How do we know this?

Trial and error and player research basically (As far as I know Jagex don't reveal this sort of thing). If you went there with say Chaotic Rapier, Longsword and Maul you would find you would get more kills per hour with a Maul on Crush than you would using the other two weapons on their best attack styles.

Yep. Test it yourself.

Trial an error is a big part in it.

 

Another way to help confirm is, when you get a slayer task you can ask the slayer master for advice and they may reveal weaknesses.

I could be mistaken, but I believe slayer masters also tell you when you're assigned them for a task (ask them for tips).

That's how we (for example) know that Jungle Strykewyrms are weak to ranged, and that bloodvelds use magic-based melee before testing really begins.

In the earlier days of Slayer players actually found out themselves that dragonhide was better for bloodvelds, as they were getting eaten alive in platemail anyway :twisted:

Also, when Slayer was released the Masters gave really vague information for most of the monsters (Trolls are weak to poison, my first assignment)

Would also like to point out that stuff NPCs say is not always true. Player experience is far more valuable. After all, Jagex types what NPCs say and Jagex is wrong about their own game all the time.

...and Jagex is wrong about their own game all the time.

 

Made me laugh :L

 

As for the topic, as previously mentioned by others the most likely sources of this information are through player trial and error and slayer masters giving advice. It's quite interesting some of the advice they can give and I believe over the past few years it has been revamped and refined and it wouldn't surprise me if thats how people found out. If I didn't have them blocked I'd check first hand, but if you don't and you get them ask for some advice and see what the master says.

Dagonoths are weak to Balmung.

 

Balmung = Crush...

^ And what does that have to do with this topic?

OT: Trial and error.

It proves they are weak to crush. Why would they be weak to a weapon that isn't crush if that weapon is a crush and they are weak to it. just proved this topic and ur ignoring itlol

^ That made no sense whatsoever. I know they are weak to Crush.

It proves they are weak to crush. Why would they be weak to a weapon that isn't crush if that weapon is a crush and they are weak to it. just proved this topic and ur ignoring itlol

 

 

You "proved" this topic by saying dags are weak to crush when the topic is about waterfiends? Interesting... :-k

In the earlier days of Slayer players actually found out themselves that dragonhide was better for bloodvelds, as they were getting eaten alive in platemail anyway :twisted:

Also, when Slayer was released the Masters gave really vague information for most of the monsters (Trolls are weak to poison, my first assignment)

 

New pro method of killing trolls, strike them with DDS, then wait. Poison is super-effective!

 

OT: I had no idea Slayer Masters give such detailed hints, but I know when I first started Dungeoneering I figured the monster weaknesses out myself, and in a small frame of time (maybe like 2-3 dungeons solo) I had it pretty much figured out. Now imagine if thousands of players collaborated? Wouldn't take very long to come to the conclusion on the monster weakness.

 

Also, even though the KB is deadly inaccurate sometimes, it CAN give accurate information and this often provides clues (although by no means conclusive evidence).

It proves they are weak to crush. Why would they be weak to a weapon that isn't crush if that weapon is a crush and they are weak to it. just proved this topic and ur ignoring itlol

I can't tell if your massively unintelligent, or a troll.

This topic is not about dags. They also aren't weak to balmung because its crush, there weak to it because jagex gave it some percent boost against dags.

 

As others have said, it was trial and error. You'll get many more kills/hr with a SS then with a rapier, for example.

Here's the real question: why do people use a zamorak spear at waterfiends?

 

A gravite 2h would work better.

Zamorakian spears have a crush style, are faster than a gravite 2h at any rate, and have about the same strength bonus.

Really?

Dagonoths are weak to Balmung.

 

Balmung = Crush...

Balmung actually uses slash as primary attack style. It has one agressive crush style like all battleaxes and two-handed swords. It is likely dagganoths are weak to slash as they are rangers, but it's probably not a very large difference. At any rate, dagganoths are weaker to a chaotic rapier or whip than to Balmung. Balmung hits higher and is more accurate when used versus dagganoths, but that doesn't make it a good weapon.

 

It proves they are weak to crush. Why would they be weak to a weapon that isn't crush if that weapon is a crush and they are weak to it. just proved this topic and ur ignoring itlol

No. Your second sentence is not readable. No.

 

Here's the real question: why do people use a zamorak spear at waterfiends?

 

A gravite 2h would work better.

Erm? Joking right. A gravite 2h hits 50% less often than a zamorakian spear. Even an ancient staff + dragon defender would outhit a gravite 2h.

It proves they are weak to crush. Why would they be weak to a weapon that isn't crush if that weapon is a crush and they are weak to it. just proved this topic and ur ignoring itlol

You are using some convoluted evidence for a monster that isn't even being talked about...