Introduction

The Slayer skill received one of its most significant updates in years in August 2025, and as of 2026 it has completely changed how we approach task management. The old, rigid system of a single, universal block list is a thing of the past. Say hello to per-master block lists, a massive quality-of-life improvement that allows for unprecedented customization and efficiency.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the new system. We'll cover the updated UI, the new point costs, and most importantly, provide strategic advice on what to block to maximize your XP rates and overall efficiency.

The Biggest Change: Per-Master Slayer Block Lists Explained

The core of the update is simple but powerful: every Slayer Master now has their own unique block list. You no longer need to spend a fortune in Slayer points re-jigging your list every time you switch from Duradel to Krystilia. You can set up an optimized list for each master and forget it.

When the update went live, all previous block lists were reset, and the points were fully refunded. This gives everyone a clean slate to work with.

The cost to block a task now varies depending on the master, encouraging thoughtful choices:

  • Turael/Spria: 40 Points
  • Mazchna: 50 Points
  • Vannaka: 60 Points
  • Chaeldar: 70 Points
  • Konar: 80 Points
  • Nieve/Steve: 90 Points
  • Duradel/Krystilia: 100 Points

Using the New Slayer UI to Your Advantage

Gone are the days of waiting for a terrible task just to spend 100 points blocking it. Every Slayer Master now has a "View List" button in their rewards interface.

This new screen is a game-changer. It shows:

  • Every NPC the master can assign.
  • The percentage chance of receiving each task based on your current setup.
  • The quantity of monsters you might be assigned.
  • A simple checkbox to block or unblock any task directly from this list.

This transparency allows you to craft the perfect block list from the get-go, saving time and frustration.

Dialing in the perfect block list takes some trial and error, and then there's still the actual Slayer grind to do. Our skilling services are completed by vetted, hand-trained players, no bots, with live progress you can watch anytime.

General Principles for an Efficient Block List

The goal of a block list is to eliminate tasks that are slow, unprofitable, or dangerous, thereby increasing the frequency of high-XP, high-profit tasks. The general rule is to block tasks with a high weighting that you never want to do, and skip tasks with a low weighting that are simply inconvenient.

Consider these factors when deciding what to block:

  • XP per hour: Is the task notoriously slow? (e.g., Wyrms, Drakes).
  • Location: Is the monster in a hard-to-reach or dangerous location?
  • GP per hour: Are the drops consistently poor?
  • Cannonable/Barrageable: Tasks that can be sped up with a cannon or ancient magicks are often worth keeping.

Sample Block Lists for High-Level Slayers (Duradel/Nieve)

For players chasing maximum experience, the block lists for high-level masters like Duradel and Nieve are crucial. While your personal preference matters, here are some of the most common and effective blocks for an efficiency-focused setup.

The New #1 Priority Block: Metal Dragons

With the recent update, bronze, iron, steel, mithril, adamant, and rune dragons have been consolidated into a single Metal Dragons task. Due to its combined high weighting, this is arguably the best block for almost every player. It frees up multiple slots and removes several slow tasks at once.

Other High-Priority Blocks for XP

Beyond Metal Dragons, these tasks are frequently blocked due to their slow XP rates and poor drops:

  • Wyrms: Low XP/hr and mediocre drops. A very common block choice.
  • Drakes: Similar to Wyrms, these are slow to kill and not particularly rewarding.
  • Spiritual Creatures: Found in God Wars Dungeon or the Wilderness, they can be slow and annoying to kill without specific gear.
  • Black Demons: While they can be cannoned, they are often blocked by players not interested in Demonic Gorilla tasks to make way for better tasks.
  • Cave Kraken: The boss is great for profit, but the regular Kraken task is considered very slow XP.

Krystilia (Wilderness Slayer)

Her list is now entirely separate. Focus on blocking tasks in dangerous multi-combat zones or those with low payoff. Fire Giants, Black Demons, and Greater Demons are common blocks if you are not using a cannon.

What the August 2025 Slayer Update Changed

The per-master block lists arrived in the "Summer Sweep Up" update of 27 August 2025, alongside several other changes that still shape an efficient setup as of 2026:

  • Metal Dragons task: Bronze, iron, steel, mithril, adamant and rune dragons became one task (30-50 kills, extendable to 150-200). Existing tasks were converted and points spent on the old individual unlocks were refunded.
  • Cheaper unlocks: Slug Salter 80 → 10 points, Reptile Freezer 90 → 10, Ring Bling 300 → 150, Bigger and Badder 150 → 50, Task Storage 1,000 → 500. Anyone who had already bought them got the difference back.
  • More points early: Mazchna and Vannaka now award 6 and 8 points per task with updated milestone multipliers, so you can afford blocks without hours of Turael boosting.
  • Task storage in the Wilderness: Slayer Task Storage now works for Krystilia's tasks as well.
  • Smaller changes worth knowing: the Granite Hammer gained a 30% Golembane effect (Gargoyles, Grotesque Guardians), selected Slayer monsters drop unnoted herbs for the herb sack, and the Rune Pouch can be bought from the Mage Training Arena (150 Telekinetic, 150 Graveyard, 1,500 Enchantment, 200 Alchemist points) if you do not already own one.

For how to spend the points you save, see our Slayer points guide; for which master to use at each level, the Slayer masters guide; and for the restricted-account version, the Ironman Slayer guide.

Conclusion

The Slayer modernization update is a massive win for efficiency and quality-of-life. By embracing the new per-master block lists and utilizing the intuitive UI, you can tailor your Slayer experience to your exact goals. Block the newly consolidated Metal Dragons task, get rid of other slow monsters like Wyrms and Drakes, and enjoy a smoother, faster journey to 99 Slayer.

→ Eager to level up your Slayer skill without the grind? Check out our OSRS Skilling Services.

→ For a complete overview of the skill, read our OSRS Slayer Training Guide.

→ Related Slayer guides: Slayer points · Slayer masters · Ironman Slayer.