Vardorvis Comprehensive Guide OSRS - Firey Veins (2024)

Welcome to the Ultimate Vardorvis Guide, Embark on an enthralling journey into the heart of Old School RuneScape’s latest challenge with our comprehensive guide to Vardarvas, the formidable boss introduced in the Desert Treasure 2 update. This guide is meticulously crafted to arm you with the essential knowledge and strategies needed to conquer one of the game’s most intricate and demanding encounters.

Nestled within the mysterious and newly added Stranglewood, Vardarvas awaits daring adventurers, offering a battle that tests both skill and wit. This boss is not just another milestone in your RuneScape journey; it’s a rite of passage for those seeking to etch their names in the annals of Gielinor’s bravest. With its unique mechanics and intense combat experience, Vardarvas stands as a testament to the ever-evolving world of Old School RuneScape, bringing new challenges and exhilarating gameplay to the forefront.

As you prepare to face this formidable foe, our guide will serve as your beacon through the treacherous terrain of Stranglewood. From gearing up with the right arsenal to understanding the intricate dance of Vardarvas’s deadly attacks, we provide you with the insights and tactics necessary to emerge victorious. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a curious newcomer, this guide is tailored to help you navigate the complexities of the Vardarvas encounter, ensuring that you’re well-equipped for the battle ahead.

Requirements for Fighting Vardorvis

1. Completion of Desert Treasure 2: You must complete the Desert Treasure 2 quest to access Vardorvis. The quest version of Vardorvis is slightly weaker but has similar mechanics.
2. Recommended Levels:
   • Attack, Strength, and Defense: A minimum of 80 in each is suggested for grinding Vardorvis kills. Lower stats are feasible for just completing the quest, but higher stats (90+) are recommended for more efficient kills.
3. Prayer Requirements:
   • Protection Prayers: Protect from Melee and Range are essential, so a minimum of 43 Prayer is required.
   • Piety: Having 70 Prayer and unlocking Piety is highly recommended for its significant combat benefits.

How to travel to Vardorvis

1. Teleportation Methods:
   • Ring of Shadows Teleport: This is the primary method mentioned for reaching Vardorvis. The Ring of Shadows provides a direct teleport to the boss area, making it a convenient option.
   • Fairy Ring Teleport: The BLS fairy ring is another option, which is slightly closer to the rowboat that takes you to Stranglewood, where Vardorvis is located. This method is particularly useful if you have a fairy ring in your player-owned house and have completed the elite Lumbridge Diaries.
   • House Tabs: If you have a fairy ring in your house and the elite Lumbridge Diaries completed, a stack of house tabs can be used for efficient transportation.
2. Banking and Supplies:
   • Bank at the Top of the Mountain: There’s a bank available at the top of the mountain near the Vardorvis area. This allows for easy banking and resupplying between fights.
3. Shortcuts and Pathways:
   • Shortcut Near Strangled Bore: After completing the quest, a shortcut becomes available near the Strangled Bore on the northwest side of the city. This shortcut avoids the longer route around the bridges through Strangled, which is required during the quest.
   • Avoiding Strangled: Even when using the Ring of Shadows teleport, you may encounter a few Strangled on the way to the fight, but the damage taken is usually minimal.
4. Considerations for Quest Players: For those attempting the quest version of the fight, the path to Vardorvis will still involve navigating through Strangled, as the shortcuts and easier paths are unlocked post-quest completion.

Primary Gear Recommendations

1. Slash Weapon:
   • Purpose: Vardavis seems particularly vulnerable to slash attacks.
   • Examples: High-tier slash weapons in the game, which could include swords or other bladed weapons known for their slash capabilities.
2. Defense-Reducing Special Weapons:
   • Dragon Warhammer (DWH) or Bandos Godsword (BGS):
     • Purpose: These weapons are used for their special attacks, which can significantly reduce Vardavis’s defense, making the boss more susceptible to your regular attacks.
     • Usage: It’s common to start the fight by using the special attack of these weapons to lower the boss’s defense.

• Minimum Gear and Stats:
  • Base 75s in melee stats.
  • 70 Prayer.
  • Affordable gear with a focus on slash weapons and strength-boosting items.
  • Recommended items include a whip, dragon defender, neitiznot helm, fire cape, amulet of fury, fighter torso, obsidian legs, barrows gloves, dragon boots, and possibly a berserker ring.
  • Special attack weapon, rune pouch with thrall runes, and the Book of the Dead.
• Best in Slot Gear:
  • Osmumten’s Fang on slash, amulet of blood fury, ferocious gloves, primordial boots.
  • Bandos armor and nezzy face guard.
  • Void Waker, Ring of Shadows, divine combat potion, prayer potions, karambwans, sharks, or manta rays.

