Abyssal whip

“A weapon from the Abyss.”

The Abyssal whip is a one-handed melee weapon and one of the most iconic items in Old School RuneScape. It requires 70 Attack to wield, attacks fast at 4 ticks (2.4s), and for years was the benchmark training and bossing weapon for slash combat. Higher-tier weapons now out-damage it, but its speed, low price and modest level requirement keep it a staple choice for mid-game accounts. It drops from Abyssal demons and trades on the Grand Exchange for a few million coins.

Equipment bonuses

The whip's worn stats are simple and all that matters is the pair that drives its damage: a strong +82 slash attack and +82 strength. Everything else on the table below is zero — the whip lives and dies on that strength bonus and its fast attack speed.

Attack bonuses
0
+82
0
0
0
Defence bonuses
0
0
0
0
0
Other bonuses
+82
+0
+0%
+0
Slot
Weapon

Requires 70 Attack to wield · one-handed · attack speed 4t / 2.4s · attack range 1 · members. Its standout numbers are the +82 slash and +82 strength shown above.

Grand Exchange price history

Current guide price Live
1,026K
90-day high—
90-day low—
90-day change—
Live Grand Exchange history, refreshed every few minutes (source: prices.runescape.wiki) · tap the chart for any day’s price.

The Abyssal whip's special attack

The Abyssal whip's special attack is Energy Drain. It costs 50% of your special-attack energy and performs a normal hit with +25% accuracy — it does not deal bonus damage. On top of the accuracy boost it transfers 10% of the target's run energy to you, shown to them with the message "You feel drained!". That run-energy drain only matters in PvP, where it can slow a fleeing opponent.

Energy Drain at a glance

Special cost: 50% energy  ·  Effect: +25% accuracy on a normal hit  ·  Bonus: drains 10% of the target's run energy to the wielder.

Because it adds accuracy rather than damage, the whip's special is a minor edge — useful for landing a hit you'd otherwise miss, not for burst damage. When the whip first launched in 2005 the special guaranteed a maximum hit; that was removed on 22 June 2005, which is why it's an accuracy spec today.

How to get the Abyssal whip

The Abyssal whip is a drop from Abyssal demons, which require 85 Slayer to damage. They're combat level 124 with 150 Hitpoints, so you'll want solid combat stats alongside the Slayer level. Most players buy the whip on the Grand Exchange rather than farming the drop.

Abyssal whip drop rate
SourceSlayer reqDrop rate
Abyssal demon851 in 512
Abyssal demons need 85 Slayer to be harmed. Source: OSRS Wiki.
The upgrade: combine an Abyssal whip with a kraken tentacle to make the Abyssal tentacle — a slightly stronger one-handed slash weapon that needs 75 Attack. It holds 10,000 charges; once they run out it reverts to the kraken tentacle, so the whip itself is consumed in the process.

Abyssal whip FAQ

What level do you need for an Abyssal whip?
70 Attack to wield it. There's no other combat requirement — once you hit 70 Attack you can equip and use it straight away.
How do you get the Abyssal whip?
It's a drop from Abyssal demons at a rate of 1/512 per kill. Killing them needs 85 Slayer. Most players skip the grind and buy the whip off the Grand Exchange instead.
What does the Abyssal whip's special attack do?
The special, Energy Drain, costs 50% special-attack energy. It performs a normal hit with +25% accuracy and drains 10% of the target's run energy to you — it is not a bonus-damage spec. The run-energy drain only matters in PvP.
Is the Abyssal whip still good?
Yes, for its tier. It's no longer best-in-slot — weapons like the Ghrazi rapier, Blade of Saeldor and Scythe of Vitur beat it — but its fast 2.4-second attack, low requirement and cheap price make it one of the best value slash weapons for training and mid-game bossing.
How much is an Abyssal whip worth?
A few million coins on the Grand Exchange — see the live price and history chart above. It's one of the most affordable strong melee weapons in the game.
What is the Abyssal tentacle and is it better than the whip?
The Abyssal tentacle is an upgrade made by combining a whip with a kraken tentacle. It needs 75 Attack, hits a little harder than the whip, and lasts 10,000 charges before reverting to the kraken tentacle. It's the natural next step up from the plain whip.
What Slayer level do you need to kill Abyssal demons?
85 Slayer is required to damage Abyssal demons at all. They're combat level 124 with 150 Hitpoints, so a decent combat account is needed alongside the Slayer level.
Is the Abyssal whip one-handed or two-handed?
One-handed — you can wear a shield or defender in the off-hand alongside it, which is part of why it's such a flexible everyday melee weapon.

Update history

23 Mar 2022Examine text updated to "A weapon from the Abyss." (previously "A weapon from the abyss.").
10 Apr 2014Made combinable with a kraken tentacle to create the Abyssal tentacle.
29 Aug 2006Store value increased from 100,001 to 120,001 coins.
16 May 2006Attack animation reverted to the original.
20 Feb 2006Store value increased from 100,000 to 100,001 coins.
16 Jan 2006Attack animation updated.
22 Jun 2005Special attack changed to its current form — it previously guaranteed a maximum hit.
15 Feb 2005Made obtainable as a drop from Abyssal demons (added to the game cache on 26 January 2005, but unobtainable until then).

Source: OSRS Wiki — Abyssal whip (Changes).