Updated 24 October 2026 · Onyx Services
A Fractured Archive inventory needs to cover the encounters you chose, not every weapon in your bank. Start with the core styles, add the spells required by your route, and coordinate special attacks with the team.
The examples below use items listed in the current community equipment reference. They are alternative starting points, not mandatory minimums or a universal DPS ranking. “Lower-cost” is relative to the premium column; check current prices and your account’s unlocks before buying.
Melee: build a manageable crush switch
Several encounters offer useful crush opportunities, but weapon choice still depends on the target and phase. Do not pair Inquisitor’s equipment with a slash weapon and assume you receive the same crush benefit.
Slot | Lower-cost example | Higher-cost example |
|---|---|---|
Weapon | Abyssal bludgeon | Obligator |
Head | Neitiznot faceguard | Inquisitor’s great helm |
Neck | Amulet of fury | Amulet of rancour |
Cape | Fire cape | Infernal cape |
Body | Fighter torso | Inquisitor’s hauberk |
Legs | Bandos tassets | Inquisitor’s plateskirt |
Hands | Barrows gloves | Ferocious gloves |
Feet | Dragon boots | Avernic treads (max) |
Ring | Berserker ring (i) | Ultor ring / Lightbearer |
Off-hand | None with the bludgeon | None with Obligator |
One-handed alternative: a Zamorakian hasta with a dragon defender provides an alternative to the two-handed bludgeon. An Inquisitor’s mace can use a defender as well. Remove the off-hand when switching to a two-handed weapon.
Other premium route: Torva with a Scythe of Vitur is a separate melee setup. It should be compared for the encounter rather than treated as an interchangeable crush loadout. Blood fury is a healing alternative to offensive jewellery when you value sustain.
Ranged: crossbow access or a premium bow
A Ranged option covers airborne targets and fights outside melee reach. Ammunition and off-hand choices must match the weapon you actually equip.
Slot | Lower-cost example | Higher-cost example |
|---|---|---|
Weapon | Dragon crossbow | Twisted bow |
Head | Void ranger helm | Masori mask (f) |
Neck | Necklace of anguish | Necklace of anguish; rupture is another listed upgrade |
Cape | Ava’s assembler | Dizana’s quiver |
Body | Elite void top | Masori body (f) |
Legs | Elite void robe | Masori chaps (f) |
Hands | Void knight gloves | Zaryte vambraces |
Feet | Aranea boots | Avernic treads (max) |
Ring | Lightbearer | Venator ring / Lightbearer |
Ammo | Ruby dragon bolts (e) | Suitable arrows, such as dragon arrows |
Off-hand | Twisted buckler; a ranged ward is an alternative | None: Twisted bow is two-handed |
Keep the Void set together: ranger helm, top, robe and gloves are needed for its set effect. The crossbow example still includes valuable unlocks and equipment; it is not presented as an inexpensive fresh-account setup.
Already own Bowfa? the bow with full crystal armour is a separate option in the community list. Do not mix crystal pieces into the Void example, and do not expect crystal armour to improve a crossbow. Check both bow and armour charges; corrupting the bow does not remove armour upkeep.
Ascension crossbows: use their own Ascension bolts. A ruby-dragon-bolt crossbow setup is not an Ascension ammunition setup. Compare running costs and encounter performance before replacing an existing weapon.
Magic: bring the spells your route needs
For a practical elemental switch, start with Twinflame and improve the armour when the rest of the inventory is covered. A powered staff alone does not supply the elemental spells needed for every mechanic.
Slot | Lower-cost example | Higher-cost example |
|---|---|---|
Weapon | Twinflame staff | Harmonised Nightmare staff |
Head | Ahrim’s hood | Ancestral hat |
Neck | Occult necklace | Occult necklace |
Cape | Imbued god cape | Imbued god cape |
Body | Ahrim’s robetop | Ancestral robe top |
Legs | Ahrim’s robeskirt | Ancestral robe bottom |
Hands | Barrows gloves | Tormented bracelet; check specific glove interactions before upgrading |
Feet | Eternal boots | Avernic treads (max) |
Ring | Seers ring (i) | Magus ring / Lightbearer |
Off-hand | Elidinis’ ward or an appropriate elemental tome | A tome matching the elemental spell |
Virtus is a listed armour alternative between these examples; Blue Moon is another option alongside Ahrim’s. If you use Tumeken’s shadow instead, remove the off-hand and retain a way to cast the elemental spells your route requires. A tome’s benefit applies to its matching spells, not every magic attack.
Route spells and extra switches
Encounter or task | What to prepare |
|---|---|
Ezekiel’s swords | Air spells are a useful charging option. |
Xarth’s corpses | Ice to hold them or water to disrupt them; avoid fire on the corpses. |
Dagon’hai channels | Access to fire, water, air and earth spells, plus sufficient Magic accuracy. |
Grouped small enemies | Barrage or Venator switches can help where the encounter supports them. |
Check your spellbook as well as the runes. If the team chooses the elemental route, do not enter with only Ancient Magicks and assume your powered weapon covers the missing casts.
Defence floors and special-attack assignments
Defence limit | Targets |
|---|---|
Cannot fall below 60% of base | Archive Guardian, Bork, Ezekiel, Moia, Xarth, Ocellus |
Can be reduced to zero | Dreadnoth, Smorks, Dagon’hai Trio, The Blade in Ocellus phase two |
These limits follow Jagex’s Defence hotfix. A 60% floor permits a 40% reduction; it is not 60% damage reduction. Early footage with capped bosses reduced to zero is not a current benchmark.
Tonalztics of Ralos remains relevant to coordinated groups. Elder maul, Dragon warhammer and Bandos godsword also appear among community options. Agree who brings which special rather than duplicating every weapon in every inventory. Do not assume one fixed number of successful specials works for all weapons and targets.
In Ocellus phase three, the reduction persists through quadrant changes. Reach the floor in the opening quadrant, then use damage specials rather than repeating the reduction after every crossing.
Food, potions, charges and inventory space
Food and healing: leave room for supplies you can use while moving. Saradomin brews require stat restoration planning; do not let repeated brewing leave your combat stats suppressed.
Prayer: bring restoration for the full opening section, including encounters with draining adds.
Boosts: bring the combat potions your setup needs. There are no raid Overloads or Smelling Salts equivalents.
Ammunition and charges: check every ranged weapon, powered weapon, crystal piece and charged item before entry.
Runes: inspect the actual spells you plan to cast, not just the presence of a rune pouch.
Resupply: use the quartermaster after the third boss. You cannot access your bank during the run.
Exact potion counts depend on the team, route and time spent learning. Use a completed attempt as a baseline, then replace unused switches with the supplies that actually ran short.
Final bank check
Equip each planned style once, verify its off-hand and ammunition, test that the required spells are available, and confirm the tank and special-attack roles. A smaller inventory you can switch reliably is more useful than extra equipment you never manage to equip.
Community mechanics and equipment reference: OSRS Wiki strategy guide. Checked 24 October 2026; the page remains under active development.
Equipment artwork: original Jagex game sprites. Image references: OSRS Wiki and the official raid showcase. The tables are Onyx’s example combinations, not an official equipment prescription.
Continue the Fractured Archive series
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