For the level 142 skeleton found on Ape Atoll, see Skeleton (Ape Atoll).
Skeletons are undead monsters found in various locations across RuneScape, often in graveyards and dungeons. Being an undead monster, it is highly vulnerable to the Crumble Undead spell. It is also weak against crush attacks. A Salve amulet (e) provides considerable boosts to Strength and Attack against the undead Skeletons.
Giant skeletons are found in at least two locations. Level 80 giant skeletons are found in the Shadow Dungeon, which is accessible with a Ring of visibility during and after the Desert Treasure quest. Level 100 giant skeletons are found in the Lair of Tarn Razorlor (dungeon), which is accessible during and after The Lair of Tarn Razorlor miniquest. The examine text for the level 100 asks the question whether this creature is a 'giant skeleton' or a 'skeleton of a giant', suggesting this undead creature may originate from human or giant remains. (However, the size of creature suggests 'giant skeleton' is the case, as it is smaller than any known giant.)
Level 22 Skeleton guards are guards players can purchase for the dungeon in their player-owned house.
While doing The Restless Ghost quest, a level 13 Skeleton warlock will appear when the player picks up the ghost's skull. It has 18 Hitpoints and a max hit of 2. Also, a mysterious skeleton is said to have been spotted around RuneScape before the 2008 Hallowe'en event.
Note: Just like most monsters in the Wilderness, all skeletons throughout the Wilderness are aggressive to all players, regardless of a player's Combat level.
Locations
Skeletons are one of the most common enemies in the game as there are a very high number of skeletons in the game compared most other monsters. They are found all over RuneScape in relation to almost any area. Some such locations are:
- Edgeville Dungeon - Level 21, 22, 25
- Digsite Dungeon - Level 22
- Draynor Sewers - Level 22, 25
- Crandor and Karamja Dungeon - Level 22, 25, 45
- Ogre Enclave - Level 22
- Taverley Dungeon - Level 22
- Temple of Ikov (dungeon) - Level 45
- Varrock Sewers - Level 21, 25
- Waterfall Dungeon - Level 45
- Wilderness (levels 1 to 6) - Level 22
- Edgeville Wilderness Dungeon - Level 45
- Wilderness Agility Course - Level 52
- Barrows - Level 77
- Melzar's Maze - Level 22
- Underground Pass (dungeon) - Level 22, 26
- Tarn's Lair - Level 42
- Security Stronghold - Level 22, 25, 60
Unlike most enemies, skeletons have a vast range of stats, Combat levels and locations. The table below lists the known locations and combat levels of skeletons, and it also provides links to the locations with separate articles.
| Level | Location |
|---|---|
| 13 | Encountered during The Restless Ghost in the Wizards' Tower basement |
| 21 | Edgeville Dungeon, Varrock Sewers |
| 22 | Digsite Dungeon, Draynor Manor, Draynor Sewers, Edgeville Dungeon, Karamja Volcano Dungeon, Melzar's Maze, Taverley Dungeon, Wilderness (level 1-6), South-Western Wilderness Mine |
| 25 | Crandor, Draynor Sewers, Edgeville Dungeon, Karamja Volcano Dungeon, Varrock Sewers, Southern Wilderness Mine, Wilderness (level 35) near Moss giants and canoe pond, Bone Yard, The Forgotten Cemetery |
| 42 | The Lair of Tarn Razorlor |
| 45 | Crandor Dungeon (near Elvarg), Temple of Ikov, Waterfall Dungeon, Yanille Agility dungeon |
| 60, 68, 85 | Stronghold of Security: Sepulcher of Death |
| 77 | Barrows |
Champion's Challenge
Skeleton is one of the 10 creature races in the Champion's Challenge minigame, meaning skeletons have a chance to drop a Champion scroll.
Drops
All Skeletons
Level 21, 22, 25, 42, 45, 60, 68, 77 and 82
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price 
Bones 1 Always 89 File:Champion scroll (skeleton).png Champion scroll (skeleton) 1 Very rare (1/5,000)[1] Not sold
Level 13
The level 13 skeleton drops nothing except for bones.