Armor and Other Equipment

• Best Melee Gear:
  • Purpose: Maximizes your offensive capabilities while providing adequate defense.
  • Examples: This could include the highest-tier melee armor you have access to. The specific gear would depend on what’s available in the game at the time of the guide and your level and resources.
• Prayer-Enhancing Gear:
  • Purpose: Since the fight involves frequent use of protection prayers (especially Protect from Melee and occasionally Protect from Missiles), gear that enhances prayer can be beneficial to reduce the drain rate.
• Ring:
  • Instead of a Berserker ring, use a Ring of Suffering with recoil enabled. The recoil damage is significant over the course of the fight.
• Amulet:
  • A Blood Fury amulet is recommended for its healing properties, allowing for longer trips.

Consumables

• Potions:
  • Combat Potions: To boost your attack, strength, and defense stats.
  • Prayer Potions: To maintain your prayer points throughout the fight.
• Food:
  • High-Healing Food: To recover health lost during the fight.

Additional Considerations

• Inventory Setup: Balance between offensive boosts (like potions), defensive items (like food and prayer potions), and any special items required for the fight or to access the boss area.
• Adaptability: Be prepared to adapt your gear based on the evolving understanding of the boss mechanics. As strategies develop, certain items might become more or less valuable.

Boss Fight Mechanics for Vardorvis

General Mechanics:

• Weakness to Slash Attacks:
  • Vardorvis is particularly vulnerable to slash-based weapons. This means that using weapons with a high slash bonus will be more effective against him, leading to faster and more efficient kills.
• Health and Defense Dynamics:
  • High Initial Defense: Vardorvis starts the fight with a strong defense, making it harder to land hits on him initially.
  • Decreasing Defense: As his health lowers, his defense gradually decreases. This means that as the fight progresses, players will find it easier to hit Vardorvis.
  • Increasing Strength: Conversely, as Vardorvis loses health, his strength increases. This mechanic makes him more dangerous as the fight goes on because he can deal more damage.
• Speed and Movement:
  • Fast Movement: Vardorvis is described as very fast. He can quickly catch up to the player, making it difficult to create distance.
  • Constant Engagement: Due to his speed, melee attacks are effective as he will always be in close proximity to the player. This also means that players need to be prepared to engage continuously throughout the fight.
• Healing Mechanic:
  • Self-Healing: Vardorvis has the ability to heal himself for half the damage he inflicts on the player. This includes damage dealt through protection prayers.
  • Impact on Fight Duration: This self-healing ability can prolong the fight, as it effectively increases his total health pool. Players need to be aware of this to manage their resources (like food and potions) efficiently.
• Importance of Gear and Stats:
  • Given these mechanics, having the right gear (especially weapons with high slash bonuses) and adequate stats (particularly in attack and strength) is crucial for successfully defeating Vardorvis.
• Strategic Approach:
  • Players need to balance their offensive and defensive strategies. While dealing damage is important, managing health and prayer points, especially considering Vardorvis’ increasing strength and healing ability, is equally crucial.

