The Best Ring for Melee in OSRS: A Comprehensive Guide

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a vast array of gear options for melee combat enthusiasts, and the ring slot is no exception. Choosing the right ring can significantly boost your melee performance, whether you’re slaying bosses, tackling Slayer tasks, or dominating in PvP. With so many rings available, from the iconic Berserker Ring to the newer Ancient Rings introduced in Desert Treasure II, it’s tough to determine the absolute best ring for melee in OSRS. In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into the top contenders, their stats, uses, and why one stands out above the rest for melee builds. Let’s explore the options and help you optimize your setup for maximum damage and efficiency.

The ring slot might seem like a minor detail compared to weapons or armor, but in OSRS, it’s a critical piece of your gear puzzle. Rings provide unique bonuses that can enhance your combat stats, offer utility, or even save your life. For melee-focused players, the priority is usually maximizing damage output (via Strength bonuses) or improving accuracy (via attack bonuses). A well-chosen ring can mean the difference between a clean kill and a frustrating miss, especially against high-defense targets like bosses or PvP opponents.

The Role of Strength vs. Attack Bonuses

Melee combat in OSRS revolves around two key stats: Strength and Attack. Strength determines your maximum hit, directly impacting your damage per second (DPS), while Attack improves your accuracy, ensuring your hits land. Most top-tier melee rings focus on one of these stats, and the best choice often depends on your specific goals—raw power or precision.

How Rings Impact PvM and PvP

In Player vs. Monster (PvM) scenarios, such as fighting Zulrah or the Theatre of Blood, a ring that boosts your max hit can speed up kills, especially against low-defense targets. In Player vs. Player (PvP), where every hit counts, a mix of accuracy and strength can give you the edge. Understanding these dynamics is key to picking the best melee ring for your playstyle.

Top Contenders for the Best Melee Ring in OSRS

Let’s break down the leading rings for melee combat in OSRS. Each has its strengths, acquisition methods, and ideal use cases. We’ll compare their stats and practicality to crown the ultimate winner.

Berserker Ring (i): The Classic Melee Powerhouse

The Berserker Ring, especially when imbued (denoted as “(i)”), has long been a staple for melee builds. Dropped by Dagannoth Rex in the Waterbirth Island Dungeon, it’s relatively accessible compared to newer options.

• Stats (Imbued): +8 Strength, +8 Crush Defense
• Requirements: None to wear; Nightmare Zone or Soul Wars points to imbue
• Cost: Around 3-4M GP (unimbued) + imbuing cost
• Best For: General PvM, Slayer, PvP

The +8 Strength bonus makes it a go-to for increasing max hits, and its lack of equip requirements means it’s viable for pures and mains alike. It shines in scenarios where DPS is king, like Slayer tasks or low-defense bosses.

Ultor Ring: The New Strength King

Introduced with Desert Treasure II, the Ultor Ring has taken the melee scene by storm. Crafted using a Berserker Icon, an Ultor Vestige (from Vardorvis), and chromium ingots, it’s a high-end option for dedicated players.

• Stats: +12 Strength
• Requirements: 90 Magic, 80 Crafting (boostable); kill Vardorvis once
• Cost: 50-60M GP (market-dependent)
• Best For: Endgame PvM, high-stakes PvP

With a whopping +12 Strength bonus—4 more than the Berserker Ring (i)—the Ultor Ring is unmatched for raw damage output. It’s the top choice for endgame content like the Inferno or max-hit builds in PvP.

Bellator Ring: Slash Accuracy Master

Another Desert Treasure II addition, the Bellator Ring caters to slash weapon users (e.g., Abyssal Whip, Blade of Saeldor). It’s crafted similarly to the Ultor Ring but uses a Warrior Icon and Bellator Vestige (from Duke Sucellus).

• Stats: +12 Slash Attack
• Requirements: 90 Magic, 80 Crafting (boostable); kill Duke Sucellus once
• Cost: 40-50M GP
• Best For: High-defense targets, slash-based PvM

Its +12 Slash Attack bonus is the highest in the game, making it ideal for precision against tough foes like Cerberus or in PvP setups where accuracy trumps max hits.

Tyrannical Ring (i): Crush Specialist

Dropped by Callisto in the Wilderness, the Tyrannical Ring (i) is a niche pick for crush weapon users (e.g., Elder Maul, Dragon Warhammer).

