OSRS The Leviathan Boss Guide

Dive into The Scar to face The Leviathan, a colossal sea beast warped by the abyss and one of the four bosses unlocked after Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire. This encounter is primarily a Ranged fight focused on precise prayer switching against rapid-fire attacks, utilizing a unique stun mechanic, and dodging powerful special moves.

This guide covers The Leviathan's mechanics, attack patterns, stun strategy, special attacks, enrage phase, loot table, and tips for success.

Location & Access

  • Requirement: Completion of Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire. Must be on Ancient Magicks spellbook to utilize the stun mechanic.
  • Location: A large lake within The Scar (Abyssal Space).
  • Access: Speak to the Catalytic Guardian in the Temple of the Eye (Guardians of the Rift minigame area) to enter The Scar. Head east to Wizard Persten's camp and use the rowboat to reach the island. Climb the handholds to start the fight.
  • Fastest Travel: Ring of Shadows (requires Scarred Tablet infusion) > Amulet of the Eye/GOTR teleports.

Fight Overview: Ranged Reflexes & Stun Timing

The Leviathan (900 HP) attacks relentlessly from its pool, requiring constant attention to prayer switches and strategic use of its stun vulnerability.

  • Weakness: Ranged. Melee cannot reach, Magic is ineffective.
  • Standard Attack (Orbs): Fires rapid volleys of coloured orbs. Pray according to the orb colour BEFORE impact.
    • Blue Orb: Protect from Magic (Max Hit ~32)
    • Green Orb: Protect from Missiles (Max Hit ~24)
    • Orange Orb: Protect from Melee (Max Hit ~50)
  • Attack Speed: Starts slow (3-tick), but speeds up significantly after each volley (down to 1-tick attacks). Very difficult to react to at max speed.
  • Bite Attack: If you stand directly adjacent to the pool (including diagonals), it can use a fast, unreactable Melee bite (Max Hit ~50). Avoid these tiles.
  • Debris: After each volley, Leviathan roars (minor chip damage) and debris falls, including one permanent piece on your current location. Move one tile to dodge. Debris blocks line of sight and movement.
  • Stun Mechanic:
    • Casting any Shadow spell (Shadow Rush/Burst/Blitz/Barrage) from the Ancient Magicks spellbook stuns Leviathan for 15 ticks (9 seconds).
    • Damage is capped at 10 while stunned unless you attack its backside.
    • Attacking the backside during stun deals significantly increased damage (minimum ~65% of your max hit).
    • Crucially, stunning resets the attack speed buildup back to the slowest speed.
    • Stunning triggers a special attack immediately after the stun wears off.
  • Enrage Phase (<20% HP / 180 HP): Attack speed locks at 2 ticks. Only uses Magic/Ranged orbs. Abyssal Pathfinder appears.

Special Attacks (Triggered after Stun Wears Off)

Leviathan alternates between two special attacks after being stunned:

  1. Lightning Barrage:
    • Mechanic: Zone of electricity forms around Leviathan, lightning strikes chase the player. Orbs also fly out from the centre.
    • Dodge: Run in a tight circle around Leviathan, staying just ahead of the pursuing lightning strike. Stand close to the boss while circling. Advanced players can perform precise movements to attack while dodging (see external guides).
  2. Smoke Blast:
    • Mechanic: Rapidly fires debris (~10) targeting your tile (2-tick delay). After the debris, launches a large smoke blast.
    • Dodge: Move one tile after each debris piece lands (or time attacks between landings). Hide behind the fallen debris to block the final smoke blast (deals up to 59 damage if hit).

Note: Damage dealt to Leviathan is reduced by 33% during its special attack animations.

Enrage Phase (<20% HP / 180 HP)

  • Triggers with a roar and debris drop.
  • Abyssal Pathfinder: Spawns (usually NW corner) and moves clockwise. You MUST stand within its 5x5 AoE.
    • Buff: Inside AoE, your attacks gain perfect accuracy and increased minimum hit (~20% of max). Player glows when buffed.
    • Debuff: Outside AoE, Leviathan's attacks pierce prayer, and your damage is reduced.
  • Attacks: Only uses Magic/Ranged orbs at a fixed 2-tick speed. Can still bite.
  • Debris: Continues to fall periodically.
  • Strategy: Stay inside the pathfinder's moving AoE. Focus DPS – the increased accuracy/damage helps burn it down quickly. A Toxic Blowpipe often becomes very effective here due to the minimum hit buff. Webweaver Bow specs are also potent. Finish the fight before debris overwhelms movement.

