Everyone who has ever played Old School Runescape knows the struggle of killing your very first “Giant Rat” on Tutorial Island with nothing but a Bronze Sword from Vannaka. As you leave the island and fully enter the world of Gielinor, you are bombarded with new information and an entire world to explore. As a new player, it can be daunting to open the Attack Skill menu and see dozens of weapons ranging from scimitars to spears and maces. The monsters you’ll be facing with these new weapons are also going to be way tougher than a giant rodent. Here we make it easy for you and talk about the only 10 melee weapons you’ll ever need on Runescape!
10. Steel Scimitar (Best for early game)
Scimitars are one of the most iconic weapons in Old School Runescape, and for good reason. The steel scimitar, like all other scimitars, boasts the highest attack speed for melee weapons (discounting some of the gag weapons). That means it's the same attack speed as a rubber chicken! (Note: I’m talking about the in-game weapon, no chickens were harmed in writing this article). It boasts a melee strength and slash bonus which is not to be scoffed at for only requiring level 5 Attack. Even the black scimitar, which requires level 10 Attack and has slightly higher slash bonus, still has the same melee strength as its steel counterpart. Furthermore, the steel scimitar is far easier to obtain for Ironmen or new players with a budget. This remains the best weapon for training up to level 20 Attack, Strength, and Defence.
Weapon Stats:
- 15 Slash Bonus - useful as its primary attacks for training Attack, Strength and Defence are all slash attacks
- 14 Melee Strength
- 2.4 second attack speed
What makes the steel scimitar awesome:
- Will be the scimitar you have for most of the early game until Mithril, especially as a free-to-play (F2P) player.
- Its fast speed will make training much faster.
- Cheap price for large returns.
How do you get a Steel Scimitar?
- Gather at least 430 GP (Gold Pieces) from killing goblins or men outside of Lumbridge Castle or completing the Stronghold of Security.
- Travel to Al-Kharid, directly east of Lumbridge and pass through the gates for 30 GP.
- Travel South-East past the Gem Trader until you reach Zeke’s Superior Scimitars and trade him 400 GP for the scimitar!
9. Rune Scimitar/Brine Sabre
The rune scimitar is perhaps the most iconic of the already iconic Runescape scimitars (that’s a lot of iconic-ness!) It remains the best free-to-play one handed weapon in the game with a level requirement of 40 Attack, and is still a great and cheap training option for members until level 50 Attack. For members with a little bit more to spend in their pockets, however, I would recommend making an upgrade to the Brine Sabre. The requirements are the same, but the brine sabre boasts slightly better stats and a special attack.
Weapon Stats:
- 45 Slash Bonus (Brine Sabre has 47)
- 44 Melee Strength (Brine Sabre has 46)
- 2.4 second attack speed
What makes the rune scimitar great for F2P:
- Will be the scimitar F2P players from 40 Attack onwards.
- Great for player killing (pking) in F2P.
- The cheap price makes it affordable to nearly everyone.
How to Get a Rune Scimitar:
- The quickest way is to buy a rune scimitar for less than 15000 (15k) GP at the Grand Exchange, or if you are willing, around 200k GP for the Brine Sabre.
- If a member, you can get rune scimitarsas a drop from Fire Giants in the Brimhaven Dungeon, on the Island of Karamja, or in the Waterfall Dungeon. Alternatively, they can be dropped at a higher rate (but with increased difficulty) from Zamorak Warriors guarding the ZMI altar north of Castle Wars.
8. Granite Maul
Anyone who has ever tried Player vs Player combat (PvP), knows of the true havoc that the Granite Maul can wreak upon its unsuspecting foes. The Old School RuneScape team even had to nerf the Granite Maul due to its immensely cheap cost, and absolutely devastating results in PvP. Though the granite maul now requires an additional handle that costs nearly 600k coins to perform its special attack in the same way as before, the weapon remains a staple without equal in KOing people from full hitpoints. The only downside to getting this weapon right now is that it requires level 50 Attack, as well as 50 strength, to equip.
Weapon Stats:
- 81 Crush Bonus
- 79 Melee Strength
- 4.2 second attack speed
What makes the Granite Maul awesome:
- The Granite Maul’s special attack, aptly named “Quick Smash”, allows players to perform an instant attack, regardless of weapon attack speed, or what weapon preceded the Granite Maul.