Level 21, 22
Herbs
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Grimy guam leaf 1 Uncommon 15
Grimy marrentill 1 Uncommon 13
Grimy tarromin 1 Uncommon 132
Grimy harralander 1 Uncommon 674
Grimy ranarr weed 1 Uncommon 7,640
Grimy irit leaf 1 Uncommon 775
Grimy avantoe 1 Rare 1,814
Grimy kwuarm 1 Rare 1,165
Grimy cadantine 1 Rare 1,312
Grimy lantadyme 1 Rare 1,391
Grimy dwarf weed 1 Rare 448
Runes/Ammunition
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Bronze arrow 2; 5 Common 10–25
Earth rune 3 Uncommon 12
Air rune 12 Uncommon 60
Chaos rune 3 Uncommon 267
Steel arrow 1 Rare 32
Weapons/Armour
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Iron dagger 1 Uncommon 23
Other
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Coins 2; 4; 12; 16; 25; 33 Common Not sold
Grain 1 Uncommon 37
Fire talisman 1 Uncommon 4,924
Looting bag 1 Uncommon (1/30) Not sold
25, 45
Herbs
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Grimy guam leaf 1 Common 15
Grimy marrentill 1 Common 13
Grimy tarromin 1 Common 132
Grimy harralander 1 Common 674
Grimy ranarr weed 1 Uncommon 7,640
Grimy irit leaf 1 Uncommon 775
Grimy avantoe 1 Uncommon 1,814
Grimy kwuarm 1 Uncommon 1,165
Grimy cadantine 1 Rare 1,312
Grimy lantadyme 1 Rare 1,391
Grimy dwarf weed 1 Rare 448
Runes/Ammunition
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Air rune 15 Uncommon 75
Chaos rune 5 Uncommon 445
Cosmic rune 2 Rare 286
Iron arrow 12 Rare 60
Weapons/Armour
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Iron med helm 1 Uncommon 39
Iron axe 1 Uncommon 39
Other
Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Coins 5; 10; 25; 45; 65 Common Not sold
Bronze bar 1 Uncommon 287
Looting bag 1 Uncommon (1/30)[2] Not sold
Slayer's enchantment 1 Uncommon [3] 1,661
Mysterious emblem 1 Rare [4] 68,122
- ↑ Only dropped if access to Champions' Guild is available, and the Skeleton Champion hasn't been previously killed in the Champions' Challenge.
- ↑ Only dropped by those found in the Wilderness.
- ↑ Only dropped by those found in the Wilderness while on a slayer assignment given by Krystilia.
- ↑ Only dropped by those found in the Wilderness while on a slayer assignment given by Krystilia. 1/146.5 for level 25; 1/140.5 for level 22; 1/125.5 for level 45.
Rare drop table
In addition to the drops above, this monster also has access to the rare drop table.
Show/hide rare drop table Item Quantity Rarity GE market price
Coins 3,000 Common Not sold
Loop half of key 1 Common 10,307
Tooth half of key 1 Common 10,840
Chaos talisman 1 Common 505
Uncut sapphire 1 Common 455
Uncut emerald 1 Uncommon 679
Uncut ruby 1 Uncommon 1,249
Nature talisman 1 Uncommon 744
Steel arrow 150 Uncommon 4,800
Rune arrow 42 Uncommon 2,940
Rune javelin 5 Uncommon 875
Adamant javelin 20 Uncommon 1,220
Runite bar 1 Uncommon 12,368
Nature rune 67 Uncommon 14,539
Law rune 45 Uncommon 7,470
Death rune 45 Uncommon 9,135
Rune battleaxe 1 Uncommon 24,487
Rune 2h sword 1 Uncommon 37,758
Rune sq shield 1 Uncommon 22,459
Silver ore 100 (noted) Uncommon 7,000
Dragonstone 1 Uncommon 11,932
Uncut diamond 1 Rare 2,627
Dragon med helm 1 Rare 58,488
Rune kiteshield 1 Rare 32,015
Rune spear 1 Rare 11,933
Shield left half 1 Rare 65,697
Dragon spear 1 Rare 37,226
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Slaying skeletons
When skeletons are given as a Slayer task, besides skeletons and giant skeletons, most creatures with 'skeleton' or 'skeletal' in their names can be slain for the assignment. These include:
Note: Skeleton guards in the dungeons of player-owned houses, however, cannot be included in a skeleton Slayer task, and slaying them will not count either.
Banking tips
Many skeleton locations are far from banks. For players wishing to slay skeletons and bank their drops, consider the following:
- Low-level skeletons:
- The Draynor Sewers are moderately close to the Draynor Village bank.
- Medium/high-level skeletons:
- Tarn's Lair has a banker. However, using this dungeon requires the Haunted Mine quest, Lair of Tarn Razorlor miniquest, and a 100-coin payment is required to the banker for each access to the bank.
Trivia
- The level 45 skeletons in the Crandor and Karamja Dungeon, just outside of Elvarg's lair, seem taller than the other skeletons and appear to be the same size as giant skeletons.
- The skeletons in the Barrows crypts did not drop the champion scroll for several years. This was eventually changed.
- If you open a wardrobe, there is a chance it has a skeleton inside it.