Melee

The Old School RuneScape Wiki also has an article on: osrsw:MeleeThe RuneScape Classic Wiki also has an article on: classicrsw:Melee

This article is about the skill. For information on training it, see Melee training (F2P) (P2P) (pure).

Melee is one of the three combat styles in RuneScape. It involves using close combat weapons such as swords to damage opponents, as well as wearing heavy armour made from various metals. Players who specialise in this type of combat are known as warriors.

The Combat Triangle dictates that Warriors are strong against Rangers but weak against Mages.

Melee's inability to attack from a large distance means that a player may have a hard time fighting a Ranger or Mage, as they can make use of safespots. However, Melee has a high resistance to Ranged, giving warriors a defensive advantage over rangers.

Popularity of melee combat

Melee was more than twice as popular than magic and ranged combat combined, generating 59% of users votes in January 2007, but since the Evolution of Combat was released, magic, ranged and melee have more equal popularity. This is likely because each monster has gained their own weaknesses which can make melee ineffective against certain monsters. For example, using melee slashing attacks instead of ranged bolt attacks on Black demons will deal less damage per second due to reduced accuracy.

Melee attack

To the right of the Inventory button is the Equipment menu. From here, players can view their combat stats. Melee weapons increase in accuracy as the tier increases; the tier defined by the minimum Attack level required to wield the weapon. The general trend is that Melee weapons of the same tier have the same accuracy value. Most melee armour does not hinder the accuracy of Melee weapons, nor does it improve Melee accuracy directly as a direct increase to damage or accuracy statistics. Wearing power armour, jewellery, and other accessories will increase the player's style bonus for melee, which carries a damage bonus. However, wearing a piece of Ranged or Magic armour will reduce this style bonus, making melee combat less effective.

Players can also use Melee prayers such as Piety to improve Melee combat.

Melee skills

• Attack determines the accuracy of a player's melee attacks and the types of weapons a player may wield. The higher the Attack level, the fewer misses a player will incur during melee combat. As Attack is a vital skill in melee combat, increasing one's Attack level will increase one's combat level associated with melee.

• Strength is a melee combat skill which increases the amount of damage a player can inflict in melee combat by one point per level. Additionally, Strength may be required to wield certain weapons and armour, access some Agility shortcuts, and complete several quests.

• Defence is one of the primary combat skills that grants players protection in all forms of combat. The higher the Defence level, the fewer successful blows an opponent will land against the player. Defence is thus a vital skill for enduring attacks for long periods of time. A player's Defence level also determines which equipment they are able to wear, as most pieces of armour or other equipment have a Defence level requirement. Defence increases the ability to block attacks. The higher the Defence level the less damage received against monsters and players.

Attack types

Melee combat has three attack types:

• Crush weapons are weapons that deal crush damage. These weapons will deal extra damage to monsters with a specific weakness to crush attacks, and slightly less damage to any monster with any melee weakness. They deal average damage against monsters with a weakness to magic, and poor damage to monsters weak to ranged. Crush has the fewest weapon types devoted to it.

• Stab weapons are weapons that deal stab damage. These weapons will do extra damage to those monsters with a specific weakness to stab attacks, and slightly less damage to those monsters with any melee weakness. They deal average damage against monsters with a weakness to magic, and poor damage to monsters weak to ranged.

• Slash weapons are weapons that deal slash damage. These weapons will do extra damage to those monsters with a specific weakness to slash attacks, and slightly less damage to those monsters with any melee weakness. They deal poor damage against monsters with a weakness to magic, and strong damage to monsters weak to ranged.

Melee weapons

Melee weapons fit into many general categories. No type is superior to others, as they vary in attack style, speed and damage. In general, weapons of the same tier have the same damage per second ratio, with two handed weapons dealing approximately 50% more per second.

Most melee weapons can be fit into categories by their attack speed. Many melee weapons also have an off-hand equivalent which can be equipped to allow the use of dual-wield abilities and will bring up the player's DPS to match that of two-handed weapons.

