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OSRS Best Hand Slot Items: Top Gloves and Bracelets for 2025

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), the hand slot is one of the most versatile and impactful equipment slots for any player. Whether you’re slaying bosses, training skills, or diving into PvP, the right gloves or bracelets can significantly boost your performance. With so many options available, choosing the best hand slot item can feel overwhelming. This blog post dives deep into the top hand slot items in OSRS for 2025, covering their stats, uses, and how to get them. Let’s explore the best picks for melee, ranged, magic, and utility to optimize your gameplay!
The hand slot in OSRS isn’t just a decorative choice—it’s a critical piece of your gear setup. Gloves and bracelets often provide offensive bonuses across multiple combat styles, defensive stats, or unique utility effects that can’t be found elsewhere. Unlike other slots that might focus heavily on defense (like the body or legs), the hand slot tends to emphasize boosting your attack power or enhancing specific activities. Picking the right item here can mean the difference between a successful boss run and a frustrating wipe.
Offensive Powerhouse
Many hand slot items, like Ferocious Gloves or the Tormented Bracelet, offer substantial attack bonuses. These make them essential for players looking to maximize damage output, especially in high-level PvM content like Chambers of Xeric or the Inferno.
Versatility Across Styles
Items like Barrows Gloves shine because they cater to all combat styles—melee, ranged, and magic. This versatility makes them a staple for players who switch between different activities without needing to swap gear constantly.
Best Hand Slot Items for Melee Builds
For melee enthusiasts, the hand slot is a goldmine of strength and attack bonuses. Here are the top picks for melee combat in OSRS, perfect for slaying dragons, bosses, or anything else that gets in your way.
Ferocious Gloves: The Melee King
Ferocious Gloves reign supreme as the best-in-slot (BiS) melee hand slot item. Dropped by the Alchemical Hydra, these gloves require 80 Attack and 80 Defence to equip. They boast an impressive +16 to all melee attack bonuses (stab, slash, crush) and a +14 Strength bonus, making them a must-have for serious melee builds.
- How to Get: Rare drop from Alchemical Hydra (1/300 chance).
- Best For: High-level PvM like Theatre of Blood or bossing.
- Cost: Around 6-8M GP on the Grand Exchange.
Barrows Gloves: The All-Rounder
If you’re not quite at end-game content yet, Barrows Gloves are the go-to choice. Obtained through the Recipe for Disaster quest, they require completion of multiple subquests and 41 Quest Points to unlock. With +12 to all attack bonuses and decent defensive stats, they’re incredibly versatile.
- How to Get: Complete Recipe for Disaster (costs ~500K GP for supplies).
- Best For: Mid-to-high-level players, Slayer tasks, general combat.
- Cost: Effectively free once unlocked, but requires time investment.
Regen Bracelet: Budget Utility
For a cheaper option, the Regeneration Bracelet offers a unique perk: it doubles your hitpoints regeneration rate. While its combat bonuses are modest (+8 to all attack styles), it’s a solid pick for prolonged fights where sustainability matters.
- How to Get: Crafted from an unstrung Onyx Bracelet (70 Crafting) or bought for ~2M GP.
- Best For: AFK training or low-budget melee setups.
Top Hand Slot Choices for Ranged Builds
Ranged players rely on precision and power, and the hand slot delivers some excellent options to boost your bow or crossbow performance. Here’s what stands out in 2025.
Zaryte Vambraces: Ranged Perfection
Zaryte Vambraces are the BiS ranged gloves, dropped by Nex in the God Wars Dungeon. With a +18 Ranged attack bonus and +2 Ranged Strength, they outshine all competitors. You’ll need 80 Ranged and 80 Defence to wear them.
- How to Get: Rare drop from Nex (1/500 chance).
- Best For: End-game PvM like Nex or Colosseum.
- Cost: 200M+ GP—pricey but worth it.
Barrows Gloves: Ranged Versatility
Yes, Barrows Gloves make the list again! Their +12 Ranged attack bonus makes them a fantastic mid-tier option before you can afford Zaryte Vambraces. They’re especially popular among Ironmen or players avoiding high-cost gear.
