Black mask

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Black mask

Also known as?	Slayer Mask
Members only?	Yes
Quest item?	No
Tradeable?	Yes
Equipable?	Yes
Stacks?	No
High Alchemy	1,800 coins
Low Alchemy	1,200 coins
Destroy	Drop
Store price	Not sold
Exchange price	973,800 coins update
GE Database	Look up price
Examine	Charged: A magic cave horror mask. Uncharged: An inert-seeming cave horror mask.
Weight	10 kg
Click to enlarge

A Black mask requires 10 Defence, 20 Strength, and 40 Combat to wear. It gives a player 15% Attack and Strength boosts against all Slayer task monsters. This effect does not stack with the damage/strength boost of a special attack (apart from the Dragon Battleaxe special), like that of a dragon dagger. The mask also has ten charges that are invoked at random against any combat opponents, not just slayer task monsters. A charge lowers the opponent's Defence level by 3-10. Once the charges are gone, there is no way to recharge it (the slab outside the cave has no effect on it), although its attack and strength bonuses remain after being uncharged. The charge is only lost when initiating combat, so fighting one opponent cannot be used as a way of uncharging it.

For players on undead Slayer assignments, the boosts of a Salve amulet (unenchanted) or Salve amulet (e) do not stack with the effects of a black mask. Only one (the bigger boost of Salve amulet (e) will be effective.

The effects of any prayer bonus will, however, stack upon the already 15% attack/strength increase on Slayer Monster bonus.

The black mask's stats are comparable to a mithril med helm.

Black masks are dropped by Cave horrors (Level 58 Slayer required), found in the Mos Le'Harmless Caves.

A 2008 update with the release of the Smoking Kills quest allowed players to craft a black mask and other slayer items into a Slayer helmet, provided they had acquired the ability to make the helmets. Slayer helmets are valued because of their effects and the fact that they are not tradeable. This update, together with a rumour of lowered drop rates by monsters, was responsible for a steady price increase of the black mask, from approximately 400-500k coins to well over 900k, due to increased demand for the mask to make Slayer helmets. Two weeks after the update, however, prices for the mask began dropping in the Grand Exchange, and soon thereafter mask prices were back to the 400-500k range. More recently, the black mask has made a steady rise and is currently hovering at around 940k.

Grand Exchanges prices of Black Mask, before and after "Smoking Kills" Slayer update on 05 June

Bonuses Hover over image for type						A player wearing a Black mask.
Attack bonus
0	0	0	-3	-1
Defence bonus
+9	+10	+8	-1	+9	0
Other bonuses
0		0		0
Item compare not supported

[edit] References

• RuneScape Game Guide
  • Slayer - Extra Features - Unique Drops - Black Mask