OSRS Nex Duo Money Making Guide 2026: GP/hr, Gear & Strategy

Why Duo Nex?

Nex is one of OSRS's most rewarding bosses, but solo Nex requires extremely high execution and gear. Duo Nex strikes the ideal balance: it is accessible to mid-to-high level players, offers consistent kills, and splits the unique drop value between two participants. The duo format also allows for role specialization — one player tanks while the other maximises DPS, resulting in faster kills than two players both trying to do both jobs.

Compared to other duo bossing options, Nex offers competitive GP/hr. The combination of common drops (blood runes, death runes, herbs) and rare uniques (Torva, Pernix, Nihil) creates a profit curve that rewards persistence. The main alternative, duo Zulrah, offers lower per-kill value but faster kill frequency.

Duo Gear Setups: Tank and Attacker

The tank role focuses on survivability and maintaining aggro. Use Bandos or Torva armour for defensive bonuses, an Elysian or Divine spirit shield for damage reduction, and a Saradomin godsword or Scythe of Vitur for the melee weapon. The tank should use Protect from Melee and switch to Protect from Magic during Nex's ice spells. Bring at least 2 Saradomin brews and 3 super restore potions per trip.

The attacker role maximises ranged DPS. Use Pernix armour or Armadyl if Pernix is unavailable, a Twisted Bow or Bow of Faerdhinen, and an Ava's assembler. The attacker should use Rigour and Eagle Eye prayers and switch targets to clear blood reavers and ice minions quickly. Use the DPS calculator to compare Twisted Bow vs Bow of Faerdhinen for your specific setup — the optimal choice depends on your gear bonuses and Nex's current defence level.

• Tank: Bandos/Torva, Elysian/Divine shield, SGS or Scythe, 2 brews, 3 restores.
• Attacker: Pernix/Armadyl, Twisted Bow or Bow of Faerdhinen, Ava's assembler, Rigour.
• Both: Ruby bolts (e) for burst damage, Dragon bolts (e) for high-def phases.
• Inventory: 4-6 food, runite bolts switch, emergency teleport.

Kill Strategy and Phases

Nex has five phases, each with distinct mechanics. In the Smoke phase, the attacker clears the smoke mages while the tank holds aggro on Nex. In the Shadow phase, both players should stand on the shadow traps to avoid damage. In the Blood phase, the attacker must kill blood reavers before Nex siphons them. In the Ice phase, the tank should use Protect from Magic and break free of ice prisons quickly. The final Zaros phase is a DPS race — use all remaining special attacks and consumables.

Communication between duo partners is essential. Call out phase transitions, blood reaver spawns, and ice prison targets. A typical duo kill takes 2-4 minutes depending on gear and experience. Faster kills mean more kills per trip, which directly increases GP/hr.

Nex Drop Table and Profit Analysis

Nex's drop table includes both common and rare items. Common drops include blood runes (50-200 per kill), death runes, herbs, and raw materials worth 100k-300k per kill. The rare unique drops are where the real profit lies: Torva boots (1/320), Pernix snaps (1/320), Virtus boots (1/320), and Ancient ceremonial mask/robes/boots (1/128 each). The Nihil horn, used to create the Nihil owl pet, drops at 1/2,000.

On average, a duo can expect 1-2 unique drops per 50-100 kills. The split system means each player receives roughly half the unique drop's value. Over a long session, the expected GP/hr stabilises at 5-10m, with occasional spikes when a high-value unique drops.

• Common: Blood runes, death runes, herbs — 100k-300k per kill.
• Torva boots: 1/320 — ~10m GP value.
• Pernix snaps: 1/320 — ~8m GP value.
• Nihil horn: 1/2,000 — ~15m GP value.
• Ancient ceremonial pieces: 1/128 each — ~1-3m GP value.

Maximising Profit Per Hour

The key to maximising Nex duo profit is kill consistency. Faster kills mean more drops per hour, and fewer deaths mean less money spent on consumables. Practise the phase transitions until they are muscle memory. Use the DPS calculator to find the optimal weapon and gear for your attack style — even a 5% DPS improvement can shave 10-15 seconds off each kill.

Bank trips should be efficient. Use a Bank Teleport or NEXUS teleport to return quickly. Pre-load your inventory with the exact supplies you need to avoid wasting time at the bank. Track your kills per hour and average unique drop rate to identify when your profit is below expectations — it may indicate a gear or strategy issue that can be corrected.