1–99 Combat Guide (OSRS – Melee)

Melee combat is the foundation of account progression in Old School RuneScape. Training Attack, Strength, and Defence unlocks bosses, raids, PvP content, and is essential for quests, diaries, and high-level gameplay.

Why Train Melee Combat?

• Access to bosses, raids, and PvP

• Higher damage output and survivability

• Requirements for quest cape and diary cape

• Core skill for efficient Slayer training

How Melee Combat Works

Attack

Attack determines your accuracy and which weapons you can equip. Higher Attack means more consistent hits.

Strength

Strength increases your maximum hit and overall DPS. It is the most important stat for fast training.

Defence

Defence reduces enemy accuracy. It does not lower enemy max hits, but significantly improves survivability.

Melee Weapon Progression

Low Levels (1–60)

• Best available scimitar

• Brine sabre (40 Attack)

• Granite hammer / Leaf-bladed weapons (50 Attack)

Mid & High Levels (60–99)

• Obsidian weapons with full obsidian set (60)

• Abyssal whip (70)

• Abyssal bludgeon (Strength training)

• Rapier / Inquisitor mace / Blade of Saeldor (80+)

• Osmumten’s Fang for high-defence targets

Recommended Melee Armor

Gear Priorities

Strength bonus is more important than attack bonus when training melee. Defence is secondary for XP efficiency.

• Fighter torso (40 Defence)

• Obsidian body & legs

• Bandos / Torva (high-level)

• Berserker ring (imbued)

• Amulet of torture / fury

Low-Level Training (1–50)

Questing (Highly Recommended)

• Waterfall Quest: 1 → 30 Attack & Strength

• Additional early quests save hours of training

Standard Training

From level 10 onward, crabs are the best melee targets due to low defence and high HP.

• Sand crabs

• Rock crabs

• Ammonite crabs

Fastest Path to 99 (Fast XP Route)

Nightmare Zone

The fastest solo melee training method. Using overloads, absorptions, and power-ups yields extremely high XP rates.

• 50+ combat stats

• Overloads + absorptions

• Rock cake / locator orb

Advanced setups (Obsidian, Dharok, Dragon claws) can exceed 150–170k XP per hour.

Fast Defence Training

The fastest defence XP without alternate accounts is chinning on defensive mode.

AFK Training Path

Crabs

Up to 10 minutes of AFK time. Ideal from levels 1–50.

Nightmare Zone AFK

With Guthans or absorptions, AFK sessions can last up to 20 minutes.

Bandits

Available around 70 combat stats. Long AFK sessions using Guthans or Protect from Melee.

Slayer as Combat Training

Slayer is the most efficient long-term method. It trains combat while progressing an essential skill.

• Black mask / Slayer helmet bonuses

• Cannon + melee setups

• AFK on aggressive tasks

Training Melee Through Bossing

• Giant Mole

• Obor / Bryophyta

• Bandos (team bossing)

• Slayer bosses

• Vorkath, Nightmare, Corporeal Beast

All raids in Old School RuneScape require melee, making high combat stats mandatory.

Free-to-Play Melee Training

Low Levels

• Frogs in Lumbridge Swamp

AFK F2P

• Giant spiders – Stronghold of Security

Money Making in F2P

• Ogress warriors (Corsair Cove)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Strength while training Attack

• Skipping early quests

• Training combat without considering Slayer

Efficiency Note

Many players prefer mixing AFK training, Slayer, and bossing instead of pure XP methods. This approach is often more efficient and profitable long-term.