Thinking About Bandos? A No-Nonsense Guide to OSRS’s Iconic Armour
So, you want Bandos armour in Old School RuneScape. Smart choice. Or maybe you are curious. Everyone seems to wear it. Let’s explore Bandos, from chestplates to godswords. No fluff here, just the facts.
Bandos Chestplate: Is It Really All That?
First up is the Bandos chestplate, a crucial piece for melee setups. How does it compare to other chest armour? Let’s look into it for some popular choices.
Bandos Chestplate vs. Fighter Torso: The Strength Showdown
The Fighter Torso often comes up in discussions. Why? It has the same Strength bonus as the Bandos chestplate. They are equal in that respect. But Bandos chestplate offers a far better Defence bonus. Sometimes, not taking damage matters just as much as dealing it.
The Fighter Torso is easy to obtain. No cost involved, just time spent in Barbarian Assault. It’s untradeable, so it stays in your inventory. When it comes to Defence, the Fighter Torso is similar to a Rune Platebody. It has slightly better slash defence but less stab and crush defence than Rune Plate.
Barrows Armour vs. Bandos: A Defensive Debate
How does Barrows armour compare? Barrows has a slight edge over Bandos in raw armour rating. However, don’t discount Bandos yet. It provides more than just defence. Bandos offers additional bonuses that make up for that small gap.
Rune Armour: Bandos – The Upgraded Rune?
Think of Bandos as the improved version of Rune armour. This set, dedicated to the god Bandos, has stats that match Rune armour. But there are subtle benefits. For example, the Bandos kiteshield has a -2 Ranged attack compared to Rune’s -3. Each piece of Bandos gear provides a +1 Prayer bonus too. Those minor upgrades do add up.
Inquisitor Armour: The Crush Specialist
Now let’s consider Inquisitor armour. Defensively, it’s quite weak. Its defence mirrors that of adamant gear. Yet it shares the same Strength bonus as Bandos and excels with crush weapons. It shines primarily in crush combat while penalizing slash and stab accuracy. Plus, it provides a higher Prayer bonus than Bandos.
Mixed Hide Armour: A Stab Weapon Wildcard
A lesser-known competitor is Mixed hide armour. With its Strength and stab bonus, it can compete with the Bandos chestplate, especially with stab weapons. If Mixed hide provides better DPS despite lower Strength, it has advantages. But defensively, it is much weaker than Bandos. This gear is more offensive than defensive.
Torva Platebody: The Late-Game Powerhouse
Lastly, we arrive at the Torva platebody. This piece requires 80 Defence to equip and ranks as the best chest armour in OSRS. It has the highest Strength bonus of any item in this slot. It outperforms Bandos by 2 points, Torva is the ultimate melee strength choice.
Bandos Armour Set: More Than Just a Chestplate
Now that we finished with chestplates, let’s look at the entire Bandos armour set. What’s this set about? Why all the fuss?
Bandos Armour: General Awesomeness
Bandos armour ranks among the top melee armours in Old School RuneScape. It serves as a strong all-rounder for melee combat. It doesn’t degrade, which is a notable perk. You avoid repair costs and degradation timers. This makes it ideal for long melee training and long Slayer tasks.
Bandos Tassets: Leg Day Champions
Now let’s discuss tassets – the leg armour of Bandos. They are arguably the second-best non-degradable leg armour in OSRS, surpassed only by Torva platelegs. They provide impressive offensive stats for legs. Melee enthusiasts need these legs.
You can find more about Bandos tassets here, if you’re curious about detailed leg stats.
No Degradation, No Problem
This point deserves repeating: Bandos armour does not degrade. This is a major selling point. In a game where gear can deteriorate mid-battle, having strong and intact armour is invaluable. With Bandos equipment’s strengths, it’s perfect for combat training and boss fights across various levels.
Requirements to Wield Bandos: Are You Worthy?
Sold on Bandos? What do you need to wear it? Firstly, it’s members-only gear and needs 65 Defence to equip. To step into Bandos’s Stronghold in God Wars Dungeon, you need 70 Strength. Boosting is not an option; you need that level legitimately. For survivability in God Wars Dungeon, at least 43 Prayer for protection prayers is essential.
