The Bandos godsword is one of the five godsword variants, built by combining a Godsword blade with the Bandos hilt dropped by General Graardor in the God Wars Dungeon. It needs 75 Attack to wield and swings every 6 ticks (3.6s) with +132 slash and +132 strength. Its real draw is the Warstrike special, which slashes a boss's Defence by the damage it deals — the BGS is the go-to defence-shredder that sets up the rest of a kill. At roughly 20M gp it's the cheapest godsword and a staple opener in most PvM rotations.
Equipment bonuses
The Bandos godsword offers +132 slash attack and +132 strength, with a smaller +80 crush bonus and +8 Prayer. It has no stab bonus, so it's used on the slash style. As a two-handed sword it attacks once every 6 ticks (3.6 seconds) and requires 75 Attack to wield.
Attack bonuses
Defence bonuses
Other bonuses
That +132 slash / +132 strength on a slow 6-tick weapon makes the BGS a hard-hitting opener rather than a sustained-DPS mainhand — most players carry it purely for the Warstrike special.
Grand Exchange price history
How to get the Bandos godsword
The Bandos godsword isn't a direct drop — you build it by combining a Godsword blade with a Bandos hilt. The blade is assembled from three Godsword shards, and the hilt comes from General Graardor, the Bandos boss in the God Wars Dungeon.
- Bandos hilt — dropped by General Graardor at a rate of 1/508.
- Godsword shards (1, 2 and 3) — each drops at 1/762 from Graardor (about 1/254 for any single shard), and the shards can also drop from any other God Wars Dungeon boss or boss minion.
Once you have all three shards, combine them into a Godsword blade, then attach the Bandos hilt to finish the sword. Most players skip the grind and simply buy the completed godsword on the Grand Exchange for around 20M gp — far cheaper than chasing the 1/508 hilt yourself.
Warstrike special attack
The Bandos godsword's special attack, Warstrike, consumes 50% special attack energy. It rolls against the target's slash defence with doubled accuracy, deals 21% more damage than a normal hit, and — the key part — drains the target's combat levels by the amount of damage dealt.
The drain follows a fixed order: Defence → Strength → Prayer → Attack → Magic → Ranged. The current stat must hit 0 before the leftover spills into the next one. For example, against a target with 20 Defence, 50 Attack and 20 Prayer, an 80-damage Warstrike removes all 20 Defence, all 20 Prayer points, then 40 Attack levels.
Because it shreds Defence, the BGS is mainly used to open a boss fight — landing a big Warstrike makes every following attack from your team land more often. A common trick is to fire Warstrike twice in quick succession (the second hit is more likely to land after the first lowers Defence), since the drain stacks. It's far more effective against enemies that rely on high defence bonuses than high defence levels, since draining levels makes their bonus useless.
Is the Bandos godsword worth it?
For most mid-game PvMers, yes. At around 20M gp the BGS is the cheapest of the five godswords, and its Defence-draining Warstrike is one of the most cost-effective utility specs in the game. It earns its inventory slot at bosses with high defence — Corporeal Beast, Zulrah's serpentine phases, and many raid encounters — where one Warstrike opener saves your whole team time.
As a mainhand it's weaker: the 6-tick (3.6s) speed and lack of stab bonus mean weapons like the abyssal whip out-DPS it for sustained training and slayer. Think of the BGS as a special-attack tool you swap to, not your everyday weapon. Higher-budget players carry a dragon warhammer or an Elder maul for stronger defence reduction, but for the price the Bandos godsword remains a long-standing staple. Compare your full melee setup with the melee gear guide and the boss gear finder.
Bandos godsword FAQ
What level do you need for the Bandos godsword?
You need 75 Attack to wield the Bandos godsword. There are no other skill requirements, though you'll want decent Strength and Defence to use it effectively in combat.
How do you get the Bandos godsword?
You build it by combining a Godsword blade (made from three Godsword shards) with a Bandos hilt. The hilt drops from General Graardor at 1/508, and each shard drops at 1/762 from Graardor or other God Wars Dungeon bosses. Most players just buy the finished sword on the Grand Exchange.
What is the Bandos godsword's special attack?
Its special attack is Warstrike, costing 50% special energy. It has doubled accuracy, deals 21% extra damage, and drains the target's combat stats by the damage dealt — in the order Defence, Strength, Prayer, Attack, Magic, Ranged. It's used to lower a boss's Defence so the rest of the fight is easier.
How much is the Bandos godsword worth?
The Bandos godsword trades for roughly 20M gp on the Grand Exchange, making it the cheapest of the five godswords. Check the live price and history in the tracker above, as it shifts with demand.
Is the Bandos godsword still good in 2026?
Yes. The Warstrike special remains one of the best-value Defence-reduction tools in the game and is still carried at many bosses to open fights. As a mainhand weapon it's outclassed by faster weapons like the abyssal whip, but as a spec weapon it holds its place for the price.
What's the difference between the Bandos godsword and other godswords?
All five godswords share the same Godsword blade base, +132 slash/strength stats and 75 Attack requirement — only the hilt and special attack differ. The Bandos godsword's Warstrike drains the target's stats, the Armadyl godsword hits for huge raw damage, the Saradomin godsword heals the wielder, the Zamorak godsword freezes, and the Ancient godsword applies a damage-over-time bleed.
Should I use the Bandos godsword as my main weapon?
Not usually. At 6 ticks (3.6 seconds) per swing and with no stab bonus, it's slower than dedicated training weapons, so a faster option like the abyssal whip gives better sustained damage. Carry the BGS as a special-attack swap for its Defence-draining Warstrike rather than as your everyday mainhand.
Update history
Source: OSRS Wiki — Bandos godsword (Changes).
