The update for Fellhollow has altered some elements of combat in RuneScape DragonWilds, especially early on, with the toning down of the Crystal Bow, along with the introduction of new enemies that punish close-range fights. For these reasons, magic is now one of the safest options for players. This guide details the quickest way to unlock the Necromancer Staff, along with discussing its strengths as an early weapon in the Fellhollow update.
What Happened to the Crystal Bow?
The Crystal Bow had surpassed all other weapons significantly because of its scaling of projectile damage and weapon type damage. When everything combined, the Crystal Bow’s damage was much higher than intended. Hence, the developers after directly addressing this imbalance didn’t hold back with the adjustments. Here is a small list of the core changes made:
- Stamina cost jumped from 30 to 65
- Knockback force on the first hit dropped from 600 to 50
- Initial hit damage was reduced by 50%
Due to the decreased power of the bow, enemies won’t respond as strongly to consecutive attacks, removing the ability to stun-lock targets. As a result of these combined changes, the bow’s crowd control capabilities and overall effectiveness have been greatly diminished.
While the bow remains functional, it is incapable of independently engaging in combat and that is where the new combat mechanics of Fellhollow become evident.
Why Fellhollow Favors Magic Combat
The enemies encountered in Fellhollow present a new threat in that they can explode once defeated/killed, applying the rot status effect. As a result, combat at close range becomes increasingly dangerous in confined spaces.
For this reason, using ranged magic poses much less risk than attempting to deal damage with a melee or bow focused build. While maintaining your distance from an enemy is a good thing in itself, it can also be the difference between a clean fight and a slow death now. Because of this reason, staffs now have much more importance in this biome than they did previously.
The Best Early Weapon to Grab: Necromancer Staff
There’s one specific item that is unique for several reasons. It’s not something that you find later during the game’s progression, like the rest of the items, but you can find it almost immediately after starting out in Fellhollow.
The Necromancer Staff is found in the first Fellhollow vault and is very easy to acquire because the vault is short, simple and forgiving.
How to Reach the Vault
You have to get to the Lake of Lost Souls through Bleakfield Valley. Start by following the main trail upwards and you will reach the entryway to the vault after travelling to Fellhollow. While travelling, you will have to cross over a significant-sized lake, there’s wither rot there, so try to avoid it. You will find a water fountain on the route to the entrance; just past this location, you will be confronted with one enemy stationed at the door of the vault.
Before entering, be sure to bring materials for crafting a lodestone and store them to your personal chest, this will ensure there’s no wastage of inventory space.
What to Expect Inside the Vault
The vault is quite short, in its opening room, you will find a small number of enemies (dragon wolves and rats), once you get past them, you will reach a lower section.
In order to get to the lower section of the vault, you will need to allow the wither rot to work so you can pass through the spectral door. On the other side of the door, there are many soul enemies; however, you do not need to fight them, instead you can simply choose to move past them, get to the altar and commune with it. Doing so unlocks the Necromancer Staff immediately.
Why the Necromancer Staff Is Worth It
The Necromancer Staff is a Tier 5 weapon, which already makes it valuable early on. Compared to the previously dominant Staff of Light, it offers higher base damage.
- Staff of Light: 4.5x rune damage, four-hit combo
- Necromancer Staff: 5.9x damage multiplier
The trade-off is durability. The Necromancer Staff degrades faster, but in exchange, it hits harder from the start. Given Fellhollow’s enemy behavior and the dangers of close combat, that extra damage at range makes a noticeable difference.
Final Thoughts on Fellhollow Combat
With the Crystal Bow no longer carrying fights and enemies punishing close-range kills, Fellhollow pushes players toward a more deliberate, magic-focused approach. Picking up the Necromancer Staff early gives you a reliable foundation to adapt without struggling through the biome underpowered.
It’s a small shift on paper, but in practice, it changes how the entire area feels—and overall, it brings better balance to Dragon Wilds’ combat system.
