OSRS Melee Levelling Guide (1-99)

Old School RuneScape offers over 20 skills, but seven are tied to combat. Among them, Melee is split into three independent skills: Attack, Strength, and Defence. To master Melee combat, especially if you're not building a pure, all three must be trained.

·Attack: Allows you to wield stronger weapons.

·Strength: Increases your max hit and DPS.

·Defence: Reduces incoming damage and unlocks better armor.

This guide covers efficient training methods, gear tips, and progression routes from level 1 to 99.

Starting (Levels 1-40+)

Complete Combat XP Quests First

Before training manually, take advantage of OSRS's generous early-game quest rewards.

Recommended Early Quests:

·Waterfall Quest (13,750 Attack & Strength XP)

·Fight Arena (12,175 Attack XP)

·Tree Gnome Village (11,450 Attack XP)

·The Grand Tree (18,400 Attack XP)

·Vampire Slayer (4,825 Attack XP)

·Fremennik Isles (20,000 XP to a combat stat)

Completing these can get you to level 44, and attack enough to wield Rune weapons without swinging a sword.

Training Melee Skills (Levels 40s-60s)

Quests start to offer less XP impact around this stage. Now it's time to manually train your stats.

Recommended Training Locations:

·Sand Crabs (Hosidius)

·Ammonite Crabs (Fossil Island - 100 HP, very low Defence)

Equip a Rune Scimitar, set your attack style to Strength, and AFK train. Fossil drops from Ammonite Crabs can be used at the Varrock Museum for bonus XP in other skills.

This is the most AFK-friendly method and works well with mobile play or multitasking.

Key Early Upgrade: Dragon Defender

Once you hit 65 Attack and Strength, you can enter the Warrior's Guild to grind for the Dragon Defender's untradeable off-hand item that's BIS for years.

Steps:

1. Kill animated armor to farm tokens.

2. Spend tokens killing Cyclopes upstairs.

3. Progress from Bronze - Dragon Defender.

Drop rate: 1 in 50. This grind can take 3-15 hours, but it is 100% worth it.

Also consider:

·Fighter Torso (Barbarian Assault)

·Barrows Gloves (Recipe for Disaster)

·Fire Cape (Fight Caves)

Slaying Efficiently (Levels 70-99)

While Slayer isn't the fastest 99 path, it's the most rewarding long-term.

Why Train Melee Through Slayer:

·Levels up Slayer, Melee, Hitpoints, Prayer

·Earns OSRS Gold and gear

·Access to high-level monsters and bosses

Requirements:

·43 Prayer (Protect from Melee)

·70+ Melee stats

·70+ Hitpoints

·85 Combat (to use Slayer Master Nieve/Steve)

Equip a Slayer Helmet or Black Mask for a major accuracy and damage boost on-task.

Mid-Level Slayer Setup:

·Weapon: Abyssal Whip

·Armor: Proselyte (for Prayer bonus)

·Accessories: Glory/Fury, Berserker Ring (imbued)

·Potions: Super Attack/Strength, Prayer Potions

·Prayer: Use Piety if available

Recommended Slayer Tasks:

·Gargoyles (Slayer Tower)

·Greater Demons (Catacombs of Kourend)

These provide decent XP, are somewhat AFK, and drop valuable loot.

If you're using a balanced style, XP gets split between Attack, Strength, and Defence. Though XP per hour seems lower (~10-20k per skill), you're gaining 4 skills at once, including Slayer and Hitpoints.

Alternative Methods

If Slayer isn't your thing, here are other viable ways to train:

Dharok's at Nightmare Zone

·Low HP = massive hits = fast Strength XP

·Great AFK XP when you have absorption potions

Sulphur Naguas in Varlamore

·Good HP pools and AFK potential

·Raids & Slayer Bosses

·Slower XP, but fun and profitable

Tips for Success

·XP rates vary, but efficient training can feel like a chore. Only push maximum efficiency if it keeps you engaged.

·To buy OSRS items, gear, and upgrades (Rancour, Ghrazi Rapier, Primordials) if you have the gold, but levels matter more than gear early on.

·Use XP lamps and fossils on Prayer or Slayer if you're not training them directly.

·Join a Slayer or PvM clan for motivation, tips, and bossing opportunities.

·Take breaks to avoid burnout -OSRS is a marathon, not a sprint.

Final Word

Getting 99 in all melee stats is a major milestone that will open the doors to high-end PvM like Theatre of Blood, Chambers of Xeric, and Desert Treasure II bosses.

But it doesn't need to be a gritty nightmare.

Whether you choose to AFK crabs, slay demons, or Dharok your way through Nightmare Zone, the key is to enjoy the process. OSRS is a game that trains you how you like, and the levels will follow.