• Stats (Imbued): +8 Crush Attack, +8 Crush Defense
• Requirements: Nightmare Zone or Soul Wars points to imbue
• Cost: 1-2M GP (unimbued) + imbuing cost
• Best For: Crush-specific PvM, Wilderness PvP

It’s less versatile than the Berserker Ring but excels in specific scenarios, like lowering defense with the Dragon Warhammer’s special attack.

Comparing the Stats: Which Ring Wins?

To settle the debate, let’s compare these rings head-to-head in a table based on their melee-focused stats and practicality.

Ring	Strength Bonus	Attack Bonus	Cost (GP)	Accessibility	Best Use Case
Berserker Ring (i)	+8	0	3-4M + imbue	High	General DPS
Ultor Ring	+12	0	50-60M	Low	Endgame DPS
Bellator Ring	0	+12 Slash	40-50M	Low	Slash Accuracy
Tyrannical Ring (i)	0	+8 Crush	1-2M + imbue	Moderate	Crush Niche

Strength vs. Accuracy: What’s More Important?

For most melee scenarios, Strength trumps Attack because higher max hits directly increase DPS, especially against low-to-moderate defense targets. Accuracy becomes critical against high-defense enemies (e.g., bosses with 200+ defense). The Ultor Ring’s +12 Strength gives it a clear edge for general use, while the Bellator Ring shines in slash-heavy, high-defense fights.

Cost and Accessibility Considerations

The Berserker Ring (i) is far more affordable and easier to obtain than the Ultor or Bellator Rings, making it the practical choice for mid-tier players or those on a budget. The Ultor Ring’s high cost and crafting requirements limit it to endgame players with deep pockets and high skills.

The Verdict: Ultor Ring as the Best Melee Ring

After weighing the options, the Ultor Ring emerges as the best ring for melee in OSRS. Its +12 Strength bonus is unrivaled, offering the highest DPS potential across a wide range of content. Whether you’re grinding Slayer, tackling raids, or risking it in PvP, the Ultor Ring maximizes your damage output like no other. While the Berserker Ring (i) remains a fantastic budget option and the Bellator Ring excels for slash accuracy, the Ultor Ring’s sheer power makes it the top pick for serious melee enthusiasts.

Why Ultor Beats Berserker

Compared to the Berserker Ring (i), the Ultor Ring offers 50% more Strength (+12 vs. +8), translating to noticeably higher hits. For example, with a maxed melee setup, the difference could mean hitting 50s instead of 48s—small but significant over long fights.

When to Choose Alternatives

If you can’t afford the Ultor Ring or need slash accuracy, the Bellator Ring is a strong runner-up. For crush weapons or budget builds, the Tyrannical Ring (i) and Berserker Ring (i) hold their own. Early-game players might even stick with a Ring of Wealth for utility until they can upgrade.

How to Get the Ultor Ring

Ready to claim the best melee ring in OSRS? Here’s a step-by-step guide to obtaining the Ultor Ring:

1. Complete Desert Treasure II: Unlock access to Vardorvis by progressing through the quest.
2. Kill Vardorvis: Defeat this boss at least once to obtain the Ultor Vestige (untradeable).
3. Gather Materials: You’ll need a Berserker Icon (from chiseling a Berserker Ring), three chromium ingots (Vardorvis drop), and a ring mould.
4. Craft It: With 90 Magic and 80 Crafting (boostable), use a furnace to combine the materials.
5. Equip and Dominate: Once crafted, the Ultor Ring is yours to wield.

This process requires significant effort and GP, but the payoff is worth it for melee supremacy.

Tips for Farming Vardorvis

Vardorvis is a challenging boss, so bring your best melee gear (e.g., Bandos armor, Scythe of Vitur) and use Protect from Melee. Learn his attack patterns—especially the axe slams—and you’ll secure the vestige in time.

Final Thoughts on the Best Melee Ring in OSRS

The Ultor Ring stands tall as the best ring for melee in OSRS, thanks to its unmatched +12 Strength bonus. It’s the ultimate choice for players aiming to push their DPS to the limit in endgame content. That said, the Berserker Ring (i) remains a reliable, budget-friendly alternative, while the Bellator Ring caters to slash specialists. Your ideal ring depends on your budget, goals, and combat style, but for sheer melee power, the Ultor Ring reigns supreme. Equip it, hit harder, and conquer Gielinor like never before!