OSRS Money Guide: Killing Commander Zilyana for Huge Profits
This guide will break down everything you need to know to fight Commander Zilyana efficiently, including gear setups, boss mechanics, kill strategies, and optimal moneymaking techniques for OSRS gold.
Who is Commander Zilyana?
Commander Zilyana is the Saradomin boss found in the God Wars Dungeon, deep in the snowy wilderness north of Trollheim. She is fast, powerful, and comes with three bodyguards, making the fight challenging and intense.
Combat Stats:
Combat Level: 596
Hitpoints: 255
Attack Style: Melee & Magic
Max Hit: Melee (31), Magic (20)
Attack Speed: Very fast (2 ticks)
Zilyana is notorious for her aggressive attack speed and hard-hitting melee-you'll need to be constantly alert and react quickly to her movements.
Requirements
Recommended Stats
80+ Ranged - For fast kills if using ranged setup
85+ Magic - For defensive/offensive options (Ice Barrage, Blood Barrage)
90+ Melee - If using melee method (especially high Strength and Defence)
70+ Prayer - To use Piety, Rigour, or Augury
70+ Agility - To use the Agility shortcut to the Saradomin boss room
Quest Requirements
Troll Stronghold - Required to access God Wars Dungeon
Edgar's Ruse - Recommended for Trollheim teleport
Getting There
The best route to the God Wars Dungeon is via a Trollheim teleport using the Teleport to Trollheim spell (requires Eadgar's Ruse and level 61 Magic). From there:
Head north, past thrower trolls.
Use the rock climb shortcut.
Enter the God Wars Dungeon.
Equip a Saradomin and Zamorak item to prevent aggression from minions.
Kill Count (KC) & Boss Room Access
To enter Zilyana's boss room, you must have 40 Saradomin kill count, gained by killing followers in the main dungeon (e.g., Saradomin priests, knights).
Tips for Fast KC:
Use Ranged or Magic for quick kills.
Prayer flicking can help conserve supplies.
Ecumenical Keys (from the Wilderness GWD) allow you to skip kill count.
Gear Setups
Commander Zilyana can be killed with Melee, Ranged, or Magic, though Ranged is generally preferred for consistency and safety in solo or duo situations.
1. Ranged Setup (Most Recommended)
Gear:
Helmet: Armadyl helmet > Verac's helm > Karil's coif
Body: Armadyl chestplate > Karil's top
Legs: Armadyl chainskirt > Karil's skirt
Weapon: Twisted Bow (Tbow) > Armadyl crossbow > Rune crossbow
Shield: Elysian > Crystal shield > God book
Boots: Pegasian > Ranger > Snakeskin
Ring: Archers' ring (i) > Ring of suffering
Cape: Ava's assembler > Ava's accumulator
Inventory:
1-2 Super restores
4-6 Saradomin brews
1 Stamina potion
1-2 Prayer potions
High-healing food (sharks/manta rays)
Ranging potion
Teleport out (Ectophial / house tab / Trollheim)
2. Melee Setup (High Risk, High Reward)
Best in Teams
Helmet: Serpentine helm > Neitiznot faceguard
Weapon: Ghrazi rapier > Abyssal whip > Zamorakian hasta
Shield: Dragon defender > Avernic defender
Armor: Bandos > Fighter torso + Proselyte mix
Prayer: Protect from Melee + Piety
Tip: Melee is effective only in teams or in duo with a tank.
3. Magic Setup (For Ice Barrage/Blood Barrage Lures)
Best for group luring or minion freezing.
Used mostly by support players or hybrid setups.
Boss Mechanics and Minions
Commander Zilyana Attacks:
Extremely fast melee attacks (every 2 ticks)
Occasional magic attacks (from a distance)
Always targets the player closest to her upon spawn
Minions:
Bree (Ranged)
Starlight (Melee)
Growler (Magic)
Killing these minions gives time to heal/pray before next Zilyana respawn. Each has its own max hit and attack type-use protection prayers accordingly.
Kill Strategy (Solo)
Step-by-Step:
Enter the boss room with Protect from Magic + Piety/Rigour active.
Run to the southern wall to lure Zilyana into a circular pattern.
Use the "tile running" method to avoid her melee attacks-keep her chasing.
Prioritize attacking Zilyana while prayer flicking against her attack style.
Kill minions quickly after Zilyana dies to avoid taking damage during respawn.
Heal, re-pray, and get ready for the next cycle.
Tile Running Tip: Stay one tile ahead of her to prevent melee damage. If she stops and attacks, click quickly to keep moving.
Kill Strategy (Duo/Trio)
Tank and DPS Roles: One player tanks with melee defense gear while others focus on DPS.
Freezing Minions: Use Ice Barrage or Blood Barrage to freeze minions for easier cleanup.
Rotation: Coordinate who gets loot priority or alternate tank roles.
Loot and Moneymaking Potential
Valuable Drops:
Saradomin hilt (~15M)
Armadyl crossbow (~35M)
Saradomin sword (~300K)
Godsword shards (100K-200K each)
High-level herbs, noted items, and clue scrolls
Per Trip Profit:
Solo average: 1M-2.5M per hour depending on RNG and kills
Duo/Trio average: 500K-2M per hour (with shared loot)
If you hit a big drop like an Armadyl crossbow or hilt, you're looking at instant tens of millions in profit.
Extra Tips for Success
Use a Loot Tracker plugin (e.g., RuneLite) to keep track of profit per hour.
Bring Ecumenical Keys to skip kill count when grinding for long sessions.
Use Prayer Flicking to conserve restores.
Bank often if you're low on supplies-don't risk dying. You need to buy OSRS gold.
Recoil or Ring of Suffering helps deal chip damage to minions.
Alternative Methods for Profit at Zilyana
Pet Hunters: Farm Zilyana for the Commander Zilyana pet (Saradomin's light).
Clue Scroll Farming: Kill minions for elite/hard clues.
Ironman Players: Kill for Saradomin hilt and sword for Godsword crafting.
Conclusion
Commander Zilyana is one of the most consistent, high-risk high-reward bosses in OSRS. With the right setup, knowledge of her mechanics, and a good rhythm, she becomes a lucrative moneymaker with the potential to drop items worth tens of millions. Whether you're going in solo with top-tier ranged gear or grouping up with friends for efficiency, Zilyana is a boss worth mastering.