Golden Cloud Mountains/Guide

This page was last updated for (v1.1.2).

Weapon Farming

Following the purchase of the Golden Compass and completion of the Necromancers Palace, the Golden Cloud Mountains Slayer Area will become accessible. This area is the penultimate Slayer Area in the Throne of the Herald Expansion. The three Monsters within this area ( Torvair, Arctair, and Harkair) drop the highest level, most powerful weapons in the game, which are extremely helpful in completing both Millennium Gate and Throne of the Herald. These can be extremely long grinds due to the difficulty of the monsters, and require quite a bit of preparation. Each weapon requires 100 fragments, and the fragments have a 5% drop rate, equating to 2,000 kills on average before accounting for item doubling bonuses. The player will also need to collect an additional 10 of each fragment in order to purchase the Golden Shard, adding another 200 kills for a total of 2,200 average kills required.

Acquiring these shards while fighting each monster as a slayer task is recommended, as fighting these monsters on task will increase the damage the player deals due to various buffs. This will require Auto Slayer to be disabled, will encourage semi-frequent check-ins, and means the order in which the weapons are obtained is effectively random, unless the player performs a significant amount of task re-rolling. If the player should choose to re-roll many times to guarantee the order of these monsters, or simply chooses to fight these monsters off task instead, then the suggested order is as follows:

• Torvair, which drops Agile Wings Rapier shards
• Harkair, which drops Slicing Maelstrom Wand shards
• Arctair, which drops Feather Storm Crossbow shards

Order

The order in which the weapons are obtained is not particularly important. However, Monsters within the Millennium Gate area drop Vorloran armour, which is a significant upgrade over other Equipment available to the player up until this point. It is therefore suggested that each of the Golden Cloud Mountains monsters is initially only fought until 10 of each shard is obtained, at which point the Golden Shard can be purchased from the Shop. From here, monsters within the Millennium Gate area can be fought until some of the Vorloran armour pieces are obtained, after which the player can return to Golden Cloud Mountains to complete the grind for the weapons.

Broadly, an efficient order for finishing Slayer would be as below. Guides explaining strategies for fighting Millennium Gate monsters can be found at Millennium Gate/Guide.

1. Torvair / Harkair / Arctair, until 10 of each shard is obtained
2. Vorloran Devastator, until at least 3 different Vorloran Devastator armour pieces have been obtained
3. Torvair, until Agile Wings Rapier has been obtained
4. Vorloran Watcher, until at least 3 different Vorloran Watcher armour pieces have been obtained
5. Harkair, until Slicing Maelstrom Wand has been obtained
6. Vorloran Protector, until at least 3 different Vorloran Protector armour pieces have been obtained
7. Arctair, until Feather Storm Crossbow has been obtained

A popular strategy is to combine the grinding of these weapons with the grind for the Slayer Gear Upgrade Kit (Mythical). An added benefit is the increased damage given by buffs like the Slayer Skillcape and Astrology while fighting Slayer Tasks. Another benefit is the ability to buy Prayer Points, Light Runes, and Food at a profit with the use of Bountiful Resupply.

Some equipment suggestions are detailed below. Note that depending on what Prayer, Potions, and Agility buffs the player uses or has access to, the optimal equipment may vary somewhat from these suggestions.

Buffs

Requirements

There are very few hard requirements beyond the entry requirement of  Slayer Level 116 and completion of the Necromancers Palace, but there are several skills and items that will make this grind significantly easier, and it would be remiss to not mention them.

Suggestion	Benefit
Level 120	Less need for Damage Reduction
Level 120	Pillar of Combat and Elite Pillar of Conflict
Level 115	Spectre and Fox Synergies
Level 118	Battleborn
Vorloran Protector Armour	High damage reduction Melee armour.
Vorloran Watcher Armour	High damage reduction Ranged armour.
Vorloran Devastator Armour	High damage reduction Magic armour.

