Attack Guide F2P OSRS Tips for Free Players

If you’re diving into Old School RuneScape (OSRS) as a free-to-play (F2P) player, leveling up your Attack skill is one of the most exciting and rewarding journeys you can embark on. Attack determines how often you hit your enemies and what weapons you can wield, making it a cornerstone of combat. As someone who’s spent countless hours grinding in the F2P world, I’ve learned the ins and outs of training Attack efficiently, and I’m here to share my tips, tricks, and personal experiences to help you dominate. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned player looking to optimize, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about training Attack in F2P.

Attack is the backbone of melee combat in OSRS. Higher Attack levels let you equip better weapons, from the humble bronze dagger to the mighty rune scimitar. It also boosts your accuracy, meaning you land more hits and deal damage more consistently. In F2P, where resources and options are limited, focusing on Attack can make you a force to be reckoned with, whether you’re slaying monsters or dueling in the Wilderness.

Why should you care about Attack? Because it directly impacts your ability to survive and thrive in combat. A higher Attack level means you can take on tougher enemies, complete quests, and even make some gold along the way. I remember when I first started playing OSRS back in the day, I underestimated Attack and focused on Strength. Big mistake. I was missing half my hits, and it took forever to kill anything. Once I prioritized Attack, everything clicked.

Best F2P Weapons for Attack Training

Before we dive into training methods, let’s talk gear. In F2P, your weapon choice is critical because it determines how effectively you can train. Here’s a breakdown of the best weapons available for F2P players, based on Attack level requirements.

Weapon	Attack Level	Why It’s Good
Iron Scimitar	5	Cheap, fast, and a solid upgrade from bronze. Great for early levels.
Steel Scimitar	10	More damage and accuracy, perfect for mid-level grinding.
Black Scimitar	25	Sleek and powerful, a great choice for tougher monsters like hill giants.
Mithril Scimitar	30	A fantastic balance of speed and power for mid-to-high levels.
Adamant Scimitar	40	The second-best F2P weapon. Hits hard and looks cool.
Rune Scimitar	50	The king of F2P weapons. Fast, strong, and ideal for endgame F2P content.

Pro tip: Always use a scimitar over other weapons like longswords or maces. Scimitars are faster, which means more hits and more XP per hour. I learned this the hard way after spending hours with a steel longsword, only to realize I was training way slower than I could’ve been.

Where to Get These Weapons?

You can buy most of these weapons from the Grand Exchange (GE) in Varrock, but if you’re low on gold, check out shops like Zeke’s Superior Scimitars in Al Kharid for iron through mithril scimitars. For rune gear, you might need to grind some gold or kill monsters like hill giants, which occasionally drop rune items. I once spent an entire weekend camping hill giants for a rune scimitar drop. No luck, but I ended up with enough bones and gold to buy one from the GE!

Best F2P Monsters for Attack Training

Now that you’ve got your weapon, where should you train? F2P offers a variety of monsters that are perfect for leveling Attack. Below, I’ve listed the best ones based on your Attack level, along with my personal experiences and tips.

Levels 1-20: Chickens and Cows

• Chickens (Lumbridge): These feathered friends are perfect for beginners. They have low HP, don’t hit hard, and drop feathers, which you can sell for a nice profit. I used to spend hours in the Lumbridge chicken pen, swinging my iron sword and collecting stacks of feathers. It’s relaxing, and you’ll hit level 20 in no time.

• Cows (Lumbridge or Crafting Guild): Cows are a step up, with more HP and cowhides that sell well. They’re great for training Attack while making some early gold. I’d recommend the cow pen north of Lumbridge for easy access.

Quick tip: Bring a few pieces of food (like cooked shrimp) in case you take too many hits. Chickens and cows are safe, but accidents happen!

Levels 20-40: Hill Giants

Hill giants in the Edgeville Dungeon are a fantastic choice for mid-level training. They have decent HP, drop big bones (great for Prayer XP or selling), and are weak enough that you won’t need much food. The dungeon can get crowded, but I’ve always found a spot to grind. One time, I got into a friendly competition with another player over who could kill more giants in an hour. Spoiler: I won, but only because I had a mithril scimitar!

• Location: Edgeville Dungeon (use a brass key to enter the shortcut from Varrock).

• Gear: Steel or mithril scimitar, full steel or mithril armor.

• Why? Good XP, decent drops, and a fun grind.

Levels 40-60: Flesh Crawlers or Giant Spiders

At this point, you’re ready for tougher foes. Flesh crawlers and giant spiders in the Stronghold of Security (SoS) are excellent for Attack training.

• Flesh Crawlers (Level 2 of SoS): These creepy crawlies have low defense and high HP, making them perfect for racking up XP. They’re aggressive, so you can AFK a bit while training. I used to set up my character here and watch YouTube while occasionally checking back. Worked like a charm!

• Giant Spiders (Level 3 of SoS): Slightly tougher but still manageable. They’re great if flesh crawlers are too crowded.

Question: Ever tried AFK training in the Stronghold of Security? It’s a game-changer for multitasking.

