OSRS Melee Armor Guide: Best Gear for Every Level

OSRS Melee Armor Guide: Best Gear for Every Level


Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a thrilling melee combat experience, but to dominate in close-quarters battles, you need the right armor. Whether you’re a free-to-play (F2P) warrior or a pay-to-play (P2P) veteran, choosing the best melee armor can make or break your adventures in Gielinor. This OSRS melee armor guide covers the top gear options for every level, from budget-friendly sets to endgame powerhouses, ensuring you’re ready to face any foe. Let’s dive into the essentials of melee armor and explore the best picks for your combat journey.

Melee armor in OSRS is designed to boost your Attack, Strength, and Defence stats, offering a balance of protection and offensive capability. Unlike ranged or magic gear, melee armor typically focuses on high defensive bonuses against slash, stab, and crush attacks, while some pieces enhance your strength for harder hits. Knowing which armor suits your level and playstyle is key to maximizing your effectiveness in combat.

Key Stats to Look For

When picking melee armor, pay attention to these stats:

  • Defence Bonuses: Protects against melee, ranged, and magic attacks.
  • Strength Bonus: Increases your maximum hit.
  • Attack Bonus: Improves accuracy for specific attack styles (stab, slash, crush).
  • Prayer Bonus: Extends prayer point duration, useful for prolonged fights.

F2P vs. P2P Armor Differences

F2P players are limited to basic metal armors like bronze to rune, while P2P unlocks a vast array of options, including Barrows sets and rare drops like Justiciar. P2P gear often comes with higher stats and unique effects, making it worth the membership for serious melee enthusiasts.

Best Melee Armor for Low Levels (1-40 Defence)

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New players or those grinding early levels need affordable yet effective armor. Here’s what to aim for if your Defence is between 1 and 40.

F2P Options: Iron to Rune

For F2P players, progression is straightforward:

  • Iron Armour (Level 1 Defence): Cheap and accessible via smithing or drops.
  • Steel Armour (Level 5 Defence): A step up with better defence stats.
  • Mithril Armour (Level 20 Defence): Lightweight with solid protection.
  • Adamant Armour (Level 30 Defence): Stronger and still affordable.
  • Rune Armour (Level 40 Defence): The F2P endgame, offering +47 stab, +45 slash, and +44 crush defence for the full set.

Rune armour is the pinnacle for F2P melee, requiring completion of the Dragon Slayer I quest for the platebody. It’s a must-have for tackling bosses like Obor.

P2P Early Game Picks

P2P players can enhance their early game with these:

  • Black Armour (Level 10 Defence): Slightly better than steel, with a sleek look.
  • White Armour (Level 10 Defence + Quest): Offers a prayer bonus, ideal for prayer-focused builds.

Mid-Tier Melee Armor (40-70 Defence)

Once you hit mid-level Defence, your options expand significantly, especially in P2P. This range is perfect for slayer tasks, PvM, and early bossing.

F2P Mid-Tier: Rune Stays Strong

F2P players stick with rune armour here—it’s still the best choice until you upgrade to membership. Pair it with a rune scimitar for optimal DPS.

P2P Mid-Tier Favorites

P2P opens up exciting options:

  • Granite Armour (Level 50 Defence): High defence (+87 stab, +92 slash, +81 crush for the body) but no offensive bonuses.
  • Fighter Torso (Barbarian Assault): No Defence requirement, but offers +4 Strength—great for pures or budget builds.
  • Bandos Chestplate and Tassets (Level 65 Defence): Expensive but elite, with +4 Strength each and solid defence.

The Bandos set is a game-changer for mid-tier players with GP to spare, bridging the gap to endgame gear.

Endgame Melee Armor (70+ Defence)

For high-level players, endgame armor offers unmatched power and prestige. These sets are ideal for raids, PvP, and the toughest bosses like the Theatre of Blood.

Top-Tier P2P Armor Sets

Here’s the cream of the crop:

  • Barrows Sets (Level 70 Defence): Sets like Torag’s (+4 Strength) or Dharok’s (massive hits at low HP) are versatile and repairable.
  • Bandos Armour (Level 65 Defence): Full set gives +8 Strength and excellent defence, a staple for DPS-focused builds.
  • Justiciar Armour (Level 75 Defence): The ultimate tank set with +287 stab, +285 slash, and +265 crush defence, plus a damage reduction effect.

Best-in-Slot Accessories

Complement your armor with these:

  • Ferocious Gloves: +16 Strength and attack bonuses (80 Attack/Strength required).
  • Avernic Defender: +30 stab, +29 slash, +8 Strength (70 Attack/Defence).
  • Infernal Cape: +4 Strength, +8 melee defence (post-Fire Cape grind).

Melee Armor Progression Table

To simplify your journey, here’s a table of the best melee armor by Defence level:

Defence Level F2P Armor P2P Armor Strength Bonus
1-10 Iron/Steel Black/White 0
20-30 Mithril/Adamant Mithril/Adamant 0
40 Rune Rune/Fighter Torso +4 (Torso)
50-65 Rune Granite/Bandos +8 (Bandos Full)
70+ N/A Barrows/Justiciar +4 (Torag’s)

How to Choose Your Armor

Pick based on your goals:

  • Tanking: Justiciar or high-defence Barrows sets.
  • DPS: Bandos or Fighter Torso with strength-boosting accessories.
  • Budget: Rune or Granite for cost-effective power.

This OSRS melee armor guide equips you with the knowledge to gear up at any stage of your journey. From humble iron to the majestic Justiciar set, your armor choice shapes your combat legacy in Gielinor. Start smithing, questing, or grinding GP today—your next big fight awaits!