- Without the Ornate Maul Handle, “Quick Smash” costs 60% special attack energy, while the handle reduces the cost to 50%, allowing players to instantly attack 2 times with the Maul, and 3 if you include the extra hit you are able to sneak in before the attack.
- This weapon brings a new meaning to the phrase “hundred to zero real quick.”
How to Get a Granite Maul:
- The quickest way is to buy a Granite Maul is, of course, on the Grand Exchange if you are able to cough up about 150k GP. The Ornate Maul Handle can also be acquired for 600k GP as well.
- For those Ironmen or those unwilling to spend the money, Gargoyles in the Slayer Tower drop the maul. For the ornate handle, players may play the minigame “Last Man Standing” to buy the weapon enhancement. This is also an excellent way to polish up your PKing safely before you tackle it with risk.
- Players can alternatively obtain the handle through Bounty Hunter, but I’d recommend against that unless you know what you’re doing.
7. Dragon Dagger
Keeping with the theme of the Granite Maul, the Dragon Dagger is also infamous in the PvP scene for its Special Attack ability. This ability, named “Puncture”, allows the Dragon Dagger to hit twice in quick succession, with increased accuracy and damage. It remains the PvP special attack weapon of choice for those on a budget, or for those who love seeing two massive hitsplats of damage in one game tick. Though it requires a quest to wield, it can be completed very quickly and the weapon is well worth it, especially for the low price of 18k GP and Attack level requirement of 60.
Weapon Stats:
- 40 Stab Bonus
- 40 Melee Strength
- 2.4 second attack speed
What makes the Dragon Dagger popular:
- The Dragon Dagger’s special attack allows the player to deal two hits at the same time, and for only 25% special attack energy. That means in the same amount of time as 4 scimitar hits, the Dragon Dagger can hit 8 times! Bonus accuracy and damage comes free of charge too with this special attack. regardless of weapon attack speed, or what weapon preceded the Granite Maul.
- Against players, this weapon has the potential to hit a 48 twice. Keep in mind, a player’s maximum hitpoints with is 99, with the respective Hitpoints level of 99. Thats a lot of damage!
- This weapon can also be poisoned, allowing for extra damage on top!
How to Get a Dragon Dagger:
- To equip a Dragon Dagger, you must first complete the “Lost City” quest in Zanaris, the magical fairy land of Gielinor. Upon completion, you can buy the dagger for 30k GP from Jukat, the fairy.
- For those with excellent business acumen, you can also buy the dagger through the Grand Exchange for around 18k GP.
6. Dragon Scimitar
Welcome back to Scimitar-Scape! Now I know what you’re thinking, this is the third scimitar on the list, and we’re not even at number 5 yet! Well, there’s a good reason that scimitars are so good; it's because they’re strong, cheap, and fast weapons. The Dragon Scimitar has the distinction of being able to say that it is the best scimitar of the whole lot. Requiring 60 Attack, just like the Dragon Dagger, this weapon needs to be unlocked through the infamous “Monkey Madness” quest. After helping the gnomes, learning how to “speak Monkey”, and defeating a demon and a double agent, you too can acquire this amazing weapon.
Weapon Stats:
- 67 Stab Bonus
- 66 Melee Strength
- 2.4 second attack speed
What makes the Dragon Scimitar great:
- The Dragon Scimitar is the go to weapon for pures (players who specialize in one form of combat and keep a low Defence level), players who want to train Strength, and players who can’t afford the higher level 70 tier weapons.
- It also has a special attack, “Sever” which allows the player to prevent their opponent from protection prayers for 5 seconds for 55% special attack energy. That means it can be very useful in PvP situations.
- The weapon can be bought in a store, which is very helpful for Ironmen who can’t use the Grand Exchange.
How to Get a Dragon Scimitar:
- To equip a Dragon Scimitar, you must first complete the “Monkey Madness” quest that begins in the Gnome Stronghold. Upon completion, you can buy the Scimitar for 100k GP from Daga on Ape Atoll. Travel methods to Ape Atoll are unlocked through the quest.