Strategy: The Stun & Burn Cycle

The core strategy revolves around managing the attack speed increase using the stun mechanic:

  1. Initial Volley: Start with Ranged attacks, praying correctly against the orbs.
  2. Monitor Attack Speed: As the volleys get faster and harder to react to, prepare to stun.
  3. Cast Shadow Spell: Stun Leviathan before the speed becomes unmanageable (usually before or during the 1-tick phase).
  4. Run Behind & DPS: Immediately run around to Leviathan's backside while it's stunned. Unload high-damage attacks (Ruby Bolt specs, high Ranged strength gear).
  5. Prepare for Special: As the stun nears its end (9 seconds), move away from the backside and prepare to dodge the incoming special attack (Lightning or Smoke).
  6. Dodge Special: Execute the dodge pattern for the specific special attack.
  7. Repeat: Leviathan's attack speed resets. Repeat the cycle of Ranged attacks, prayer switching, stunning, backside DPS, and special dodging.
  8. Enrage: Once below 180 HP, stay within the Pathfinder AoE and burn the remaining health.
  • Weapon: Twisted Bow (Excels due to high Magic level) > Zaryte Crossbow > Bow of Faerdhinen (w/ Crystal) > Armadyl Crossbow / Dragon Hunter Crossbow.
  • Ammo: Dragon Arrows (T-Bow/Bowfa) or Ruby Bolts (e) / Diamond Bolts (e) for Crossbows. Switch to Diamond Bolts below ~35% HP if using crossbows.
  • Spellbook: Ancient Magicks is mandatory for Shadow spells (Shadow Rush is sufficient and cheapest).
  • Armour: Masori (f) > Crystal Armour (w/ Bowfa) > Armadyl > Blessed D'hide. Prioritize Ranged accuracy and damage.
  • Special Attack: Zaryte Crossbow > Webweaver Bow (enrage) > Toxic Blowpipe (enrage). Lightbearer ring helps regenerate spec faster.
  • Other: Necklace of Anguish, Ava's Assembler/Dizana's Quiver, Pegasian Boots, Barrows Gloves/Zaryte Vambraces.

Loot Highlights

  • Unique Table (1/96 roll):
    • Leviathan's Lure (1/768): Component for Soulreaper Axe.
    • Venator Vestige (1/768): Creates Venator Bow (requires 3 rolls of this drop).
    • Chromium Ingot (3/768 or 1/256): Used for Ancient Rings.
    • Virtus Robes Piece (1/768): Mask, Top, or Bottom (1/2304 for a specific piece).
  • Secondary Uniques: Awakener's Orb (1/53.6), Scarred Tablet (1/25.8 - Teleport item, gets common until first drop), Smoke Quartz (1/206 - Cosmetic, scales to 1/50 until first drop).
  • Supplies (1/5.4 roll): Prayer Potion(3), Ranging Potion(2), Sea Turtle.
  • Standard: Runes (Smoke, Soul), noted resources (ores, essence, raw fish), Javelin Heads (Dragon), bolts (unf).
  • Tertiary: Lil'viathan (Pet, 1/2500), Clue Scrolls.

Perfect Kills: Avoiding all avoidable damage (orbs off-prayer, bite, debris impact, Lightning, Smoke Blast) grants 50% more standard loot quantity.

Conclusion

The Leviathan demands constant focus on prayer switches and effective use of the stun mechanic to manage its escalating attack speed. Mastering the timing of stuns, positioning for backside damage, and cleanly dodging the special attacks are crucial for consistent kills. Its unique drops, including parts for the Soulreaper Axe and Venator Bow, make it a highly rewarding, albeit challenging, boss within the Desert Treasure II lineup.

Need better Ranged gear or stats for The Leviathan? Check out our OSRS Skilling Services for Ranged and Prayer training. Fund your Twisted Bow or Zaryte Crossbow with OSRS Gold! Don't forget to consult our other Desert Treasure II boss guides.