Welcome to the ultimate guide to fighting Yama, a high-level boss encounter introduced in Old School RuneScape. This guide breaks down Yama's mechanics, strategies for both solo and duo players, optimal gear setups, and helpful tips to master the fight.

Getting Started – Requirements & Location

Yama is a high-level solo or duo boss introduced after A Kingdom Divided. Completion of that quest is required to access the boss. While you don't need a Slayer task to fight Yama, you'll want to be well-prepared—it's not for the faint of heart.

Location: Bottom of the Chasm of Fire

Fastest Access:

  Use Fairy Ring DJR and descend.

  Optional shortcuts:

Chain shortcut (83 Agility)

Parkour route (73 Agility) – slightly slower

Chasm Scrolls dropped by Yama offer future teleports to speed up access, but these are rare and not commonly owned early on.

Combat Styles: Melee vs. Mage

Melee: Faster kill times but requires more precise prayer flicking and movement.

Mage: Easier to manage mechanics, but longer fight duration.

Note: Using magic increases Yama's magic defense by +60. In phase three, this becomes even more significant.

Yama's Mechanics: Phase-by-Phase Breakdown

General Mechanics

Triple combat styles: Melee, Ranged, Magic

Special Attacks:

  Red animation = Magic special

  Blue animation = Ranged special

Damage registers on-hit, so you have time to swap prayers.

Poison attacks are possible, so bring an antidote or Sanfew serum.

Phase One

Opens with regular attack → special attack (based on red/blue color)

Then repeats: 3 regulars → next special, alternating colors

The first glyph to stand on is always northeastern

Orb Mechanic:

  Blue specials have a chance to spawn two orbs.

  These must be destroyed quickly to avoid large damage.

  Orb mechanic does NOT progress the phase cycle, meaning the next special will also be blue.

Area attacks precede specials:

  Fire lines or blue wave walls, you must dodge

First Intermission (66% HP)

You're teleported to a minigame-style room

Jump over stepping stones while dodging fireballs

Defeat the minion at the end:

  Starts with a prayer against two styles

  Open with magic (always hits once)

  Switch your attack style each hit

  Continue dodging fireball AoEs

Phase Two (66%–33% HP)

Similar to Phase One with new specials:

  Red special = falling meteor (stand on red glyph to negate)

  Blue special = blue orb projectile (stand on blue glyph to avoid)

Repeat glyph prediction by checking the northeastern glyph

Orb special and area attacks are still present

Second Intermission (33% HP)

Identical to the first

Run the stepping stones

Fight another minion with the same mechanics

Prepare for the enraged phase

Phase Three – Enraged Yama

This is the most difficult part of the fight. Each style has pros and cons here.

Melee Strategy

Only uses melee if you're in melee distance

Easier to pray against, but:

  Hits hard through prayer

  Each melee hit spawns an orb

These must be purged with a Purging Staff

They ramp up in numbers if not dealt with fast

Advanced players can keep up, but not recommended for learners

Mage Strategy

Yama alternates magic and ranged attacks

Must switch protection prayers constantly

Fireballs are thrown (3 in a row) — move one tile away from the direction

Blue wall waves also appear — avoid by:

  Running through when adjacent

  Or using specific tile patterns to dodge both walls

Advanced Tips & Strategies

Eat during intermission — safe window for healing

Stand early on glyphs to absorb the pre-special area attack and the main special hit

Meteor during intermission can damage the minion if aimed under it

Use Purging Staff special to wipe out multiple orbs quickly in Phase 3

Land 3 Emberite specials during melee to cap Yama's defense debuff

Gear Setups: Minimum to Max Efficiency

Minimum Budget Setup

Weapon: Arklight or budget melee weapon

Mage Switch: Trident of the Seas/Swamp

Armor: Defensive gear (Barrows, Proselyte)

Inventory:

  Super combat potion

  Poison antidote or Sanfew serum

  Prayer potions

  Food (Sharks or better)

Mid-Tier Setup

Weapons: Emberite (melee), Purging Staff (orb clearing)

Armor: Neitiznot Faceguard, Bandos, Ahrim's, etc.

Mage Setup: Occult, Ahrim's or Arceuus gear

Maximum Setup

Melee: Oathplate or Torva

Magic: Ancestral robes, Tumeken's Shadow (if available)

Special Weapons:

  Purging Staff for orbs

  Emberite for defense debuffing

Loot & Rewards

While exact drop rates are still unknown, here's what we know about Yama's loot table:

Oathplate Armor pieces

Soulflame Horn

Pet drop

Chasm Scrolls

Common loot includes resources and sellable uniques

Drop rates will likely be made public in the future, so check wiki updates or video descriptions if you're watching later.

Final Thoughts

Yama is a dynamic, multi-phase boss that rewards mechanical skill, prayer switching, and reaction timing. While it's easier in duos, it provides a great challenge for solo PVMers too. With high-tier loot, a cool pet, and unique mechanics, it's a must-try for any endgame OSRS player.

If you're new to Yama, start with magic, learn the mechanics, and then shift to melee for faster kills once you're confident.

Thanks for reading this Yama guide for OSRS! For more boss guides, gear breakdowns, and PvM tips, stay tuned and explore more high-level content in RSgoldfast.