Slayer task/Hellhounds (2024)

Hellhounds can be assigned as a slayer task at 75 combat level by various Slayer masters. They can be found in a variety of locations around Gielinor. The task is very straightforward as regular hellhounds only attack with their fairly accurate melee bites; it is recommended to either safespot them or keep Protect from Melee on at all times. Hellhounds are primarily known for their high drop rate of hard clue scrolls, at a rate of 1/64, or 1/32 if killing in the Wilderness with a imbued ring of wealth. They also drop ensouled hellhound heads and the smouldering stone.

Outside of the Wilderness, hellhounds are primarily killed in the Stronghold Slayer Cave, as there are four rooms of three or four hellhounds in each one, and a dwarf multicannon can be set up in their caves. They may also be killed in the Catacombs of Kourend for ancient shards and dark totem pieces. The catacombs do not allow for a cannon, but is a Multicombat area and allows for relative AFK training. Once the aggression timer expires, the player can simply run south and up the vine to the Giants' Den to reset aggression.

All other locations outside of the Wilderness are highly discouraged for killing hellhounds, as they are usually very far from a bank and/or in very sparse numbers, which would make tasks unnecessarily long.

In the Wilderness, hellhounds are primarily killed in the Wilderness Slayer Cave, with a group of five slightly stronger hellhounds in a multicombat area. The drop rate of the smouldering stone from these hellhounds is increased by 50%, and they have access to the Wilderness Slayer Cave drop table, which can help offset some supply costs. However, the cave itself is a very popular player killing hotspot despite the hellhounds being below level 20 Wilderness, and players killing them here should not bring any items they are unwilling to lose. Revenant hellhounds do not count towards a normal hellhound task, despite being ghostly hellhounds.

Alternatives for normal hellhounds include the skeleton hellhounds summoned by Calvar'ion/Vet'ion respectively. While the main boss itself is obviously not a hellhound, players can progress through the task with the boss' spawns and make reasonable profit at the same time. Every boss kill will spawn four hellhounds in total, two pre-enrage and another two post-enrage. However, the bosses are also popular player killing hotspots and players should not bring any items they are unwilling to lose.

A final alternative is Cerberus for players who have 91 Slayer or higher, with a minimum of 86 with a wild pie boost. Cerberus is much stronger than other hellhounds with additional mechanics. However, unless the player has a spectral spirit shield and a scythe of vitur, it is not recommended to kill the boss otherwise, especially with lower-end gear. This is due to her summoned souls, of which three are summoned and each one drains 30 (15 with a spectral) prayer per hit if blocked, resulting in higher than expected usage of prayer potions, which with the boss' somewhat low value drops can result in a net loss. Having best-in-slot, especially with a scythe, drastically reduces the chances of triggering the souls and saves significant money.

Monster Variants[edit | edit source]

Location Comparison[edit | edit source]

Exceptions[edit | edit source]

• Revenant hellhounds cannot be slain for a Hellhound Slayer task. They can only be slain for a Revenant Slayer task, which can be assigned by Krystilia.
• The Skeleton Hellhound fought during the In Search of the Myreque quest counts towards a Hellhound Slayer task during the quest. However, refighting it in the Nightmare Zone later on does not count towards a task.
• Bouncer fought during the Fight Arena quest counts towards a Hellhound Slayer task during the quest. However, refighting it in the Nightmare Zone later on does not count towards a task.
• Bouncer's ghost fought during The General's Shadow miniquest does not count toward Hellhound Slayer tasks. Regardless, it cannot be fought after the completion of the miniquest.

Safespots[edit | edit source]

Safespotting can be done with Ranged, Magic, or a halberd. Hellhounds can be safespotted in Catacombs of Kourend as shown below, but not easily. Depending on Hellhound spawns, you will need to switch between the two spots. You may also need to path the Hellhounds away from the wall to be able to safespot them.

• Two safespots for fighting Hellhounds in the Catacombs of Kourend.

• Safespot for ranged and magic in the Witchaven Dungeon near the entrance of the Hellhound area.

• Safespot for fighting Hellhounds in the Taverley Dungeon.

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