- For those with excellent finance sensibilities and an undoubtedly diverse investment portfolio, you can also buy the scimitar on the Grand Exchange for around 60k GP.
5. Abyssal Whip
Ever wanted to play as Indiana Jones? Well, this probably isn’t the game to do that, but you can still get a cool whip! The Abyssal Whip, or its upgraded counterpart, the Abyssal Tentacle is the weapon of choice for players with at least level 70 Attack and who don’t need Strength experience. Though the whip cannot train Strength alone, its high accuracy and melee strength, combined with being one-handed and costing just under 3 million GP. A Kraken tentacle can be added for less than 450k GP, and adds bonus stats, though it requires level 75 Attack.
Weapon Stats:
- 82 Slash Bonus (Tentacle Whip - 90 Slash Bonus)
- 82 Melee Strength (Tentacle Whip - 86 Slash Bonus)
- 2.4 second attack speed
What makes the Abyssal Whip so popular:
- The Abyssal Whip is the go-to weapon for mains who want to train Attack or Defence. Strength EXP is shared in the “controlled” attack style, making it ineffective for most pures except those that are able to train their Attack level.
- Fun Fact: Abyssal whips can slice bananas. Please don’t try at home!
How to Get an Abyssal Whip:
- The Abyssal Whip has no quest requirements to equip, nor any other requirements to equip besides 70 Attack. It can be both through the Grand Exchange for under 3 million GP.
- With 85 Slayer, players can kill Abyssal Demons or the Abyssal Sire for the unique drop
- The Kraken Tentacle can be acquired from Cave Krakens or The Kraken boss as a unique drop.
4. Zamorakian Spear
Zamorak, the evil RuneScape god, is known for a couple of reasons. First, he’s evil. Second, he’s got some pretty sick weapons, including the Zamorakian Spear, or its one-handed upgrade, the Zamorakian Hasta. This thing is definitely old school, but it's got some great uses and only requires level 70 Attack. Sure the Dragon Hunter Lance is definitely better on dragons and the like, but it's not as versatile as this weapon. The Zamorakian Spear also holds the distinction of being the best weapon to kill the Corporeal Beast and obtain the coveted Elysian Spirit Shield. The hasta is also great for killing Cerberus and skeletal wyverns as well.
Weapon Stats:
- 85 Stab Bonus
- 75 Melee Strength
- 2.4 second attack speed
What makes the Zamorakian Spear so great:
- The Zamorakian Spear has decent stats, but definitely not anything you’d write home about. The true power of the spear comes from its use against the Corporeal Beast, which is weak to spears. This keeps the price up high, near a whopping 15 million GP, but it's well worth it for the chance at that 1.1 billion GP Elysian Spirit Shield.
- After the Barbarian Training miniquest, you can upgrade to the Zamorakian Hasta which has the same stats but is one handed. It also has decent crush bonuses and a fast attack speed, making it very versatile.
How to Get a Zamorakian Spear:
- The Easiest Way to get the Zamorakian Spear is by killing K’ril Tsutsaroth and his minions in the God Wars Dungeon. To do so requires at least 70 Hitpoints to access the Boss.
3. Godswords
Long ago in the world of Gielinor, armies of various gods fought in the God Wars. Four of these armies continue to fight to this day in the God Wars Dungeon. Players can choose to battle these Generals and their lieutenants to receive coveted drops such as the Zamorakian Spear above, or countless other unique weapon and armour drops. The real prizes, however, are the various Godswords dropped by the generals of Armadyl, Bandos, Saradomin, and Zamorak. Each of these has its unique abilities and uses, and for that reason, I have lumped all of these weapons together as we break into our top three weapons.
Weapon Stats:
- 132 Slash Bonus
- 132 Melee Strength
- 3.6 second attack speed
What makes each Godsword so awesome:
- Armadyl Godsword: The Armadyl Godsword, also known as the AGS, is the most offensively based Godsword. Its special attack, “The Judgement” costs 50% special attack energy (along with every other Godsword) and both doubles accuracy and deals 37.5% more damage than a normal attack. This can stack with the Granite Maul (our number 8 weapon) for absolutely insane amounts of damage.
