Barbarian Assault

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The official world for Barbarian Assault is world 6 (P2P).
 This article or section is incomplete and could do with improvement.
Reason: Missing normal mode experience table information for Mining and Agility skills
You can discuss this issue on the talk page or edit this page to improve it.
 This is a safe minigame.
If you die, you will not lose any of your items.
 This article has a strategy guide (hard mode).
All information on mechanics, setups, and tactics is on the subpages.

Barbarian Assault is a cooperative, team-based safe combat minigame located at the Barbarian Outpost. World 6 is the official world for this game. A team of five players must work together in order to defeat ten waves of Penance monsters and, finally, their leader, the Penance Queen. After completing normal mode once, players unlock hard mode and can challenge the Penance King, Cacus. Teamwork and coordination are vital in order to achieve success at this minigame.

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Captain Cain, a barbarian leader

The barbarians at the Barbarian Outpost need help to fight back the seemingly endless waves of Penance monsters. Players who have not played Barbarian Assault must complete the tutorial with Captain Cain before they can play. After gathering a party of five teammates, head straight into the battle. Players earn Honour Points to buy a variety of combat-based and cosmetic rewards.

While the Barbarian Assault arena is isolated within the overworld, its entrance is within the Barbarian Outpost. There are several methods by which the Outpost can be reached:

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

Battling the Penance Queen

Barbarian Assault is a safe minigame and, as such, players do not lose any items upon death. As combat is the minigame's main component, high Defence and Constitution levels provide an advantage. Additionally, a high Agility level is beneficial as it allows players to run for longer periods of time, providing the opportunity to evade threats. A safespot used to be behind the horn of glory, which rendered all enemies unable to attack. However, this was removed with the update to the minigame. If a teammate is killed, the entire group must restart the wave.

Basics[edit | edit source]

Main article: Barbarian Assault/Basics

Details information regarding creating a team, brief role descriptions, and Penance monsters that are faced.

Gameplay[edit | edit source]

Main article: Barbarian Assault/Gameplay

Overview of basic gameplay technique. Includes information on the gameplay interface, battlefield layout and how to complete player roles.

Strategies[edit | edit source]

Main article: Barbarian Assault/Strategies

Contains information pertaining to more advanced, specific, and efficient gameplay techniques.

Main article: Barbarian Assault: Hard Mode/Strategies

Contains information pertaining to the strategies used in the hard mode waves.

Winning a wave

Wave Breakdown[edit | edit source]

Main article: Barbarian Assault/Wave Breakdown

This breaks down every wave and tells you the amount of monsters in the wave.

Rewards[edit | edit source]

Before joining the fight, choose to receive either Honour Points or bonus experience. Future waves will continue to give the same reward type as previously selected.

Honour Points[edit | edit source]

Main article: Rewards (Barbarian Assault)

Honour Points can be traded in return for role level upgrades, equipment, and gambling. Players may also spend Honour Points on changing the colour of an abyssal whip or dark bow to blue, green, white, or yellow for 50 points in any role. After beating the Penance King five times, players may purchase insignias that boost stats and have effects outside of Barbarian Assault.

Experience reward[edit | edit source]

 Due to one or more updates, this article may be out of date.
Reason: Mining and Smithing update and Patch notes of 27 August 2024 changed experience for Mining to scale past 99 from 100-110
You can help improve this page by editing it.

Bonus experience can be earned in Firemaking, Agility, or Mining instead of Honour Points. Points and penalties from the wave don't affect the bonus experience. The amount of experience is determined by the number of the wave, the mode used, and the current level of that skill. For example, having level 99 Agility yields 8,116.5 bonus experience from hard mode wave 1 and 12,175 bonus experience from hard mode wave 2. And having level 1 Agility yields less experience in both cases. If all three skills are the same level, Firemaking gives more bonus experience, followed by Mining, and lastly Agility. After each wave, the bonus experience gained is determined by the wave 1 initial bonus experience times by the multiplier for that wave. For example, the bonus experience from hard mode wave 1 at level 99 Mining is 11,704, so the bonus experience gained on hard mode wave 3 would be 23,408 because 11,704 x 2 = 23,408.

