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Colosseum invocations

This article is compiled from the videos of GnomonkeyRS. It records what Gnomonkey said, with sources, not verified game fact. See About.

Colosseum invocations

Colosseum invocations
Type Mechanic
Videos 11 (first 2024-03-22, latest 2025-12-12)
Main source Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS)

Colosseum invocations are the random modifiers offered between waves of the Fortis Colosseum. Gnomonkey describes the system as heavily RNG-driven, with many invocations that end runs, and since March 2024 has argued that it needs an overhaul; his picks centre on locking in Solar Flare and Myopia123.

Contents

Overview

  • In the description of his world record video, Gnomonkey states the invocation system has to be overhauled or Colosseum will die out, and that over 80% of invocations lose a run automatically or cause reset spam as it stands1. He describes a lot of RNG, no guarantee of good runs, and likely resets4; a good chunk of invocations are instant run-enders, so getting the right set likely means resetting a lot2.
  • On the stream he estimated he resets about one in three runs on wave two and perhaps another one in three before wave four, guessing about 33 of 100 runs reach the end with perfect play (an estimate he was unsure about)5. Some invocations make the boss nearly impossible, which is a reason runs get reset6.
  • What he dislikes about the Colosseum is the random invocations, but otherwise he finds it pretty good7. See also Opinion: Colosseum invocation overhaul.
  • His Discord has an in-depth invocation tier list and custom menu swaps for the Fremmys under Colosseum Resources8.

Choosing invocations

  • New versus upgrade: Gnomonkey always prioritises taking a new invocation over upgrading an existing one, because the game throws tier 2 or 3 upgrades at the player more often than new non-terrible invocations4910. His second priority, after a new upgradable invocation, is a new one-off invocation11. The game often offers an upgrade plus two other choices, and he picks a good upgradable choice when available2; taking Solar Flare or Myopia at the start means he is not forced into a bad choice, and he locks in upgradable invocations whenever possible312. In July 2024 he added that he tries to finish an invocation to take it out of the pool, and that Solar Flare 3 is the clear choice because it finishes the invocation and opens new ones1013.
  • Best start: the best possible invocations at the start are Solar Flare or Myopia, with Quartet also good but not upgradable (March 2024); his own choice is Solar Flare, and it is worth restarting until one of them appears, which he says takes about four runs3. If Myopia 1 is already held and Myopia 2 or Solar Flare 1 is offered, he takes Solar Flare 12.
  • Wave matters: which wave the run is on changes what is a good or bad choice4. Avoid ending up with all three slots filled by Doom, Doom Scorpion, Totemic or Relentless, which is an instant run-ender11.
  • Early wave farming: for farming higher waves rather than reaching the boss, Myopia can be a bad choice and replacing it with Ender Bees is probably the play14.

Individual invocations

Blasphemy. Drains prayer by 20% of all damage received, including things like divine potions; upgrades bump this to 40% and 60%15. Gnomonkey calls it one of the worst invocations, but forced at the start because the other options are worse615; it chunks through prayer doses and can smite the player quickly15. Avoid upgrades: tier 2 forced on wave 2 or 3 is an instant restart, and tier 3 on wave 6 or earlier is likely restart-worthy15. He waits on it as long as possible (seeing it only at wave 10 was ideal), and Blasphemy 2 is very bad because being smited is the end16171819. In July 2024 he said always take Blasphemy first because it is the least bad of the first choices, and that needing Blasphemy 3 on wave 3 signals bad seeds on other invocations rather than Blasphemy being bad; a run can still be completed with it, especially a first cape2021.

Doom. Before the April 2024 update, monster hits while off prayer applied doom and 20 stacks killed instantly; in practice any damage applied it, so Gnomonkey said Doom could never be taken22. After the update (see below) he considers Doom level 1 free for almost any player and takes tier 3 in speedruns. Later he said Doom is fairly good but he would only take Doom 1 on a first Quiver, and never Doom 2 unless forced, since it makes wave 11 hell2324. In July 2024: avoid on a first cape, though Doom 1 is okay late; Doom 3 is very bad before Sol Heredit2526. The javelin colossus counts as two hits for Doom stacks though it hits once, bugged since release27. In December 2025 he called Doom 1 okay and Doom 2 a little scary when setting things up28. He locked Doom early in a 2025 run against Sol29.

Doom Scorpion. Spawns a slow-moving scorpion applying two stacks of doom on hit; upgrades make it faster and apply four and eight stacks. Run-ending if forced2230.

Dynamic Duo. Spawns an additional shockwave colossus beside the existing one; typically does not change solves and is worth taking nearly every time in March 20243132. In July 2024 he said Duo is really bad because it creates quad stacks33.

