The dragon warhammer is a one-handed crush weapon that needs only 60 Strength to wield and swings once every 3.6 seconds (6 ticks). It is prized almost entirely for its special attack, Smash, which lowers a target's current Defence by 30% on any hit that deals damage — making it a staple support weapon at bosses like the Chambers of Xeric. With +95 crush and +85 Strength and no Attack requirement, it is also a favourite of strength pures. It drops only from Lizardman shamans at a rare 1/3,000, and trades on the Grand Exchange for roughly 15M.
Equipment bonuses
The dragon warhammer is built around a single huge +95 crush attack bonus paired with +85 melee strength, with no offensive value in the stab, slash, magic or ranged styles (those sit at -4 or 0).
Attack bonuses
Defence bonuses
Other bonuses
It attacks once every 6 ticks (3.6 seconds) using the Blunt combat style, and asks for just 60 Strength — with no Attack level needed — to wield.
Grand Exchange price history
How to get the dragon warhammer
The dragon warhammer is a rare drop and cannot be made with Smithing, like most dragon equipment. The only source is Lizardman shamans, which drop it at a rate of 1/3,000.
- Source: Lizardman shamans (found in Molch, the Lizardman Canyon, and the Chambers of Xeric region).
- Drop rate: 1/3,000 per kill.
- Buying it: If you would rather skip the grind, it trades on the Grand Exchange for around 15M, with a buy limit of 8 every 4 hours.
The drop was made more common in the 2024 Project Rebalance update, improving from 1/5,000 to its current 1/3,000.
Special attack: Smash
The dragon warhammer's special attack, Smash, consumes 50% of your special attack energy. It deals 50% more damage than a normal hit and, on any attack that actually deals damage, lowers the target's current Defence level by 30%.
The important nuance is that the drain only triggers when the hit deals damage — a successful roll that comes out as a 0 does not reduce Defence. Because the cut is a percentage of the current level, repeated specs stack: a target ends up at roughly 70%, then 49%, then 34% of its starting Defence, with fractional levels rounded down.
This makes the dragon warhammer the go-to opener for shredding the Defence of high-Defence bosses so the rest of a team can land more hits. Against Tekton specifically, the first dragon warhammer spec is guaranteed to land, and later specs that miss still cut 5% of his Defence.
Is the dragon warhammer worth it?
For its niche, yes. The dragon warhammer is one of the strongest warhammers in the game — second only to the Statius's warhammer — and its Defence-draining special attack is hard to replace at team bosses. A single weapon that can knock 30% off a boss's Defence on a successful hit pays for itself in raids and group PvM.
As a main-hand DPS weapon it is weak: a 3.6-second crush swing and no Attack bonus mean it is carried for the spec, not the auto-attacks. Outside of its special attack, dedicated melee weapons hit far harder. It also doubles as a strength pure's weapon thanks to the 60 Strength (and zero Attack) requirement. If you want it without the 1/3,000 Lizardman shaman grind, buying off the Grand Exchange at around 15M is the practical route. Browse other melee gear or plan a setup with the boss gear finder to see where it fits.
Dragon warhammer FAQ
What level do you need for the dragon warhammer?
You only need 60 Strength to wield it. It has no Attack requirement — that was removed on 21 April 2021, when the requirement changed from 60 Attack to 60 Strength.
How do you get the dragon warhammer?
It is a rare drop from Lizardman shamans at a rate of 1/3,000. It cannot be made with Smithing. You can also buy it on the Grand Exchange.
What is the dragon warhammer's special attack?
Its special attack is Smash, costing 50% special energy. It deals 50% more damage and lowers the target's current Defence by 30% on any hit that deals damage. A hit that lands as a 0 does not reduce Defence.
How much is a dragon warhammer worth?
It trades on the Grand Exchange for roughly 15M. Check the live price and history on the chart above or the GE price tracker.
Is the dragon warhammer good?
For its job, yes. It is one of the strongest warhammers in the game (behind only the Statius's warhammer) and its Defence-draining spec is a staple at team bosses and raids. As a pure DPS weapon it is slow and weak, so it is brought for the special attack, not the auto-attacks.
Can pures use the dragon warhammer?
Yes. Because it requires only 60 Strength and no Attack, it is popular with strength pures for its damage and Defence-reducing special attack.
What does the dragon warhammer's defence drain do at bosses?
Each successful spec cuts 30% of the target's current Defence, and the drains stack — so a boss can be reduced to roughly 70%, then 49%, then 34% of its starting Defence over several specs. This lets a team land more hits, which is why it is a common opener in the Chambers of Xeric and other group bosses.
Update history
Project Rebalance: Combat Changes — the dragon warhammer now drops at a rate of 1/3,000, up from 1/5,000.
Fishing Trawler Improvements and Equipment Rebalance: Part One — dragon warhammers now require level 60 Strength to wield instead of level 60 Attack.
Easter 2017 Holiday Event — when using the special attack against Tekton, it now reduces the Defence stat by 5% even if you fail to deal damage.
White & Black Graceful — the dragon warhammer can now open the Big Door to the Bandos Encampment.
Source: OSRS Wiki — Dragon warhammer (Changes).
