Earlier this year we announced that we’d begun concepting a way in which high-level players can challenge themselves with fiendishly tough restrictions on boss fights, and track those challenges in a way they can show off to others.

Known then as PvM Achievement Diaries, we’re extremely excited to announce what is now 'Combat Achievements'.

Combat Achievements is a new system that will complement our current gameplay while offering new challenges for those skilled enough to complete them. As you defeat various bosses throughout Gielinor in dozens of different ways, you’ll also be completing tasks of varying difficulties. Doing so progress through the achievement tiers, and when you’ve done enough of them you’ll find you have access to a whole host of new rewards!

You may even encounter some iconic quest bosses along the way...

How exactly do Combat Achievements work?

Much like the normal Achievement Diaries, Combat Achievements are split into different tiers of tasks, increasing in difficulty as they progress. There are a lot of bosses and monsters within Old School, so unlike Achievement Diaries' four tiers, Combat Achievements will have six.

A WIP image of the Combat Achievements Overview Interface using placeholder graphics. Clicking on the different tiers will automatically filter all tasks. There is also a section showing some of your PvM accomplishments!

See below for a breakdown of the different tiers and an example of some of the requirements you might expect to be able to fully complete that tier:

• Easy
  • Base 60 Combat stats
  • 50 Slayer
  • Dragon Slayer

• Medium
  • Base 70 Combat stats
  • 69 Slayer
  • Monkey Madness II

• Hard
  • Base 80 Combat stats
  • 85 Slayer
  • Dragon Slayer II

• Elite
  • Base 90 Combat stats
  • 91 Slayer
  • Song of the Elves

• Master
  • Base 90+ Combat stats
  • 95 Slayer
  • Raiding experience and an understanding of most bosses within the game

• Grandmaster
  • Maxed Combat stats
  • All previous requirements
  • Experienced with all PvM activities within game
  • This tier will take our hardest content in the game and push players to their limits. If you thought the Infernal Cape was the difficulty limit, think again!

The additional tiers mean we can be more flexible in our approach with the tasks. Lower tiers are designed to help introduce new and less experienced players into PvM activities, giving them a taste of what combat in the game has to offer. But Master and Grandmaster tiers give us the ability to provide tasks challenging enough to stretch even the most veteran players.

Tasks

Now that you’ve seen the different tiers available, let’s take a look into what you can expect from the tasks required to complete them.

It’s important we find the right balance between creating tasks that are difficult for groups but also not impossible for solo players. By the same token, we must also avoid creating tasks that are hard to complete solo, yet trivial for groups.

A WIP image of the Combat Achievements Tasks interface using placeholder graphics. You can filter tasks by Tier, Type, Monster or their current Completion state. Clicking on a particular task gives more information on what is required for completion.

Most tasks within Combat Achievements will rely on your ability to complete them alone. There are some exceptions to this, especially when the content itself is designed specifically for groups. Examples include:

• All kill count tasks
  • Any previously earnt kill count will also count towards task completions

• Some speed tasks
  • Some speed task completions will also count towards task completions

• Most Raids tasks
  • There will be tasks for varying group sizes for both Chambers of Xeric and Theatre of Blood

• Most Nightmare of Ashihama tasks

A WIP image of the Combat Achievements Boss Overview interface using placeholder graphics. Players can find detailed information about the bosses including requirements to defeat them and their drops. Clicking the 'Map' button opens the world map at the location of the boss, too!

Tasks are sorted into categories based on the requirements. Here is an example of the categories and corresponding tasks you might expect to see with Combat Achievements:

Task Type	Description	Example
Kill Count	Kill a boss a certain number of times	Kill 5 Obor
		Kill 50 Giant Mole
		Complete 250 Chambers of Xeric
Speed	Kill a boss within a certain amount of time	Kill the Grotesque Guardians in less than 1 minute 30 seconds
		Kill Vorkath in less than 1 minute 10 seconds
		Kill Zulrah in less than 50 seconds
Restricted Item(s)	Complete the task without ever using that item	Successfully clear the Fight Caves without any ranged weapons
		Successfully clear the Theatre of Blood without anyone using a Scythe of Vitur
		Kill Callisto without using Veracs
Specific Item(s)	Complete the task while only using a specific item(s)	Kill Giant mole with full Dharoks only
		Kill General Graardor with mage only
		Kill Venenatis with a Magic Shortbow only
No Damage	Kill a boss without taking any damage, either at all or from certain NPCs in the encounter	Kill Zulrah taking no damage from venom clouds
		Kill Commander Zilyana without taking any damage
		Kill General Graardor taking no damage from minions
Area Restriction / Stamina	Kill a boss X times without leaving Y place	Kill Kree'arra 25 times without leaving the room
		Kill General Graardor 15 times without leaving the room
		Kill the Grotesque Guardians 20 times without leaving the instance
Mechanic Specific	Defeat a boss in a way that hints at how you're supposed to interact with the boss, or tasks the player to kill the boss in a specific, difficult way	Kill Skotizo with none of the four pillars alive
		Kill Giant mole with Protect from Melee active
		Kill Sarachnis without killing her spiderlings

