Sailing in OSRS: Sea Monsters and Ocean Combat Explained
This guide breaks down how ship combat works in Sailing, explains cannon mechanics in detail, and outlines what you need before engaging any ocean enemies. Whether you’re new to Sailing or preparing to challenge tougher waters, understanding these systems is essential for survival. Having enough cheap Runescape gold can also be very helpful.
How Ship Combat Works in Sailing (OSRS)
Ship combat is fundamentally different from normal combat in OSRS. When fighting ocean enemies, your usual melee, ranged, or magic attacks deal heavily reduced damage. Instead, ship-mounted cannons are your primary—and often only—reliable way to defeat sea monsters.
Proper cannon usage becomes available at Level 28 Sailing, when you unlock the ability to build a bronze cannon. Cannons must be physically built onto your raft or skiff, and you’ll need a steady supply of cannonballs to use them. Cannonballs can be carried in your inventory or stored in your ship’s cargo hold, where they conveniently stack.
Once you’ve met the requirements, combat at sea becomes a matter of lining up shots and managing your ship’s position during the fight.
Cannon Targeting and Positioning
To fire your cannon, the target sea monster must be positioned correctly relative to your ship. Cannons can only fire within a 180-degree forward-facing arc and have a maximum range of 15 tiles. If a monster drifts outside this arc or slips behind your cannon, you won’t be able to attack until you reposition your ship.
This makes positioning one of the most important skills in ship combat. Sea monsters often move unpredictably, and once struck, they will begin advancing toward your ship. You’ll need to adjust your heading continuously to keep the cannon facing the enemy while avoiding unnecessary damage.
Because prayers provide no benefits in ship combat, maintaining good angles and distance becomes your primary form of defense.
Damage, Experience, and Looting
When a cannonball successfully hits a sea monster, combat fully engages. Each hit rewards you with Sailing experience equal to the damage dealt, making combat an effective way to train the skill. Additionally, every cannon shot also grants Ranged experience, even though the cannon replaces traditional ranged weapons.
Once a sea monster is defeated, it leaves behind a corpse floating in the water. Looting works differently than on land. You can either:
Throw a net to haul the corpse onto your ship, or
Pick it up directly if it drifts close enough to your vessel
Loot varies by monster and tier but generally includes resources, Sailing-related items, and valuable trade goods.
Ship Damage and Repairs
Every fight at sea comes with risk, as your ship can take damage during combat. Ship health functions similarly to player health, but repairs require specific tools. To restore durability, you’ll need repair kits, which act much like food does during standard combat—used mid-fight to recover lost health.
If your raft or skiff reaches zero health, the consequences are severe. You and any crew members will be sent back to your chosen respawn dock point, and all cargo stored on the ship is lost. On top of that, the ship becomes broken and cannot be used again until it’s repaired by a shipwright.
Because of this, keeping repair kits on hand and retreating when necessary is a critical part of surviving higher-tier ocean encounters.
Setting Your Respawn Point
Respawn points are handled differently while sailing. Instead of defaulting to a land-based respawn, you can choose where you’ll return if your ship is destroyed.
To do this, interact with a buoy at your selected pier and choose the Dock option. This sets that location as your respawn point for ship combat. Choosing a dock close to your current activities can save significant time if something goes wrong.
Cannon Requirements for Ocean Combat
Before you can engage any sea monsters in Sailing, your ship must meet several requirements. These apply regardless of the enemy’s tier:
A built cannon is installed on your raft or skiff
A supply of cannonballs, either in your inventory or cargo hold
A crew member with a Privateering level that meets or exceeds the cannon’s requirement
It’s also important to note that Ava’s devices do not retrieve cannonballs fired from ship cannons. Every shot consumes ammunition permanently, so managing your supply is essential during longer voyages.
Final Tips for Sailing Combat
Ship combat rewards preparation and awareness more than raw stats. Keep your cannon lined up, manage distance carefully, and always monitor your ship’s health during encounters. As you face stronger ocean enemies, mistakes become more costly, and recovery options grow limited. A large amount of RuneScape gold can also be very helpful.
Mastering these fundamentals will prepare you for all tiers of sea monsters and make Sailing one of the most rewarding—and profitable—skills to train in OSRS.