OSRS Boss Guide: The Kraken
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the Kraken in OSRS, including how to access it, its mechanics, the best gear and strategies to defeat it, and the rewards you can expect from engaging in this monster hunt.
What is the Kraken in OSRS?
The Kraken is a high-level Slayer boss located in the Kraken Cove on Zeah Island, which can be accessed after completing the "A Kingdom Divided" quest. As one of the more sought-after Slayer tasks, the Kraken is known for its relatively simple mechanics, which make it an accessible challenge for players with the right gear and strategy. Unlike many bosses in OSRS, the Kraken does not require intricate mechanics or high levels of precision, but managing resources such as prayer points and health is crucial to success.
In terms of rewards, the Kraken is one of the more lucrative monsters in the game, dropping items that are highly coveted by players. These include the Kraken tentacle, Trident of the Seas, Kraken's tooth, and Kraken's horn, all of which are valuable either as items to use or to sell for OSRS gold. These rewards, along with the Kraken's relatively high experience rates, make it an attractive option for both experienced players and Slayer enthusiasts.
How to Access the Kraken
To engage with the Kraken, you'll need to follow a few steps:
Unlock the Kraken Slayer Task:
Before you can fight the Kraken, you need to be assigned the Kraken as a Slayer task. This can be done by visiting any of the major Slayer masters in OSRS. To get the Kraken task, you will need a fairly high Slayer level. Most commonly, the Kraken is assigned by Duradel, Konar, or Nieve, who are the Slayer masters that offer high-level tasks. The Kraken task becomes available once you reach level 87 in Slayer, making it a task for mid-to-high-level players.
Access the Kraken Cove:
Once assigned the task, you'll need to access the Kraken Cove. The Kraken is located in a secluded area on Zeah Island, which is part of the Kourend region. To reach the Kraken Cove, you must have completed the "A Kingdom Divided" quest, which unlocks the ability to access the area. Once you've completed the quest, you can travel to the Kraken Cove by using the Kourend teleport or walking from the Kourend Castle to the Kraken's lair.
Navigating the Kraken Lair:
Upon entering the Kraken Cove, you'll find a water-filled arena where the Kraken resides. The lair itself is simple, with a pool of water where the Kraken's tentacles and the Kraken itself will emerge from. This arena is quite different from many other boss fights in OSRS, as the Kraken doesn't have a complex set of attacks or mechanics; instead, it is a battle that primarily focuses on dealing damage while avoiding some basic attacks.
Kraken Fight Mechanics
The Kraken fight is relatively straightforward, especially compared to other bosses in OSRS. Here are the core mechanics you should understand before taking on the Kraken:
The Tentacles
The Kraken fight is largely centered around its tentacles. When you enter the Kraken's lair, multiple tentacles will spawn from the water. These tentacles are what you need to focus on, as they can deal significant damage if they land a hit on you. Luckily, these tentacles are slow-moving and easy to avoid once you understand their behavior.
The tentacles will rise out of the water, and if you stand in the wrong place at the wrong time, you'll be hit by their attack. However, the key here is to keep moving and stay alert. The Kraken fight is one of the few in OSRS where positioning is not as crucial as simply avoiding damage from tentacles and focusing on the Kraken itself.
Kraken's Magic and Ranged Attacks
The Kraken uses both Magic and Ranged attacks. The magic attack is a splash of water that targets you from a distance, while the ranged attack is a long-distance projectile that shoots water at you. These attacks can be avoided by paying attention to the Kraken's behavior and moving away from the projectiles. Both of these attack styles can deal moderate to high damage, especially if you fail to protect yourself with the right prayers.
The most effective way to reduce the damage from these attacks is by using Protection from Magic, a prayer that reduces incoming magic damage. The Kraken's ranged attack can be avoided more easily since it's more predictable than the magic splash. This is important because if you don't have protection from Magic, you might find yourself taking considerable damage over time, which can quickly eat away at your supplies.
Special Kraken Abilities
Though the Kraken is a relatively simple fight, it does have a few special abilities. One of these is the ability to summon additional tentacles that deal damage and can disrupt your attack rhythm. If you're not vigilant, these tentacles can overwhelm you, but they can be destroyed quickly with the right focus. Additionally, the Kraken has the ability to hit multiple targets at once, which can cause significant damage if you don't manage your positioning and prayers properly.
Gear Setup for Fighting the Kraken
Weapons
The two primary weapon choices for fighting the Kraken are the Trident of the Seas and the Toxic Blowpipe. The Trident of the Seas is a powerful Magic weapon that can be used with no runes for casting, making it a cost-effective and powerful option for the Kraken. It also has a special attack that allows you to deal extra damage.
If you prefer Ranged combat, the Toxic Blowpipe is another great weapon to consider. The Blowpipe is fast, efficient, and capable of dealing high damage per second, especially when using Serpentine Helm for added protection against poisons.
Armor
When it comes to armor, you'll want gear that offers protection against both Magic and Ranged attacks. Here are some ideal options:
Karil's Crossbow and Armadyll armor are excellent for Ranged setups, as they boost your accuracy and defense.
Karil's gear provides good Magic defense while boosting your offense for Magic attacks.
Void Knight Equipment is also an option, providing a general all-rounder setup for both Magic and Ranged.
Prayer and Potions
For prayers, Protection from Magic is essential to reduce the damage from the Kraken's magic attacks. Along with that, using prayers like Augury and Rigour will boost your damage output significantly, allowing you to kill the Kraken faster.
As for potions, you'll want to bring Prayer potions to maintain your prayer points, Super restore potions to heal your stats if necessary, and Saradomin brews to keep your health high during the fight. You can get them with cheap OSRS gold.
Strategy for Defeating the Kraken
Activate Protection from Magic: This prayer significantly reduces the damage taken from the Kraken's magic attacks. It's essential for minimizing damage during the fight.
Use your best damage-dealing weapon: Equip either a Trident of the Seas or a Toxic Blowpipe and focus on dealing as much damage as possible to the Kraken while avoiding its attacks.
Manage your health and prayer: Keep your health topped up with Saradomin brews and manage your prayer points with Prayer potions. You'll need to use Protection from Magic regularly, and keeping your stats restored is crucial to surviving the fight.
Defeat the tentacles quickly: The tentacles that spawn around the Kraken need to be destroyed quickly to prevent them from interrupting your attack. Stay vigilant and keep your focus on destroying them as they appear.
Kraken's Drops
The Kraken has an impressive drop table, which is one of the reasons it's so popular among OSRS players. Some of its most valuable drops include:
Kraken Tentacle: This is perhaps the Kraken's most valuable drop, as it can be used to upgrade a Whip into a Tentacle Whip, one of the best melee weapons in the game.
Trident of the Seas: This powerful Magic weapon is highly sought after and can be used in many different PvM activities.
Kraken's Tooth and Kraken's Horn: These items can be used to craft special Slayer-related items or be sold for profit.
Rune and Herb Drops: Kraken also drops a variety of runes, herbs, and other valuable items.
Conclusion
The Kraken is a challenging yet rewarding boss in OSRS. Whether you're on a Slayer task or simply seeking profitable loot, the Kraken offers a relatively simple fight with the potential for massive rewards. With the right gear, strategy, and preparation, you can take down the Kraken efficiently and enjoy the fruits of your labor, making it a valuable addition to your Slayer adventures.