Stabbing

Fastest

• Daggers are a fastest one-handed stabbing weapons and are typically the cheapest of all melee weapons compared to weapons of the same metal.

Fast

• Swords are fast one-handed stabbing weapons and are stronger (but also slower) than daggers.

• Rapiers are fast one-handed stabbing weapons that are very similar to swords. They are an uncommon weapon type outside of Dungeoneering.

• Hastae are fast one-handed stabbing weapon similar to their two-handed version spears.
  • Hastae are rarely used because of the difficulty of obtaining them, as well as being nearly identical to swords, which are much easier to obtain.

Average

• Spears are two-handed, members-only weapons and slower than their one handed counterpart hasta.

Slashing

Fastest

• Claws are slash-type melee weapons. When combined with their off-hand equivalents, the rune claw and the dragon claw are capable of performing a special attack.
• Whips are generally higher-level weapons and are equivalent to scimitars. The abyssal whip is a very popular weapon for its affordability and effectiveness.

Fast

• Scimitars are slash-type melee weapons and are generally the most popular overall compared to other melee weapons of their speed.

Average

• Longswords are a fairly popular slash-type melee weapon.

• Battleaxes

• Two-handed swords

• Halberds, an unique type of weapon that can hit opponents two squares away, as opposed to the one square away most melee weapons can hit.

Crushing

Fastest

• Maces are a crush-type melee weapon and does not share the popularity of the dagger or the scimitar although they carry a Prayer bonus on their main hand version.

Average

• Warhammers are crush-type melee weapons. They are rather uncommon and are relatively unpopular.
• Mauls are two-handed weapons, members-only with the exception of the golden hammer, used in a manner similar to warhammers.

Defenders

Defenders are off-hand melee equipment that are wielded in the off-hand slot and allow the use of both dual-wielding and shield abilities. They are the melee equivalent of reprisers and rebounders.

Hatchets/Pickaxes

Intended for Woodcutting/Mining. It is not recommended to use either Hatchets or Pickaxes as weapons, as their damage-per-second is halved relative to other weapons of their level.

Melee armour

Warriors have their own sets of armour made out of various metals. Melee armour is resistant to ranged but weak against magic. A list of armour types is in the table below. Visit melee armour for more specific information.

Set totals include full helmet, platebody, platelegs/plateskirt, and kiteshield whenever possible.

level	Other levels	Icon	Armour	Members only?					Degrades
1			Bronze armour		127	0	0	0	No
10			Iron armour		170	0	0	0	No
20			Steel armour		267	0	0	0	No
30			Mithril armour		383	0	0	0	No
40			Adamant armour		532	0	0	0	No
50			Rock-shell armour	Yes	547	0	0	59	No
50			Rune armour		807.5	0	0	0	No
55	55		Granite armour	Yes	834	0	0	0	No
60			Orikalkum armour	Yes	1075.3	0	0	0	No
60			Corrupt dragon armour		915	0	0	0	30 minutes worn then degrades to dust
60			Dragon armour	Yes	961	0	0	0	No
65			Third age warrior armour	Yes	1101	0	0	0	No
70			Barrows armour	Yes	964	0	0	0	15 hours in combat
70			Bandos armour	Yes	1267	35	7	87	No
70			Necronium armour	Yes	1411.6	90	0	0	10,000 charges then degrades to broken
75			Bane armour	Yes	1609.2	540	0	0	10,000 charges then degrades to broken
78			Vesta's equipment	Yes	865	0	0	55	1 hour worn then degrades to dust
78			Statius's equipment	Yes	1249	0	0	75	1 hour worn then degrades to dust
80			Anima Core of Zaros	Yes	1099	0	0	75	No
80	80		Torva armour	Yes	1267	495	11	99	10 hours in combat
85			Refined Anima Core of Zaros	Yes	1249	0	0	80	Degrades back to the unrefined version after 100,000 charges of combat
85	85		Tetsu armour	Yes	1347	1260	0	0	10 hours then degrades to dust
85	85		Superior Tetsu armour	Yes	1414	1440	7	0	12 hours in combat (repairable)
85	85 &		Battle-mage armour	Yes	1802	1300	0	0	No
85	85 &		Vanguard armour	Yes	1630	1440	0	0	No
90			Elder rune armour	Yes	1827.7	990	0	0	10,000 charges then degrades to broken
90			Teralith equipment	Yes	1843.4	1440	0	0	100,000 charges of combat, and will degrade to dust when those charges are depleted.
90			Achto Teralith equipment	Yes	1843.4	1890	0	0	100,000 charges of combat
90			Malevolent armour	Yes	1414	0	7	86	100,000 hits then degrades to dust
90			Masterwork equipment	Yes	1633.4	0	11	116	100,000 charges then degrades to broken
92			Trimmed masterwork equipment	Yes	1715.1	0	11	121	100,000 charges then degrades to broken; can custom-fit to 200,000 charges.
95			Vestments of havoc armour	Yes	1040.1	0	11	126	No