Normal Mode (Level 99):
Wave Firemaking Mining Agility Multiplier
BXP Cumulative BXP Cumulative BXP Cumulative Number Cumulative
1 5,035 5,035 2,783 2,783 1,965 1,965 1 1
2 7,554 12,589 4,175 6,958 2,948 4,913 1.5 2.5
3 10,072 22,662 5,567 12,525 3,930 8,843 2 4.5
4 12,590 35,252 6,959 19,484 4,913 13,756 2.5 7
5 17,626 52,878 9,743 29,227 6,878 20,634 3.5 10.5
6 22,662 75,541 12,526 41,753 8,844 29,478 4.5 15
7 30,216 105,757 16,702 58,455 11,792 41,270 6 21
8 37,770 143,528 20,878 79,333 14,740 56,010 7.5 28.5
9 47,843 191,371 26,445 105,778 18,671 74,681 9.5 38
10 60,433 251,804 33,405 139,183 23,584 98,265 12 50
Hard Mode (Level 99):
Wave Firemaking Mining Agility Multiplier
BXP Cumulative BXP Cumulative BXP Cumulative Number Cumulative
1 21,392.5 21,392.5 11,704 11,704 8,116.5 8,116.5 1 1
2 32,089 53,481.5 17,556 29,260 12,175 20,291.5 1.5 2.5
3 42,785.5 96,267 23,408 52,668 16,233.5 36,525 2 4.5
4 53,482 149,749 29,261 81,929 20,292 56,817 2.5 7
5 74,874.5 224,623.5 40,965 122,894 28,408.5 85,225.5 3.5 10.5
6 96,267.5 320,891 52,669 175,563 36,526 121,751.5 4.5 15
7 128,357 449,248 70,226 245,789 48,701 170,452.5 6 21
8 160,446.5 609,694.5 87,783 333,572 60,876.5 231,329 7.5 28.5
9 203,232 812,926.5 111,191 444,763 77,110.5 308,439.5 9.5 38
10 256,704 1,069,630.5 140,452 585,215 97,402 405,841.5 12 50

Ironman Mode restrictions[edit | edit source]

Ironman Mode players are unable to:

  • Gain bonus experience
  • Gamble points

Tips[edit | edit source]

The building beneath which the minigame takes place
Connad, Cain, the Penance fighter statue, the blackboard, and the bank chest
The ten waiting rooms in the basement

All roles[edit | edit source]

  • The most important thing that must be done is "call!" Every 30 seconds the call changes and appears white. Make sure to call as soon as it changes every time. Even if other members of the team do not call, call for them to at least speed things up a bit. It can be useful to have a stopwatch that can be started at the beginning of every wave.
  • Teams do not lose Honour Points by using the egg launcher. Many players believed that in contrast to experiments and Jagex's statements.[1] Players gain points based on total number of penance killed; as long as a penance is killed, the player gains points, and whoever is assigned to that particular penance (Defender=Penance Runner; Healer=Penance Healer; etc.) still gets the double points, even if it is not the usual way of killing them (Runners killed with traps; Healers killed with poison food). The launcher is thus actually beneficial for providing faster kills and support actions.
  • Every team member loses points when a runner makes it to the end, so a good technique is to use the egg launcher to help the defender kill runners south of the north egg launcher rock; everyone on the team gets full points for all runners killed regardless of how they are killed. A trick for the defender is placing a line of bait from the exit to the trap. When a runner eats that bait (even if the wrong bait) the runner shouts "Blurghh" and takes some steps north, preventing it from getting to the exit.
  • On wave 10 once all Penance creatures are dead, team members should gather near the Healing Pool. This is better for the Healers as they do not have to run far. An alternative for Waves 1 through 9 is for players to hide in one of the corners of the Egg Launcher "hills", where they can't be poisoned, ranged, or meleed. This strategy does not work at Wave 10 due to the Penance Queen's ranged attack.
  • It is helpful to other players if a person takes a role that is already being used, most preferably collector, and use the Horn of Glory at the south-east section of the cave as this can be used to tell everyone what they need to do. This way players can focus on their jobs. The horn cannot be used on wave 10 when the Queen arrives.
  • If a player's role is complete, it is recommended to wait by the cannon (on the stairs) to not be hurt by attackers/healers and to lure enemy to a single location.
  • Players can see each other's chat from anywhere in the room.

Attacker[edit | edit source]

  • The first priority for an attacker at the beginning of the wave is to run west around the cannon. This way, Penance healers cannot be lured west, and it makes the healer's job much easier. Be sure to run west around the cannon during the start of a wave. Some teams may kick players who fail to follow this general rule.
  • Runes cannot be brought into the minigame, so mages have to use the dispenser inside the game to get ammo and as a role are not recommended.
  • The attacker role should always keep auto-retaliate off to prevent any penalties like injuries and loss of honour points due to having on the wrong attack style.
  • The attacker gets calls for aggressive, balanced or defensive stances. These are under the constitution abilities in the ability book and appear once a game has started. Put all three stances on the action bar.
  • In Legacy mode, using any weapon with the "fastest" speed, such as a Drygore mace, chaotic claw, or abyssal whip will allow players to land exactly 7 attacks lapse at the start before styles switch and 10 attacks thereafter for every later switch, assuming the collector calls within 2 seconds of the switch. Counting the number of attacks greatly reduces the chance of using the wrong attack style at the moment the styles switch on a Penance.
  • Use caution when using bleed abilities, as the damage over time effect will count as an incorrect hit once the style changes.

