OSRS Best in Slot Melee Gear Guide for Crushing Your Enemies

OSRS Best in Slot Melee Gear Guide for Crushing Your Enemies

Warriors of Gielinor! If you’re swinging a sword in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) and want to hit harder than a dragon’s tail, you’re in the right place. As a longtime OSRS player who’s spent way too many hours grinding for that perfect melee setup, I’m here to break down the best in slot (BiS) melee gear for 2025. This guide is all about helping you maximize your damage, whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned slayer. I’ll share my own journey, tips, and a conversational rundown of the top gear. So, sharpen your scimitar, and let’s dive into the world of OSRS melee!

Best in slot gear means the absolute top-tier equipment for a specific combat style—in this case, melee. It’s all about boosting your strength, attack, and defense to dominate bosses, PvM, or even PvP. For melee, this is crucial because every extra point of strength can mean faster kills and better loot.

My First BiS Chase

Back when I was a mid-level player, I dreamed of owning a Bandos chestplate. I spent weeks grinding goblins for clue scrolls, hoping for a lucky drop. Spoiler: I didn’t get it, but that grind taught me how important BiS gear is for tackling tough content like the God Wars Dungeon. Ever had a piece of gear you were obsessed with getting?

Who Needs BiS Gear?

  • Beginners: You can start with budget BiS to boost early-game progress.

  • Mid-tier players: BiS gear makes slayer tasks and mid-level bosses a breeze.

  • Endgame players: For raids and high-level bosses, BiS is a must.

Even if you’re just starting, knowing what to aim for keeps you motivated. What’s your combat level right now?

Best in Slot Melee Gear Breakdown

Old School RuneScape OSRS Melee Gear Progression Guide Gamer Empire

Let’s get to the juicy stuff—the actual gear. I’ll cover the top items for strength-focused melee, which is the go-to for most PvM situations. Prices can vary, so check the Grand Exchange before buying!

Head Slot

  • Primordial Boots: These are the ultimate boots for melee, giving +5 strength and solid defensive stats. I saved up for these after months of slayer tasks, and they were worth every coin.

  • Alternative: Dragon Boots (+4 strength, much cheaper for beginners).

Cape Slot

  • Infernal Cape: The king of capes, with +4 strength and +8 melee bonuses. Getting mine after countless Fire Cape attempts was a PROUD moment.

  • Alternative: Fire Cape (+4 strength, easier to obtain).

Neck Slot

  • Amulet of Torture: +10 strength bonus makes this a no-brainer. I bought mine after selling a lucky Zamorakian spear drop.

  • Alternative: Amulet of Strength (+10 strength, budget-friendly).

Chest Slot

  • Bandos Chestplate: +4 strength and great defense. This was my first big purchase, and it felt like I’d made it in Gielinor.

  • Alternative: Fighter Torso (same strength, free from Barbarian Assault).

Legs Slot

  • Bandos Tassets: Another +2 strength and awesome defense. Pairing these with the chestplate made me feel unstoppable.

  • Alternative: Obsidian Platelegs (decent strength, affordable).

Weapon Slot

  • Scythe of Vitur: The absolute beast for multi-target fights, but it’s crazy expensive. I’ve only borrowed a friend’s for raids—dream gear!

  • Ghrazi Rapier: Best for single-target DPS. I use this for bosses like Vorkath.

  • Alternative: Abyssal Whip (classic, cheap, and still solid).

Shield Slot

Hands Slot

  • Ferocious Gloves: +14 stab and +2 strength. These were a grind to get from Revenants, but they’re worth it.

  • Alternative: Barrows Gloves (versatile, from Recipe for Disaster).

Ring Slot

  • Berserker Ring (i): +8 strength when imbued. I imbued mine at Nightmare Zone, and it’s never left my finger.

  • Alternative: Warrior Ring (i) (slightly less strength, still good).

