In Old School RuneScape, players can explore over 20 skills, among which seven are dedicated to combat. Distinct from Magic and Ranged, the Melee skillset comprises three separate skills: Attack, Strength, and Defence. Each of these skills must be independently leveled to enhance your combat capabilities effectively.
Understanding the role of each skill is crucial: Attack levels determine your ability to wield stronger weapons, Strength levels increase your damage output, and Defence levels influence your damage mitigation and armor wearing capabilities.
Training all three skills is essential unless you are focusing solely on a pure build. This guide outlines effective strategies to quickly and efficiently boost your combat levels, along with recommended gear for your journey toward level 99.
Getting Started (Levels 1-40+)
To kick off your journey, prioritize quests that yield combat experience. The initial levels of each skill in OSRS can be quite monotonous; therefore, quickly increasing your damage output will ultimately maximize your experience gains over time.
Fortunately, Melee skills are rewarded handsomely through early quests, ensuring you progress from level 1 swiftly. Below are some top quests worth undertaking:
| Quest Name | Description | XP Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Waterfall Quest | This beginner-friendly quest is famous for being one of the first many players complete. It has no bosses and minimal danger involved. | 13,750 Attack and Strength XP |
| Fight Arena | Easily completed early in your adventure, this quest involves safe-spotting bosses using basic magic spells or a bone crossbow. | 12,150 Attack XP |
| Tree Gnome Village | Similar to Fight Arena, this quest features a boss that can be trapped and safe-spotted easily. | 11,450 Attack XP |
| The Grand Tree | Consider doing the Tourist Trap quest first for Agility XP. This quest includes a Black Demon Boss that can be safe-spotted. | 18,400 Attack XP |
| Holy Grail | A great quest for early Defence and Prayer XP; tackle the boss with the flinching technique (hitting and walking away). | 11,000 Prayer XP and 15,300 Defence XP |
| Dragon Slayer | Iconic for free-to-play players, this quest is manageable with decent gear and offers substantial rewards. | 18,650 Strength and Defence XP |
| Fremennik Isles | Though a bit harder, this quest rewards you with a long-lasting helmet that boosts strength and prayer bonuses. | 20,000 XP in a melee combat skill of your choice |
| Haunted Mine | The quest may present challenges at lower levels but unlocks a powerful amulet for fighting undead enemies. | 22,000 Strength XP |
Completing these quests provides a combined total of 55,750 Attack XP, not counting the additional 20,000 from the Fremennik Isles quest, potentially elevating you to level 44 Attack, allowing access to Rune weaponry.
Even before actively training, these quests set a solid foundation. There are additional quests that offer lesser XP but are equally beneficial, such as Vampire Slayer.
Skill Training (Levels 40-60)
While pursuing further quests may appeal to those after the Quest Cape, the XP rewards start to become less impactful at this level range.
At this stage, one of the most beneficial actions is to train against monsters with high hitpoints but low defence.
Although Slayer may tempt you, it’s wise to hold off until your stats see a bit of a boost, as many Slayer monsters can be quite formidable. Enemies like Sand Crabs or Ammonite Crabs are ideal, offering substantial hitpoints—100, in the case of Ammonite Crabs—while being relatively harmless if you’re equipped with Adamant or Rune armor.
Consider acquiring a Rune Scimitar from the Grand Exchange; it’s the optimal Rune weapon for training. Set your combat style to Strength training to maximize damage output.
Focusing on Strength levels is vital; the more damage you inflict, the quicker you can defeat foes, thus accumulating XP more rapidly.
Other training monsters exist, but Ammonite Crabs are notably AFK-friendly and drop fossils that can be donated to the Varrock Museum for valuable XP.
Feel free to multitask while training—watch a show or even engage with OSRS on mobile while training on crabs. You’ll reach level 70 before you know it!
Unlocking the Dragon Defender
At this juncture, acquiring better gear is essential for boosting your combat efficiency. The Dragon Defender is an invaluable, untradeable item that you will likely carry through much of your OSRS journey, so unlock it as soon as possible.
