OSRS Animal Magnetism Guide

Animal Magnetism is one of the most influential mid-game quests in Old School RuneScape, not because of its difficulty or length, but because of what it unlocks. Completing this quest grants access to Ava’s Device, an item that fundamentally changes how Ranged combat works by automatically recovering most of the ammunition you fire. For players who plan to train Ranged seriously, whether through Slayer, bossing, or general combat, Animal Magnetism is a milestone that should never be skipped and get OSRS gold.

This guide provides a complete, detailed walkthrough of Animal Magnetism, covering quest requirements, preparation, step-by-step progression, common mistakes, and why the rewards remain essential even for late-game accounts.

Why Animal Magnetism Matters in OSRS

Ranged is one of the most commonly used combat styles in OSRS, valued for its safety, versatility, and effectiveness in PvM. However, without ammunition recovery, Ranged quickly becomes expensive and inconvenient. Every arrow, bolt, or dart fired is consumed, forcing players to constantly restock supplies.

Animal Magnetism solves this problem by unlocking Ava’s Attractor, which automatically picks up most ammunition used during combat. Over time, this saves thousands, if not millions, of coins and dramatically improves inventory efficiency. For Ironman accounts, the importance is even greater, as ammunition is time-consuming to obtain.

Because of this, Animal Magnetism is widely considered a “mandatory” quest for Ranged-focused progression.

Quest Requirements and Prerequisites

Before starting Animal Magnetism, players must meet several skill and quest requirements.

The required skill levels are:

18 Slayer

19 Crafting

30 Ranged

35 Woodcutting

These requirements are modest and easily achievable for mid-game accounts. In addition, the following quests must be completed beforehand:

Ernest the Chicken

Priest in Peril

The Restless Ghost

These quests are important thematically, as Animal Magnetism heavily involves undead mechanics and the Morytania region. Completing them also unlocks areas and NPCs required for progression.

Gear Restrictions and Preparation

One of the most important mechanics in Animal Magnetism is the restriction on metal equipment. During key parts of the quest, Ava’s experimental device is disrupted by metal, meaning you cannot wear metal body armor or metal boots.

Examples of prohibited items include:

Platebodies

Chainbodies

Metal boots

Helmets, shields, and weapons made of metal are generally acceptable, but wearing metal armor on the torso or feet will prevent quest progress. This is one of the most common reasons players get stuck.

To avoid issues, use non-metal alternatives such as:

Leather armor

Dragonhide

Robes

Graceful gear

It is strongly recommended to prepare a full non-metal outfit before starting the quest.

In terms of combat readiness, the quest contains several undead enemies. While none are extremely strong, low-level players should bring food and basic combat gear. Protection prayers can help, but they are not mandatory.

Required Items

Animal Magnetism requires several specific items, some of which are consumed during the quest. Having basic tools in advance will save time.

Key items include:

Ghostspeak amulet

Iron bar

Hammer

Mithril axe

Holy symbol

Hard leather

Polished buttons

Knife

Tinderbox

Some quest items are obtained during progression, but forgetting essential tools like a hammer or knife can cause unnecessary backtracking.

Starting Animal Magnetism

The quest begins by speaking to Ava in Draynor Manor. Ava can be found on the top floor of the manor, where she is experimenting with magnetic forces and undead creatures.

She explains her theory about undead magnetism and asks for help improving her experimental device. Once you agree, Animal Magnetism officially begins.

At this point, double-check that you are not wearing metal armor, as this can interfere with later stages.

Obtaining the Undead Chicken

One of the first objectives is to obtain an undead chicken.

To do this, travel to the farm north of Port Phasmatys, where undead chickens roam. These enemies are low-level but aggressive. Kill them until one drops an Undead chicken item.

The drop rate is reasonable, and this step usually takes only a few minutes. Once obtained, return the undead chicken to Ava in Draynor Manor.

Creating the Magnet Components

After delivering the undead chicken, Ava instructs you to help build components for her machine.

This section focuses on item interactions rather than combat. You will need to:

Use a hammer on an iron bar to create a magnet

Prepare other small components using basic crafting items

Follow Ava’s instructions carefully

Although this part is mechanically simple, many players get confused by skipping dialogue. Reading Ava’s instructions closely prevents mistakes and wasted time.

The Blessed Axe and Undead Trees

A critical step in the quest involves obtaining a blessed axe.

To do this, take a mithril axe and a holy symbol to a monk who can bless the axe. Once blessed, the axe becomes capable of cutting undead trees.

With the blessed axe, travel back to the Morytania area and locate an undead tree near Port Phasmatys. A regular axe will not work here. Chop the undead tree to obtain the required quest item.

This area contains hostile monsters, so bring food and remain alert while chopping.

Navigating Undead Areas

Animal Magnetism includes several sections where players must navigate areas filled with undead enemies. These areas emphasize the quest’s theme and add mild combat pressure.

Players should:

Bring enough food for sustained damage

Avoid unnecessary fights when possible

Use safe paths and movement to minimize combat

While the enemies are not particularly dangerous to mid-level players, rushing without supplies can lead to deaths and frustration.

Completing the Device and Final Test

After collecting all required components, return to Ava in Draynor Manor.

Ava assembles the completed device and asks you to assist in testing it. During this stage:

Ensure you are still wearing non-metal armor

Activate the device as instructed

Watch the test sequence that demonstrates its function

If the device fails to activate, the issue is almost always metal equipment. Double-check your body and boots slots before retrying.

Once the test succeeds, the quest is completed.

Quest Rewards and Their Impact

Completing Animal Magnetism rewards:

1 Quest Point

2,500 Crafting experience

2,500 Slayer experience

5,000 Woodcutting experience

Ava’s Attractor

Ava’s Attractor automatically recovers most fired ammunition, significantly reducing supply costs. While it is not the final version of Ava’s device, it is immediately useful and remains relevant until upgraded.

Upgrading Ava’s Device

Animal Magnetism unlocks the base version of Ava’s device, but upgrades are available later.

By reaching 50 Ranged and paying Ava specific items, you can upgrade Ava’s Attractor into Ava’s Accumulator, which improves ammo recovery rates and bonuses.

Much later, after completing Dragon Slayer II, players can obtain Ava’s Assembler, which is best-in-slot for most Ranged setups in the game.

These upgrades make Animal Magnetism a permanent part of account progression, not just a one-time benefit.

Ironman Considerations

For Ironman accounts, Animal Magnetism is even more critical than for mains. Gathering arrows and bolts manually is time-intensive, and Ava’s device dramatically reduces this burden.

Most Ironmen prioritize Animal Magnetism as soon as the requirements are met, often before major Slayer or Ranged training grinds.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most frequent mistake is wearing metal armor during the quest, which prevents Ava’s device from working. Always check your gear.

Another common issue is forgetting the Ghostspeak amulet, which is required for interacting with certain undead NPCs.

Finally, underestimating combat sections and bringing insufficient food can slow progress unnecessarily.

Conclusion

Animal Magnetism may not be the longest or flashiest quest in Old School RuneScape, but its impact on gameplay is enormous. By unlocking Ava’s device, players gain a powerful quality-of-life upgrade that saves resources, improves efficiency, and supports long-term Ranged training.

Whether you are a main account, an Ironman, or a returning player, completing Animal Magnetism as soon as possible is one of the smartest decisions you can make. It is not just a quest—it is a foundational upgrade that will benefit your account for thousands of hours to buy RuneScape gold.