Chain

This article is about the ability. For other uses, see Chain (disambiguation).

For the upgraded version, see Greater Chain.

[view] • [talk]

Chain
Release								20 November 2012 (Update)
Members								No
Skill								Magic
Level								51
Type								Basic
Target								Multi-target
Adrenaline								+9%
Equipment								Any
								80%
Cooldown								10.2 seconds (17 ticks)
Description
A magical spell that chains between nearby targets. 70-90% Magic damage to the target and up to 2 additional targets within 5 tiles of the target. Your next Single-target Magic ability against the target within 6s (10 ticks) will also target the additional enemies, dealing 30% damage. Generates 9% Adrenaline.
Animation
Sound effect
Advanced data
Struct ID								14728
Links								Struct14728

Chain is a basic ability in Magic. When activated, the player casts a spell that hits the primary target and two other nearby targets within a 5 square radius for 70-90% ability damage. It can hit secondary targets beyond the normal attack range but cannot hit secondary targets beyond straight line-of-sight. Additional targets hit by this ability will become aggressive towards the player. After using Chain, the next magic ability activated within 6 seconds will also deal damage to the secondary targets of Chain at 30% effectiveness.

The Caroming perk will increase the effectiveness of the next magic ability to secondary targets by 5% + 5% per rank, for a total effect of 10%–25%.

Chain may be upgraded to the Greater Chain ability by reading a Greater Chain ability codex.

Ricochet is the Ranged equivalent of Chain. However, Ricochet goes on to hit other targets when the first hit misses, while Chain does not.

Monsters that use Chain

• Ambassador Jabari
• Armadylean battle-mage
• Armadylean shaman
• Armadylean shaman (Treasure Trails)
• Bandit Brawler
• Bandosian battle-mage
• Bandosian wild mage
• Bandosian wild mage (Treasure Trails)
• Black Heather
• Cabbagemancer
• Cabbageomancer
• Captain Cora
• Chaos witch channeler
• Cloaked zealot
• Cruor
• Crystal Shapeshifter
• Dragon-hunter mage
• Echo of Jas
• Elite Sakadagami
• Elite Sotapanna
• Enlightened Sotapanna
• Eye of Cythan
• Fumus
• Glacies
• Goku the Unrelenting
• Hand of Dagnath
• Ikadia the Exile
• Imperial mage akh
• JMod clone
• Lady Himiko
• Manifestation of Erethdor
• Maw of Kolthregar
• Monkey spirit
• Olivia the Chronicler
• Oyu the Quietest
• Sakadagami
• Saradominist field medic
• Saradominist sage
• Saradominist thaumaturge
• Seasinger priestess
• Shame
• Shrine Maiden Elei
• Ulthven necromancer
• Umbra
• Zamorakian leader
• Zamorakian occultist
• Zamorakian warlock (Battle of Lumbridge)

Cosmetic overrides

Chain has the following cosmetic overrides:

Name	Animation	Release date	Source
Blessed Chain		13 March 2025	Academy of Mages
Corrupted Chain		13 March 2025	Academy of Mages

Gallery

• 
  Staff animation

Transcript

This article has an associated transcript page.
Click here for the transcript.

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included – see here for how to help out!

• patch 7 April 2026 (Update):
  • Chain projectile timings have been sped up.

• patch 9 March 2026 (Update):
  • Resolved an issue with Chain not working as intended in multi-way PvP.

• update 2 March 2026 (Update):
  • Magic level: 45 → 51
  • Adrenaline: +8% → +9%
  • Now includes the previous Greater Chain effect by default: the next single-target Magic ability used against the main target within the next 6 seconds will also target the secondary enemies.
    • Initial hit: 65-75% → 70-90%
    • Now shares 30% of your next ability’s damage with secondary targets.

• update 4 March 2024 (Update):
  • Damage range: 20-100% → 65-75%

• patch 13 April 2015 (Update):
  • The magic ability "Chain" will no longer aggravate more than one glacor.

• patch 13 August 2013 (Update):
  • The damage output for the Chain, Dragon Breath, Detonate and Tsunami abilities has been corrected.

• update 20 November 2012 (Update):
  • Added to game.

Trivia

• Chain used to hit 150% active spell damage before a hidden update that weakened most abilities.