Frailty. Reduces max HP by 10% and prevents overhealing; upgrades bump this to 20% and 40%31. March 2024: tier 1 is the only manageable tier, realistically only after wave 10, to be avoided at all costs; only worth taking very late3134. Changes: in April 2024 he started locking Frailty first for speedruns, capping health at 603536; in July 2024 he called it mid-tier, with Solar Flare absolutely better2513; in the Pillarless Colosseum he finds it very bad but more runnable than Relentless37.

Myopia. Reduces range by 2 tiles; upgrades 4 and 614. Gnomonkey calls it the best invocation for completion, since the boss is killed with a melee setup and Myopia does not affect melee143839. It matters only for the Berserker at the start38. In July 2024 he noted it does not matter when only using a mage weapon and bow10. With Myopia he sets up line of sight manually4041. In the Pillarless Colosseum it is fine because shadow spells reach everything outside the boundary42.

Quartet. Adds an extra random Fremennik each wave; March 2024 he said it is easy with his strategy and should be taken, but the extra Fremennik also spawns on the boss and must be killed at the start43. Later opinions are negative: a big time loss for speedruns, really bad because it forces dealing with something at the start of a wave and spawns an extra enemy on Sol, and "really bad now" in July 2024444546. Its extra spawn at Sol can be used to get a free Death Charge47.

Red Flag. Minotaurs lose safe spotting; they gain smart pathing and walk through enemies. Avoid; wave 11 only if no other option4834. One of the worst in the game33. In the Pillarless Colosseum it is only a bit worse than normal, though scary on wave 10 because the Minotaur cannot be hidden behind another NPC4950.

Reentry / Re-entry. Javelins fall toward the player, leaving permanent damage and creep cleaned after the wave; upgrades increase area and make it permanent for the whole Colosseum. Tier 1 on wave 10 or later, avoided if possible; tier 2 can be taken on the boss51. He called it one of the worst invocations ever, though Reentry 2 is okay at wave 1152; never take it per July 202425. In the speedrun he took Re-entry 2 on wave 11 over Quartet3653.

Relentless. Before the update, enemies do not miss and max hits increase; it turns off the Torva armour's effect, so it is a non-choice until the boss4854. Reset if forced earlier48. Later: very late it is okay, it does nothing on Sol, amazing on the boss, okay on wave 11 as a last resort, terrible early454746. He took Relentless 2 on wave 8 and 3 before Sol in 202555. In the Pillarless Colosseum it is among the really bad ones3756.

Solar Flare. Adds a slow-moving orbiting damage orb around the pillars; upgrades add damage and the final upgrade turns off overhead prayer for one tick57. It is as good as Myopia and the orb is easy once tagged with the ID shown on screen (12826 with Better NPC Highlight)5758. Orb movement: two ticks per tile and five ticks on pillar corners; the final upgrade sits on corners for a single tick, i.e. two ticks on corners then one-tick speed596061. Damage is active every other tick13. About 20 damage before the third tier, which disables prayer for one tick39. Standing away from the pillar avoids it62. In the Pillarless Colosseum it is especially good since it only matters against Sol42.

Totemic. Spawns a healing totem once enemies are below 50% HP; totems have 1 HP and any weapon kills them63. Forced Totemic is an instant reset and affects the boss, but only one totem spawns for the boss6364. Per the April 2024 update, respawn timer 1 to 2 minutes and healing reduced from 40 to 30 percent; he says fine for the boss, a no-go for waves6566. Bad before Sol in July 202426.

Volatility. Enemies explode on death; upgrades increase range and leave permanent creep. Usually an instant restart if forced, though tier one is theoretically manageable after wave 10; great on the boss wave67. Completely fine before Sol (July 2024)26.

Others. Mayhem is avoided because a misclick doubles the Manticore damage68. Bees is called a run killer and the worst invocation45.

April 2024 update

In the video on the new invocations (2024-04-12) Gnomonkey described these changes69707165:

  • Doom stacks reset to zero at the end of each wave, death at 15, 10 or 5 stacks depending on tier, and only Colosseum sources apply stacks, so self-dealt damage such as the Soulreaper axe or divine potions no longer adds Doom. He calls tier 1 a completely free invocation for almost any player, though he counted 17 hits in his first completion; he takes tier 3 for speedruns, and wishes some stacks carried over7273.
  • Myopia now affects autocast spells while manual casts are unaffected; he calls this beyond dumb70.
  • Relentless tiers 1 and 2 now ignore 33 and 66 percent of defence (tier 3 ignores all), with bonus minimum hits 1, 3 and 6. He now thinks tier 1 is very viable in later waves, avoiding tiers 2 and 371.
  • Totemic: respawn 1 to 2 minutes and healing 40 to 30 percent; he wants zero-tick, guaranteed-hit totems like Zebak jugs65.

