OSRS Leveling Defense 1-99 F2P: The Ultimate Free-to-Play Guide

Leveling Defense from 1 to 99 in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) as a free-to-play (F2P) player is a rewarding yet challenging journey. Defense is a key combat skill that reduces the likelihood of taking damage, making it essential for surviving tough battles and progressing in the game. While F2P limits your options compared to members, there are still effective methods to train Defense efficiently without spending a dime on membership. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the best strategies, monsters, gear, and tips to hit 99 Defense in OSRS F2P, optimized for both beginners and seasoned players looking to max their accounts.

Defense isn’t just about tanking hits—it unlocks better armor, boosts your combat level, and prepares you for tougher challenges like PvP or high-level quests. In F2P, where resources and training spots are limited, a high Defense level can make a huge difference in your survivability and efficiency. Plus, reaching 99 Defense is a badge of honor in the F2P community, showcasing your dedication to the grind.

Benefits of High Defense

• Reduced Damage: Higher Defense lowers the chance of enemies landing hits, saving you food and time.
• Better Armor: Unlock gear like Rune armor at level 40, improving your stats and survivability.
• Combat Versatility: Pair Defense with Attack and Strength for a well-rounded F2P combat build.

Challenges of F2P Defense Training

F2P lacks access to members-only training methods like Nightmare Zone or Slayer, so you’ll rely heavily on manual combat against monsters. Experience rates are slower, and profitable methods are scarce, but with the right approach, you can make steady progress.

Best Gear for F2P Defense Training

Your gear setup is critical in F2P, as it directly affects your training speed and survivability. Since Defense training often involves tanking hits, prioritize armor with high defensive bonuses while balancing your weapon choice for decent damage output.

Armor Progression

• Levels 1-20: Bronze or Iron armor (full set).
• Levels 20-30: Mithril armor for better defense bonuses.
• Levels 30-40: Adamant armor, offering a solid upgrade.
• Level 40+: Rune armor, the best F2P option with top-tier defensive stats.

Weapon Choices

While training Defense, use the “Block” or “Defensive” attack style to gain Defense XP exclusively. Scimitars are the fastest weapons in F2P, maximizing your XP per hour:

• Levels 1-20: Bronze or Iron Scimitar.
• Levels 20-30: Mithril Scimitar.
• Levels 30-40: Adamant Scimitar.
• Level 40+: Rune Scimitar (best-in-slot F2P weapon).

Accessories and Extras

• Amulet of Power: Provides a balanced boost to Attack, Strength, and Defense.
• Fancy/Fighting Boots: Free from Stronghold of Security, offering minor defensive bonuses.
• Team Cape: Cheap and adds a small defensive edge.

Leveling Defense 1-99: Step-by-Step Methods

Here’s a detailed roadmap to get from 1 to 99 Defense in F2P, broken down by level ranges and optimized for XP rates and accessibility.

Levels 1-20: Chickens and Cows

Location: Lumbridge farms (east and west of the river).

XP/Hour: 5k-10k.

Start your journey at the chicken coops or cow fields in Lumbridge. These low-level monsters have minimal attack and decent hitpoints, making them perfect for early Defense training. Use the Block style with a Bronze or Iron Scimitar and full armor to tank hits safely.

• Pros: Close to Lumbridge bank, no food needed, drops feathers/cowhides for small profit.
• Cons: Crowded on high-population worlds, slow XP rates.

Levels 20-40: Hill Giants

Location: Edgeville Dungeon (requires Brass Key).

XP/Hour: 15k-25k.

Hill Giants in Edgeville Dungeon are a step up, with 35 hitpoints and low defense. They’re aggressive, so you can AFK train for short periods. Bring food (like trout or salmon from fishing) and wear Mithril or Adamant armor.

• Pros: Drops Big Bones (15 Prayer XP or 200+ GP each), decent XP rates.
• Cons: Can get crowded, requires banking trips for loot.

Levels 40-60: Flesh Crawlers

Location: Stronghold of Security, Level 2 (Sepulchre of Death).

XP/Hour: 25k-35k.

Flesh Crawlers are perpetually aggressive, making them ideal for AFK Defense training. With Rune armor and a Rune Scimitar on Block style, you’ll rack up XP quickly. Bring some food to handle their frequent low hits.

• Pros: High aggression, decent XP, no competition in less-popular spots.
• Cons: Minimal loot, requires food for longer sessions.

Levels 60-99: Giant Spiders or Greater Demons

Giant Spiders Location: Stronghold of Security, Level 3 (Pit of Pestilence).

Greater Demons Location: Demonic Ruins (Wilderness, level 47).

XP/Hour: 35k-50k (Spiders), 40k-60k (Demons).

For the long haul to 99, choose between Giant Spiders or Greater Demons. Giant Spiders are safer and aggressive, offering steady XP with Rune gear. Greater Demons in the Wilderness hit harder but provide better XP and valuable drops like Rune Full Helms. Use a teleport item (e.g., Explorer’s Ring) for emergencies in the Wilderness.

• Giant Spiders Pros: Safe, consistent XP, low risk.
• Giant Spiders Cons: No notable loot.
• Greater Demons Pros: Higher XP, profitable drops (Rune items, runes).
• Greater Demons Cons: Wilderness PK risk, requires food and caution.

Tips to Optimize Your F2P Defense Grind

Maximizing your efficiency is key in F2P, where XP rates are slower. Here are some practical tips to speed up your grind and save resources.

Use Quests for Early XP

While no F2P quests directly grant Defense XP, boosting your Hitpoints and other combat stats early can make training smoother:

• Witch’s House: 6,325 Hitpoints XP.
• Vampyre Slayer: 4,825 Attack XP (helps with damage output).

Bank Efficiently

Stick to training spots near banks (e.g., Edgeville for Hill Giants) to minimize travel time. Use the Grand Exchange to sell drops like Big Bones or Rune items from Greater Demons to fund food and gear upgrades.

Balance Food and Inventory

Bring enough food (swordfish or anchovy pizza for high healing) to last a session, but leave space for valuable drops. For AFK spots like Flesh Crawlers, prioritize food over loot if XP is your focus.

F2P Defense XP Table and Milestones

Here’s a quick reference table for Defense XP requirements and recommended training methods:

Level Range	Total XP Needed	Training Method	XP/Hour
1-20	4,470	Chickens/Cows	5k-10k
20-40	36,118	Hill Giants	15k-25k
40-60	273,742	Flesh Crawlers	25k-35k
60-99	13,034,431	Giant Spiders/Greater Demons	35k-60k

Key Milestones

• Level 20: Wear Mithril armor.
• Level 40: Equip Rune armor, the F2P pinnacle.
• Level 70: Comfortably tank Greater Demons for profit and XP.

Final Thoughts on Leveling Defense 1-99 F2P

Reaching 99 Defense in OSRS F2P is a testament to patience and strategy. While the lack of members’ tools like Slayer or minigames slows the process, the methods outlined—Chickens, Hill Giants, Flesh Crawlers, and Giant Spiders or Greater Demons—offer a clear path to success. Focus