If you’ve been looking for a simple and reliable way to defeat Ario in Old School RuneScape-whether you’re trying to upgrade gear, fund supplies, or even buy OSRS gold-this guide will walk you through an efficient, no-nonsense method. It’s designed to keep you safe from player killers (PKers) while maximizing your damage output and maintaining control of the fight. Let’s break it down step by step.

Preparation Before the Fight

The first and most important step is making sure you’re protected against losing unnecessary gear. Enable PK skull prevention before leaving the bank. This ensures that in the unfortunate event of being defeated by another player, you won’t risk your most valuable items.

Next, set up your quick prayers properly. The ideal configuration is Augury paired with Protect from Missiles. This combination helps reduce incoming damage while improving your accuracy and damage output.

Recommended Gear

· Cursed Scepter: Highly recommended because it can autocast Ancient Magicks, specifically Ice Barrage, which is the core of this method.

· Occult Necklace and Tormented Bracelet: Boosts your magic damage significantly.

· Mystic Robes or better: Standard budget-friendly mage gear.

· God Cape and Book of Darkness: Additional magic accuracy and strength bonuses.

· Switches for defense/range: A granite shield and a hunter’s crossbow with bolts provide flexibility if a PKer shows up.

With this setup, your Ice Barrage can hit up to 51 damage, and average kill times hover around one minute per fight.

Entering the Cave and Starting the Fight

Once ready, head into Ario’s cave and prepare to engage. Position yourself near the exit of the cave-this is crucial, as it allows for a quick escape if a PKer arrives.

When Ario approaches, wait until he is just a few tiles away and immediately cast Ice Barrage to freeze him in place. Then begin moving westward while continuing your barrage. Staying on the move prevents Ario from closing the gap and reduces the chance of taking unnecessary hits.

Prayer Switching and Special Attacks

Ario alternates between ranged and magical attacks:

· His standard attack is ranged, so you’ll keep Protect from Missiles active most of the time.

· When he jerks back and fires a starlight missile, that’s his magic attack. Switch to Protect from Magic for that hit, then quickly switch back.

Additionally, Ario occasionally uses a howl move that freezes you in place. Be alert and ready to reposition once the freeze ends. The simplicity of this Ice Barrage method allows you to focus more on reacting to these mechanics instead of juggling complex rotations.

Dealing with Hazards and PKers

Inside the cave, you’ll notice bear traps appearing during the fight. These can deal damage if stepped on, so keep an eye on the ground and sidestep them whenever possible.

Since this cave is in a PvP zone, you’ll always run the risk of PKers interrupting. That’s why this method emphasizes fighting near the cave entrance. If a PKer appears, switch to your defensive setup, use your one-click teleport (such as an Amulet of Glory with menu entry swapper), and escape safely-assuming you’ve completed the Wilderness hard diary, which unlocks that feature.

Inventory Setup and Costs

A solid inventory setup for this fight includes:

· 8 Super Restores

· 6 Saradomin Brews

· 1 Sanfew Serum

· Anglerfish for food

· Looting bag for efficient storage

· Range switch gear and granite shield for defensive emergencies

On average, each kill requires about 20 ice sacks, which currently cost 7.6k GP per kill. Despite this expense, the average loot from Ario is around 57k GP, leaving you with a comfortable profit margin.

Respawning and Sustaining Kills

After each kill, return to your starting spot, wait for Ario to wander close, and freeze him again with Ice Barrage to repeat the cycle. With practice, you can average 40 kills per hour, making this method efficient for both profit and progress toward rare drops like the Voidwaker hilt or Ario’s pet.

Final Thoughts

While there are faster DPS methods available, this “chill” Ice Barrage strategy prioritizes safety and simplicity. You’ll have plenty of time to react to Ario’s special attacks and to PKers, while still securing consistent kills and profit-even more so if you supplement your supplies with cheap RS gold to keep the grind going. Defeating Ario doesn’t need to be stressful. With the right preparation, prayer switching, and awareness, this method offers a straightforward and effective way to farm him for loot and drops. Stay safe, stay alert, and good luck on your grind-the rewards are well worth the effort.