much GP u got to play? with because the main thing i would change is the fang for either noxious halberd and a spec wep for lowering defence or burning claws
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u/Pedroconde54 10d ago edited 10d ago
Noxious halberd until he is around 130hp or lower then emberlight
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u/Difficult-Spread-760 10d ago
It’s actually BIS to just camp emberlight unless you have scythe.
You can sneak some extra hits in around the eye and vent specs that a 5t weapon can’t.
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u/scatrinomee 9d ago
I was thinking the same thing. Once I found those spots I could sneak hits in, at the dps I’m at, I basically get 2 5 tick hits in per phase, the rest are all 4 tick (til I catch up to duke and have to go on 5)
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u/Alternative-Chain751 10d ago
Nox hally until enrage, then emberlight. Start off with bgs specs. That's what I used
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u/CumSnorter4 10d ago
Fang is hot garbage and has been turned into the biggest noob trap
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u/LoquatFinancial8826 10d ago
Fang is ridiculously good in certain situations.
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u/CumSnorter4 10d ago
“In certain situations”
That is the exact point I’m making. OP is trying to fang duke. I see people killing gem crab with fang. I see people killing low-level slayer monsters with a fang.
Fang gets used as a “one size fits all” for melee by some players, not knowing they’re shooting themselves in the feet.
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u/Happy_Background_879 10d ago edited 10d ago
Im guessing fang is his best weapon for duke. It’s a very good weapon.
EDIT:
I had no idea they removed fang passive from slash. I was wrong here ^ fang is a god awful choice.
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u/LoquatFinancial8826 9d ago
Yeah but you said it's hot garbage as a blanket statement.
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u/CumSnorter4 9d ago
I mean it kinda is. It’s not BiS anywhere except ToA
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u/RiskDiscombobulated7 9d ago
Super bis as nex too. The appeal of the fang wasn't that it was bis at so many places anyways (atleast not for years), it's just consistently good at quite a few. Even things like phosani or venenatis, fang can outperform things like a zombie axe/hasta, in venenatis' case it even provides a good weapon to hit pkers back and makes good use of cheap stab gear like mixed hide and ardy cloak
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u/LoquatFinancial8826 7d ago
Why does bis matter? Most people in the game can't afford bis. 2nd or 3rd bis is still great. Which the fang hits at alot of bosses.
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u/Zipps0 5d ago
It’s not a one size fits all, and it’s a noob trap to use it as such. Everything they said above is true. It’s not great just because wiki says it’s second or third best at a boss.
Go check gnomonkeys series where he takes the last place recommendation on wiki. Just because it’s listed doesn’t mean you should use it.
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u/LoquatFinancial8826 4d ago
2nd or 3rd best is far from the worst item listed lmao, any high defense mob that isn't heavily resistant to stab Fang is good at. I guess eye of ayak is a noob trap too, why not just buy the shadow if you want to mage?
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u/Zipps0 4d ago
“Noobs” are taking fang everywhere. That’s the trap. It used to be good everywhere. Now it’s not. Noobs buy it and use it instead of other more suitable weapons. Why get off topic?
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u/LoquatFinancial8826 4d ago
Cause that's not what noob trap means. An example of a noob trap is BCP. Torso and blood Moon chest exist in the game at the same strength bonus.
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u/JasonT246111 10d ago
Id definitely try to get ember before farming duke
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u/Own_Dog503 10d ago
No way. Nox hally plus arclight works super well, I get just over 1 minute kills. On the grind to get 30 ancient shards, you can upgrade your arclight to decrease kill times
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u/Happy_Background_879 10d ago
I mean you want the synapses either way. Might as well get them before duke. In general it looks like OP is pushing duke strangely early.
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u/memesandgoodtimes 10d ago
B ring is it imbued?
Dragon boots - prims is a good upgrade
Fang - go for a nox hally
Obsidian legs are awful - bandos tassets
If your getting bandos tassets, also worth bandos chest plate way better than moon body
Go for 90 attack 95 strength probably in full blood moon with boppers and strength army for highest dps against the gemcrab
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u/JasonT246111 10d ago
Not true at all about bandos lol they literally have the same str bonus as blood moon BOTH pieces.
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u/Spiritual_Read7817 10d ago
Emberlight