Speedruns and special runs

  • In the 16:10 world record he locked Frailty first, which was faster than Quartet or Duo, skipped Quartet, took Re-entry 2 on wave 11, and for the boss took Volatility with no Quartet (60 maximum health, no brew, three sand fuse doses)35445374. See Fortis Colosseum speedrun.
  • By wave 12 of the budget guide his invocations were Myopia 3, Solar Flare 3, Duo, Blasphemy 3 and Quartet75. See Fist only Colosseum: he took Relentless 2 over Frailty on wave 117, and noted Manticore and off-tick timing on wave 117677.
  • In Pillarless Colosseum he sought Solar Flare 3 and Myopia 337.

Suggested changes

Gnomonkey suggested Jagex add two reroll tokens, completely rebalance the invocations, and potentially remove boring ones, since many are too punishing to take. He found it frustrating that Jagex said it was only contemplating changing Doom, calling Doom absurdly bad7879.

Revision history

Date Video Change
2025-12-12 I Completed Colosseum WITHOUT Pillars Added Pillarless Colosseum views on Solar Flare, Myopia, Relentless, Frailty, Doom and Red Flag.
2025-03-21 GOLDEN GNOME vs SOL HEREDIT Added Doom lock-in, Relentless 2 and 3 picks and manual line of sight with Myopia.
2024-07-26 Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide Changed: Blasphemy first choice, Frailty mid-tier, Duo and Quartet now bad; added Doom javelin colossus bug.
2024-06-15 Soulreaper Axe Colosseum Guide Added Doom 1 only on a first Quiver, Mayhem and Bees opinions.
2024-04-12 NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM Updated Doom (stack reset, 15/10/5 stacks), Myopia (autocast), Relentless (defence ignore) and Totemic (2 min, 30%) after the update.
2024-04-01 INSANE 16:10 WR Colosseum Changed Frailty from avoid to locking first for speedruns; Quartet skipped for time.
2024-03-28 FIST ONLY COLOSSEUM Added Relentless 2 over Frailty on wave 11 and Manticore off-tick notes.
2024-03-26 BUDGET COLOSSEUM GUIDE Added Solar Flare tier timings and budget wave-12 invocation set.
2024-03-25 Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 Added best starts (Solar Flare or Myopia), orb ID 12826 and orb movement.
2024-03-24 Colosseum Invo Guide Added per-invocation descriptions and recommendations.
2024-03-22 WORLD RECORD COLOSSEUM + Mini Guide Page created: RNG criticism, new-over-upgrade rule and Blasphemy at the start.
## See also