Agility

#	Obstacle	Reason
1	N/A	No obstacles for these slots provide any combat benefit.
2	N/A
3	Pipe Climb	No particular reason beyond being the only obstacle that grants any combat benefits.
4	Coal Stones	No negative modifiers, technically saves some food.
5	Cliff Balance	+20 HP.
6	Lake Swim	+5% Damage, +1% DR. Rocky Waters can be used instead.
7	Boulder Trap	No negative combat modifiers.
8	Raft Building	Suggested before obtaining Vorloran armour from Millennium Gate for safety. Afterwards, Pipe Crawl can be used instead for additional damage.
9	Water Jump	More damage. The 20 HP from Ice Jump is not necessary.
10	Ocean Rafting	Free damage!
11	Pipe Maze	More damage.
12	Boulder Balance	Lower attack interval and more damage for the low price of lower accuracy.
13	Balance Trap	This obstacle tier does not grant any direct bonuses to these grinds.
14	Gap Climb	More damage and Area Effect Negation - also more coins if doing this grind on Task
15	Waterfall Crossing	Is the equivalent of a permanent Diamond Luck Potion, which frees up a potion slot for Damage Reduction Potion IV. It is necessary to have this obstacle at 99 Mastery to halve the -100 HP modifier.
P	Pillar of Combat	Lots of beneficial combat bonuses.
EP	Elite Pillar of Conflict	Lots of beneficial combat bonuses.

Prayer

• For Melee, use Battleborn and Valor or the highest level combat style prayers you have available.
• For Ranged, use Battleborn and Avidity or the highest level combat style prayers you have available.
• For Magic, use Battleborn and Divination or the highest level combat style prayers you have available.

In some situations, Holy Aegis may be required in order to achieve the required amount of Damage Reduction to safely idle a monster. Where relevant, this is mentioned below as part of the equipment recommendations.

Potions

While fighting Torvair or Arctair, use Damage Reduction Potion IV.

For Harkair, the Damage Reduction requirement is lower such that potions such as the Penetration Potion or Ranged Strength Potion may be used instead in order to improve the kill rate.

Summoning

For all combat styles, use Spectre and Occultist unless stated otherwise below. By decreasing the enemy's Evasion Rating, this Synergy significantly increases the player's chance to hit, even with otherwise maxed stats, and helps a lot in landing hits.

Alternatively, use Fox and Dragon to deal a significant amount of unavoidable damage when the player is otherwise having trouble hitting the target.

Pets

In order to meet Hitpoints and Damage Reduction requirements, it is assumed that the player has unlocked Finn, the Cat, Leonardo, and Erran.

Consumables

For all equipment suggestions, Consumable items such as the Explorers Map II are suggested, but are by no means required in order to safely idle these monsters. Therefore, this slot can be swapped for any other consumable item, or no consumable at all. The Slayer Deterer From Township can help reach the tight DR thresholds required provided the monster is only fought while on a slayer task.

Notes

Checking your setups with the Combat Simulator before engaging any of these monsters is highly recommended. Despite best efforts to ensure these equipment recommendations are safe, there is no guarantee that they will be safe in your specific circumstances.

While the Slayer Area Effect of Golden Cloud Mountains provides a large amount of Lifesteal, each monster ALSO has a passive ability that grants them +500% Lifesteal from Bleed. This makes Area Effect Negation not particularly effective, coupled with the fact that wearing Slayer armor can also prove detrimental to the player's Damage Reduction, it is best to not worry about the regular lifesteal, and focus on reducing the amount of ticks of Bleed the player takes.

As a result, Bleed Burner Cape is critically important for defeating these enemies efficiently. Possibly due to a bug, the way this cape's effect works causes each tick of bleed (there are 20 over the duration of a typical bleed) to each have a chance of completely removing the effect. For example, while the Bleed Burner Cape gives the player a 50% chance to completely ignore the bleed before it is applied, it is also possible for the bleed to suddenly expire after only dealing 1 or 2 ticks of damage, massively reducing the damage the player takes, and therefore the Lifesteal the enemy receives.

Torvair

Torvair drops Agile Wings Rapier Shard used to create the Agile Wings Rapier.

With Slicing Maelstrom Wand, use Slicing Maelstrom, Despair, and Surge II.

With Calamity Wand or Archaic Wand, use Infernal Power, Despair, and Surge II.

Before Millennium Gate

To be able to safely idle Torvair with Magic, the following build assumes the player has at least 1,200 HP and 98% out of combat DR (76% in combat). This equipment recommendation is suitable for all official Game Modes.