Shields

A shield is a protective item wielded in the off-hand slot. A shield adds substantial bonuses to armour and to life points when wielded, and unlocks the use of some Defence abilities. The information below (and more) can be found on the shields page.

Each type of metal in RuneScape, from bronze to dragon, has a square shield and a kiteshield, respectively give slightly lower armour bonuses than kiteshields, though with the same life point bonuses. Square shields also tend to be slightly less expensive than kiteshields. Square shields and kiteshields, with the exception of the dragon sq shield and dragon kiteshield, can be made through the Smithing skill. In the interest of brevity, only a few kiteshields are listed below.

Shield	P2P?	Skill requirements			Notes
Bronze kiteshield		1	30	0
Anti-dragon shield		1	30	0	Provides strong protection versus dragonfire attacks.
Iron kiteshield		10	40	0
Steel kiteshield		20	63	0
Black kiteshield		25	76	0
White kiteshield		25	76	0	+1 Prayer bonus. Requires completion of Wanted! in order to wield.
Mithril kiteshield		30	90	0
Adamant kiteshield		40	125	0
Spirit shield		40 55	125	0	+1 prayer bonus. Requires completion of Summer's End.
Rune kiteshield		50	170	0
Granite shield		55 55	196	0
Dragon kiteshield		60	226	0
Toktz-ket-xil		60	226	0
Crystal shield		70 50	297	35	Requires completion of Roving Elves. Degrades.
Bandos warshield		70	297	35	+1 prayer bonus.
Blessed spirit shield		70  60	297	35	+3 prayer bonus. Requires completion of Summer's End.
Dragonfire shield		70	297	35	Provides protection from dragonfire as an anti-dragon shield. Must first be charged with dragonfire attacks in order to reach its highest armour bonus.
Divine spirit shield		75 75	338	0	Absorbs 30% of incoming damage in exchange for draining 6% of the original hit in prayer points. Requires completion of Summer's End. This is currently the strongest non-degrading melee shield available.
Chaotic kiteshield		80 80	384	385	Obtained from the rewards trader at Daemonheim. Degrades.
Attuned crystal shield		80 50	384	385	Requires 90 to make with Crystal Singing. Requires completion of Plague's End. Degrades.
Linza's shield		80	384	385
Malevolent kiteshield		90	491	735	This is currently the highest tier Melee shield available. Degrades.

