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A Day at Barrows: Reflections on RuneScape Adventures
The Barrows is a popular, challenging, and dangerous minigame in the massive online world of RuneScape. Many players have found ways to earn significant amounts of gold by participating in Barrows, but it comes with the risk of losing valuable items due to bad luck or inattention. As an experienced Barrower, I can attest to the thrill and peril of this minigame.
Getting Started with Barrows
I frequently engage in Barrows runs to raise my magic and range levels, currently at 96 and 97, respectively, while my combat level stands at 91. Barrowing serves as excellent magic training since the loot from the chests often provides the runes I need to cast spells like Magic Dart of Slayer (which requires a Slayer level of 55). I have completed over 100 runs at Barrows, accumulating more than 3,000 Boltrack and blood runes, along with around 8,000 chaos runes. Although I don’t keep a strict tally of my gold pieces or mind runes, I never run out of the essential runes needed for my gameplay.
Treasured Loot from Barrows
Among the most prized items I’ve obtained from Barrows are:
- Torag’s Platebody
- 2 Guthan’s Helms (sold for 3.35 million GP each)
- Verac’s Helm
- Verac’s Brassard
- Verac’s Plateskirt
- Karil’s Skirt
In addition, I’ve found at least four half keys during my runs.
Strategies for Success
Many players rely on prayers to protect against melee attacks, allowing them to auto-attack using their magic spells. This method often results in a heavy expenditure of prayer potions to finish off the brothers in the crypts. Upon entering a crypt (which requires a spade), your prayer points will deplete by approximately 10+ every ten seconds. Without a supply of prayer potions, Barrowing would be nearly impossible, especially for lower-level accounts.
My approach to Barrowing may seem risky, but it helps me save on prayer potion costs. With a combat level of 70 defense, I choose to focus solely on magic and range, having completely abandoned melee training. Here’s how I typically conduct my Barrows runs:
Executing the Run
I stock up on runes for entangle spells (requiring 79 magic) and Magic Dart spells (requiring 55 Slayer). I avoid using prayers on the melee brothers entirely; instead, I search their tombs and instantly cast entangle on the brother that appears. After that, I quickly move away a couple of squares and attack with Magic Dart. The entangle spell holds my foe in place for 15 seconds, allowing me to cast four Magic Darts before the spell breaks. After the entangle wears off, your enemy will be immune to any hold spells for five seconds, so it’s vital to keep a safe distance from the melee brothers to avoid their damaging attacks.
Finishing off the melee brothers with my method is risky. Knowing how to hide behind the tombs is essential. I use a technique similar to “side-stepping,” which involves positioning myself at the corners of the tombs. This allows me to regroup and heal without taking damage from the brothers.
Choosing My Strategy
I’ve received many questions about why I don’t use melee prayers like most players. Initially, my goal was to save on prayer potions, so I started utilizing ancient magic. However, ancient magic turned out to be quite expensive, so I typically begin with an Ice Barrage’which holds the enemy for 20 seconds and deals considerable damage’before transitioning to Ice Bursts. Despite the risks, I’ve managed to make profits, thanks in part to lucky lootings.
After testing different strategies, I decided to stick with modern magic, and I haven’t regretted that decision. The increased risk adds to the excitement of the game. If I were to die and lose valuable items like my Ahrim’s mage outfit or Guthan’s helm, I would simply hope that the finder enjoys their new loot.
Unexpected Riches
Recently, I was in Dharok’s tomb, preparing to take him down without melee prayer’an incredibly dangerous task, considering that he can inflict over 58 damage in a single hit when his health is low. Suddenly, I witnessed another player taking massive damage, and in an instant, they were defeated. Upon their demise, I saw their riches on the ground! I picked up an Obsidian Shield, Black Mystic top and bottom, over 200 rune arrows, a Berserker helm, and more. My inventory quickly filled with lobsters, and I regrettably had to watch as other players scooped up the remaining loot I couldn’t carry.
With a newly acquired Obsidian Shield and a fresh Verac’s Plateskirt, I decided it was time to teleport to the nearest bank and take a break from the game. No need to push my luck further!
Regardless, Dharok is still waiting for me at the Barrows, and I look forward to my next adventure.
