The bone dagger is a cheap stab weapon whose real value is its Backstab special attack — for 75% energy it can never miss and cuts the target's Defence by the damage dealt. That makes it useful in Tombs of Amascut, where a guaranteed opening hit softens high-Defence bosses like Kephri. It swings at 4 ticks (2.4s) with modest +5 stab and +4 Strength, needs no requirements to wield, and is bought from Nardok's Bone Weapons for 2,000 coins — see the live Grand Exchange price & history chart above for its current market price.
Equipment bonuses
The bone dagger carries modest melee bonuses — +5 stab attack, +3 slash, and +4 Strength, identical to the iron dagger's stats — plus a small -4 crush penalty and +1 magic attack/defence. It swings once every 4 ticks (2.4 seconds) and has no stat requirement to wield.
Attack bonuses
Defence bonuses
Other bonuses
Its raw stats won't outclass any dedicated melee weapon — the bone dagger is carried for its Backstab special, not its base damage.
Grand Exchange price history
How to get the bone dagger
The bone dagger is bought from Nardok's Bone Weapons in the Dorgeshuun Mines outside Dorgesh-Kaan for 2,000 coins. It's also tradeable on the Grand Exchange, where it currently sits a little above that shop price due to demand for its special attack.
The unpoisoned dagger can be turned into a poisoned variant by combining it with weapon poison, weapon poison(+), or weapon poison(++) to make Bone dagger (p), (p+), or (p++). A poisoned copy will not work for the Catherby emote clue below, and the special attack can't be used until Death to the Dorgeshuun is completed (the dagger itself can be wielded beforehand).
Backstab special attack
The bone dagger's special attack, Backstab, costs 75% special attack energy and will never miss as long as the target hasn't already been damaged, or you weren't the last player to damage it. On a hit, it lowers the target's Defence level by the exact amount of damage dealt, the same style of effect as the Bandos godsword and Dorgeshuun crossbow specials, though the reduction only applies if the target's Defence isn't already lowered.
This makes Backstab a popular opener in Tombs of Amascut, where a guaranteed hit softens high-Defence targets like Kephri in higher invocations, in both solo and team raids. In team raids you need to land the very first hit on the boss for the guarantee to apply — if anyone else has already damaged it, the special can miss like a normal attack. Following an August 2025 update, the spec was fixed to correctly guarantee its opening hit against Kephri, Duke Sucellus, Phantom Muspah, and Doom of Mokhaiotl.
Is the bone dagger worth using?
On raw stats the bone dagger is unremarkable — its melee bonuses match the low-level iron dagger, and it will not out-damage any proper melee weapon like the abyssal whip or a rune scimitar. Its appeal is entirely the guaranteed-hit Backstab special, which is why raiders keep a cheap one in the bank purely for Tombs of Amascut openers.
It also has a niche use outside combat: the bone dagger is one of the required items for a medium Treasure Trail emote clue (Cry or Laugh outside Harry's Fishing Shop in Catherby) — but only an unpoisoned copy works, so keep one clean if you're clue hunting. Check the live price and history above before buying one; at only a couple thousand coins it's cheap to keep on hand.
Bone dagger FAQ
What level do you need for the bone dagger?
None — the bone dagger has no Attack or Strength requirement to wield, so any account can equip it. Its special attack, Backstab, only unlocks after completing Death to the Dorgeshuun.
How do you get the bone dagger?
Buy it from Nardok's Bone Weapons in the Dorgeshuun Mines outside Dorgesh-Kaan for 2,000 coins, or pick one up on the Grand Exchange, where it trades a little above shop price.
What is the bone dagger's special attack?
Backstab costs 75% special energy and never misses if the target hasn't been damaged yet, or you weren't the last one to hit it. It lowers the target's Defence by the exact damage it deals.
Is the bone dagger still good?
Its combat stats are outdated — they match the low-level iron dagger — but the Backstab special is still genuinely used as a guaranteed-hit opener in Tombs of Amascut against high-Defence bosses like Kephri.
How much is the bone dagger worth?
Check the live price and history chart above for the current rate — it's a cheap item, priced a little above its 2,000gp shop price.
Can you poison a bone dagger?
Yes. Combine it with weapon poison, weapon poison(+), or weapon poison(++) to create Bone dagger (p), (p+), or (p++). A poisoned copy won't work for the Catherby emote clue, though.
Why is the bone dagger used in Tombs of Amascut?
Its Backstab special guarantees a hit and strips Defence from the target when used as the very first hit on a boss, making it a popular cheap opener against high-Defence targets like Kephri in higher invocation raids.
Does the bone dagger work for Treasure Trails?
Yes — an unpoisoned bone dagger is required for a medium emote clue (Cry or Laugh outside Harry's Fishing Shop in Catherby). Poisoned versions of any tier will not work for this step.
Update history
Source: OSRS Wiki — Bone dagger (Changes).