God Wars Dungeon Protection: Bandosian Buddies
Planning to enter God Wars Dungeon? Especially Bandos’s stronghold? You’ll need protection from his troops. Several items can protect you from them. This includes the Ancient mace, Bandos godsword, (Ornate) Book of war, and various parts of Bandos armour.
The War blessing is particularly useful. It’s an item found via Treasure Trails that provides a +1 Prayer bonus and protection from Bandosian troops. Its examine text captures Bandos’s philosophy, showcasing his straightforward approach.
Bandos Chestplate Price and How to Get It (Without Crying)
Let’s talk prices: how much is a Bandos chestplate going to cost you? Prices fluctuate in the Grand Exchange, so check the current price before buying. Generally, be prepared to spend a fair amount on a Bandos chestplate and the full set.
To acquire Bandos armour directly, journey to God Wars Dungeon and face General Graardor. He’s the big boss who drops this gear. Prepare for battle. Alternatively, you can trade with players on the Grand Exchange if fighting isn’t your preference.
You can also turn in a full set of Bandos gear for set items at Grand Exchange clergy. Simply right-click “Exchange,” choose “Sets,” and look for Bandos set there. Handy system for organizing your items or checking prices.
Combat and Slayer: Bandos in Action
As mentioned earlier, Bandos equipment excels in combat training and Slayer tasks. Its strength and durability make it perfect for extended battles. Whether grinding levels or tackling Slayer quests, Bandos gear stands out as a reliable choice. Remember those stats for bossing? They apply to Slayer too.
Bandos Godsword: When You Need a Big Sword
A quick note on the Bandos godsword (BGS). This weapon is powerful against weaker monsters. Why does it work well against low-defence monsters? The Dragon Warhammer’s special attack isn’t as useful against those targets as the Bandos godsword’s capabilities.
raw damage and special attack shine.
Warstrike changes the game. It uses 50% special attack energy but is worth it. Warstrike has double accuracy, does 21% more damage, and drains opponent combat levels: Defence, Strength, Prayer, Attack, Magic, Ranged. A big hit drains significant stats. The BGS is powerful when used right.
Bandos vs. High-Tier Armour
Let’s put Bandos into high-tier melee armour. Where does it fit?
Torva Armour: The Apex
Torva is the best melee armour in OSRS. It has better defence and Strength bonuses than Bandos. The Torva platebody has a +2 Strength bonus over the Bandos chestplate. Compared to Torva platelegs, Bandos tassets have slightly lower bonuses. Torva costs more and needs 80 Defence. It is harder to get than Bandos. Torva is the true goal but Bandos is a good, easier step.
Justiciar Armour: The Tank
If pure defence is your goal, Justiciar is king. It provides the best defensive bonuses for melee and ranged attacks. However, it lacks offensive stats for that heavy tankiness. Justiciar is for times when survival matters, not for maximum DPS.
Inquisitor Armour: Crush King
We talked about Inquisitor armour. Its defence stats are low but it matches Bandos in Strength bonus. It focuses on crush attacks and defence. This niche armour excels in crush combat but lacks versatility. Keep in mind, it lowers accuracy with slash and stab weapons.
Best Non-Degradable Melee Armour
For non-degradable melee armour, Torva and Osmumten’s fang lead the way. Torva is the armour, Osmumten’s fang serves as the weapon. Each requires a level of 80+ in relevant stats (80 Defence for Torva, 82 Attack for Osmumten’s fang). They are the peak of non-degradable melee gear in OSRS.
The Verdict: Is Bandos Worth It?
So, is Bandos worth it? Yes. It’s a strong set of melee armour. Reliable, non-degradable, and gives a nice Strength bonus. It upgrades from rune armour and is a step towards higher tiers like Torva. While training combat or slaying bosses, Bandos works well. Be ready to grind or spend gold to obtain it. But that’s RuneScape, right?
For more information, check the Bandos equipment RuneScape Wiki page.
