The malediction ward is a members' mage-class shield that needs 60 Defence to wield. It pairs a +12 Magic attack bonus and a 2% Magic damage boost with solid melee defence (+50/+52/+48), making it a budget-friendly off-hand for mages who don't have a spirit shield or Elidinis' ward. It is not dropped — you forge it from three malediction shards taken off the Wilderness bosses, and it trades on the GE for roughly 1.9M.
Equipment bonuses
The malediction ward is built for magic: it gives +12 Magic attack and a 2% Magic damage bonus, while leaving every melee and Ranged attack stat negative (-8 stab/slash/crush, -12 Ranged). Its defence is genuinely tanky for an off-hand — +50 stab, +52 slash, +48 crush and +15 Magic defence.
Attack bonuses
Defence bonuses
Other bonuses
Wield it at 60 Defence; as a shield it occupies the off-hand slot and so cannot be used alongside a two-handed staff.
Grand Exchange price history
How to get the malediction ward
The malediction ward is not a direct drop — it is forged from three components: malediction shard 1, malediction shard 2, and malediction shard 3. Each shard comes from a different Wilderness boss:
- Shard 1 — dropped by the Chaos Fanatic
- Shard 2 — dropped by the Crazy archaeologist
- Shard 3 — dropped by Scorpia
Once all three shards are in your inventory, travel to the Volcanic Forge in the far north-east of the Wilderness and combine them to create the ward. If you'd rather skip the grind, the finished ward is tradeable on the Grand Exchange for around 1.9M.
Is the malediction ward worth it?
For mages on a budget, yes. The ward delivers a +12 Magic attack bonus, a 2% Magic damage boost, and chunky melee defence in one off-hand slot, all behind a low 60 Defence requirement. That makes it a strong pick for early- and mid-game magic setups where the alternatives cost far more.
It is not the best magic shield, though. The wiki lists it as roughly the fifth-best Magic attack off-hand, behind the mage's book, ancient wyvern shield, arcane spirit shield, and Elidinis' ward (f). If you can afford a spirit shield or build an Elidinis' ward, those win on raw bonus. A ward upgrade kit (from Justine's shop) can recolour it into a cosmetic malediction ward (or), but doing so makes it untradeable and the kit is not returned.
Malediction ward FAQ
How do you get the malediction ward?
You forge it, you don't loot it. Collect malediction shard 1 from the Chaos Fanatic, shard 2 from the Crazy archaeologist, and shard 3 from Scorpia, then combine all three at the Volcanic Forge in the north-east Wilderness. The finished ward is also tradeable on the GE.
What level do you need for the malediction ward?
You need 60 Defence to wield it. There is no Magic level requirement, despite it being a magic shield.
Is the malediction ward good for magic?
It's a solid budget option. It gives +12 Magic attack and a 2% Magic damage bonus. It is roughly the fifth-best Magic attack off-hand in the game, behind the mage's book, ancient wyvern shield, arcane spirit shield, and Elidinis' ward (f), so it's a great early/mid-game shield but not best in slot.
Does the malediction ward have a special attack?
No. It is a defensive shield with no special attack.
How much is the malediction ward worth?
Around 1.9M on the Grand Exchange, though the live price shifts with demand — check the price chart above for the current value. Its alchemy values are 27K (high) and 18K (low).
Can you use the malediction ward with a staff?
Only with a one-handed staff or wand. As a shield it takes the off-hand slot, so it cannot be equipped alongside a two-handed staff such as the staff of the dead or Tumeken's shadow.
Update history
Source: OSRS Wiki — Malediction ward (Changes).