References

  1. WORLD RECORD COLOSSEUM + Mini Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-22. ▶ 0:00 ↩↩

  2. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 0:00 ↩↩↩↩

  3. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 7:14 ↩↩↩

  4. WORLD RECORD COLOSSEUM + Mini Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-22. ▶ 0:29 ↩↩↩

  5. WORLD RECORD COLOSSEUM + Mini Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-22. ▶ 14:42 ↩

  6. WORLD RECORD COLOSSEUM + Mini Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-22. ▶ 16:42 ↩↩

  7. FIST ONLY COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-03-28. ▶ 28:08 ↩↩

  8. Soulreaper Axe Colosseum Guide (OSRS), 2024-06-15. ▶ 0:00 ↩

  9. BUDGET COLOSSEUM GUIDE (OSRS), 2024-03-26. ▶ 10:23 ↩

  10. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 21:47 ↩↩↩

  11. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 0:29 ↩↩

  12. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 9:38 ↩

  13. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 27:27 ↩↩↩

  14. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 2:45 ↩↩↩

  15. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 1:24 ↩↩↩↩

  16. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 9:05 ↩

  17. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 30:42 ↩

  18. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 32:48 ↩

  19. BUDGET COLOSSEUM GUIDE (OSRS), 2024-03-26. ▶ 12:25 ↩

  20. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 21:28 ↩

  21. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 33:54 ↩

  22. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 1:54 ↩↩

  23. Soulreaper Axe Colosseum Guide (OSRS), 2024-06-15. ▶ 12:00 ↩

  24. Soulreaper Axe Colosseum Guide (OSRS), 2024-06-15. ▶ 16:04 ↩

  25. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 23:19 ↩↩↩

  26. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 44:00 ↩↩↩

  27. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 28:29 ↩

  28. I Completed Colosseum WITHOUT Pillars (OSRS), 2025-12-12. ▶ 6:05 ↩

  29. GOLDEN GNOME vs SOL HEREDIT (OSRS), 2025-03-21. ▶ 1:26 ↩

  30. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 12:06 ↩

  31. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 2:25 ↩↩↩

  32. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 20:35 ↩

  33. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 37:55 ↩↩

  34. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 13:40 ↩↩

  35. INSANE 16:10 WR Colosseum (OSRS), 2024-04-01. ▶ 0:33 ↩↩

  36. INSANE 16:10 WR Colosseum (OSRS), 2024-04-01. ▶ 10:26 ↩↩

  37. I Completed Colosseum WITHOUT Pillars (OSRS), 2025-12-12. ▶ 5:33 ↩↩↩

  38. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 16:47 ↩↩

  39. BUDGET COLOSSEUM GUIDE (OSRS), 2024-03-26. ▶ 9:56 ↩↩

  40. GOLDEN GNOME vs SOL HEREDIT (OSRS), 2025-03-21. ▶ 2:58 ↩

  41. GOLDEN GNOME vs SOL HEREDIT (OSRS), 2025-03-21. ▶ 19:29 ↩

  42. I Completed Colosseum WITHOUT Pillars (OSRS), 2025-12-12. ▶ 5:02 ↩↩

  43. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 3:57 ↩

  44. INSANE 16:10 WR Colosseum (OSRS), 2024-04-01. ▶ 1:38 ↩↩

  45. Soulreaper Axe Colosseum Guide (OSRS), 2024-06-15. ▶ 9:30 ↩↩↩

  46. Colosseum SW Pillar Master Guide (OSRS), 2024-07-26. ▶ 35:41 ↩↩

  47. Soulreaper Axe Colosseum Guide (OSRS), 2024-06-15. ▶ 24:00 ↩↩

  48. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 3:22 ↩↩↩

  49. I Completed Colosseum WITHOUT Pillars (OSRS), 2025-12-12. ▶ 6:38 ↩

  50. I Completed Colosseum WITHOUT Pillars (OSRS), 2025-12-12. ▶ 17:38 ↩

  51. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 3:06 ↩

  52. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 35:24 ↩

  53. INSANE 16:10 WR Colosseum (OSRS), 2024-04-01. ▶ 15:27 ↩↩

  54. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 14:13 ↩

  55. GOLDEN GNOME vs SOL HEREDIT (OSRS), 2025-03-21. ▶ 12:30 ↩

  56. I Completed Colosseum WITHOUT Pillars (OSRS), 2025-12-12. ▶ 7:32 ↩

  57. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 3:43 ↩↩

  58. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 0:00 ↩

  59. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 8:12 ↩

  60. Colosseum GUIDE Teaching Stream #1 (OSRS), 2024-03-25. ▶ 15:43 ↩

  61. BUDGET COLOSSEUM GUIDE (OSRS), 2024-03-26. ▶ 11:24 ↩

  62. BUDGET COLOSSEUM GUIDE (OSRS), 2024-03-26. ▶ 11:53 ↩

  63. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 4:09 ↩↩

  64. WORLD RECORD COLOSSEUM + Mini Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-22. ▶ 29:26 ↩

  65. NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-04-12. ▶ 5:06 ↩↩↩

  66. NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-04-12. ▶ 5:35 ↩

  67. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 4:31 ↩

  68. Soulreaper Axe Colosseum Guide (OSRS), 2024-06-15. ▶ 6:42 ↩

  69. NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-04-12. ▶ 1:25 ↩

  70. NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-04-12. ▶ 4:06 ↩↩

  71. NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-04-12. ▶ 4:40 ↩↩

  72. NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-04-12. ▶ 1:31 ↩

  73. NEW INVOS COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-04-12. ▶ 2:03 ↩

  74. INSANE 16:10 WR Colosseum (OSRS), 2024-04-01. ▶ 17:54 ↩

  75. BUDGET COLOSSEUM GUIDE (OSRS), 2024-03-26. ▶ 35:06 ↩

  76. FIST ONLY COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-03-28. ▶ 28:58 ↩

  77. FIST ONLY COLOSSEUM (OSRS), 2024-03-28. ▶ 30:00 ↩

  78. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 4:57 ↩

  79. Colosseum Invo Guide (OSRS), 2024-03-24. ▶ 5:26 ↩

Mechanics

Colosseum invocations • Yama contracts • Invocations (Tombs of Amascut) • Jal-ImKot • Inferno pillars • Jal-Ak • Alt account • Thralls • Nex gear setup • Tempoross • Turael • Inferno waves • Jal-Nib • Doom of Mokhaiotl: rock block method • Monkey Room • Fortis Colosseum pillars • Phantom barrage • Awakened bosses • Melee gear progression • Demonic Brutus • Jal-MejRah • Prayer flicking • Butterfly Tech • Fortis Colosseum setup • Doom of Mokhaiotl: melee punish • Sulliuscep • Botting • Off-ticking • Corner trapping • Doom of Mokhaiotl: car attack • Combat Achievements • Doom of Mokhaiotl: shield phase • Pest Control • Blood Barrage • Nylocas • Great Olm 4-1 method • Nex reset • Triple Jad • RuneScape 3 combat • Tightrope skip

Category: Mechanics