OSRS Crimson kisten DPS analysis: crush weapon guide and comparison

What is the Crimson kisten?

The Crimson kisten is a two-handed crush weapon added to Old School RuneScape on 30 June 2026 with The Blood Moon Rises update. It is dropped by the Maggot King at a rate of 1/520 and is tradeable on the Grand Exchange. At approximately 52.8M GP, it occupies a mid-to-high tier position in the crush weapon hierarchy.

The weapon requires 80 Attack to wield. It has a unique special attack — 'Crimson Assault' — that consumes 50% special attack energy and deals bonus damage based on the target's missing hitpoints. This makes it particularly effective for finishing off high-HP bosses and in PvP scenarios where opponents are already damaged.

The weapon's aesthetic is vampyric-themed, matching the Vampyrium region. Its examine text reads: 'A nasty war implement. I should be careful not to hit myself.'

DPS comparison: Crimson kisten vs other crush weapons

The Crimson kisten competes in the crush weapon slot alongside the Inquisitor's mace, Osmumten's Fang (crush), Scythe of Vitur, and the Abyssal bludgeon. Its performance varies significantly depending on the target's Defence level, crush defence, and HP pool.

Against targets with 80+ Defence and a crush weakness (negative crush defence), the Crimson kisten typically matches or outperforms the Inquisitor's mace thanks to its higher base strength. With the full Inquisitor armour set bonus, the Inquisitor's mace pulls ahead slightly, but the Crimson kisten is competitive without requiring the full set.

Against very high Defence targets (200+), the Scythe of Vitur still dominates due to its triple-hit mechanic. However, the Crimson kisten's special attack provides a significant burst option that the Scythe cannot match — useful for speed runs and combat achievements.

The Osmumten's Fang on crush is a close competitor. The Fang's passive accuracy bonus makes it more consistent against high-Defence targets, but the Crimson kisten's higher max hit gives it the edge in raw DPS against mid-Defence targets.

Best bosses for the Crimson kisten

The Crimson kisten excels at any boss with a significant crush weakness. Its best applications include:

At the Maggot King itself, the Crimson kisten is the best-in-slot weapon for the melee phase (after 65% HP). The special attack synergises perfectly with the boss's high HP pool, allowing you to finish kills faster.

At Callisto and Vet'ion in the Wilderness, the Crimson kisten's high crush damage makes it an excellent choice. The two-handed nature means you lose the Defender slot, but the raw damage output compensates — especially in multi-combat scenarios where you want to minimise kill time.

At K'ril Tsutsaroth in God Wars Dungeon, crush is the preferred attack style. The Crimson kisten competes directly with the Abyssal bludgeon here. While the Bludgeon's passive damage reduction ignores some of K'ril's defence, the Crimson kisten's higher max hit can result in faster kills with the right gear.

At General Graardor, crush methods using the Crimson kisten are viable, though the Scythe of Vitur remains the gold standard. For players without a Scythe budget, the Crimson kisten is an excellent alternative.

Crimson Assault — special attack analysis

The Crimson kisten's special attack, 'Crimson Assault', consumes 50% of your special attack energy. It deals additional damage based on the target's missing HP — the more HP the target has lost, the harder the special attack hits.

This design makes the special attack particularly effective as a finishing move. Against a fresh 1,500 HP boss like the Maggot King, the special attack can hit for substantially more than a normal attack once the boss is below 50% HP. In PvP, this translates to punishing KOs when your opponent has already taken damage.

The optimal rotation is to use normal attacks until the boss is below 50% HP, then use the Crimson Assault special attack to capitalise on the bonus damage. With 50% special attack cost, you can use it twice before needing to recharge at a pool or with stamina potions.