- Bandos Godsword: The BGS is a great weapon for Player vs. Monster (PvM) based activities. It’s special attack, “Warstrike” costs 50% special attack energy, also doubles accuracy (along with every godsword), deals 21% more damage, and also has the unique effect of draining its targets combat skill levels. This means it is great against monsters such as the Corporeal Beast, Cerberus, and God Wars Bosses, making them much easier to kill.
- Saradomin Godsword: The SGS special attack, “Healing Blade” deals 10% more damage and heals the one wielding the weapon for 50% of the damage dealt to its target along with the other universal Godsword characteristics. Furthermore it restores prayer points equal to 25% of the damage dealt. This makes the weapon great for sustaining a player in PvM situations and makes it the most expensive of the Godswords.
- Zamorak Godsword: The ZGS is often considered the weakest Godsword, but it is still capable of dealing huge damage. Its special attack, “Ice Cleave” freezes its target 20 seconds, and deals 10% more damage. This means it can be useful in PvP for stalling players and for freezing monsters if necessary. Its low price also means it is popular for use in PvP without its special attack. When the Granite Maul is combined with a normal Godsword attack, the overall damage can KO anyone from full health.
How to Get a Godsword:
- Each of these Godswords can be obtained through the Grand Exchange or from their respective Bosses in the Godwars Dungeon in the form of a Godsword hilt. You must also acquire 3 separate Godsword shards, which are dropped by all of the bosses and their lieutenants, in order to make a Godsword blade. Combining the two yields the lethal weapons we all know and love.
2. Blade of Saeldor (Slash), Inquisitor’s Mace (Crush), Ghrazi Rapier (Stab)
These three weapons are all very late game weapons with the exact same stats, except with different specializations in each of their respective melee bonus categories. Each one requires 75 Attack to wield, and are the strongest one-handed weapons in the game for their attack style. The huge price tags also reflect that!
Weapon Stats:
- 94 Stab/Slash - Inquisitor's Mace has 95 Crush
- 89 Melee Strength
- 2.4 second attack speed
What makes these weapons so amazing:
- Each of these weapons provide the most damage-per-second (DPS) out of any weapon against non-massive monsters and players. While sometimes outperformed by a massive special attack from an AGS, nothing beats the raw consistency that these weapons bring to a fight. This makes each weapon extraordinarily expensive as well, with the Blade of Saeldor costing nearly 100 million GP, the Ghrazi Rapier around 150 million GP, and the Inquisitor’s Mace nearly 750 million GP. The price is definitely worth it though, as you’ll quickly notice the difference between these weapons and a tier 70 or below weapon.
How to Get each weapon:
- The Blade of Saeldor is obtained from the Grand Exchange (like each of these weapons) in its inactive form, or can be acquired from the Gauntlet, a minigame located in the elf-city of Prifddinas as a drop.
- The Ghrazi Rapier is acquired from the Theatre of Blood, a raid-like activity in Morytania that is only for those with the stats to survive.
- The Inquisitor's Mace can be obtained through fighting the boss “The Nightmare of Ashihama” in Morytania.
1. Scythe of Vitur
The Scythe of Vitur is the highly coveted, hugely effective, and extremely bank breaking weapon that takes the cake as the best weapon for multi-combat and against large monsters. The weapon requires 75 Attack and Strength to wield, is two-handed, and requires vials of blood and blood runes to charge, but it’s well worth it. Take this weapon into the Monkey Madness II tunnels, or into the Theatre of Blood for great experience gains or for efficient runs respectively.
Weapon Stats:
- 105 Slash
- 70 Melee Strength
- 3.0 second attack speed
What makes this our top pick for the best weapon in RuneScape:
- The Scythe of Vitur isn’t the best weapon in all instances, but it’s clearly the best in a lot of situations. Large monsters and bosses such as Olm, General Graador, Dagannoth Supreme are absolutely melted by the weapon.
- The weapon can hit in an arc in front of the player, hitting up to 3 small monsters (NPCs that are one game square wide).
- Against large monsters, the Scythe deals three damage splats for each attack. Although the second damage splat deals 50% and the third only deals 25%, it still offers the highest DPS of any other weapon to these targets.
How to Get the Scythe:
The Scythe of Vitur can be acquired for just under 700 million GP on the Grand Exchange or can be acquired as a rare drop from the Theatre of Blood in Morytania.
