Tortoise
- This article is about the Tortoises near the Tree Gnome Village. For the summoning familiar, see War tortoise.
- For the slayer creature, see Warped tortoise.
 
| |
| Release date | 24 April 2006 (Update) |
|---|---|
| Members? | Yes |
| Combat level | 79, 92 (Level 5 Gnome archer, Gnome driver, and a Gnome mage after death) |
| Life points | 1000, 1200 |
| Experience for killing | 532 (level 79) 800 (level 92, gnome riders included, 199 Constitution experience) |
| Slayer level | Not assigned |
| Aggressive? | No (The Gnomes that "spawn" after tortoise's death are, however) |
| Poisonous? | No |
| Immune to poison? |
No |
| Attack style | |
| Attack speed | |
| Max hit |
|
| Weakness | Stab, Crush |
| Always drops | Big bones + 3 bones (from Gnomes) |
| Examine text | A large tortoise. / Massive beast of War with extra Gnome. |
The Tortoise (Testudines Giganteus) are trained tortoises used by the gnomes in battle. The training area is to the west, and slightly north, of the Grand Tree. Trainer Nacklepen is in charge of their combat development.
Fighting
Tortoises are very good for training and making coins at the same time. A full inventory of tortoise shells can bring in about 180k. Tortoises have very high hitpoints and low attack, but good defence. They are weak to stab and crush attacks. With a fair variety of drops, they are arguably better than Yaks or Rock Crabs for training purposes, but since they are a much higher level they are rarely used. It is recommended for training only if you can hit high enough to effectively damage them. The best way to damage them is to use a Chaotic rapier/Zamorakian spear/Korasi's sword/Brackish blade with a dragon defender, due to their high stab bonuses. Alternatively, if crush attacks are preferred, the Barrelchest anchor, Chaotic maul, Godsword, or Goliath gloves can be substituted. An abyssal whip could be used, but is not recommended unless over 80 attack. However, because of the abyssal whips cannot be used to train Strength, the use of a Saradomin sword (with the crush attack style) can be a very good alternative. Dragon Daggers are also pretty effective due to their weakness to stab, even more so if they are poisoned. If you are ranging it is recommended to safespot from outside the fence because most ranging gear has bad melee defence. If magic is preferred, the Polypore staff is a cheap alternative, able to hit frequently in the high 100s and 200s.
When fighting the tortoise with riders, the three gnomes take turns attacking the player. The mage sends a spell, which looks like Water strike, but sounds like Ice Burst. The ranger shoots, and the tortoise attacks with the warrior holding the reins if the player is within their meleeing range. These level 92 tortoises can hit up to 114 with melee, with a speed of 2.4 seconds, and the ranger and mage each hit a max of 60. The level 79 tortoises without riders use only melee, and hit up to 109.
When you kill the tortoise the Gnomes attack you. The Ranger, who says "ARGH!", usually attacks first. After he is dead, the others attack - the Mage yells, "Kill the infidel.", while the Driver sadly says, "Nooooooo, Dobbie's dead!" They become aggressive to ALL players, so low levels should be careful around them. It has been observed that the three gnomes, once dismounted, will attack the player with the lowest combat level within range in preference to any other, including the player that has just killed their tortoise mount.
Two tortoises at the Battlefield of Khazard are ridden by three gnomes: a Gnome archer, Gnome driver, and a Gnome mage, all level 5s. Protection prayers aren't very effective because the riders use range, melee, and magic; however, the tortoises hit hardest with melee, so that prayer will stop the most damage.
A good tactic to avoid being attacked by the gnomes is to attack another mob while the death animation is running, this way the gnomes cannot hit you and will disappear when the tortoise respawns.
Location
- Battlefield of Khazard, south-west of Ardougne - 2 with gnome riders
- Tree gnome stronghold North-west of the Grand tree, 1 with gnome riders, 2 without riders
Drops
100% drops
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Big bones 1 Always 351 
Bones 3 Always <ref>From killing three riders on the backs of level 92 tortoise.</ref> 315
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Seeds
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Wergali seed 1 Common 389 Cabbage seed Cabbage seed 10–29 Common 30–87 
Redberry seed 1 Rare 1 Potato seed Potato seed 4 Rare 4 Onion seed Onion seed 4 Rare 4 Tomato seed Tomato seed 1 Rare 1 
Watermelon seed 1–2 Rare 1,861–3,722 Marigold seed Marigold seed 1 Rare 9 
Rosemary seed 1–4 Rare 10–40 
Woad seed 1 Rare 1 
Dwellberry seed 1 Rare 1 
Asgarnian seed 1–3 Rare 2–6 
Barley seed 2–4 Rare 2–4 Strawberry seed Strawberry seed 1–2 Rare 92–184 Nasturtium seed Nasturtium seed 1–2 Rare 1–2 
Yanillian seed 1–2 Rare 29–58
Herbs
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Grimy guam 1 Common 521 
Grimy marrentill 1 Common 41 
Grimy tarromin 1 Common 56 
Grimy harralander 1 Rare 385 
Grimy ranarr 1 Rare 3,508 
Grimy irit 1 Rare 1,496 
Grimy avantoe 1 Rare 2,877 
Grimy kwuarm 1 Rare 2,902 
Grimy cadantine 1 Rare 1,336 
Grimy lantadyme 1 Rare 6,002 
Grimy dwarf weed 1 Rare 7,525 
Grimy wergali 1 Rare 2,082
Food
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Swamp toad 1 Common 361 
Pineapple 1 Common 71 
Cabbage 16–101 (noted) Common 816–5,151 
Worm batta 1 Uncommon 168 
Toad crunchies 1 Rare 2,988 Exchange:Blurberry special Blurberry special 1 Rare Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[". 
Tangled toads' legs 1 Rare 2,114
Runes/Talismans
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Law talisman 1 Common 285 Template:ExchangeItemNat Nature rune 1–3 Common Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[".–Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[". 
Earth rune 10–14 Uncommon 60–84 
Soul rune 5–11 Rare 1,590–3,498
Arrows
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Steel arrow 12–23 Common 168–322 
Mithril arrow 6–13 Uncommon 138–299
Clothing
These items are dropped at the Gnome Stronghold and Khazard Battlefield.
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Pink boots 1 Uncommon 525 Pink robe bottoms Pink robe bottoms 1 Uncommon 256 Pink robe top Pink robe top 1 Uncommon 423
Barlak XP Items
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Tortoise shell 1–3 Uncommon 6,257–18,771 File:Perfect shell.png Perfect shell 1–3 Rare Not sold 
Curved bone 1 Rare Not sold 
Long bone 1 Rare Not sold
Barlak in Dorgesh-Kaan will trade these items for gold and either Crafting or Construction XP. Tortoise shells are also used in Summoning to make war tortoises. These are commonly killed for MoneyMaking because of the tortoise shell's expensive price.
Other
Item Quantity Rarity GE Market Price 
Teak logs 1,2,4 Uncommon 123–492 
Mahogany logs 1,2,4 Uncommon 527–2,108 
Humerus bone 1 Uncommon <ref>Dropped only during Fur 'n' Seek wishlist.</ref> Not sold 
Spin ticket 1 Uncommon Not sold
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Trivia
- The Tortoise exhibit in the basement of the Varrock Museum is the one from before the Gnome Graphic Update.
- Along with their graphical update, their movement speed was reduced, similar to that of real-life Tortoises.
- The Gnome archer is always the first to strike when he falls off of the tortoise.
- The Gnome riders named the tortoise Dobbie.