Black D’Hide Vambraces: Free-to-Play Option
For F2P players, Black D’Hide Vambraces are the best you’ll get. Offering a +11 Ranged attack bonus, they’re affordable and effective for training or early-game PvP.
Best Hand Slot Items for Magic Builds
Magic users need accuracy and damage boosts, and the hand slot delivers some standout options. These are the top picks for spellcasters in OSRS.
Tormented Bracelet: Magic Mastery
The Tormented Bracelet is the BiS magic hand slot item, offering a +10 Magic attack bonus and +5% Magic damage. It requires 75 Hitpoints and 75 Magic to wear, making it an end-game staple for mages.
- How to Get: Enchant a Zenyte Bracelet (93 Magic) or buy for ~10M GP.
- Best For: Chambers of Xeric, Inferno, high-level magic PvM.
Barrows Gloves: Magic Fallback
Once again, Barrows Gloves prove their worth with a +6 Magic attack bonus. While not as powerful as the Tormented Bracelet, they’re a great stepping stone for mid-level mages.
Infinity Gloves: Thematic Choice
For a budget magic option, Infinity Gloves offer a +5 Magic attack bonus. Part of the Infinity robes set, they’re more about style than top-tier performance but still viable.
- How to Get: Bought from the Mage Training Arena (~500K GP).
- Best For: Early-to-mid magic training.
Utility and Skilling Hand Slot Items
Beyond combat, the hand slot offers some fantastic utility items for skilling or niche activities. These gloves can save you time, money, or effort—perfect for efficiency-focused players.
Goldsmith Gauntlets: Smithing Boost
Goldsmith Gauntlets are a skiller’s dream, doubling the XP from smelting gold bars (from 22.5 to 56.2 XP per bar). They’re a reward from the Family Crest quest and a favorite for Smithing training.
- How to Get: Complete Family Crest and speak to Avan.
- Best For: Fast Smithing XP (especially at Blast Furnace).
Gloves of Silence: Thieving Edge
For thieves, Gloves of Silence increase pickpocketing success rates by 5%. They degrade after 62 uses but are cheap and effective for early Thieving levels.
- How to Get: Crafted with 54 Hunter and 2 Dark Kebbit furs (~10K GP).
- Best For: Low-to-mid Thieving training.
Expert Mining Gloves: Mining Upgrade
Expert Mining Gloves combine the effects of Mining Gloves and Superior Mining Gloves, reducing ore depletion rates for various rocks. They’re a reward from the Mining Guild shop.
- How to Get: 500 Unidentified Minerals from Mining Guild.
- Best For: Efficient Mining training.
Comparing the Best Hand Slot Items
To help you decide, here’s a quick comparison of the top combat-focused hand slot items in OSRS:
Item | Combat Style | Key Bonus | Requirements | Cost (GP) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ferocious Gloves | Melee | +16 Attack, +14 Strength | 80 Attack, 80 Defence | 6-8M |
Zaryte Vambraces | Ranged | +18 Ranged Attack, +2 Strength | 80 Ranged, 80 Defence | 200M+ |
Tormented Bracelet | Magic | +10 Magic Attack, +5% Damage | 75 Hitpoints, 75 Magic | 10M |
Barrows Gloves | All | +12 All Attack Bonuses | Quest Completion | ~500K (supplies) |
Note: Prices fluctuate based on Grand Exchange trends as of April 2025.
Which Should You Choose?
Your choice depends on your goals and budget. Barrows Gloves are the best all-purpose option for most players. If you’re specialized—melee, ranged, or magic—go for Ferocious Gloves, Zaryte Vambraces, or the Tormented Bracelet, respectively. Skillers should prioritize utility gloves like Goldsmith Gauntlets for efficiency.
With these hand slot items, you’re equipped to tackle any challenge in OSRS in 2025. Whether you’re chasing BiS gear or optimizing your skilling grind, the right gloves or bracelet can elevate your adventure. Which one will you pick up next?