To enter the Warrior’s Guild and pursue obtaining the defender, you’ll need levels of 65 Attack and 65 Strength. Engage in battles against reanimated armor to collect tokens.
Each set of 10 tokens allows for one minute of combat against Cyclopes upstairs, so accumulate a good number before proceeding. It’s vital to exit the room after obtaining each defender.
While this grind may feel lengthy, especially as a new player, it’s relatively straightforward. Defenders drop from Bronze to Rune, ultimately culminating in the highly sought Dragon Defender in the basement area.
| Defender | Strength Bonus | Drop Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bronze | 0 | 1/50 |
| Iron | 0 | 1/50 |
| Steel | 1 | 1/50 |
| Black | 2 | 1/50 |
| Mithril | 3 | 1/50 |
| Adamant | 4 | 1/50 |
| Rune | 5 | 1/50 |
| Dragon | 6 | 1/100 |
With a 1/50 drop rate, speeding up your Cyclopean kills improves your chances of obtaining a defender. You might secure this in as little as three hours, or it could take longer, so remain patient; the drop rate is random. This process also rewards you with valuable combat XP.
Besides the Dragon Defender, consider unlocking other crucial gear to aid in your journey, such as the Fighter Torso from Barbarian Assault or the Barrows Gloves from Recipe for Disaster.
Time to Slay (Levels 70-99)
While not the fastest route to level 99, Slayer is one of the most efficient methods for enhancing your overall OSRS experience.
Engaging in Slayer not only develops your Slayer skill but also boosts Prayer, Melee abilities, and provides opportunities for money making.
Before embarking on the Slayer path, ensure you possess at least 43 Prayer. If you lack this, complete additional quests or focus on collecting Bone Shards in Varlamore.
When you reach around 85 Combat—with melee skills at level 70 and Prayer at 43—you can confidently utilize the Slayer Master Nieve/Steve.
Utilizing a Black Mask or Slayer Helm is crucial to maximize your combat accuracy and damage.
Ideal Mid-Level Combat Setup
| Equipment Slot | Gear Name |
|---|---|
| Head | Slayer Helm |
| Cape | Fire Cape |
| Neck | Amulet of Glory/Fury |
| Weapon | Abyssal Whip |
| Off-Hand | Dragon Defender |
| Chest | Proselyte Hauberk |
| Legs | Proselyte Cuisse |
| Gloves | Barrows Gloves |
| Boots | Dragon Boots |
| Ring | Berserker Ring (i) |
Melee training may not have as many optimal tasks as Magic, but focus on activities that allow for extended AFK time, like battling Greater Demons in the Catacombs of Kourend or Gargoyles in the Slayer Tower Basement.
Utilizing Proselyte Gear extends the duration of your prayer potions, and investing in an Abyssal Whip significantly boosts your DPS.
Always remember to consume Super Potions during your Slayer training; if your budget allows, consider including the Piety prayer for further enhancements. Maxing Slayer will inevitably contribute to raising the other combat skills.
If your training is balanced, which spreads XP across Attack, Strength, and Defence, you might feel like your gains are slow, around 10-20k XP per hour in each category.
However, don’t overlook the additional Slayer and Hitpoints training occurring simultaneously, alongside earning income from drops. This lengthy process of leveling may span months or years, yet it’s enjoyable and allows multitasking.
While premium equipment like the Amulet of Rancour is valuable for boosting DPS, remember that prioritizing your levels often proves more beneficial in the long run.
Alternative Training Methods
If Slayer doesn’t appeal to you, consider alternatives such as using a full set of Dharok’s Equipment in the Nightmare Zone or training on Sulphur Naguas in Varlamore.
You may also explore Raids or Slayer Bosses, as any scenario involving defeating foes yields Combat XP.
While these methods may not provide optimal XP gains, drops obtained can fund better gear, further accelerating your XP accumulation.
Importantly, OSRS should primarily be about enjoyment; focus on enjoyable methods over pure efficiency. This mindfulness in gameplay can prevent burnout and keep you motivated to pursue level 99.
Leave a Reply