Attack boosting

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Herblore

Item	Members	Level increase	Level to make	Notes
Attack potion		1 + 8%	1
Attack mix			4	Heals 300 Life points.
Combat potion		1 + 8%	36
Combat mix			40	Heals 300 Life points.
Super attack		2 + 12%	45
Super attack mix			47	Heals 600 Life points.
Zamorak brew		1 + 8%	78	Also boosts Strength.
Zamorak mix			85	Also boosts Strength, heals 600 Life points and drains 12% of current life points.
Extreme attack		3 + 15%	88
Overload			96	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes.
Supreme overload potion		4 + 16%	98	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End.
Supreme overload salve		4 + 16%	99	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End. At 99 prayer it restores 317 Prayer points instantly and 595 prayer points over time. It protects from dragonfire and wyvern breath. Each dose lasts 6 minutes with the buffs renewing every 15 seconds. Also reduces poison damage for 346 seconds.
Elder overload potion		5 + 17%	106	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End.
Elder overload salve		5 + 17%	107	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End. At 99 prayer it restores 317 prayer points instantly and 595 prayer points over time. It protects from dragonfire and wyvern breath. It also reduces poison damage for 346 seconds.

Prayer

Prayer	Members	Boost	Level to use	Notes
Clarity of Thought		+2	7	Standard prayer book.
Improved Reflexes		+4	16	Standard prayer book.
Incredible Reflexes		+6	16	Standard prayer book.
Chivalry		+7	60	Standard prayer book, also boosts Strength and Defence. Requires completion of the Camelot training room.
Piety		+8	70	Standard prayer book, also boosts Strength and Defence. Requires completion of the Camelot training room.
Sap Warrior		-2 to -6	50	Ancient Curses prayer book, only decreases enemy accuracy levels over time. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Leech Attack		+2 to +5	74	Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy accuracy levels over time by -4 to -8, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Turmoil		+10	95	Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy accuracy levels over time by -6 to -10, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Malevolence		+12	99	Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy accuracy levels over time, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten and unlocking by using a praesul codex.

Other

Item	Members	Level increase	Level to make	Notes
Cup of tea		+3	20	Heals up to 375 Life points, clears the effect of Aggression potion and can drain adrenaline.
Spicy stew		-5 to +5	25	Non-tradeable. After Evil Dave's Big Day Out it grants a +2 minimum boost.
Cavefish		+2	88	Heals up to 2200 Life points, may randomly boosts other combat skills besides Attack.
Ruby harvest		20%	15	Boost only affects the other player it is used on.
Salve amulet		15% accuracy and damage	35	Non-tradeable. Boost only applies when fighting undead monsters. Requires partial completion of Haunted Mine.
Salve amulet (e)		20% accuracy and damage	40	Non-tradeable. Boost only applies when fighting undead monsters. Requires completion of Lair of Tarn Razorlor (miniquest) and the Salve amulet.
Black mask		12.5% accuracy and damage	58	Boost only applies when fighting monsters assigned by a Slayer Master.
Dragon slayer gloves		10%	70	Non-tradeable. Boost only applies when fighting monsters assigned by a Slayer Master. Boost stacks with Black Mask.
Attack cape		+1	99	Non-tradeable. Requires Skill mastery to equip.
Dominion marker		Varies	110 combat level	Non-tradeable. Boosts depends on marker stage, also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence.

Strength boosting

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Potions

Item	Members	Level increase	Level to make	Notes
Strength potion		1 + 8%	7	Can also be bought at Apothecary at cost of Limpwurt root and a Red spiders' eggs.
Strength mix			9	Heals 300 Life points.
Combat potion		1 + 8%	36	Also boosts Attack.
Combat mix			40	Heals 300 Life points. Also boosts Attack.
Super strength		2 + 12%	55
Super strength mix			59	Heals 600 Life points.
Zamorak brew		1 + 8%	78	Also boosts Attack and drains 12% of current life points.
Zamorak mix			85	Also boosts Attack, heals 600 Life points and drains 12% of current life points.
Extreme strength		3 + 15%	88
Overload			96	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Attack, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes.
Supreme overload potion		4 + 16%	98	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Attack, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End.
Supreme overload salve		4 + 16%	99	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End. At 99 prayer it restores 317 Prayer points instantly and 595 prayer points over time. It protects from dragonfire and wyvern breath. Each dose lasts 6 minutes with the buffs renewing every 15 seconds. Also reduces poison damage for 346 seconds.
Elder overload potion		5 + 17%	106	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End.
Elder overload salve		5 + 17%	107	Non-tradeable. Also boosts Strength, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End. At 99 prayer it restores 317 prayer points instantly and 595 prayer points over time. It protects from dragonfire and wyvern breath. It also reduces poison damage for 346 seconds.

