OSRS Efficient Slayer Training: Cannon & Block List Guide

Game screenshots and facts are cited from the Old School RuneScape Wiki (strategy, equipment, drops, and related pages). Writing is original editorial, not a copy of the wiki article.

Slayer stops being a slow skill the moment you treat it as a combat multiplier. From about 70 Combat, the fastest accounts stop doing tasks the way the Slayer master suggests and start forcing every assignment into one of three buckets: cannon it, barrage it, or skip it. This guide covers the efficient setup: a dwarf multicannon on every multi-combat task, a block list that deletes slow tasks, and extensions that stretch the good ones. You'll still train Attack, Strength, Defence, Ranged, and Magic passively—but Slayer XP climbs much faster.

If you're still walking into single-way caves with a dragon scimitar and no plan, you're leaving at least half your potential XP on the table. The methods below are based on the wiki's Slayer training, Pay-to-play Melee training, and Pay-to-play Ranged training pages, combined with how high-level players actually manage tasks. We'll cover unlocks, gear, task lists, supplies, realistic time-to-goal, and where buying gold or a boost fits honestly.

Why Cannon + Block Lists Is the Core of Efficient Slayer

Slayer experience is awarded roughly equal to a monster's Hitpoints when it dies on your task. That means the skill itself doesn't care how much damage you do—only that the monster dies. A dwarf multicannon adds a huge amount of damage in multi-combat areas without costing you extra time, letting you finish tasks in half the time while still gaining full Slayer XP. Meanwhile, your own attacks train melee or ranged, so you're effectively gaining three or four skills at once.

Block lists matter because Slayer masters pull from weighted task tables. Some tasks—like metal dragons or spiritual creatures—are slow even with a cannon. Each block slot you unlock removes one bad task from the pool, increasing the chance of rolling a fast task like dagannoth, kalphite, or dust devils. Extensions and slaughter bracelets then stretch those good tasks even further, while expeditious bracelets shave down the tasks you haven't blocked yet.

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Requirements, Unlocks, and Recommended Quests

You don't need 99 combat to start efficient Slayer, but you do need a few unlocks. At 70 Combat you can use Chaeldar, and at 75 Combat Konar quo Maten becomes an option. Higher-level masters like Nieve and Duradel have better task weights and more points per task, so work toward them as soon as possible. The real gate is not Slayer level—it's having the tools to kill fast.

If you're below 70 Combat and still building base stats, check our guide on Scurrius vs Ammonite Crabs: Melee Training from 50–80 in OSRS. Once you have these unlocks, every task becomes faster.

Several quests also unlock Slayer monsters themselves. Death to the Dorgeshuun opens molanisks, Lost City unlocks mutated zygomites, and Horror from the Deep adds dagannoth tasks. Without those quests, you simply won't roll certain tasks, which changes your block list. Check the wiki's quest table to see what your account can and cannot be assigned before you spend points on blocks.

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Choosing Your Slayer Master and Understanding Task Weight

From 70 Combat, you'll likely use Chaeldar or Konar. Chaeldar gives better points than lower masters, while Konar's assignments can be hit or miss because she forces a specific location. Nieve and Duradel are the long-term choices: Duradel has the highest weighted chance of barrage and cannon tasks, which is what efficient Slayer revolves around. The exact combat and Slayer level requirements vary by master, so verify them on the wiki before you switch.

Slayer masters use weighted task lists, not equal odds. For example, Duradel assigns dagannoth frequently but spiritual creatures rarely. That weighting is why block lists are so powerful: removing even one common bad task shifts the entire distribution toward good ones. Always have combat level checking enabled unless you're deliberately seeking a challenge or a specific task for a diary step.

Slayer reward points are the currency for optimising your list. You earn points for every completed task, with bonuses every 10th, 50th, 100th, 250th, and 1000th task. Spend them first on the Slayer helmet, then on block slots, then on extensions for your best tasks. Never waste points on task skips unless the task is truly awful and you've already blocked the worst offenders.

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Building Your Block, Skip, and Extend List

Your block list should be tailored to your Slayer master. For Duradel, common blocks include black demons, hellhounds (if you don't do Cerberus), greater demons, and spiritual creatures. The exact list changes as your gear and goals change—once you can burst or barrage, you might welcome nechryael or dust devils instead of blocking them. The rule is simple: block tasks that are slow, low XP, or low profit, and extend tasks that are fast, multi-combat, or cannon-friendly.

Bracelets are your friends. The expeditious bracelet has a 25% chance to count a kill as two, reducing the task length by one kill each time it procs. Use it on tasks you haven't blocked but still dislike. The bracelet of slaughter has a 25% chance to not count a kill, extending a task by one kill. Use it on barrage tasks like smoke devils or cannon tasks like dagannoth. Because these bracelets have no combat stats, equip them only right before the monster dies, then swap back to your damage gloves. It's a bit sweaty but worth it for the extra XP.

Task storage from a Slayer master is also worth unlocking once you have spare points. It lets you store one task and take a break without losing your streak, or swap to a different master temporarily.

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The Dwarf Multicannon: Setup, Mechanics, and Cost

The dwarf multicannon is the single biggest upgrade to Slayer efficiency. It has no level requirement to use, only the Dwarf Cannon quest. Once assembled, it fires steel cannonballs and can hit up to 30, regardless of your Ranged level. Its accuracy, however, depends on the attack style you're currently using—melee accuracy boosts melee-based cannon shots, ranged accuracy boosts ranged-based shots. So wear your best melee gear when cannoning melee tasks, and ranged gear when cannoning ranged tasks.

