Old School RuneScape offers one of the deepest melee systems of any MMORPG, with dozens of weapon classes, styles, and special attacks that dramatically impact your damage-per-second (DPS). This guide breaks down the fundamentals of melee combat and provides a structured overview of melee weapons by level requirement. Whether you are a new player looking for direction or a returning adventurer curious about modern weapon options, this guide walks you through everything you need to know.

Understanding Melee DPS: Accuracy, Strength, and Attack Speed

Before diving into the weapons themselves, it is essential to understand the core mechanics that determine how much damage you deal over time.

1. Accuracy

Accuracy determines how often you hit instead of splashing zeros. Your accuracy comes from:

· Attack level

· Your weapon’s attack bonuses (stab/slash/crush)

· The target’s defensive stats in that same style

OSRS uses three melee styles:

· Stab

· Slash

· Crush

If a monster has its lowest defensive stat in a particular style (e.g., stab), using that matching style will dramatically improve your hits.

2. Strength

Strength determines your maximum hit. Max hit is determined by:

· Strength level (boosted by prayers like Piety and potions like Super Combats)

· Strength bonus (primarily from your weapon but also other gear)

These two factors are combined within the game’s damage formula to produce your max hit.

3. Weapon Speed

Attack speed determines how frequently you land hits. Melee speed cannot be modified; it is inherent to the weapon type. Faster weapons generally deal more DPS unless significantly weaker than slower alternatives.

Melee Weapons by Level Tier

Below is a full walkthrough of melee weapons sorted by wielding requirement. While many weapons are overshadowed by later upgrades, some remain highly situationally useful due to special attacks, attack styles, or unique effects.

Levels 1–40: Early-Game Weapons

Early melee weapons include the traditional bronze-to-dragon progression of:

· Daggers

· Swords / Longswords

· Scimitars

· Maces

· Battleaxes

· Warhammers

· Two-handed swords

Best-in-Slot for Low Levels

For nearly all early melee training:

· Scimitars are superior due to their fast attack speed and strong slash bonuses.

You will typically progress:

Bronze → Iron → Steel → Mithril → Adamant → Rune Scimitar

Notable Level 40 Weapons

Baronite Mace

· Strongest F2P melee weapon.

· Slightly better than a rune mace.

· Extremely useful for Ironmen, particularly against Mokt Leetle (weak to crush).

· Requires grinding the Ruins of Camdozaal.

Brine Sabre

· Slightly better than a rune scimitar.

· Buyable—but expensive—drop from Brine Rats.

Level 50 Weapons

Granite Maul

· Iconic PvP weapon.

· Slow, but the special attack fires two rapid hits (or more with double-clicking).

· Excellent for Nightmare Zone special attack training (via Power Surge).

Granite Hammer

· One-handed, fast, and useful as a mid-tier strength weapon.

· Very costly for its level.

· Bonus damage vs Golems/Gargoyles.

Bone Mace

· Niche but strong for Scurrius.

· Provides +10 max hit vs rats.

· No attack delay on Scurrius minions.

Glacial Tamale, Earthbound Tek, Sulphur Blades (Level 55)

Each is a two-handed weapon that hits twice per attack, making them powerful when fighting monsters with negative flat armor (e.g., Sulphur Nagas, Moon of Peril bosses, Gem Crabs).

Level 60 Weapons

Dragon Scimitar

· The meta melee training weapon until level 70.

· Requires Monkey Madness I.

· Fast, reliable, strong.

· Special attack disables overhead prayers in PvP.

Dragon Longsword

· Unlocked via Lost City.

· Inferior to Dragon Scimitar due to 5-tick speed.

Dragon Dagger

· Legendary special attack:

  · 25% spec cost

  · Hits twice

  · +15% damage and accuracy

· Can also be poisoned.

Dragon Sword

· Best stab weapon at level 60.

· More niche, but useful against stab-weak bosses.

Dragon Warhammer

· Requires 60 Strength, not Attack.

· One of the most valuable PvM tools in the game.

· Special attack:

  · 50% spec, +50% damage

  · Reduces the target’s Defence by 30%

· Essential for high-level bossing.