The Witch + Yak Synergy and Holy Aegis are required to meet this damage reduction threshold. Note that this equipment leaves a very thin margin of safety, and therefore any deviation from the recommendation which reduces the player's damage reduction is not advised.

For the platebody slot, Bundled Protection Body can be used in a pinch if either Freezing Touch Body or Slayer Wizard Robes (Mythical) are not available, however doing so is a significant decrease to the kill rate so is not suggested unless absolutely necessary.

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Mask of Despair
	Freezing Touch Body	Slayer Wizard Robes (Mythical)	Bundled Protection Body
	Infernal Mythical Wizard Bottoms
	Frostspark Boots
	(U) Carrion Vambraces
	Bleed Burner Cape
	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs	Allure Amulet
	Wasteful Ring
	Calamity Wand	Archaic Wand
	Leviathan Shield
	Gauntlets of Rage	Ring of Power
	Explorers Map II
	Witch
	Yak
	Holy Aegis
	Battleborn

After Millennium Gate/T-120s

To be able to safely idle Torvair with Magic, the following build assumes the player has at least 1,200 HP and 100% out of combat DR (76% in combat). This equipment recommendation is suitable for all official Game Modes.

Acquiring some pieces of the armour dropped by the Vorloran Devastator provides some much needed Damage Reduction increases, allowing for more DPS-focused choices to be made. Using the Slicing Maelstrom Wand provides a very significant improvement to the kill rate, so is highly recommended.

As before, the margin of safety is very small, therefore if not using the full set of Vorloran Devastator armour then using Holy Aegis in place of Divination is suggested to maintain a safe level of DR. At least three pieces of Vorloran armour are recommended.

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Vorloran Devastator Helmet	Mask of Despair
	Vorloran Devastator Platebody	Freezing Touch Body
	Vorloran Devastator Platelegs	Infernal Mythical Wizard Bottoms
	Vorloran Devastator Boots	Frostspark Boots
	Vorloran Devastator Gauntlets	(U) Carrion Vambraces
	Superior Max Skillcape	Bleed Burner Cape
	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs	Allure Amulet
	Wasteful Ring
	Slicing Maelstrom Wand	Calamity Wand
	Leviathan Shield
	Shield of Magic Power	Gauntlets of Rage
	Explorers Map II
	Spectre	Dragon
	Occultist	Fox
	Divination	Holy Aegis
	Battleborn

Arctair

Arctair drops Feather Storm Crossbow Shard used to create the Feather Storm Crossbow.

Before Millennium Gate

To be able to safely idle Arctair with Melee, the following build assumes the player has at least 1,200 HP and 100% out of combat DR (82% in combat). This equipment recommendation is suitable for all official Game Modes.

The Minotaur + Yak Synergy and Holy Aegis are required to meet this damage reduction threshold. Note that this equipment leaves a very thin margin of safety, and therefore any deviation from the recommendation which reduces the player's damage reduction is not advised.

Spectral Ice Sword can be used instead of FrostSpark 1H Sword if necessary, however doing so is a significant increase in kill times, taking approximately 33% longer on average per kill.

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Mask of Madness
	Ward of Flame Platebody	(P) Divine Platebody
	Burning Protection Platelegs	(P) Divine Platelegs
	Frostspark Boots
	(U) Carrion Vambraces
	Bleed Burner Cape
	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs	Allure Amulet
	Ring of Power
	FrostSpark 1H Sword	Spectral Ice Sword
	Leviathan Shield
	Palladium Onyx Ring
	Whetstone	Explorers Map II
	Minotaur
	Yak
	Holy Aegis
	Battleborn

After Millennium Gate/T-120s

To be able to safely idle Arctair with Melee, the following build assumes the player has at least 1,200 HP and 101% out of combat DR (82% in combat). This equipment recommendation is suitable for all official Game Modes.

Acquiring some pieces of the armour dropped by the Vorloran Protector provides some much needed Damage Reduction increases, allowing for more DPS-focused choices to be made. Using the Agile Wings Rapier near doubles the kill rate when compared to FrostSpark 1H Sword, so is highly recommended.