Collector[edit | edit source]

  • The first priority for a collector at the beginning of the wave is to run west around the cannon. This way, Penance healers are not lured west, and it makes the healer's job much easier. Be sure to run west around the cannon during the start of a wave. Some teams may kick players who fail to follow this general rule.
    • If a wave is started with free eggs, load them into the cannon and fire a green egg at the defender before collecting new eggs. This also allows idle players to kill enemies while others stock up new eggs.
  • The Collector's primary responsibility aside from calling and picking up eggs is to load the cannon with (preferably the damaging Red) eggs as a backup in case the Defender requires support. Firing the cannon should generally be left to the team members who have already finished their roles to perform, not the Collector.

Defender[edit | edit source]

  • The fastest possible way to Defend on certain waves (the waves where only one runner needs to be killed before the others arrive, such as waves 1 and 2) is to create a line of the three baits to the eastern trap with two correct baits one square north of the trap. After this, stand on the trap and runners are blocked from eating (thus dying). Done properly, up to eight runners can be lured next to the trap without triggering, allowing players to run south and kill up to eight runners at once. Then repair and repeat.
  • After killing all runners, the defender is responsible for the cannon. Use red eggs on large groups of penance monsters (Eggs hit in a 3 × 3 explosion).

Healer[edit | edit source]

  • The healer role until wave 10 is rather simple - track and protect the health of players, while poisoning healers. It is recommended not to go near the eastern trap while in use by the defender. If the defender needs to be healed, have them walk out a few squares to the healer.
  • Healers could heal each other when there is more than one on a team, as opposed to using the pool directly.
  • Solo healers are particularly at risk because they are generally unable to heal themselves at short notice. Thus, they should keep an eye on their life points and, if needed, healing themselves at the healer pool.
Players in the Barbarian Assault, trying to get recruited by others

Personalities[edit | edit source]

Removed[edit | edit source]

Gallery[edit | edit source]

  • Concept art of the redesigned penance creatures

    Concept art of the redesigned penance creatures

  • Concept art of the weapon used to kill the Penance King

    Concept art of the weapon used to kill the Penance King

  • Historical What's New? interface removed on 28 November 2021

    Historical What's New? interface removed on 28 November 2021

  • The icon for Barbarian Assault shown on the now removed Game Guide.

    The icon for Barbarian Assault shown on the now removed Game Guide.

Music[edit | edit source]

The tutorial music

Achievements[edit | edit source]

Credits[edit | edit source]

Loading...
OriginalRework
Barbarian Assault
Developers
DeveloperMod Tim
Art and graphics
GraphicsMatthew M, Mod Kavi, Mod Paul B
Quality assurance
Quality assuranceMartin I
Audio
AudioMod Ian
Barbarian Assault
Developers
DeveloperMod Wilson, Paul B, Mod Ollie
DesignMod Tim
Art and graphics
UITursan R, Thomas G
CharactersEdward S, Tim T
EnvironmentsMod Fenix, James L
AnimationMod Victorg, Gurpreet K
Quality assurance
Lead QAMod Chaose
ReleaseMod Stacey, Dylan W, Kristina S, Lesleyann W
Quality assuranceDan H, Lewis R, Mod Manti, Mod James H
Audio
AudioMod Ian, Mod Bond
Other
WikiMod Michelle

Update history[edit | edit source]