Cooking

Item	Members	Level increase	Level to make	Notes
Wizard Blizzard		+5	18	Heals up to 360 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4. Premade version works.
Short Green Guy		+4	20	Heals up to 400 Life points, also lowers Attack by -3. Premade version works.
Asgarnian ale		+2	24	Heals up to 240 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4.
Spicy stew		-5 to +5	25	Non-tradeable. After Evil Dave's Big Day Out it grants a +2 minimum boost.
Drunk Dragon		+5	32	Heals up to 640 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4. Premade version works.
Blurberry Special		+7	37	Heals up to 740 Life points, also lowers Attack by -5. Premade version works.
Dragon bitter		+2	39	Heals up to 390 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4.
Cavefish		+2	88	Heals up to 2200 Life points, may randomly boosts other combat skills besides Strength.

Prayer

Prayer	Members	Boost	Level to use	Notes
Burst of Strength		+2%	4	Standard prayer book.
Superhuman Strength		+4%	13	Standard prayer book.
Ultimate Strength		+6%	31	Standard prayer book.
Chivalry		+7%	60	Standard prayer book, also boosts Attack and Defence. Requires completion of the Camelot training room.
Piety		+8%	70	Standard prayer book, also boosts Attack and Defence. Requires completion of the Camelot training room.
Sap Warrior		-2% to -6%	50	Ancient Curses prayer book, only decreases enemy damage levels over time. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Leech Strength		+2% to +8%	82	Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy damage levels over time, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Turmoil		+10%	95	Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy damage levels over time, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Malevolence		+12%	99	Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy damage levels over time, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten and unlocked by using a praesul codex.

Other

Item	Members	Level increase	Level to obtain	Notes
Beer		+2	None	Heals 100 Life points and lowers Attack by up to -7%.
Beer (tankard)		+4	None	Heals 200 Life points and lowers Attack by -9.
Keg of beer		+10	None	Heals up to 250 Life points and lowers Attack by up to -50%.
Grog		+3	None	Heals up to 100 Life points and lowers Attack by -6.
Braindeath 'rum'		+3	None	Heals up to 990 Life points, boosts +3 , but lowers , , , , , by -5%.
Black warlock		20%	45	Boost only affects the other player it is used on.
Black mask		12.5% accuracy and damage	58	Boost only applies when fighting monsters assigned by a Slayer Master.
Dragon slayer gloves		10%	70	Non-tradeable.Boost only applies when fighting monsters assigned by a Slayer Master. Boost stacks with Black Mask.
Obsidian golem		+9	73	Special attack of the obsidian golem.
Strength cape		+1	99	Non-tradeable.Requires Skill mastery to equip.
Dominion marker		Varies	110	Non-tradeable. Boosts depends on marker stage, also boosts Attack, Ranged, Magic and Defence.
Wretched Strength		Varies with remaining Life points	70 70 70	Full set must be worn for special effect to take place.

Melee capes of accomplishment

• Attack cape
• Strength cape
• Defence cape

See also

• Free-to-play Melee training
• Pay-to-play Melee training
• Pure Melee training
• Grand Exchange Market Watch/Melee armour
• Grand Exchange Market Watch/Melee weapons

Trivia

• Magical melee was removed in the Evolution of Combat update since most monsters have one main attack style.
• Prior to the Evolution of Combat, daggers, hastae and spears could be poisoned.