Players are assigned tasks that require them to travel to areas around RuneScape to kill various monsters. Some monsters require special equipment, such as earmuffs for Banshees. Otherwise, players will find it difficult, if not impossible, to kill certain creatures.
The tasks given out by Slayer masters are usually relevant to the player’s combat level and skill level. There are currently 7 slayer masters located around RuneScape.
All Slayer masters sell enchanted gems that allow players to contact their Slayer Master to ask for tips, where the monsters are located, and how many monsters are left to kill. The gems cannot be used to get a new assignment; for that, the player must see a master in person, or by casting the NPC Contact spell in the Lunar spellbook. An alternative to the gem is a Slayer ring, which functions in the same way as the enchanted gem (and can also tell Slayer reward points), or by wearing a Combat bracelet that contains at least 1 charge left. After the charges are gone, players will not receive any more updates that would otherwise occur every 10 kills.
A Ferocious ring obtained by killing any monsters inside Kuradal’s Dungeon allows a teleport to Kuradal using up one of 5 charges of the ring. This is very useful as it prevents having to pass Brutal green dragons (level 128) and Waterfiends (level 154) on the way. This also allows the use of a summoning familiar pre-summoned as jumping into the waterfall does not allow this. Another way to access the dungeon is to use the new fairy ring (Code BJQ) that was added when Kuradal was added to the game. The new fairy ring must be activated by using five bittercap mushrooms with the ring while having a spade in your inventory.
If players receive an assignment they do not wish to do, Turael in Taverley can give players an easier assignment if the current, unwanted assignment is something that Turael does not also assign. For example, if Vannaka assigns a player banshees, then Turael cannot change their task, as he also assigns Banshees. However, if the number given is far greater than Turael would normally give, it is possible to change the player’s task. For example, if Duradel assigns 140 or more Kalphite, then Turael will change this for another task (or a lower amount of Kalphite, randomly). However, it is not advised to do so because players will lose their streak of Slayer points. Under normal circumstances, players would use their points to change their task if they did not like it. The higher level Slayer masters tend to give more difficult assignments. The masters are shown on the world map with a skull icon ().
Variations of monsters count towards some Slayer assignments, e.g., if a player has been assigned to kill blue dragons, they may instead slay baby blue dragons and still receive Slayer experience. Since the amount of experience received is based on the monster’s lifepoints, there are advantages (and disadvantages) to slaying the assignment with the most Lifepoints. The experience rate for slayer experience is around 15-100k per hour, depending on your gear, slayer task, use of prayers and use of dwarf multicannon.
Killing Summoning familiars will not count towards a player’s task. If a player kills any monster which they have been assigned inside a player-owned house, they will receive the message, “Monsters inside a player-owned house do not count towards your slayer target.”
An update on 9 June 2009 made it impossible to get the same Slayer task twice in a row, after players complained of getting the same Slayer assignment multiple times.
Summoning familiars that assist the player during combat in multi-combat areas do not interfere with a Slayer task. The familiars will attack monsters that the player attacks and can damage them, but the monster’s death counts towards the player’s assignment even if the familiar delivers the deathblow. Using a familiar also bestows an advantage in that the monster will occasionally divert its attention from a player to instead attack the familiar. This can increase an individual’s “staying time.” If the familiar is relatively weak in relation to the target monsters, the familiar can be killed, which can be a nuisance if a player is counting on its abilities.
Another, more common use of Summoning familiars is to bring a Beast of Burden to store extra food or potions, or a Bunyip to heal the player regularly for 20 lifepoints.