How Do Tertiary Drops Work in OSRS?
If you play Old School RuneScape then you may wonder how do tertiary drops work in OSRS. Tertiary drops are special rewards that can be rolled separately from the normal loot table.
They can include things like pets and some other special rewards. A tertiary drop can happen along with the normal drop. It does not always replace the main item that you receive.
Understanding tertiary drops can help you understand why some rare rewards can take many kills to obtain.
What Are Tertiary Drops in OSRS?
Tertiary drops are extra reward rolls that can happen after or alongside the normal drop process.
Most monsters have a main drop table. This table contains the regular items you can receive from a kill.
A tertiary drop works differently. It is usually a separate chance for a special reward.
For example a monster may give you a normal item from its main drop table. At the same time you may also receive a special tertiary reward if you pass the required roll.
This is one reason why rare rewards can feel very difficult to get.
How Do Tertiary Drops Work in OSRS?
The basic idea is simple.
When you kill a monster the game checks its normal loot. The game can also check certain extra drop rolls.
A simple example would look like this:
- You kill the monster.
- The game checks the normal drop table.
- The game checks any applicable extra drop rolls.
- You receive the normal loot.
- You may also receive a tertiary reward if you pass its roll.
The exact system can be different for different monsters and activities.
This means you should always check the specific drop table when you are hunting for a rare reward.
Do Tertiary Drops Replace Normal Loot?
Usually a tertiary reward is an additional reward rather than a replacement for the main loot.
This is especially useful for rare rewards such as pets. Jagex has described some pet additions as rewards that do not replace existing drops.
So getting a pet does not normally mean that your regular loot disappears.
You can receive your normal loot and the special reward from the same kill.
Are OSRS Pets Tertiary Drops?
Many OSRS pets use a separate rare reward roll.
This means you can kill the same boss or monster many times without receiving the pet.
For example if a pet has a very low chance then each eligible kill gives you another chance at that pet.
The chance does not mean that the pet will appear after a fixed number of kills.
Does Your Drop Chance Improve After Every Kill?
In most cases you should not think of a rare tertiary drop as a progress bar.
If a reward has a certain chance on each eligible kill then each new kill gives you another chance.
For example imagine a reward has a 1 in 1000 chance.
That does not mean you will get the reward after exactly 1000 kills.
You could get it on your first kill. You could also go much longer than 1000 kills without receiving it.
This is how random drops work in OSRS.
What Does 1 in 100 Mean?
A drop rate of 1 in 100 means that the chance on an eligible roll is 1 percent.
It does not guarantee one reward every 100 kills.
You can think of every eligible kill as another opportunity for the reward to appear.
The same idea applies to much rarer drops.
A 1 in 5000 chance means each eligible roll has a very small chance of giving that reward.
Can You Get More Than One Tertiary Drop?
This depends on the specific activity and its drop system.
Some activities can have more than one type of special reward or additional roll.
You should not assume that every monster uses the same system.
OSRS has many different bosses and monsters. Their reward systems can have different rules.
Why Are Tertiary Drops So Rare?
Tertiary drops are often used for special rewards.
Pets are a good example. They are meant to be rare cosmetic rewards that can take a large number of kills to obtain.
Jagex has added pets to different bosses and activities through the years. Official OSRS polls also show examples of pets being added as rare rewards without replacing existing drops.
This makes tertiary rewards exciting when they finally appear.
Do All Monsters Have Tertiary Drops?
No.
Not every monster has a tertiary drop.
Some monsters have only a normal loot table. Other monsters can have special rolls for pets clues keys or other rewards.
The best way to know if a monster has a tertiary reward is to check its current OSRS drop information.
What Is the Difference Between Main Drops and Tertiary Drops?
The main difference is how the reward is handled.
A main drop comes from the normal loot table.
A tertiary drop is an extra reward roll that can happen separately.
For example you may receive bones and other normal loot from a monster. You may also receive a rare pet if the tertiary roll succeeds.
This gives players another reason to keep doing the activity even after they have received the normal rewards.
Do Tertiary Drops Affect Your Loot Value?
They can.
A rare pet may not have a normal trading value. However other special rewards can have useful value depending on the item.
Some tertiary rewards are mainly cosmetic. Others can be useful items.
This is why it is important to look at the complete drop table when calculating the value of an activity.
How Can I Improve My Chances?
The most important thing is to understand the requirements for the reward you want.
Make sure you are killing the correct monster or boss.
Also make sure that you meet any requirements for the tertiary reward.
Some rewards may only be available from certain bosses or under certain conditions.
Once you meet the requirements the main way to get more chances is to complete more eligible kills.
Is There a Guaranteed Tertiary Drop?
Usually a rare tertiary reward is not guaranteed after a certain number of kills.
This is important to remember when hunting for an OSRS pet or another rare reward.
Going dry does not always mean that the next kill will give you the item.
Random drops can sometimes be very lucky. They can also be very unlucky.
Final Thoughts
So how do tertiary drops work in OSRS?
Tertiary drops are special reward rolls that are separate from the normal loot table.
They can give players rare rewards such as pets and other special items. In many cases these rewards can be received in addition to the normal loot.
The exact rules depend on the monster or activity.
If you are hunting for a rare tertiary reward then keep checking the correct drop table and make sure you meet all requirements.
Most importantly remember that a rare drop chance is not a guarantee. Every eligible kill gives you another chance but the reward can appear early or take many more kills.