Old School RuneScape: Melee Combat 1-99 Guide

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a beloved MMORPG known for its nostalgic gameplay and deep skill progression. Among the many combat styles—melee, ranged, and magic—melee combat remains one of the most popular and straightforward ways to train combat skills. Whether you are a fresh player just starting or a returning adventurer aiming for max level, this comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to train your Melee Combat skills (Attack, Strength, Defence, and Hitpoints) from level 1 to 99 efficiently.

Understanding Melee Combat in OSRS

Melee combat in OSRS gold revolves around close-range fighting, using weapons like swords, scimitars, maces, and axes. Unlike ranged or magic, melee relies heavily on your character’s Attack, Strength, and Defence stats, along with Hitpoints.

Key Melee Skills

Attack: Determines your accuracy with melee weapons.

Strength: Determines how much damage you deal.

Defence: Reduces the chance of being hit and damage taken.

Hitpoints: Your health pool, which increases as you train combat skills.

Training melee involves balancing these skills through combat, quests, and item use.

Preparing for Melee Training

Before you start, consider the following:

1. Choose Your Combat Style

Melee training can be split into three combat styles:

Accurate (Attack): Focuses on increasing your Attack level.

Aggressive (Strength): Focuses on increasing Strength for higher damage.

Defensive (Defence): Focuses on increasing Defence for better survivability.

Most players train Attack and Strength first to increase damage output, then switch to Defence once you want to tank tougher monsters.

2. Gear and Weapon Choice

At low levels, use the best weapon available for your level. For example:

Levels 1-10: Bronze or Iron weapons.

Levels 10-20: Steel weapons.

Levels 20-30: Mithril weapons.

Levels 30-40: Adamant weapons.

Levels 40-60: Rune weapons.

Levels 60+: Dragon weapons and above.

Wear the best armor you can afford for protection.

Use Prayer like Protect from Melee when fighting strong monsters.

3. Use Potions and Food

Strength and Attack potions boost your combat stats.

Food like lobsters or better help sustain your Hitpoints.

Training Melee from Level 1 to 99: Step-by-Step

Levels 1-20: Easy Early Training

Start by killing low-level monsters such as cows, chickens, or goblins around Lumbridge.

Use the Accurate style to level Attack.

Use the Aggressive style to level Strength.

Switch between styles to level both stats evenly.

Tip: Collect cowhides and feathers for some early money.

Levels 20-40: Moving Up

At these levels, you can start killing stronger monsters like hill giants in the Edgeville Dungeon or al-kharid warriors.

Use better weapons like steel scimitars.

Start using Protection Prayers if you can.

Train Defence by switching to the Defensive style occasionally or fighting aggressive monsters.

Pro Tip: Hill giants drop big bones for Prayer training.

Levels 40-60: Efficient Training Spots

Moss Giants: Good experience and decent drops.

Flesh Crawlers: Great for AFK training in the Stronghold of Security.

Experiments: Located in the Experiment Cave; great XP but low drops.

Use rune scimitars or better weapons to speed up kills.

Levels 60-75: Preparing for High-Level Training

Train at Fire Giants in the Waterfall Dungeon or Ogres in King Lathas’s Training Grounds.

Equip rune or dragon weapons.

Start focusing on Defence to improve survivability.

Levels 75-99: Best Endgame Training

Nightmare Zone: A safe, AFKable minigame for high XP, with absorption potions and overloads.

Sand Crabs: Popular AFK spot with high HP and no aggressive response outside the crab area.

Ammonite Crabs: Similar to Sand Crabs but slightly faster XP.

Slayer Tasks: Combining Slayer with melee training is effective for 99.

Training Tips and Tricks

1. Use the Right Weapon and Attack Style

Switch your combat style according to which skill you want to level. For example:

Attack: Choose Accurate.

Strength: Choose Aggressive.

Defence: Choose Defensive.

Hitpoints: Train automatically as you fight.

2. Quests for Combat XP

Several quests give combat experience rewards, which can significantly boost your melee stats early on.

Waterfall Quest: Huge Attack and Strength XP rewards.

The Grand Tree: Good early Defence XP.

Fight Arena: Attack XP.

Tree Gnome Village: Attack XP.

Completing these quests early can save time and make training easier.

3. Utilize Combat Potions

Attack and Strength potions increase your stats by 4-6 levels temporarily, boosting your damage and accuracy, speeding up training.

4. Use Prayer Wisely

Protect from Melee: Reduces incoming melee damage, useful for tanking.

Piety: Boosts Attack, Strength, and Defence (high-level Prayer).

Chivalry or Ultimate Strength: Boost combat stats temporarily.

5. Train Defence Alongside Offense

Defence helps reduce damage taken and improves survival. Switch between Offensive and Defensive combat styles to balance training.

Recommended Training Routes

Route 1: Early Levels (1-40)

Train on cows and chickens for easy early XP.

Move to hill giants in Edgeville Dungeon.

Kill al-kharid warriors or goblins.

Route 2: Mid Levels (40-70)

Switch to moss giants or experiments for better XP.

Train on flesh crawlers for AFK XP.

Start completing Slayer tasks if possible.

Route 3: High Levels (70-99)

Use Nightmare Zone with absorption potions for AFK XP.

Kill sand crabs or ammonite crabs for passive training.

Train via Slayer tasks for diverse XP and good drops.

Budget vs. P2P Training

Free-to-Play (F2P): Training options are limited to low-level monsters like cows, goblins, and hill giants.

Pay-to-Play (P2P): Access to a wider variety of monsters, quests, weapons, and areas that make training faster and more efficient.

Joining P2P is highly recommended if you want to reach 99 melee skills faster.

Final Thoughts

Training melee combat in OSRS is a rewarding journey that balances action, strategy, and persistence. Whether you prefer AFK training spots or active combat, there are many viable paths to get your Attack, Strength, Defence, and Hitpoints from 1 to 99. Remember to mix your training with quests and Slayer to keep the game fresh and maximize your gains.

With this guide, you now have a clear roadmap to buy OSRS gold and become a true warrior in Old School RuneScape. Grab your sword, sharpen your skills, and prepare for battle!