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included – see here for how to help out!
  • patch 28 October 2024 (Update):
    • Removed Master of Assault Achievement from Trimmed Completionist Cape requirements.
    • "Assault and Battery" and "Pirates of Penance" music tracks are now unlocked by entering the Barbarian Assault lobby.
  • patch 2 September 2024 (Update):
    • The following items are now available to ironman players, available in Commander Connad's reward shop at Barbarian Assault:
      • Penance Trident
      • Penance Trident Upgrade
      • Attacker's Insignia
      • Collector's Insignia
      • Defender's Insignia
      • Healer's Insignia
  • patch 27 August 2024 (Update):
    • Mining bonus XP at Barbarian Assault now gives appropriate XP at levels 100 to 110.
  • patch 16 January 2023 (Update):
    • Players won't get teleported now when entering the Barbarian Assault building with a quiver.
  • patch 17 January 2022 (Update):
    • The quiver can no longer be taken to the Barbarian Assault minigame.
  • patch 7 September 2020 (Update):
    • Improved the flow of interactions within Barbarian Assault by removing delays.
    • Resolved a number of minor bugs in Barbarian Assault.
  • patch 5 August 2019 (Update):
    • Fixed an issue where you could get stuck in this minigame's waiting room under certain conditions.
  • patch 3 June 2019 (Update):
    • Added the ability to buy this minigame's reward "Gamble points" 10 and 5 times for both high and low items.
  • patch 5 November 2018 (Update):
    • Players can no longer take rune pouches into this minigame.
  • patch 15 August 2016 (Update):
    • The Barbarian Assault tutorial can no longer be started with a follower present.
  • patch 18 May 2015 (Update):
    • This minigame's reward point cap has increased to 15,000.
  • patch 5 May 2015 (Update):
    • Fixed a typo in Captain Cain's tutorial chat.
  • patch 27 April 2015 (Update):
    • Players can no longer activate the wicked hood while participating in this minigame.
  • ninja 30 March 2015 (Update):
    • Players can now use the Surge, Barge and Escape abilities in Barbarian Assault.
  • patch 20 October 2014 (Update):
    • Resetting the wave at Barbarian Assault no longer pays out a wave ticket if you have already used a wave ticket on the current run, as it was possible to infinitely recycle a single ticket. Players may still use extra tickets they already own and will continue to get tickets again after completing wave 10.
  • patch 8 September 2014 (Update):
    • Barbarian Assault now has a check box for Hard Mode when using the Grouping System.
    • Barbarian Assault wave tickets will now be counted from the bank when using the Grouping System.
  • patch 1 September 2014 (Update):
    • A bank icon has been added to the new chest at Barbarian Assault.
  • update 26 August 2014 (Update):
    • Barbarian Assault is reworked.
    • All Penance creatures have received a gloriously slimy graphical update.
    • Shout actions previously performed from the Penance horn are now abilities, and can be activated in the action bar.
    • Penance combat stats are buffed to make them a challenge appropriate for today's game.
    • The green and blue eggs have been made more useful.
    • Action bars can be set up in the waiting room.
    • Poison food and lures now stack in the inventory.
    • The hammer from the tool belt now works within the minigame.
    • Wave tickets now stack, grant access to lower-numbered wave rooms, and are tradeable.
    • Interfaces have been polished to make them clearer and easier to use.
  • patch 28 July 2014 (Update):
    • An issue which allowed players to fire multiple omega eggs at the Penance Queen when the team only had one has been fixed.
  • patch 19 May 2014 (Update):
    • Players can no longer drag and drop minigame items whilst in Soul Wars and Barbarian Assault.
  • patch 12 May 2014 (Update):
    • Portable skilling locations can no longer be taken into Barbarian Assault.
  • patch 10 March 2014 (Update):
    • Barbarian Assault abilities are now cleared from the Defence Powers interface upon exiting the minigame.
  • patch 13 January 2014 (Update):
    • Some textures used on the Barbarian Assault walls have been fixed.
  • patch 15 October 2013 (Update):
    • Barbarian Assault now consistently requires the player to have a hammer in their inventory for the related tasks, as the toolbelt is disabled during the minigame.
  • patch 20 August 2013 (Update):
    • The Barbarian Assault Command Centre has had a lick of paint.
    • The whirlpool bridge by Barbarian Assault is no longer misaligned.
  • patch 13 August 2013 (Update):
    • An issue with the New Interface System locking up when using the penance cannon in Barbarian Assault has been fixed.
  • patch 9 July 2013 (Update):
    • The Barbarian Assault reward items have been made into power armour.
  • patch 11 December 2012 (Update):
    • Poisoning creatures in Barbarian Assault now has a greater effect.
  • patch 28 August 2012 (Update):
    • The role icons during this minigame now appear on entering a game.
  • patch 20 December 2011 (Update):
    • The checks to see if players can purchase a granite body from this minigame now occur before any coins are taken.
  • patch 22 November 2011 (Update):
    • This minigame has a minimap "minigame" icon.
  • patch 28 March 2011 (Update):
    • Barbarian Assault turrets no longer stall the player.
  • patch 17 January 2011 (Update):
    • This minigame's collect information has been updated to reflect the actual given bonuses.
  • patch 20 December 2010 (Update):
    • This minigame's interface has been updated to display the correct amount of bonus damage for Attackers.
    • This minigame's tutorial has been updated to show the correct amount of life points for Healers.
  • patch 9 November 2010 (Update):
    • This minigame has been updated to give the correct amount of Healer points in any role.
  • patch 2 November 2010 (Update):
    • This minigame's role symbols have had their colours returned.
  • patch 6 October 2010 (Update):
    • Stopped your head wobbling when wearing certain Barbarian Assault items.
  • patch 15 September 2010 (Update):
    • Corrected the requirements on the various Barbarian Assault reward items in the skill guides.
  • patch 7 September 2010 (Update):
    • Barbarian Assault healer upgrades referred to old Hitpoints values.
  • patch 19 July 2010 (Update):
    • Corrected the reward requirements for Barbarian Assault.
    • Adjusted the healer icon in Barbarian Assault to match the rest of the game.
  • patch 25 May 2010 (Update):
    • Improved the ladder minimap information in Barbarian Assault.
  • patch 29 March 2010 (Update):
    • This minigame's scoreboards have been updated to match the new Constitution and life point changes.
    • You can now gamble the highest amount in this minigame without having to kill the penance queen on Wave 10.
  • patch 1 February 2010 (Update):
    • Corrected the checks in the this minigame's waiting rooms and lobby area.
    • Rotated the hoppers in this minigame to face the correct way.
    • Improved this minigame's interfaces to better deal with any players leaving unexpectedly.
    • You can no longer perform emotes in this minigame's waiting area.
    • Correct a few typos including keys in the Barbarian Assault interfaces.
  • update 19 January 2010 (Update):
    • New Penance horn that lets you gain double XP in Agility, Firemaking and Mining (in a similar fashion to the tools from Stealing Creation).
    • New colours of abyssal whips.
    • New Penance trident weapon.
    • Penance armour stat improvement and Prayer restoring set bonus.
    • Penance gloves now reduce more weight.
    • Gamble points rebalanced (they still include a rare chance for dragon armour).
    • Ability to show off your achievements in the roles of attacker, defender, collector and healer.
    • High score tables for the attacker, defender, collector and healer roles.
    • Waiting rooms increased in size.
    • Additional wave room ticket system for saving progress through battles.
    • Blue penance eggs now reduce the target Penance’s stats and deal damage.
    • Numerous other changes
  • patch 2 September 2009 (Update):
    • Adjusted an interface in Barbarian Assault where an image was overlapped by text.
  • patch 10 August 2009 (Update):
    • Players can no longer cast Heal spells in Barbarian Assault.
    • Spelling error on sign in Barbarian Assault.
  • patch 21 July 2009 (Update):
    • Modified the behaviour of this minigame to cope with the latest changes to the various tabs.
  • patch 9 June 2009 (Update):
    • Converted this minigame to use elemental and catalytic runes, similiar to the Fist of Guthix minigame.
  • patch 12 May 2009 (Update):
    • Fixed a few typos in this minigame.

