The Gauntlet and Corrupted Gauntlet are two of the most rewarding yet intimidating pieces of PvM content in Old School RuneScape. With no gear, no supplies, and no outside help, success depends entirely on preparation, mechanics, and consistency. For many players, especially Ironmen and those chasing Bow of Faerdhinen, learning a safe and reliable strategy matters far more than speed.

This guide focuses on the safest possible approach to both the normal Gauntlet and the Corrupted Gauntlet, prioritizing survival, consistency, and low-risk decision-making over record times.

Understanding the Gauntlet Basics

The Gauntlet is a self-contained dungeon in Prifddinas where you have a limited time to prepare before fighting Hunllef, the final boss.

You must:

Gather resources

Craft armor, weapons, and food

Defeat Hunllef using prayer switching and movement

The Corrupted Gauntlet is the same concept, but with:

Stronger monsters

Less preparation time

A much harder Hunllef fight

A safe strategy works for both, with small adjustments.

Preparation Phase: Safe Over Speed

Weapon Choice (Safest Setup)

The safest and most consistent setup is:

Tier 3 Bow (Crystal Bow)

Tier 3 Staff (Crystal Staff)

This allows you to:

Avoid melee completely

Maintain distance from Hunllef

Simplify positioning and movement

Avoid melee weapons until you’re highly experienced — ranged and magic reduce risk significantly.

Armor: Always Go Tier 2 (Minimum)

For safety, Tier 2 armor is the baseline, even in normal Gauntlet.

Benefits:

Massive damage reduction

Fewer mistakes punished

Much safer Corrupted runs

Tier 1 armor is faster but extremely unforgiving. Tier 2 dramatically improves survivability and consistency.

Food & Supplies (Safe Numbers)

Aim for:

20–25 cooked fish

2–3 prayer potions

1 weapon frame per weapon

1 teleport crystal

In Corrupted Gauntlet, always over-prepare. Extra food is worth more than extra DPS.

Resource Routing Tips

Safe routing principles:

Clear nearby rooms first

Avoid fighting strong monsters early

Always prioritize weapon frames and crystal shards

Only hunt demi-bosses once weapons are started

Never chase perfection — consistency beats greed.

Hunllef Fight: Safe Mechanics Explained

Prayer Switching (Most Important Skill)

Hunllef alternates attack styles every 4 attacks:

Ranged → Magic → Ranged → Magic

Safe tips:

Count attacks out loud if needed

Switch prayers early, not late

Prioritize prayer over DPS

If you miss a prayer, eat immediately.

Weapon Switching (Safe Rhythm)

Hunllef becomes immune to one combat style at a time.

Safest approach:

Switch weapons immediately when immunity appears

Do not “squeeze in” extra hits

Focus on survival, not damage optimization

Missing one hit is far better than missing a prayer.

Floor Patterns & Tornadoes

This is where most deaths happen.

Floor Tiles

Tiles light up before dealing damage

Always keep one “escape tile” in mind

Never corner yourself

If unsure, stop attacking and reposition.

Tornadoes (The Real Killer)

Safe tornado strategy:

Stop attacking completely

Focus only on movement

Run in wide loops, not tight circles

Avoid diagonal panic clicks

Eating while running is safe — attacking is not.

Safe DPS Philosophy

A key mindset shift for safe runs:

Dead DPS does zero damage.

Safe DPS rules:

Eat above 50 HP

Stop attacking during chaos

Only attack when prayers and tiles are stable

Accept longer fight times

A 6-minute kill is infinitely better than a 3-minute death.

Corrupted Gauntlet: Extra Safety Adjustments

For Corrupted specifically:

Always Tier 2 armor

Minimum 22 food

Stay above 60 HP

Never tank tornado hits

Avoid risky pathing

If your prep feels rushed, reset early. Failed prep almost guarantees a death later.

Common Mistakes That Kill Safe Runs

Avoid these at all costs:

Greeding DPS during tornadoes

Staying on wrong prayer “for one more hit”

Standing still too long on floor patterns

Under-preparing food

Panicking instead of resetting movement

Calm movement wins more runs than perfect clicks.

Who This Guide Is For

This safe strategy is perfect for:

First-time Gauntlet learners

Ironmen farming Bowfa

Players struggling with consistency

Anyone prioritizing KC over speedruns

Once comfortable, you can gradually optimize — but safety should come first.

Final Thoughts

The Gauntlet and Corrupted Gauntlet aren’t about reflexes — they’re about control, preparation, and discipline. By using Tier 2 armor, ranged/magic weapons, and a survival-first mindset, you dramatically increase your success rate.

Master the safe approach first, build confidence, and only then push speed and efficiency. With patience and consistency, Hunllef will fall — and the loot will come.