Best in Slot F2P OSRS Gear Guide for 2025

For free-to-play (F2P) players in Old School RuneScape (OSRS), finding the best gear is key to thriving in combat, whether you’re slaying monsters, tackling demi-bosses, or diving into PvP. This guide dives into the best-in-slot (BiS) gear for F2P players across melee, ranged, and magic combat styles, optimized for accessibility and performance. With no membership required, these items will help you dominate Gielinor without breaking the bank.

In F2P OSRS, gear choices are limited compared to pay-to-play (P2P), but the right equipment can significantly boost your combat effectiveness. BiS gear maximizes your damage output, accuracy, or defense, making quests, training, and PvP more manageable. Since F2P players rely heavily on the Grand Exchange or monster drops, knowing which items to prioritize saves time and gold.

Balancing Cost and Performance

While some BiS items are affordable, others, like the Hill Giant Club, require grinding or luck. This guide focuses on gear that balances cost and performance, ensuring you get the most value for your gold.

Melee Best in Slot Gear

Melee is the backbone of F2P combat, offering high damage and solid defense. Below is the BiS gear for melee setups, ideal for training, PvE, and PvP.

Rune Scimitar: The Top Melee Weapon

The Rune Scimitar is the BiS melee weapon for F2P players due to its speed and strength. Requiring 40 Attack, it delivers consistent damage, making it perfect for training and PvP. You can buy it from the Grand Exchange for around 15,000–20,000 GP or obtain it as a drop from monsters like fire giants.

Rune Armour Set: Maximum Defense

The full Rune Armour set (Rune Full Helm, Rune Platebody, Rune Platelegs, and Rune Kiteshield) is BiS for melee defense, requiring 40 Defence. It offers excellent protection against melee and ranged attacks, though it weakens magic defense. Purchase it from the Grand Exchange or shops like Oziach in Edgeville for the platebody.

Decorative Boots (Gold): A Hidden Gem

The Decorative Boots (Gold) from Castle Wars are BiS for F2P boots, providing a +1 Strength bonus and solid defensive stats equivalent to adamant boots. They require 30 Defence and are earned through Castle Wars tickets, making them a grind but worth it for the strength boost.

Amulet of Strength: Boosting Damage

The Amulet of Strength is the BiS neck slot item for melee, offering a +10 Strength bonus. It’s affordable at around 2,000–3,000 GP on the Grand Exchange and significantly increases your max hit, especially when paired with the Rune Scimitar.

Slot	Item	Key Stats	How to Obtain
Weapon	Rune Scimitar	+45 Slash, +44 Strength	Grand Exchange, monster drops
Head	Rune Full Helm	+30 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence	Grand Exchange, smithing
Body	Rune Platebody	+82 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence	Oziach, Grand Exchange
Legs	Rune Platelegs	+51 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence	Champions’ Guild, Grand Exchange
Feet	Decorative Boots (Gold)	+9 Stab, +10 Slash, +1 Strength	Castle Wars tickets
Neck	Amulet of Strength	+10 Strength	Grand Exchange

Ranged Best in Slot Gear

Ranged combat shines in F2P for its speed and versatility, especially in PvP and safe-spotting monsters. Here’s the BiS ranged gear to maximize your accuracy and damage.

Maple Shortbow: The Ranged Staple

The Maple Shortbow is the BiS ranged weapon, requiring 30 Ranged. It can fire up to adamant arrows, offering a balance of speed and power. It’s cheap (around 500–1,000 GP) and available at Lowe’s Archery Emporium in Varrock or the Grand Exchange.

Green D’Hide Armour: Lightweight Protection

The Green D’Hide set (Coif, Body, Chaps, and Vambraces) is BiS for ranged, requiring 40 Ranged and 40 Defence for the body. It provides solid ranged attack bonuses and decent melee defense. Craft it with green dragon leather or buy it from the Grand Exchange.

