TruthScape.com - Blue Dragon Scales and Dragon Scale Dust

Dragon scale dust is the secondary ingredient used for level 69 antifire potions, and comes from grinding blue dragon scales using a pestle and mortar. The scales themselves have only one source: several spawns found on the ground of the blue dragon lair in Taverley Dungeon (also sometimes called the Members’ Dungeon). Getting the scales is a simple matter of running to the lair, picking up the scales and then banking them. You need to be properly prepared, however, and as we’ll see, having a good Agility level can make a substantial difference in how quickly you can gather them.

This isn’t the scariest place in RuneScape by far, but it’s still a dragon’s lair and should be treated with some respect. It contains three adult blue dragons (level 111) and six baby blue dragons (level 48). All are aggressive, but the baby dragons will not attack you if your combat level is 97 or above.

The lair is in the heart of the Taverley Dungeon, but can be accessed quickly via a pipe shortcut with at least level 70 Agility (Figure 214). You can also use an agility potion at level 67 or a summer pie at level 65 as well. This shortcut not only saves you time, it also means you can get 28 scales instead of 27, because you don’t need to bring the dusty key that is otherwise required. If you do not meet the Agility requirement, you must take the long route to the lair, which means you not only get about 40% fewer scales per hour, but you also must deal with several other monsters including aggressive lesser demons.

**Figure 214: Taking the Shortcut to the Blue Dragons**
The level 70 obstacle pipe is pretty much essential for efficient collection of dragon scales. You can see the entrance ladder to my left here, and a baby blue dragon at the other end of the pipe; the scales are just beyond. Don’t forget the anti-dragon shield!

There are five blue dragon scale spawns, three of which are laid out in an inverted triangle, with extra ones north and south of this trio. These three are the ones you want to grab, as getting them will conserve run energy compared to trying to take all five. On a full world, three is all you need to be able to pick up scales continuously.

All players going to the lair must wear an anti-dragon shield (you can substitute a dragonfire shield instead but there’s no point, and the extra weight will slow you down). High-level players can get by with no armor, wearing only weight-reducing gear like boots of lightness to conserve run energy. Lower-level players may wish to consider wearing at least some dragonhide armor to fend off attacks, but could instead just bring with food to heal any damage taken. There’s no need to bring with a weapon.

If you are high level and your Agility is 70 or above, you do not need any supplies. If it is 67 to 69, you need an agility potion, and if 65 or 66, a summer pie. If below 65, you need a dusty key to go around the long way, and I also strongly recommend two 4-dose energy potions or one 4-dose super energy, because of the long run involved.

If you want to use the combining method, bring with a pestle and mortar and as many unfinished lantadyme potions as you can carry.

For the first method, teleport to Falador, then run southwest to the crumbling wall. Go over it and head northwest until you reach the ladder down into the dungeon.

The second uses the balloons unlocked in the Enlightened Journey quest. Starting at Castle Wars, withdraw a set of regular logs and head northeast to the balloon there. Right-click the assistant and fly to Taverley, then head southwest from the landing spot.

These methods take nearly an identical amount of time, so use whichever you prefer.

The shortcut pipe to the blue dragons is right near the dungeon’s entrance, so go through it if you have the requisite Agility level, taking a bite of pie or swig of potion if needed.

If you can’t go through the pipe, you must take the long route. Go north to the suits of armor and click the gate; they’ll attack you, but just ignore them and proceed through. Head east past the giant bats, then southeast past black knights and magic axes. Continue southwest past poison scorpions and then across a bridge over lava to where the chaos dwarves are. Now head north through the lesser demons, and use your dusty key on the gate to enter the dragon lair.

Find the “triangle” of three blue dragon scales (Figure 215) and start picking them up. Continue until your inventory is full.

**Figure 215: Collecting Dragon Scales**
There are five scales, three of which are in a close inverted triangle pattern. A fourth is north of these (seen near top right) and the fifth is to the south, out of the frame.

This dungeon is usually packed with players fighting over the blue dragons, so you won’t often have to deal with them going after you. Just be careful if you go during a less busy time, and always watch out for the dragons respawning, which might take a pot shot at you. With the shield you won’t take much damage, though. If you’re getting attacked, just move away from the dragon until someone else attacks it.

When your inventory is full, rub the ring of duelling and bank at Castle Wars. Drink energy potions as needed to restore lost run energy, then repeat the process.

If you used a potion to access the lair, be sure to drop any leftover doses so you can get an extra scale—agility potions are dirt cheap. With a summer pie, it’s really your call, but it’s usually worth saving the extra slice to use on the next trip (after which you can then drop the empty pie dish.) Also see the “additional tips” section below.

In several tests, I found the total time required to get a load of 28 scales using the pipe shortcut was 3 minutes 15 seconds. This includes the time needed to top up my run energy using a 4-dose regular energy pot, and works out to around 515 scales grabbed per hour. Without the shortcut, naturally, the numbers are far worse: 5 minutes even to get 27 scales, which is only about 320 per hour.

Blue dragon scales are currently selling for around 500 gp each. This means you are getting about 257k worth of value per hour with the shortcut, less the cost of potions and/or pies. Without it, you are only earning 160k per hour and will use more energy potions, probably making the net proceeds even worse.

If you plan to use the scales yourself you will have to grind them; if gathering to resell, you need to decide if grinding them is worthwhile. The premium on ground scales is around 100 gp, and it’s possible to do 3,900 per hour, which works out to 390k per hour of value added. On the downside, this is tedious click-drudgery, and so not something I’d recommend doing for more than short periods.

Collecting scales takes a fair bit of time, the monetary value of the items is relatively low, and it is “grunt work” that provides no XP. For this reason, I recommend gathering them only for those who value self-sufficiency and want the scales for their own use. If you are looking to gather items to sell for money, there are better options. If you don’t care about doing things yourself, at 500 or so each you are better off buying the scales.

If your Agility level is 66, try this trick. Take a summer pie with you and eat the first half to access the pipe obstacle. Collect 27 scales, then eat the second half and drop the pie dish so you can grab a 28th. Bank quickly and then go back to the dungeon, and with any luck, your Agility will still be 70 or 71 without needing to take another pie. You can sometimes do the same with agility potions if your level is 68 or 69.

Watch for people who leave valuable drops on the ground when fighting the blue dragons. I’ve seen dragon bones and blue dragonhides left behind on more than one occasion, and also valuable herbs. If you see water runes, grab those too, because the dragons drop them 75 at a time!

Remember to try the combining method if you are making potions from the scales. If you do, you’ll need to bring with a pestle and mortar; drop it when done using it.