Dragon Battleaxe

· Spec provides a massive Strength boost.

· Used mainly for AFK training via repeated special attacks.

Dragon Claws

· Extremely strong 4-hit special attack.

· PvP staple and powerful in PvM.

Burning Claws

· Budget alternative to Dragon Claws.

· 3-hit special with burn damage.

Arclight Blade

· Reward from Final Dawn.

· Essentially a Dragon Scimitar upgrade.

· Very strong special attack (50% boosted accuracy and damage + burn).

Obsidian TzHaar Weapons (Toktz-Xil-Ak, etc.)

· Power spikes when paired with:

  · Berserker Necklace (+20% strength)

  · Obsidian armour (+10% accuracy and strength)

Level 65 Weapons

Zombie Axe

· Extremely strong crush/slash hybrid.

· One-handed.

· Excellent budget bossing tool.

Bell’s Folly

· Sailing-released counterpart to Zombie Axe.

· Stab-oriented with solid slash stats.

Cudgel

· Budget crush option.

· Weaker than Zombie Axe, but faster and cheaper.

Level 70 Weapons

This tier opens an enormous number of iconic melee weapons.

Barrows Weapons

Dharok’s Greataxe

· Massive damage when low HP (set effect).

· Slow and inaccurate; used mainly for fun PvP or NMZ.

Guthan’s Warspear

· 25% chance to heal the amount of damage dealt.

· Used for AFK Slayer but generally outclassed.

Torag’s Hammers

· Double-hit mechanic; occasionally useful in flat-armor environments.

Verac’s Flail

· 25% chance to ignore accuracy/defence/prayers.

· Used in niche PvP or against very high-defence bosses.

Abyssal Weapon Set

Abyssal Whip

· Still one of the best level-70 melee weapons.

· Elite for Slayer and general combat.

Saradomin Sword

· 4-tick speed 2H weapon.

· Great strength-training substitute for the whip.

Abyssal Bludgeon

· 4-tick crush weapon.

· One of the best strength-training options.

Abyssal Dagger

· High accuracy double-hit special (25% spec).

· Lower max hit than DDS but far more accurate.

Crystal Halberd

· Requires multiple stats + Western Provinces Hard Diary.

· Very strong special attack that hits twice.

· Useful for safe-spotting large monsters and bosses.

Zamorakian Weapons

Zamorakian Spear / Hasta

· Triplet attack styles: stab, slash, crush.

· ZH is one of the most versatile mid-level melee weapons.

Wilderness Weapons

Vigora’s Chainmace (60 Attack)

· +50% accuracy/damage vs wilderness NPCs when charged.

Ursine Chainmace (70 Attack)

· Upgraded chainmace with a powerful spec and anti-PK utility.

Level 75 Weapons: Godswords

All godswords share:

· Two-handed, slow attack speed

· Huge strength bonus

· High accuracy

· Unique and powerful special attacks

Armadyl Godsword (AGS)

· +37.5% max hit on spec

· PvP finisher

Bandos Godsword (BGS)

· One of the most important PvM specs in the game.

· Lands big hits and reduces Defence by the amount you dealt.

Saradomin Godsword (SGS)

· Heals 50% of damage dealt

· Restores 25% prayer

· Excellent sustain tool

(The Zamorak Godsword and further tier-75 weapons would follow similar breakdowns in an extended version.)

Conclusion

Melee combat in Old School RuneScape is built on a foundation of accuracy, strength, and weapon speed. While simple in concept, the diversity of OSRS weapons—ranging from early-game scimitars to high-level special-attack tools like Dragon Claws, Dragon Warhammer, and Godswords—creates a deep and evolving progression path.

By understanding how these weapons function and where each excels, you can choose the optimal tool for any PvM encounter, Slayer task, or PvP scenario. Whether you are training efficiently or preparing for bossing, the right weapon at the right level will significantly enhance your combat performance.

With your enjoyment in mind, RSorder offers high-quality services such as purchasing OSRS gold, items, and boosting for every player.

RSorder Team