Cannonballs are expensive. The cost is the main reason players avoid cannoning, but the wiki's Ranged training guide is blunt: a melee task can take almost twice as long without a cannon, and it's always worth using the cannon wherever applicable. The saved time can be spent making money elsewhere. If you're short on gold, buying a stack of cannonballs from the Grand Exchange is often more time-efficient than smithing them yourself.

Not every task allows a cannon. Use it in multi-combat areas with high monster density: dagannoth under the Lighthouse, kalphite in the Kalphite Lair, bloodvelds in the Slayer Tower (after the Morytania hard diary for the cannon spot), and smoke devils in the Smoke Devil Dungeon. The cannon deals most of the damage while you melee or range the same monsters, giving you full Slayer XP plus combined combat XP.

The wiki estimates you can gain 2–4 million Ranged experience from level 99 Slayer just from cannon use. That's a free 99 Ranged while you train Slayer—no extra time spent.

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Task-by-Task Methods for Maximum XP

Efficient Slayer is about matching the right combat style and cannon to each task. The table below categorises common tasks from a Duradel-style list, with attention required and what makes them efficient. Always prioritise multi-combat areas for cannon or barrage, and use expeditious bracelets on anything that feels slow.

Task category	Examples	Attention	Typical method	XP notes
Cannon + melee	Dagannoth, kalphite, bloodvelds (with diary)	Moderate	Place cannon in multi, melee with Piety, use slaughter bracelet	High Slayer XP, good melee XP, passive ranged XP
Barrage/burst	Dust devils, nechryael, smoke devils	High (manual casting)	Ancient Magicks in multicombat, slaughter bracelet	Best Slayer XP/hour, magic XP, profit often
Melee only	Gargoyles, abyssal demons (if not bursting)	Low	Slayer helmet, best melee gear, expeditious bracelet if skipping	Decent XP, AFK, some profit
Range with cannon	Suqah, trolls, some dragon tasks	Moderate	Ranged gear, cannon, Ava's device	Trains Ranged primarily
Skip/block	Metal dragons, spiritual creatures, elves	—	Block or skip with points	Not worth the time for pure XP

For pure Ranged training on the side, the wiki lists active cannoning methods at ogres east of Castle Wars (around 40,000 Ranged XP/hour from the cannon alone) and ice trolls north of Jatizso after The Fremennik Trials. These aren't Slayer tasks, but they're useful if you want to boost Ranged before returning to Slayer.

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AFK vs Efficient: The Tradeoff

There's a big difference between clicking once every three minutes and actively managing a cannon, swapping bracelets, and prayer flicking. Efficient Slayer is not AFK. You'll be repositioning the cannon, looting, drinking potions, and keeping Piety or Rigour active. The payoff is often double the Slayer XP per hour compared to a semi-AFK melee-only setup.

That said, not every hour of your day can be high-attention. Many players keep a block list that supports AFK tasks like gargoyles or abyssal demons for work or second-screen play, then switch to cannon/barrage tasks when they can focus. Expeditious bracelets on AFK tasks help shorten them, while slaughter bracelets on active tasks extend the good XP. This hybrid approach still beats training combat outside Slayer because every kill counts toward Slayer XP.

If you want truly AFK combat training, the wiki's melee guide points to sulphur naguas in Neypotzli (after partial Perilous Moons) at 75k–130k melee XP/hour depending on gear and prayer, and gemstone crabs for lower levels. Slayer will always be less AFK than those, but gives both Slayer and combat XP.

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Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

• Not using cannon on every possible task. If the task allows a cannon, use it. The time saved is worth the cannonball cost.
• Blocking tasks before unlocking the Slayer helmet. The helmet's accuracy and damage boost applies to every task, so it's the highest priority purchase.
• Ignoring bracelets. Expeditious and slaughter bracelets are cheap and dramatically alter task length. Equip them on the final hit.
• Using the wrong attack style for cannon accuracy. The cannon's accuracy scales with your current weapon style. Melee tasks should have melee gear for maximum cannon hits.
• Not unlocking task extensions. Extending dagannoth, dust devils, and nechryael increases your XP per task with no downside.
• Skilling instead of making money for supplies. If you can't afford cannonballs, it's faster to buy gold or do a high-profit money-maker than to smith balls yourself.
• Forgetting superior Slayer monsters. Unlocking 'Bigger and Badder' for 150 points gives a chance at superior versions, which drop bonus loot and extra Slayer XP. Always have it on.

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Realistic Time-to-Goal and When to Buy Supplies or a Boost

From 70 Combat and around 50 Slayer, reaching the mid-80s Slayer for top tasks is a multi-week project for most players. With a cannon and good block list, expect a significant jump in Slayer XP per hour compared to no-cannon setups; the exact rate depends on task rolls and gear. Use the wiki's Slayer XP calculator with your actual task list for a precise estimate.

The biggest variable is supplies. Cannonballs, prayer potions, super combat potions, and food add up. If your cash stack is the bottleneck, spending three hours at a money-maker just to fund two hours of efficient Slayer is often worse than buying gold and spending those three hours actually Slaying. Buying OSRS gold from a marketplace is a legitimate shortcut for players who value their time over the grind—just use a reputable seller and never share your account.

Whichever route you choose, the efficient Slayer setup pays for itself in the long run. Higher Slayer unlocks better money-makers like gargoyles, brutal black dragons, and eventually bosses. The time you invest now in block lists and cannon discipline comes back as both XP and profit.

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Sources

• Slayer training - OSRS Wiki
• Pay-to-play Melee training - OSRS Wiki
• Pay-to-play Ranged training - OSRS Wiki