Amulet of Power: Versatile Boost

The Amulet of Power is BiS for ranged, offering +6 to ranged attack and strength, plus minor defensive bonuses. It’s a cost-effective choice at around 3,000 GP and works well for hybrid setups.

• Tip: Use adamant arrows for the best damage output, available from the Grand Exchange or monster drops.
• Pro Move: Train at hill giants with a safe spot to level Ranged efficiently while gathering loot.

Magic Best in Slot Gear

Magic in F2P is limited but powerful for early combat and utility. The BiS magic gear focuses on boosting accuracy and spell efficiency.

Wizard Robes: Best for Beginners

The Wizard Robes set (Hat, Top, and Skirt) is BiS for F2P magic, offering +5 magic attack and defense when wearing the hat and top. With no level requirements, it’s perfect for new players. Get them by killing wizards in the Wizards’ Tower or buying from the Grand Exchange for under 1,000 GP.

Staff of Air: Cost-Effective Casting

The Staff of Air is BiS for magic due to its unlimited air runes, saving you money on spells like Wind Blast. It’s affordable (around 1,500 GP) and available from Zaff’s Staff Shop in Varrock.

Amulet of Magic: Boosting Accuracy

The Amulet of Magic provides a +10 magic attack bonus, making it BiS for the neck slot. It’s cheap (around 1,000 GP) and helps low-level spells hit more consistently.

Other Notable F2P Gear and Tips

Beyond the core BiS items, some gear and strategies can enhance your F2P experience.

Hill Giant Club: A Melee Alternative

The Hill Giant Club is a two-handed melee weapon with higher strength than the Rune Scimitar but slower speed. It’s a rare drop from Obor, requiring a Giant Key from hill giants. It’s ideal for players with high Strength aiming for big hits in PvP.

Explorer’s Ring: Utility and Teleports

The Explorer’s Ring (obtained from Lumbridge & Draynor Diary) offers unlimited teleports to Falador farm and minor combat bonuses. It’s a must-have for efficient travel and farming runs.

PvP Considerations

In F2P PvP, speed and combo potential matter. For melee, pair the Rune Scimitar with strength potions. For ranged, use the Maple Shortbow with rapid style for fast hits. Magic users should prioritize Fire Strike or Blast for quick damage, using the Staff of Air to save runes.

• Melee PvP: Wear Rune Armour with Decorative Boots (Gold) and Amulet of Strength for max damage.
• Ranged PvP: Green D’Hide and Maple Shortbow with adamant arrows for high accuracy.
• Magic PvP: Wizard Robes and Amulet of Magic for consistent spell hits.

How to Obtain BiS Gear Efficiently

Getting BiS gear in F2P requires a mix of grinding, skilling, and smart purchases. Here’s how to do it:

Grand Exchange Purchases

Most BiS items like Rune Scimitar, Green D’Hide, and Wizard Robes are readily available on the Grand Exchange. Save gold by buying during low-price periods or after major updates when supply increases.

Grinding for Drops

Items like the Hill Giant Club require killing Obor. Farm hill giants in the Edgeville Dungeon for Giant Keys, and bring food to survive Obor’s attacks. Expect a 1/118 drop rate, so patience is key.

Skilling for Gear

Crafting Green D’Hide or smithing Rune Armour can save gold. Train Crafting to 40 for Green D’Hide Body or Smithing to 99 for Rune Platebody (though buying is often faster).

Minigames for Unique Items

Grind Castle Wars for Decorative Boots (Gold). Each ticket takes about 10–20 minutes, and you’ll need around 100 tickets for the boots. Join active worlds like 308 for faster games.

With this BiS gear, F2P players can tackle any challenge in OSRS, from quests to PvP duels. Prioritize affordable items like the Rune Scimitar and Wizard Robes early on, then grind for niche items like Decorative Boots (Gold) to optimize your setup. Happy adventuring in Gielinor!