This article provides information about effective ways to train Attack, Strength, Defence, and Hitpoints through melee combat.
This guide is organised into sections based on skill levels. For example, if the section header is Levels 20 to 30, you should begin training at the area with an Attack and Strength level of at least 20. Defence is also preferred to be at that level, but is not always required. The solution to lower Defence is to bring more food, or use food that heals more.
General training notes
- Use the best equipment you have and a weapon that has a style the monster you are fighting is weak to. For example, moss giants are weak to slash attacks, so it is a good idea to attack them with weapons that have a slash Attack type.
- Members can complete Slayer tasks whenever possible to train Slayer while simultaneously training combat stats.
- It is suggested to bring a teleportation tablet or if your magic level is high enough, teleportation runes if a quick escape is needed.
- The Waterfall Quest will give you both 30 Attack and Strength if completed at level 3.
Weapon choice
Some general rules when choosing a weapon
- In nearly all cases, choosing a weapon with an attack speed of 6 (2.4 second interval) will be the best choice.
- During the lower levels, the best choice is likely the highest level scimitar that you are able to wield, due to its attack speed of 6.
- Monster vulnerability may cause certain weapons to perform better than usual.
- In nearly all cases, optimising for offensive stats is more effective than optimising for defensive or balanced stats.
Shield-slot items in order of effectiveness
*Note 1: As defenders require access to the Warriors' Guild and thus a combined Attack and Strength level of 130 (for example, level 65 in both), the Toktz-ket-xil is often used instead.
*Note 2: When fighting dragons, defenders are often a poor choice thus a Dragonfire shield is a superior item.
Training weapons in order of effectiveness
*Note: All 1-handed weapons will assume being paired with a Dragon defender, due to its offensive bonuses. If you do not own one, the list will still hold true for the most part, but should serve more as a guideline. A notable alternative for higher leveled players is the Dragonfire shield, however its 1 additional strength bonus does not outweigh the offensive bonuses of the Dragon defender.
**The two lower leveled weapons listed here, the Brine sabre, and Rune scimitar, will not include the bonuses of the Dragon defender, as it is unlikely that someone using a Brine sabre or Rune scimitar will have access to it.
Weapon Name | Requirements | Primary Attack Style | Primarily Used to Train | Attack & Strength Bonus (with dragon defender, if applicable) | Notes |
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Abyssal tentacle | 75 Attack | Slash | Attack, Defense | +114 Slash
+92 Strength |
While being the single strongest weapon in the game, the high cost associated with the abyssal tentacle makes it infeasible for training. |
Abyssal whip | 70 Attack | Slash | Attack, Defense,
All stats on Controlled |
+106 Slash
+88 Strength |
The perennial training weapon. The whip is the strongest non-degradable attack and defense training weapon in the game. It should also be noted that using this weapon on Controlled is the most efficient way to 99 Attack, Strength, and Defense. |
Blessed saradomin sword | 75 Attack | Slash | Strength | +100 Slash
+88 Strength |
Similar to the Abyssal tentacle, the high cost of using the Blessed variant of the Saradomin sword makes it infeasible for training. |
Abyssal bludgeon | 70 Attack
70 Strength |
Crush | Strength | +102 Crush
+85 Strength |
The best non-degradable strength training weapon, although also not as popular due to its high cost. It should also be noted that, due to being a Crush weapon, it is especially useful against monster with a Crush vulnerability. |
Zamorakian hasta | 70 Attack Barbarian training | Stab | All stats on Controlled | +110 Stab+81 Strength | Primarily used against monsters a weakness to Stab, such as all types of dragons and Vet'ion. This weapon is not generally chosen for everyday training due to only being able to train on controlled, and is inferior to the Abyssal whip, as well as being more expensive. |
Abyssal dagger | 70 Attack | Stab | Strength | +100 Stab
+81 Strength |
The best one-handed Strength training weapon. Doubly useful in that it is a stab weapon with a damaging special attack, unlike the hasta and whip. |
Staff of the dead | 75 Attack
75 Magic |
Slash | Strength | +94 Slash
+78 Strength |
The second best one-handed Strength training weapon. This weapon can also be used to cast spells, increases magic damage by 15%, and has a 12.5% chance to refund rune cost. |
Saradomin sword | 70 Attack | Slash | Strength | +82 Slash
+82 Strength |
It is debatable whether the Saradomin sword outdoes the Staff of the dead in terms of strength training. Against lower defense monsters, the Saradomin sword will on average do higher damage per second. However, the versatility of the Staff of the dead, being 1-handed, as well as its substantially higher accuracy bonus, will in many cases make it the better (albeit more expensive) option. |
Dragon scimitar | 60 Attack | Slash | All Stats | +91 Slash
+72 Strength |
Likely the most common Strength training weapon, the Dragon scimitar is a much cheaper alternative to those listed above, and available much earlier, making it very popular among players. |
Dragon sword | 60 Attack | Stab | All Stats | +90 Stab+69 Strength | Comparable to the Dragon scimitar in stats, but without the quest requirement of Monkey Madness I. It is significantly more expensive than other comparable weapons. |
Dragon longsword | 60 Attack | Slash | All Stats | +93 Slash
+77 Strength *5 ATS* |