Having all of Vorloran Protector Platelegs, Vorloran Protector Boots, and Vorloran Protector Gauntlets equipped simultaneously is recommended. Alternatively, Vorloran pieces for Ranged or Magic may be used to satisfy the Damage Reduction requirement, although this will negatively impact the kill rate. Equipment providing less DR may also be used, but is not ideal and would require Holy Aegis to be used in place of Valor.

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Mask of Madness	Vorloran Protector Helmet
	Ward of Flame Platebody	Vorloran Protector Platebody
	Vorloran Protector Platelegs	Burning Protection Platelegs
	Vorloran Protector Boots	Frostspark Boots
	Vorloran Protector Gauntlets	(U) Carrion Vambraces
	Cape of Completion	Infernal Cape
	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs	Allure Amulet
	Ring of Power
	Agile Wings Rapier	FrostSpark 1H Sword
	Leviathan Shield
	Palladium Onyx Ring
	Whetstone	Explorers Map II
	Spectre	Dragon
	Occultist	Fox
	Valor
	Battleborn

Harkair

Harkair drops Slicing Maelstrom Wand Shard used to create the Slicing Maelstrom Wand.

Compared to other monsters within the Golden Cloud Mountains, Harkair has a much lower maximum hit which allows for more DPS-focused equipment choices to be made. Notably, using the Damage Reduction Potion IV is not necessary, and so a potion which improves the player's kill rate such as the Penetration Potion or Ranged Strength Potion may be used instead.

With Feather Storm Crossbow, use Zephyte Bolts or Decay Bolts.

With Divine Crossbow, use Meteorite Bolts.

Before Millennium Gate

To be able to safely idle Harkair with Ranged, the following build assumes the player has at least 1,200 HP and 83% out of combat DR (55% in combat). This equipment recommendation is suitable for all official Game Modes.

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Mask of Despair	Mask of Torment
	Bundled Protection Body
	Perfect Sight Legs
	Frostspark Boots
	(U) Carrion Vambraces
	Bleed Burner Cape
	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs	Deadeye Amulet
	Ring of Power
	Divine Crossbow
	Leviathan Shield
	Meteorite Bolts
	Gauntlets of Rage
	Explorers Map II
	Spectre
	Occultist
	Avidity
	Battleborn

After Millennium Gate/T-120s

To be able to safely idle Harkair with Ranged, the following build assumes the player has at least 1,200 HP and 90% out of combat DR (63% in combat). This equipment recommendation is suitable for all official Game Modes.

Vorloran Watcher armour is not so important here, as the Damage Reduction requirement can be met without it with a negligible impact on kill rate. Further, if using Vorloran armour then only equip the Platebody, Gauntlets, and Boots, as the Mask of Torment and Perfect Sight Legs improves the kill rate when compared to the equivalent Vorloran Watcher equipment pieces.

Slot	Item (most effective → least effective)
	Mask of Torment	Mask of Despair
	Vorloran Watcher Platebody	Bundled Protection Body
	Perfect Sight Legs	Vorloran Watcher Platelegs
	Vorloran Watcher Boots	Frostspark Boots
	Vorloran Watcher Gauntlets	(U) Carrion Vambraces
	Bleed Burner Cape
	Fury of the Elemental Zodiacs
	Ring of Power
	Feather Storm Crossbow	Divine Crossbow
	Leviathan Shield
	Zephyte Bolts	Meteorite Bolts
	Gauntlets of Rage	Deadeye Amulet
	Explorers Map II
	Spectre	Dragon
	Occultist	Fox
	Avidity
	Battleborn

Melvor Idle version v1.2.2 (Released: 15th November 2023)
Combat: Attack Strength Defence Hitpoints Ranged Magic Prayer Slayer
Skills: Woodcutting Fishing Firemaking Cooking Mining Smithing Thieving Farming Fletching Crafting Runecrafting Herblore Agility Summoning Astrology Township Cartography Archaeology Alternative Magic
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Reference Tables: Items, Equipment, Experience Table, Upgrading Items, Combat Areas, Slayer Areas, Dungeons, Chest Loot Tables, Monsters, Monster Loot Tables