Summary

Are Raids 4 Rewards About to Change Everything?

Will the new mega-rare finally dethrone the Scythe? 

Are the Ascension Crossbows really worth skipping Bowfa for? 

And did Jagex just accidentally create one of the strongest melee prayers in OSRS history?

The latest Fractured Archive reward blog answered some major questions-and created even more debates. Several proposed items have already been nerfed before release, entirely new rewards have appeared out of nowhere, and one prayer upgrade could become mandatory for every serious PvM player.

If you're planning to run Raids 4 on day one, these changes matter more than you think.

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The Mega-Rare Crush Weapon Just Took a Massive Hit

The biggest headline is the Tarquet Breaker nerf.

Originally, the weapon was outperforming the Scythe in situations where the Scythe was supposed to dominate. That was never Jagex's intention, and the developers have already stepped in.

The new version now rolls damage fewer times and gains smaller bonuses against larger bosses. Its maximum hit drops significantly, and the insane DPS numbers from the first proposal are gone.

The result? A more balanced weapon-but potentially a less exciting one.

Value for You

Best for: Endgame raiders, theorycrafters, merchers

Benefit: Avoid investing in unrealistic DPS expectations and plan future upgrades more efficiently.

Ascension Crossbows Are Still Looking Extremely Strong

Good news for ranged players.

Despite community discussions, the Ascension Crossbows remain mostly unchanged. Early calculations still suggest they outperform the Toxic Blowpipe in many situations while offering a smoother progression path for Ironmen.

Even better, Jagex plans to make Ascension Bolts relatively common, reducing concerns about upkeep costs.

There will also be an AFK method for obtaining ammunition resources, which is a huge win for long-term sustainability.

Value for You

Best for: Ironmen, ranged mains, casual grinders

Benefit: Potentially skip expensive progression paths while maintaining competitive DPS.

The Shield Buff Nobody Saw Coming

The Ron Dash shield received one of the most important updates in the entire blog.

Previously, it only absorbed melee and ranged damage. Now, magic damage mitigation is being added as well, dramatically increasing its usefulness in raids and boss encounters.

This change transforms it from a niche defensive item into a legitimate alternative for many mid-to-endgame setups.

Magic protection was the missing piece. Now it finally has it.

Value for You

Best for: Mid-game PvM players and progression-focused accounts

Benefit: Gain survivability without sacrificing as much offensive power.

Meet the Surprise Newcomer: Gatekeeper's Cane

Out of nowhere, Jagex introduced the Gatekeeper's Cane, a brand-new magic special attack weapon.

Unlike the Volatile Nightmare Staff's single huge hit, this weapon focuses on multiple highly accurate follow-up attacks after landing the initial special attack.

Think of it as the magical equivalent of Dragon Claws or the Voidwaker: fast, aggressive, and designed specifically for burst damage windows.

If the numbers hold up, this could become a staple spec weapon for future PvM encounters.

Value for You

Best for: PvM enthusiasts and speedrunners

Benefit: Unlock stronger burst phases and improve boss kill times.

Zeal Might Become the Most Important Reward in the Entire Raid

Forget flashy weapons.

The real winner may be Zeal, the long-awaited upgrade to Piety.

The new prayer increases strength, accuracy, and defense, effectively becoming the new standard for melee combat. Since Piety has dominated OSRS for nearly two decades, this upgrade feels overdue.

More importantly, Jagex confirmed it will be rare and valuable, preventing the market from becoming flooded.

Sometimes the strongest rewards aren't the flashiest ones.

Value for You

Best for: Every melee player in the game

Benefit: Permanent DPS improvements across nearly all PvM content.

Final Thoughts

The Fractured Archive reward pool is shaping up to be one of the most controversial in OSRS history.

Some players wanted bigger numbers and more power creep. Others wanted balance and longevity. Jagex appears to be aiming for the middle ground.

Whether they succeed will depend on the final DPS calculations, but one thing is already clear:

Raids 4 won't just add new loot-it could redefine the future of endgame PvM.

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Pro Tips

Prioritize Zeal if you mainly play melee builds.

Don't judge the Tarquet Breaker by early DPS videos.

Stockpile ranged supplies before Ascension Crossbows arrive.

Watch for future shield buffs before selling defensive gear.

Expect reward values to fluctuate heavily after launch.

Core Benefits by Player Type

For new players:

Understand upcoming progression paths before spending millions on outdated gear.

For veterans:

Identify which rewards deserve immediate investment and which are hype traps.

For Ironmen:

Prepare efficient upgrade routes around crossbows and ammunition availability.

For competitive raiders:

Stay ahead of the meta before final DPS calculations reshape the market.