Trivia[edit | edit source]

  • Previously, the role icons were equipped in the cape slot, preventing players from wearing cape slot items. After the 26 August 2014 rework, they are now equipped in the pocket slot, allowing players to do so.
  • Cosmetic overrides are not allowed in the arena and are disabled at the start of a wave in order to allow players to display their role icons. However, the message that appears at the start of each wave incorrectly states that the area is PvP-enabled, when in actuality players cannot attack each other during a round. This was corrected in a later update to remove the reference to PvP; the message now reads "Only selected retro armour overrides can be displayed in this area, and only when displayed over equivalent newer-styled armour."
  • A glitch may sometimes prevent the Barbarian Assault interface from appearing. This can be fixed by shouting through the Horn of Glory.
  • Players must defeat the Penance Queen after the 26 August 2014 rework to unlock hard mode. Any defeats before the update do not count.
    • Accordingly, if players have not yet killed the Queen since the rework, they receive the message "You cannot turn hard mode on or off while in this room as your hard mode wave is not equal to your normal wave. Your current hard mode wave is 0 and your normal wave is 1." upon attempting to switch to hard mode. The wording of the message is likely an oversight because players cannot reset their wave below 1.
  • Lots of locations can be seen from the basement using the orb of oculus. From the south-east, the Killerwatt Plane can be seen. From the south-west, one can see the H.A.M. meeting room from Death to the Dorgeshuun as well as the TzHaar obsidian mine. To the north-west is the Easter Bunny's burrow, including the Easter bird.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ^ Jagex. Postbag 39 - "Transcript:Who is the greatest of them all?", Letter 4, by Captain Cain. RuneScape Postbags from the Hedge.
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