Rewards

Complete all of the tasks within a tier to receive a reward. It wouldn’t be much of an achievement if you were unable to brag about your accomplishments, so let’s take a look at the proposed rewards on offer with Combat Achievements.

The following rewards would only be obtained once all of the tasks within the relevant tier of Combat Achievements have been completed.

XP Lamps

Much like the normal Achievement Diaries, XP lamps are given that scale in experience as you progress through the tiers. These can be used to gain experience in any skill of your choice over a certain level. The following XP lamps would be available:

• Easy Tier - 5k experience in any skill above level 20
• Medium Tier - 10k experience in any skill above level 30
• Hard Tier - 15k experience in any skill above level 40
• Elite Tier - 25k experience in any skill above level 50
• Master Tier - 35k experience in any skill above level 60
• Grandmaster Tier - 50k experience in any skill above level 70

Increased Clue Scroll Drop Rate

We propose a 5% increased chance to receive Clue Scrolls you would normally get from drops, with the type of clue changing based on which tier of tasks you had completed. Any skilling or PvM activity would benefit from this increased chance.

Clue scrolls obtained from Impling Jars or from Clue Caskets would not benefit from this increase.

• Easy Tier - 5% increased drop chance for Easy Clues
• Medium Tier - 5% increased drop chance for Medium Clues
• Hard Tier - 5% increased drop chance for Hard Clues
• Elite Tier - 5% increased drop chance for Elite Clues

Like a Boss Upgrade

Players who have unlocked the 'Like a Boss' Slayer ability are able to receive boss monster tasks from certain Slayer Masters. The maximum number of boss kills that can be assigned for most tasks is currently 35. As you master the art of boss slaying, each fully completed tier of tasks increases the maximum number of all bosses that can be assigned when 'Like a Boss' is unlocked.

• Easy Tier - +2 to maximum bosses assigned
• Medium Tier - +4 to maximum bosses assigned
• Hard Tier - +6 maximum bosses assigned
• Elite Tier - +8 maximum bosses assigned
• Master Tier - +11 maximum bosses assigned
• Grandmaster Tier - +15 maximum bosses assigned

New Slayer Helmet Designs

Spruce up your Slayer look with new Slayer Helmet designs for the highest achievement tiers. Players who complete all tasks in the Elite, Master and Grandmaster tiers will gain access to some of the most prestigious Slayer Helmets in all of Gielinor.

• Elite Tier - TzTok-Jad
• Master Tier - Lady Verzik Vitur
• Grandmaster – TzKal-Zuk

Accuracy Based Offhand

We’d like to reward willing adventurers with a new offhand blade that excels in providing increased Melee accuracy in combat. Whilst it would offer no defensive or offensive bonuses outside of Melee accuracy, each fully completed tier of tasks further enhances your ability with the item, unlocking more accuracy as a result. Have an idea for what the offhand should be called? Get in touch via one of the feedback links at the bottom of this post!

• Easy Tier - +15 to Stab, Slash and Crush attacks
• Medium Tier - +20 to Stab, Slash and Crush attacks
• Hard Tier - +25 to Stab, Slash and Crush attacks
• Elite Tier - +30 to Stab, Slash and Crush attacks
• Master Tier - +35 to Stab, Slash and Crush attacks
• Grandmaster Tier - +40 to Stab, Slash and Crush attacks

New Teleport Locations

New teleport locations have proven to be a popular request within the community, and we’d like to offer some with Combat Achievements.

God Wars Dungeon

The location for this teleport would beside the large boulder blocking the way in to the God Wars Dungeon. Each fully completed tier of tasks increases the number of teleports available.

• Easy Tier - 3 daily teleports
• Medium Tier - 5 daily teleports
• Hard, Elite, Master & Grandmaster Tier - Unlimited daily teleports

Mor Ul Rek

The Tzhaar city and home of the infamous TzKal-Zuk. For those of you wanting to gain faster access to one of Old School’s most difficult challenges, fully completing all tasks within the Elite tier and above will grant you daily teleports to the inner ring of Mor Ul Rek.

