The Plague (Permanent Boss)
New permanent boss: The Plague.
Originally introduced for Halloween, but it stays in-game permanently.
After the event, it will run on a unique drop table.
Getting there
- First time: pull the lever in the shed in Edgeville to enter the Plague lair.
- Afterwards: go to the Ghostly lair under the house with a bed in high wilderness, west of the Mage Arena.
- Go through the doors. The small rooms right after the doors are safe, but the main lair is not.
Bring this (don’t skip it)
You need a light source inside the lair, or you won’t be able to properly see / fight what’s around you.
- Lit torch (recommended)
- Torch Salve to light torches (bring plenty)
- OR make/maintain fires for light
- Cure poison potions / antidotes (The Plague fires poisoned bolts)
The Plague can extinguish torches and fires. Be ready to relight often.
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Light rules
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How the fight works
1) Darkness + healing
The Plague will flee into unlit areas during and between fights and heal up. If you let him disappear into darkness, you’re basically giving him free resets.
- Spread out with torches to keep areas lit, or
- Light pre-emptive fires, or
- Have one player dedicated to chasing him with a torch and sticking to melee.
2) Poison bolts
He fires poisoned bolts. Bring cure poison potions or antidotes, and don’t cheap out.
3) Ranged damage + arrow loss
- Ranged now deals full damage to The Plague (no more 1/3 damage).
- Arrows cannot be retrieved — if you range it, assume those arrows are gone.
- If you don’t want to lose arrows: bring casts, or use godmage / slayer staff setups to keep damage high.
4) Adds: Rats + Zombies (personal spawns)
During the fight, The Plague spawns Rats and Zombies to help it. This also extinguishes all torches — enjoy the jump scare.
- This happens randomly and at least once at half HP.
- Each player must kill their own spawned adds before they can damage The Plague again.
- Easiest solution: swap to a strong melee weapon (dragon sword/axe) and delete them fast.
- Magic can feel awkward here because you may need a torch equipped to land hits — melee is the smooth option.
5) Plague aura damage (and it heals him)
The Plague deals “plague damage” to players standing within 4 tiles. That damage also heals the boss.
- You can use this to help make sure everyone does “enough” damage for drops (by stretching time a bit).
- But it’s usually smarter to keep most players back so you’re not healing him for free.
- Best setup: 1 chaser with torch + melee up close, everyone else stays spaced and pumps damage.
Recommended team plan
This boss is much smoother with roles. Here’s the “easy mode” plan most groups end up using.
- Pick a chaser: 1 player stays close with a lit torch and focuses melee to stop him escaping into darkness.
- Everyone else spreads: keep distance (>4 tiles) to avoid plague aura damage healing the boss.
- Keep light up: relight torches/fires as soon as they go out.
- Adds spawn: everyone kills their own rats/zombies ASAP, then back onto the boss.
- Bring poison cures: sip early; don’t wait until you’re already in trouble.
If he keeps healing/resetting, your issue is almost always lighting (or nobody chasing him). Fix the light, then the fight becomes predictable.
Screenshot
Quick FAQ
Do I really need Torch Salve?
Yep. The boss can extinguish your torch/fires. Bring plenty so you’re not stuck fighting blind. If you manage to get his rare latern drop, he can't extinguish them.
Can I range the boss?
Yes — ranged hits full damage now. Just remember: you won’t get your arrows back.
Why can’t I hit the boss sometimes?
You probably have adds spawned for you. Kill your own rats/zombies first, then you can damage The Plague again.
Why is he healing so much?
Either he’s fleeing into unlit areas, or too many players are standing close (plague aura damage heals him). Light the area and keep most players spaced.