Ammo Slot

  • Radas’ Blessing 4: Small melee boost and prayer bonus. I grabbed this from Kourend’s statue grind.

  • Alternative: God Blessing (cheap prayer bonus).

Here’s a table summarizing the BiS melee setup for strength:

Slot

Best in Slot

Strength Bonus

Approx. Cost (2025)

Budget Alternative

Head

Neitiznot Faceguard

+6

10m

Helm of Neitiznot

Cape

Infernal Cape

+4

Skill-based

Fire Cape

Neck

Amulet of Torture

+10

15m

Amulet of Strength

Chest

Bandos Chestplate

+4

25m

Fighter Torso

Legs

Bandos Tassets

+2

30m

Obsidian Platelegs

Weapon

Ghrazi Rapier

Varies

100m+

Abyssal Whip

Shield

Avernic Defender

+8

70m

Dragon Defender

Hands

Ferocious Gloves

+2

5m

Barrows Gloves

Ring

Berserker Ring (i)

+8

5m

Warrior Ring (i)

Boots

Primordial Boots

+5

35m

Dragon Boots

Ammo

Radas’ Blessing 4

+1

2m

God Blessing

How to Get BiS Melee Gear

Some of this gear is pricey or tough to obtain, but don’t stress. Here’s how I worked toward my setup, and how you can too.

Grinding Gold

  • Slayer: High-level tasks like gargoyles or nechs drop decent loot. I made my first million this way.

  • Bossing: Zulrah or Vorkath are goldmines once you’re skilled.

  • Clue Scrolls: Elite and master clues can drop Bandos or other gear.

What’s your favorite money-making method?

Skilling for Gear

I spent hours at Barbarian Assault for my torso. The grind was rough, but the strength bonus made it worth it.

Bossing and Raids

My first Bandos kill was a disaster—I died twice! But joining a clan helped me learn the ropes.

Budget BiS for Beginners

If you’re low on gold or combat stats, you can still build a killer melee setup. Here’s my budget BiS list from my early days:

This setup costs maybe 5m total and still packs a punch. I used it for slayer until I could afford Bandos.

Tips for Using Your BiS Melee Setup

Got your gear? Here’s how to make the most of it.

Train Your Stats

BiS gear shines with high Attack and Strength. I maxed Strength at 99 before worrying about BiS, and it made bosses so much easier. Aim for at least 70 Attack and Strength to start.

Use Potions

  • Super Strength Potion: Boosts your strength for harder hits.

  • Super Attack Potion: Improves accuracy.

  • Piety Prayer: Massive melee boost at 70 Prayer.

I always sip a super set before bossing. It’s like drinking a power-up!

Pick the Right Weapon

  • Stab: Ghrazi Rapier for dragons or Vorkath.

  • Slash: Scythe for multi-target like Sarachnis.

  • Crush: Elder Maul for niche bosses like Tekton.

I learned the hard way that using a whip on Vorkath was a bad idea. Check monster weaknesses!

Don’t Die

BiS gear is expensive to lose. Bring a teleport tab, and don’t risk it in the Wilderness unless you’re ready. I lost my Amulet of Torture to a PKer once—still hurts.

My Favorite Melee Memory

One night, I joined a clan for my first Theatre of Blood run. We wiped three times, but on the fourth try, I landed the final hit on Verzik with my Ghrazi Rapier. The team cheered, and I got an Avernic Defender drop! That moment made all the grinding worth it. What’s your proudest OSRS moment?

Final Thoughts on BiS Melee Gear

Building a best in slot melee setup in OSRS is a journey, not a race. From my days as a budget warrior to rocking Bandos and a rapier, every piece of gear felt like a milestone. Whether you’re aiming for a Fighter Torso or dreaming of a Scythe, this guide gives you a roadmap. Start small, grind smart, and you’ll be smashing bosses in no time.

What’s the next piece of BiS gear you’re saving for? Drop a comment, and let’s chat about your melee goals! Keep swinging, and see you in Gielinor!