OSRS Bursting & Barraging Guide
Compare MM2 tunnels, dust devils, and nechryaels for the fastest Magic and Defence XP
Updated March 2026
Bursting and barraging are the fastest ways to train Magic and Defence in OSRS. By stacking multiple monsters in a tight area and hitting them all with multi-target Ancient Magicks, you can reach 300k+ Magic XP/hr and 100k+ Defence XP/hr — while often breaking even or profiting.
This guide covers the best locations, gear setups, cost estimates, and which spell to use at every level. Use our Magic calculator to plug in your exact stats and see how many casts you need.
Bursting vs Barraging — Which Spell?
Ice Burst / Smoke Burst
Requires 70 Magic. Hits up to 9 targets in a 3x3 area. Uses 4 death runes and 2 chaos runes per cast. Base max hit: 22 (Ice) or 18 (Smoke).
- ~200k-260k Magic XP/hr at MM2 tunnels
- Lower cost per cast than barrage
- Good from 70-94 Magic
- Slightly less XP/hr but better GP/hr
Ice Barrage / Smoke Barrage
Requires 94 Magic. Hits up to 9 targets in a 3x3 area. Uses 4 death runes, 2 blood runes per cast. Base max hit: 30 (Ice) or 27 (Smoke).
- ~280k-340k Magic XP/hr at MM2 tunnels
- Higher cost but significantly more XP/hr
- Unlocks at 94 Magic
- Higher max hit = faster kills = more XP/hr
Best Monsters to Burst/Barrage
| Monster | Location | Slayer Req | XP/hr | GP/hr | AFK Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maniacal Monkeys | MM2 Tunnels (Ape Atoll) | None | 280k-340k Magic | -500k/hr | Medium |
| Dust Devils | Catacombs of Kourend | 65 | 200k-280k Magic | +300k/hr | High |
| Nechryaels | Catacombs of Kourend | 80 | 220k-300k Magic | +400k/hr | Medium |
| Smoke Devils (boss) | Smoke Devil Dungeon | 93 | 250k-320k Magic | +500k/hr | Low |
XP/hr assumes barraging with max gear at 94+ Magic. Profits vary with Grand Exchange prices.
Gear Setups for Maximum XP
Budget
- Ancestral hat or Ahrim's hood
- Occult necklace
- Imbued god cape
- Ahrim's robe top & bottom
- Tormented bracelet
- Eternal boots
- Seers ring (i)
- Kodai wand or Ancient staff
- Elidinis' ward or Book of darkness
Mid-tier
- Ancestral hat
- Occult necklace
- Imbued god cape
- Ancestral robe top & Virtus bottom
- Tormented bracelet
- Eternal boots
- Seers ring (i)
- Kodai wand
- Elidinis' ward (f)
Max Efficiency
- Ancestral hat
- Occult necklace
- Imbued god cape
- Ancestral robe top & bottom
- Tormented bracelet
- Eternal boots
- Magus ring
- Kodai wand or Nightmare staff
- Elidinis' ward (f)
The Kodai wand is the single most impactful upgrade — it provides unlimited water runes and 15% magic damage, saving millions in rune costs over a 1-99 grind. Prayer bonus gear (Proselyte, Ring of the gods) is recommended at dust devils and nechryaels where you use Protect from Melee.
Cost & XP Estimates (1-99)
| Range | Spell | Casts | Rune Cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70-94 | Ice Burst | ~32,000 | ~42M GP | ~30-35 |
| 94-99 | Ice Barrage | ~18,000 | ~32M GP | ~12-15 |
| 70-99 | Mixed | ~50,000 | ~74M GP | ~42-50 |
Costs assume MM2 tunnels with current GE rune prices. Dust devils and nechryaels recover most costs through drops.
MM2 Tunnels Setup
The Monkey Madness II tunnels are the best non-Slayer bursting location. You need to have completed MM2 (requires 69 Slayer, 60 Crafting, 55 Thieving, 55 Agility, and 70+ combat stats).
Quick Setup Checklist
- Teleport to Ape Atoll and enter the MM2 tunnel dungeon (under the grass patch south of the main gate).
- Bring a light source, monkey greegree, and prayer potions.
- Run past the first set of maniacal monkeys to the multi-combat room.
- Stack the monkeys by running to a corner and letting them pile up on one tile.
- Use Protect from Melee and auto-cast your Ancient Magicks spell. Bring 4-6 prayer potions per trip.
- Use bonecrusher necklace or bonecrusher (hard diary) for prayer restoration from monkey bones.
Tools to Plan Your Training
Plug your stats into the Magic Calculator
Enter your current level, target level, and gear setup to see exact runes needed, GP cost, and time to 99.
Darren started playing the original RuneScape 2 back in the day and came back when Old School RuneScape launched. He's played on and off over the years and built OSRSToolkit to give players a single place to find reliable tools, calculators, and guides — all informed by real in-game experience.