In Old School RuneScape, most boss encounters come with a cost. Death means gravestone fees, wasted supplies, and lost time. The Gauntlet is the rare exception. It is completely risk-free: no gear required, no items lost, and no penalties for failure. If you die, you are sent straight back to the entrance, ready to try again, making it an appealing option for players who would otherwise feel pressured to buy OSRS gold to offset repeated losses. If you have completed Song of the Elves, there is little reason not to learn this content.

The Gauntlet is located in the northwest of Prifddinas and has only one requirement: completion of Song of the Elves. Mechanically, the standard Gauntlet and the Corrupted Gauntlet are identical. The Corrupted version simply gives you less preparation time, increases enemy damage and health, and offers significantly better rewards. For learners, mastering the normal Gauntlet first is strongly recommended.

Recommended Stats and Setup

While there is no hard stat requirement, around 85 Ranged and Magic is ideal to ensure consistent damage on Hunllef, the final boss. A Prayer level of 77 unlocks Rigour and Augury, which provide major damage and accuracy boosts. If you do not have those prayers, Deadeye and Mystic Vigour are acceptable alternatives. You enter the Gauntlet with no equipment, so success is entirely based on preparation and execution.

Understanding the Preparation Phase

Each run begins in the central room, with a timer of 10 minutes in the normal Gauntlet and 7.5 minutes in the Corrupted Gauntlet. As you explore surrounding rooms, you gather resources, kill monsters, and craft everything you need using the Singing Bowl in the starting room.

There are three main preparation styles: Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 armor prep. This guide focuses on Tier 1 prep, which is the fastest, most consistent option and the standard approach for learning. Higher-tier armor offers more defense but requires more time and resources, making it unreliable in Corrupted Gauntlet for newer players.

Efficient Tier 1 Prep Route

Step One: Initial Route
Upon entering, clear weak monsters in the rooms directly adjacent to the starting room. Move in a tight clockwise or counterclockwise C-shaped path. Your goal is to obtain one weapon frame and at least 100 corrupted shards. Collect any nearby resources-ore, bark, linen, herbs, or fish-but avoid wandering too far.

Step Two: First Crafting Stop
Return to the starting room once you have a weapon frame and shards. Craft a Tier 2 staff and three empty vials at the Singing Bowl, then fill the vials with water. If you have fish, cook them and drop them on the ground to free inventory space. Getting a staff early greatly speeds up demi-boss kills later.

Step Three: Core Resource Gathering
You will need three crystal ore, three linen, three bark, and three grim leaves for Tier 1 armor and potions. Gather as many paddlefish as possible for food. While fishing, you can also fill vials with water. If you are near the spawn and already have armor materials, return early to craft armor and potions to maximize inventory space for more fish.

Step Four: Demi-Boss Lap
Run the outer ring of the map to find demi-bosses. You are looking for the Corrupted Dragon and Corrupted Dark Beast, which drop the orb and bowstring needed for perfected weapons. Use the appropriate protection prayers: Magic for the Dragon, Ranged for the Dark Beast. If you encounter a Corrupted Bear, kill it with Protect from Melee. While not ideal, the bear’s drops can still make the run more consistent for learners.

Step Five: Final Prep
Teleport back to the starting room using your teleport crystal. Cook all remaining fish, finish Tier 1 armor, and craft a Tier 3 bow and staff. You should aim for at least 16 paddlefish, eight doses of egniol potion, full Tier 1 crystal armor, and both perfected weapons. If you are missing key items and out of time, reset and try again-resets are normal, even for experienced players.

Hunllef Boss Fight Basics

Hunllef alternates between Ranged and Magic attacks, switching styles every four attacks. He always starts with Ranged. A stomp animation and sound cue signal each switch, so you can react even if you lose count. Never stand under Hunllef, as he can deal massive stomp damage.

Hunllef also prays against your attacks. Every sixth successful hit causes him to protect from that style, forcing you to switch weapons. Managing prayer switches, weapon swaps, and positioning simultaneously is the core challenge of the fight.

Two special attacks demand attention. First, the floor tiles: red tiles warn you, and orange tiles deal damage every tick. Simply avoid standing on orange tiles. Second, tornadoes spawn and chase you, increasing in number as the fight progresses. Prioritize movement and survival during tornado phases, attacking only when safe.

Why the Gauntlet Is Worth Learning

The Gauntlet offers consistent money, valuable unique drops, and zero risk, making it an excellent alternative to chasing cheap OSRS gold through less engaging methods. More importantly, it teaches essential PvM fundamentals: movement, resource management, prayer discipline, and staying calm under pressure. Early kills will be messy, and that is normal. With practice, this content becomes one of the most rewarding and educational experiences in Old School RuneScape.