A viable alternate training weapon before being able to use the Dragon scimitar. It should be noted that the Dragon longsword attacks 1 game tick slower than the Dragon scimitar, making it a worse training weapon. |
Leaf-bladed sword | 50 Attack 55 Slayer | Stab | All Stat | + 67 Stab+ 50 Strength | Transitional weapon between dragon and rune weaponry for players with slayer level requirement. Also has decent +62 slash bonus. |
Granite longsword | 50 Attack 50 Strength | Slash | All stats | +65 Slash+ 62 Strength | Third strongest longsword available in Old School RuneScape, and can only be wielded by players who have at least 50 Attack and 50 Strength. |
Brine sabre | 40 Attack | Slash | All Stats | +47 Slash
+46 Strength (no defender) |
A more expensive alternative to the Rune scimitar, the Brine sabre boasts 2 additional slash and strength bonus, while also possessing a special attack. This makes it a popular training weapon for those who have the money. |
Rune scimitar | 40 Attack | Slash | All Stats | +45 Slash
+44 Strength (no defender) |
The prototypical RuneScape weapon. This is your best bet for training in the lower to middle levels, due to its high slash bonuses, while preserving a 6 attack speed. |
*Before reaching the Rune scimitar, it is recommended to train with the highest level scimitar that is available to your level*
Suggested training monsters
Levels 1 to 10
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Chicken | North-east of Lumbridge just east of River Lum, south of River Lum in Farmer Fred's chicken coop | 1 | 3 | None | |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Levels 10 to 20
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Cow, Cow calf | The pasture north-east of Lumbridge, south of River Lum in Farmer Fred's paddock, north of Port Sarim in the large paddock | 2 | 8, 6 | None | None |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Levels 10-20
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Monks | Edgeville Monastery | 5 | 15 | None | Food is unnecessary as players can speak to the abbot in the south-west of the monastery to be healed for free. It is also suggested to purchase a mithril scimitar from Zeke's Superior Scimitars just north of the palace in Al Kharid. In addition, some players like to purchase a set of mithril armour to use until they can equip rune armour at level 40 Defence. However, armour is not overly important when fighting monks. |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Levels 20 to 30
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Minotaur | Stronghold of Security | 12 | 10 | 20 Attack 20 Strength | 10 Defence |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
Can also kills wolves and pick up wolf bones for good money |
Lower hitpoints |
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Al-Kharid warrior | Al Kharid Palace | 9 | 19 | None | Take a decent food item, preferably trout or salmon. Alternatively, you can buy kebabs for 1 gp each in Al Kharid. It is also suggested to invest in a mithril scimitar from Zeke's Superior Scimitars just north of the palace. In addition, some players like to purchase a set of mithril armour to use until they can use/afford rune armour at level 40 Defence. |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Levels 30 to 50
Members option
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Hill Giants | Edgeville Dungeon | 28 | 35 | 30 Attack, 30 Strength | 40 Attack, 20 Defence, brass key |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Rock crab | North of Rellekka, Waterbirth Island | 13 | 50 | To access Waterbirth Island, you must have started The Fremennik Trials quest. If you haven't finished the quest, it will cost 1,000 coins to travel there. | At least Steel armour, food (at least Trout, Lobster would be ideal). Level 45 Magic for Camelot Teleport would be good to have for quick banking, but is not necessary. An alternative would be to purchase a few Camelot teleport tablets. |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Sand crab | Beach south of the Hosidius house in Great Kourend, Crabclaw Isle | 15 | 60 | 10,000 coins to enter Crabclaw Isle | At least Mithril armour, food. If you are farming on the beach south of the Hosidius House there is a bank chest nearby so inventory space is not a concern. |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Levels 50 to 60
Members option
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Experiment | Fenkenstrain's Castle dungeon | 25 | 101 | Completion of the Priest in Peril quest. Partial completion of the Creature of Fenkenstrain quest. | A Rune scimitar or better |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Levels 60 to 99
Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yak | Neitiznot | 22 | 50 | Started The Fremennik Isles, requires completing The Fremennik Trials | Best strength gear |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Monkey Guards | Marim | 167 | 130 | Started Monkey Madness I | Dharok's set |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Nightmare Zone | North of Yanille, northwest of the bank. | Varies | Varies | at least 5 quests that Nightmare Zone supports | Please refer to the Nightmare Zone wiki page for more info. |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Monster name | Location(s) | Combat level | Hitpoints | Requirements | Recommendations |
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Pest Control | Void Knights' Outpost | Varies | Varies | Combat level depending on the boat, at least 5 players to start the game | 25 players to start game quickly, best strength gear/Dharok's set, special attack weapon |
Advantages | Disadvantages | ||||
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Free-to-play guides | |
Members' guides |