Attack Patterns of Vardorvis

1. Primary Attack Style – Melee:
   • Consistent Melee Attacks: Vardorvis primarily uses melee attacks throughout the fight. This is his standard form of dealing damage.
   • Protection Prayer: Players are advised to use Protect from Melee to mitigate the damage from these attacks. However, it’s important to note that Vardorvis can still inflict some damage through this prayer.
2. Healing Through Damage:
   • Self-Healing Mechanic: A unique aspect of Vardorvis’ attack pattern is his ability to heal himself for half the damage he deals to the player. This includes damage inflicted through protection prayers.
   • Impact on Fight Duration: This healing ability can extend the duration of the fight, as Vardorvis effectively recovers some of the health lost to player attacks.
3. Chip Damage:
   • Inevitable Damage: Despite using Protect from Melee, players will still receive some chip damage from Vardorvis’ attacks. This is a small, consistent amount of damage that accumulates over time.
   • Resource Management: Managing this chip damage is important, as it can slowly deplete a player’s health. Efficient use of food and healing items is necessary to stay in the fight.
4. Increasing Strength with Decreasing Health:
   • Scaling Strength: As Vardorvis’ health decreases, his strength increases. This means that as the fight progresses, his attacks become more potent and dangerous.
   • Adapting Strategy: Players need to be aware of this scaling mechanic and may need to adjust their strategy as the fight goes on, potentially becoming more cautious or aggressive depending on their situation.
5. Constant Engagement Due to Speed:
   • No Escape: Vardorvis’ fast movement speed means that he can quickly catch up to the player, making it difficult to create distance or disengage from combat.
   • Melee-Focused Fight: This aspect reinforces the melee-focused nature of the fight, as players will find it challenging to use hit-and-run tactics effectively.
6. Tactical Considerations
7. Prayer Management: Keeping Protect from Melee active is essential, but players should also be ready to switch prayers if Vardorvis uses any ranged or magical attacks or special abilities.
8. Health Monitoring: Regularly monitoring health and healing when necessary is crucial, especially as Vardorvis’ attacks become stronger.
9. Efficient Combat: Maximizing damage output while minimizing the damage taken is key. This might involve using high-damage special attacks, potions, or other buffs to shorten the fight’s duration.

Strategies for Dodging and Countering Vardorvis’ Attacks

1. Dealing with Swinging Axes:
   • Movement and Timing: The axes thrown by Vardorvis cause bleed damage if they hit you. The key to avoiding them is to move out of their path at the right time. It’s important to watch for their spawn and trajectory, then time your movement to avoid them.
   • Minimizing Bleed Damage: If you do get hit and start bleeding, try to minimize movement as much as possible since moving while bleeding increases the damage taken.
2. Reacting to the Range Attack:
   • Quick Prayer Switching: When the range head spawns and attacks, quickly switch to Protect from Range. Fast reaction time is crucial here to minimize the damage taken.
   • Use of Plugins for Visibility: If you’re using the RuneLite client, certain plugins can highlight the range head, making it easier to spot and react promptly.
3. Handling the Strangle/Captcha Attack:
   • Focus on the Mini-Game: When Vardorvis uses the strangle attack, a mini-game pops up where you need to click on red spores. It’s important to complete this as quickly as possible to resume attacking or healing.
   • Sneaking in Extra Actions: Right after completing the mini-game, you can often fit in an extra attack or use the moment to eat food without delaying your next attack, thus maintaining your DPS or healing without losing combat efficiency.
4. Managing Multi-Attack Scenarios:
   • Staying Calm and Focused: In the later stages of the fight, Vardorvis may use multiple special attacks in quick succession. It’s important to stay calm and focused, prioritizing dodging over attacking if necessary.
   • Prioritizing Survival: When faced with simultaneous special attacks, your first priority should be to avoid taking damage. This might mean temporarily reducing your DPS to focus on survival.
5. General Combat Strategy:
   • Balancing Offense and Defense: Constantly balance your offensive actions with defensive maneuvers. This includes managing your health, prayer points, and positioning.
   • Efficient Use of Resources: Make sure to use your food, potions, and prayer efficiently to maximize your time in combat and your overall effectiveness.
6. Adapting to Vardorvis’ Increasing Strength:
   • Adjusting as the Fight Progresses: As Vardorvis becomes stronger, you may need to adjust your strategy, potentially becoming more defensive to handle his increased damage output.

Advanced Tips for the Vardarvas Fight

1. Safe Spotting:
   • Stand between two pillars, all the way against the arena wall. This position prevents Vardarvas from successfully casting its spike attack.
2. Dodging Axes:
   • This spot also simplifies dodging axes. Be alert for axes spawning directly on you and dodge them in an L-shape in front of the pillar.
   • There’s a specific axe spawn pattern that requires running to the other side of the arena.
3. Ax Skipping:
   • For players confident in their PvM abilities, consider learning “Ax skipping” for a more advanced dodging technique.
4. QuickTime Event Stun:
   • When Vardarvas channels this attack, you can still attack him if timed correctly.
   • Use this event to eat food without affecting your attack cooldown. This allows for immediate re-engagement after the stun.
5. Eating Strategy:
   • Use combo eats during the QuickTime event for maximum health gain.
   • Avoid eating at other times if possible, but prioritize health if needed.

As our journey through the intricate mechanics and thrilling challenges of the Vardarvas boss fight comes to a close, we hope this guide has equipped you with the knowledge and confidence to face this formidable adversary.

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