• Elite Tier - 3 daily teleports
• Master Tier - 5 daily teleports
• Grandmaster Tier - Unlimited daily teleports

God Wars Dungeon Improvements

For many, the God Wars Dungeon has served as a proving grounds for aspiring boss Slayers. Packed full of creatures to slay and bosses to fell, you’ll be spending some time here throughout your journey toward completing the Combat Achievement tiers. In return, you’ll find some improvements to the area with reduced follower kill count requirements, increased drop rates of Ecumenical Keys and for a small fee, personal instances for each of the God chambers would be made available.

Reduced Kill Count

Upon completion of all tasks within the Hard tier and above, players will be able to enter the various God chambers with a slightly reduced follower kill count.

• Hard Tier - Follower kill count reduced by 2
• Elite Tier - Follower kill count reduced by 4
• Master Tier - Follower kill count reduced by 7
• Grandmaster Tier - Follower kill count reduced by 10

Increased Ecumenical Key Drop Rate

The current drop rate for Ecumenical Keys is 1/60. Upon completion of all tasks within the Hard tier and above, players will gain access to an improved drop rate as per the below:

• Hard Tier - 1/55 chance to receive a key
• Elite Tier - 1/50 chance to receive a key
• Master Tier - 1/45 chance to receive a key
• Grandmaster Tier - 1/40 chance to receive a key

Boss Chamber Instances

Overcrowding and players crashing into one another within God Wars Dungeon has been an increasing issue. There has been a large amount of support within the community to add private instances to the various boss chambers, and with Combat Achievements we’re finally able to offer them... should they pass a poll.

Upon completion of all tasks within the Hard tier and above, players will gain access to personal instance for the boss chambers with God Wars Dungeon. There is a price to pay for your privacy however, but progressing through the tiers will reduce this slightly. See below for the proposed costs to open a personal God Wars Dungeon instance.

• Hard Tier - 200k coins and an Ecumenical Key
• Elite Tier - 175k coins and an Ecumenical Key
• Master Tier - 150k coins and an Ecumenical Key
• Grandmaster Tier - 125k coins and an Ecumenical Key

Note: as the name suggests, personal instances provided by Combat Achievements will be for solo players only.

New Dragon Hunter Crossbow Designs

When we asked the community for reward ideas, a popular suggestion was to revisit the various Dragon Hunter Crossbow variants created by Mod West. Players that complete the Hard and Elite tiers of Combat Achievement will unlock access to exclusive Vorkath and King Black Dragon versions of the Dragon Hunter Crossbow.

• Hard Tier - unlock the ability to combine a King Black Dragon head with the Dragon Hunter Crossbow
• Elite Tier - unlock the ability to combine a Vortkath head with the Dragon Hunter Crossbow

Note: Combining these items with the Dragon Hunter Crossbow offers no additional bonuses and is for cosmetic purposes only.

It wouldn’t be a true Combat focused update if we weren’t offering you a new challenge to go alongside it, would it? Luckily there are many new challenges included within Combat Achievements that will test your PvM prowess.

We would like to talk about one particular challenge, though...

Following a series of failed experiments by the TzHaar, a number of eggs from TzTok-Jad were hatched inside the Inferno. From these eggs came the JalTok-Jads. These creatures are stronger and far more aggressive than TzTok-Jad, and the TzHaar are struggling to deal with them. To help with this, TzHaar-Ket-Rak has challenged any who believe themselves brave enough to enter the Inferno and tackle the JalTok-Jads.

Within the inner city of Mor Ul Rek, players will find TzHaar-Ket-Rak. After a short introduction, he will allow players to take on his challenges. There are six in total, with each seeing the player fight a number of JalTok-Jads. Adventurers must complete the previous challenge to unlock the next. The first two challenges are open to anyone who can access the Mor Ul Rek inner city (unlocked upon showing a Fire Cape to the TzHaar guarding the entrance). The final four challenges require completion of the Inferno.

Much like the Inferno, TzHaar-Ket-Rak's six challenges are considered safe, so players can attempt them without worrying about the effects of death (HCIM rejoice!).

A WIP image of the 6-Jad challenge.

Think you have what it takes to defeat SIX JalTok-Jads at the same time? If you’re successful, you’ll find yourself rewarded with a new JalRek-Jad transmog for the TzRek-Jad pet. You will also receive some Tokkul for each JalTok-Jad killed.

A WIP image of the JalRek-Jad transmog for the TzRek-Jad pet.

A scoreboard nearby will show personal and global stats for kills, deaths and best times. Who do you think will be the fastest at completing the challenge?