Levels 60+: Cockroach Soldiers

For high-level F2P players, cockroach soldiers in the Stronghold of Player Safety are the way to go. They have high HP, drop valuable items like rune scimitars and mithril ore, and offer excellent XP rates. I spent weeks here grinding to 70 Attack, and the rune scimitar drop I got felt like winning the lottery.

• Location: Stronghold of Player Safety (south of Edgeville).

• Gear: Rune scimitar, full rune armor, and some food (lobsters or swordfish).

• Drops: Rune scimitars, mithril ore, and more.

Training Tips and Strategies

Training Attack in F2P isn’t just about whacking monsters. Here are some strategies I’ve picked up over the years to maximize your XP and make the grind fun.

Always Use the Accurate Combat Style

When training Attack, always set your weapon to the “Accurate” combat style. This gives bonus Attack XP per hit, speeding up your leveling. I made the mistake of using “Aggressive” for way too long, thinking it’d make me hit harder. Nope, it just slowed my Attack gains.

Bring Food and Use Safe Spots

F2P combat can be risky, especially in multi-combat areas like the Stronghold of Security. Always bring food (shrimp for early levels, lobsters for higher levels) to stay alive. If you’re fighting tougher monsters like cockroach soldiers, look for safe spots where you can attack without taking damage. I once found a perfect corner in the Stronghold where flesh crawlers couldn’t hit me back. Game-changer.

Quest for Quick Attack XP

Quests are a fantastic way to jumpstart your Attack level, especially in F2P where grinding can feel slow. Here are the best F2P quests for Attack XP:

• Vampire Slayer: Rewards 4,825 Attack XP. You’ll need to fight a level 34 vampire, but with some food and decent gear, it’s doable.

• The Grand Tree: No Attack XP directly, but it unlocks better training areas and gives you combat experience.

• Dragon Slayer: The ultimate F2P quest. No direct Attack XP, but defeating Elvarg requires solid combat skills and unlocks rune platebodies.

Fun story: When I did Vampire Slayer for the first time, I was so nervous about fighting Count Draynor that I brought 20 cooked trout and full iron armor. Overkill? Maybe, but I felt like a hero when I won.

Make Gold While Training

Training Attack doesn’t have to drain your bank. Pick up drops like bones, feathers, and ores, and sell them at the GE. Hill giants and cockroach soldiers are especially profitable. I used to bank every big bone and mithril ore I got from cockroaches, and it funded my first set of rune armor.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even as an experienced player, I’ve made plenty of mistakes while training Attack. Here’s what to watch out for:

• Using the Wrong Combat Style: As I mentioned, stick to Accurate for Attack XP. Don’t waste time on Strength or Defense unless you’re balancing your combat skills.

• Ignoring Armor: Don’t just focus on your weapon. Better armor (like full mithril or rune) reduces damage taken, letting you train longer without food.

• Training on Weak Monsters Too Long: Chickens are great, but don’t stay there past level 20. Move to hill giants or the Stronghold for better XP rates.

• Not Banking Drops: Early on, I left so many cowhides and feathers on the ground because I was too lazy to bank. That’s free gold you’re missing out on!

Question: What’s the dumbest mistake you’ve made while training in OSRS? I bet we’ve all got stories.

Sample Attack Training Plan

Here’s a quick plan to get you from 1 to 60 Attack in F2P, based on what worked for me:

Attack Level	Monster	Location	Gear	Tips
1-20	Chickens/Cows	Lumbridge	Iron/Steel Scimitar	Collect feathers and cowhides for gold.
20-40	Hill Giants	Edgeville Dungeon	Steel/Mithril Scimitar	Bank big bones for Prayer or sell them.
40-60	Flesh Crawlers/Spiders	Stronghold of Security	Mithril/Adamant Scimitar	Use Accurate style, bring lobsters.
60+	Cockroach Soldiers	Stronghold of Player Safety	Rune Scimitar, Rune Armor	Aim for rune scimitar drops for profit.

My Personal Journey to 99 Attack in F2P

Getting to 99 Attack in F2P is a grind, but it’s achievable with dedication. I started my journey years ago, back when I was a broke noob with a steel sword and big dreams. I spent way too much time killing goblins in Lumbridge before realizing they were terrible for XP. Once I moved to hill giants and then cockroach soldiers, things sped up. The day I hit 99 Attack was one of the proudest moments of my OSRS career. I celebrated by buying a rune scimitar (even though I already had one) just to flex.

What’s your goal for Attack? Are you aiming for 60 to wield that rune scimitar or going all the way to 99? Whatever it is, stick with it. The grind is worth it.

Final Thoughts

Training Attack in F2P OSRS is all about choosing the right monsters, using the best gear, and staying consistent. From chickens to cockroach soldiers, every step of the journey teaches you something new about the game. My biggest piece of advice? Enjoy the process. OSRS is a game about the grind, but it’s also about the memories you make along the way, like that time I accidentally lured a dozen flesh crawlers and had to run for my life.

So, grab your scimitar, stock up on lobsters, and start swinging. You’ve got this. What’s your favorite monster to train on in F2P? Drop a comment or share your own tips. Let’s keep the RuneScape community thriving!