Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a rich and rewarding melee combat experience for players who enjoy close-quarters fighting. Whether you're a beginner looking to level up your Attack, Strength, and Defence or an intermediate player aiming to optimize your training methods, this guide covers everything you need to efficiently train your melee combat skills from level 1 to 99.

 

Overview of Melee Combat Skills

Melee combat in OSRS revolves around three primary combat stats:

 

Attack: Determines your ability to wield more advanced weapons and your accuracy with melee attacks.

 

Strength: Influences how much damage you deal with melee attacks.

 

Defence: Reduces damage taken and increases your chance to resist enemy attacks.

 

All three skills contribute to your overall Combat Level, which is a measure of your character's fighting capability.

 

Choosing Your Melee Training Path

Before diving into training, consider your goals:

 

Balanced Melee: Level Attack, Strength, and Defence evenly for a well-rounded fighter.

 

Pure or Attack-Only: Focus on Attack and Strength to maximize damage output, often with low Defence for PvP builds.

 

Defensive Tank: Prioritize Defence to reduce incoming damage, usually combined with moderate Attack and Strength.

 

This guide focuses on balanced melee training for the best overall combat effectiveness.

 

Starting Out: Levels 1-20

Training Location: Chickens and Cows

Chickens (Combat level 1-3):

Chickens are great for absolute beginners. They have low defence and drop feathers useful for Fletching and Fishing. Use a bronze or iron weapon to start training Attack and Strength.

 

Cows (Combat level 3-20):

Once you hit level 3 Attack, move on to cows. They have higher HP and provide cowhide drops for some early money. Use a steel or better weapon.

 

Recommended Weapons and Gear

Bronze/Iron scimitar or sword for faster attack speed.

 

Basic leather armor or iron armor for Defence training.

 

Equip a wooden shield or iron kiteshield for basic defence bonuses.

 

Tips

Activate Auto-retaliate to keep fighting without constant clicking.

 

Use Attack style"Aggressive" to train Strength quickly or"Controlled" to train Attack, Strength, and Defence simultaneously.

 

Levels 20-40: Progressing to Stronger Enemies

Training Location: Hill Giants and Al-Kharid Warriors

Hill Giants (Combat level ~28):

Located in the Edgeville Dungeon or the Giants' Plateau in the Wilderness. Hill Giants are a popular choice due to their decent HP and the chance to obtain Big Bones, useful for Prayer training.

 

Al-Kharid Warriors (Combat level ~30):

Located in Al-Kharid, these warriors provide good experience rates and drops. They are less crowded than Hill Giants.

 

Recommended Weapons and Gear

Upgrade to iron or steel scimitar or mace.

 

Use iron or steel full armor set.

 

Bring food such as trout or salmon for healing.

 

Tips

Consider using Strength-boosting potions like the Strength potion to increase damage.

 

Use prayers like Protect from Melee when training Defence to reduce damage taken.

 

Levels 40-60: Mid-Level Training

Training Location: Moss Giants, Flesh Crawlers, and Experiments

Moss Giants (Combat level ~42):

Located in Varrock Sewers or Crandor, they offer better experience and decent drops.

 

Flesh Crawlers (Combat level ~30):

Found in the Stronghold of Security, Flesh Crawlers have low Defence and decent HP, making them excellent for training Defence and Strength.

 

Experiments (Combat level ~45):

Located in the Experiment Cave (Canifis), they have high HP and low Defence, perfect for fast training.

 

Recommended Weapons and Gear

Upgrade to steel or mithril scimitars or war hammers.

 

Equip iron or steel full armor, upgrading to mithril as you progress.

 

Bring better food like lobsters or swordfish.

 

Tips

Use special attacks (if available) to speed up kills.

 

Start using Prayer training alongside combat for longevity.

 

Levels 60-80: High-Level Training Spots

Training Location: Fire Giants, Ogres, and Experiments

Fire Giants (Combat level ~83):

Found in the Waterfall Dungeon or Brimhaven Dungeon, Fire Giants are a popular high-level training spot due to high HP.

 

Ogres (Combat level ~75):

Located in King Lathas's Training Grounds (West Ardougne), these monsters provide good experience and decent loot.

 

Experiments:

Still viable for efficient training.

 

Recommended Weapons and Gear

Upgrade to adamant or rune weapons, like the Rune Scimitar or Rune Longsword.

 

Use mithril or adamant armor.

 

Food: Monkfish or sharks for better healing.

 

Tips

Use prayers like Piety (after unlocking) to boost Attack, Strength, and Defence.

 

Use Rapid or Aggressive attack styles for faster Strength training.

 

Levels 80-99: Endgame Melee Training

Training Location: Nightmare Zone, Sand Crabs, and Slayer Tasks

Nightmare Zone (NMZ):

This is one of the most popular places for fast, AFK melee training. It offers excellent experience rates with minimal risk.

 

Sand Crabs (Combat level ~40):

Located on Hosidius Beach, these crabs have very high HP and low Defence, allowing for long, low-attention training sessions.

 

Slayer Tasks:

At higher levels, training through Slayer tasks is very effective as you get great experience and valuable OSRS gold.

 

Recommended Weapons and Gear

Use the best gear available:

 

Abyssal Whip for fast Attack training.

 

Saradomin Sword or Dragon Scimitar with appropriate Attack levels.

 

Barrows armor sets like Dharok's or Torag's for Defence.

 

Use the best food and potions available: Sharks, Super Combat potions, and Prayer potions.

 

Tips

Use Aggressive or Controlled attack styles depending on your training focus.

 

Use special attacks where beneficial (like Dragon Dagger special attack).

 

Use Slayer helm (i) for Slayer tasks to boost damage.

 

Focus on Slayer tasks for efficient leveling and profit.

 

You can also buy OSRS gold to enhance equipment.

 

Training Your Defence Skill

Defence is critical for reducing damage and increasing survivability. Training Defence involves fighting monsters that deal melee damage.

 

Use controlled attack style to train Attack, Strength, and Defence simultaneously.

 

Alternatively, use defensive training methods like protecting from Melee prayer and fighting stronger monsters.

 

Good monsters for Defence training include:

 

Rock Crabs

 

Ankous

 

Sand Crabs

 

Ammonite Crabs

 

Tips for Efficient Melee Training

Use the Best Weapon You Can Wield: Faster weapons and those with higher damage will speed up training.

 

Train in Safe Spots: Avoid crowded or dangerous areas to minimize deaths.

 

Use Experience-Boosting Items: Items like the Ring of Experience or Saradomin's Blessing (in Nightmare Zone) help speed up training.

 

Use Prayer and Potions: Enhance your combat stats and sustain in longer fights.

 

Use Safe Food Management: Keep a good supply of food and monitor your health carefully.

 

Mix Combat Styles: Switch between Attack styles to train different skills effectively.

 

Conclusion

Training melee combat skills in Old School RuneScape from level 1 to 99 can be both fun and rewarding. With the right strategy, locations, and equipment, you can optimize your leveling process and enjoy the rich PvM and PvP experiences that melee combat offers. Remember to tailor your training method to your goals—whether it's maximizing damage output, survivability, or balancing both.

 

Whether you're slaughtering chickens at level 1 or crushing bosses at level 99, melee combat is a core part of OSRS that delivers adrenaline-pumping gameplay and valuable rewards. Good luck, and may your strikes always land true!