Best in Slot Melee Gear OSRS Ultimate Guide

Mastering melee combat in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) requires the right gear to maximize damage, defense, and efficiency. Whether you’re tackling high-level bosses, grinding Slayer tasks, or dominating in PvP, having the best-in-slot (BiS) melee gear is crucial. This comprehensive guide explores the top melee equipment for 2025, covering weapons, armor, and accessories to elevate your gameplay. Let’s dive into the ultimate OSRS melee gear setups!

Melee combat in OSRS revolves around three core skills: Attack, Strength, and Defence. Gear bonuses affect stab, slash, and crush attack types, as well as Strength for damage output. BiS gear provides the highest bonuses for specific scenarios, balancing offensive and defensive stats. Below, we break down the best items for each equipment slot, focusing on endgame setups for PvM, PvP, and Slayer.

Why BiS Gear Matters

BiS gear optimizes your combat performance, increasing damage per second (DPS) and survivability. For example, a +16 Strength bonus can boost your max hit, while high Defence stats reduce incoming damage. Choosing the right gear depends on your combat level, budget, and activity, but endgame players aim for these top-tier items.

Best in Slot Melee Weapons

Weapons are the heart of any melee build, with different options excelling for stab, slash, or crush attacks. Here’s a look at the top BiS melee weapons in OSRS.

Osmumten’s Fang (Stab)

Osmumten’s Fang is the premier stab weapon, boasting incredible accuracy and damage. Dropped as a rare reward from the Tombs of Amascut raid, it requires 82 Attack to wield. Its unique passive effect ignores a portion of the enemy’s Defence, making it ideal for high-Defence bosses like Zulrah or Corporeal Beast.

• Bonuses: +105 Stab, +103 Strength
• Requirements: 82 Attack
• How to Get: Tombs of Amascut (rare drop)

Ghrazi Rapier (Slash)

For slash attacks, the Ghrazi Rapier reigns supreme. Obtained from the Theatre of Blood, it requires 80 Attack and offers exceptional accuracy and speed. It’s a top choice for general PvM and Slayer tasks due to its versatility.

• Bonuses: +94 Slash, +89 Strength
• Requirements: 80 Attack
• How to Get: Theatre of Blood

Abyssal Bludgeon (Crush)

The Abyssal Bludgeon is the go-to crush weapon, perfect for enemies weak to crush like Kalphite Queen. Dropped by the Abyssal Sire, it requires 70 Attack and Strength. Its special attack boosts damage based on missing Prayer points, adding utility for specific encounters.

• Bonuses: +102 Crush, +85 Strength
• Requirements: 70 Attack, 70 Strength
• How to Get: Abyssal Sire

Best in Slot Melee Armor

Armor provides critical defensive and offensive bonuses. For melee, you’ll want gear that boosts Strength and Defence without sacrificing too much mobility. Below are the top armor sets and pieces.

Head Slot: Torva Full Helm

The Torva Full Helm, dropped from Nex, is the BiS headpiece for melee. It offers unmatched defensive stats and a +8 Strength bonus, making it ideal for tanking and DPS builds. It requires 80 Defence to wear.

• Bonuses: +55 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence, +8 Strength
• Requirements: 80 Defence
• How to Get: Nex (God Wars Dungeon)

Body Slot: Torva Platebody

Paired with the Torva Full Helm, the Torva Platebody provides top-tier Defence and a +6 Strength bonus. It’s a staple for high-level PvM, especially against melee-heavy bosses.

• Bonuses: +162 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence, +6 Strength
• Requirements: 80 Defence
• How to Get: Nex

Leg Slot: Torva Platelegs

Completing the Torva set, the Torva Platelegs offer excellent Defence and a +4 Strength bonus. The full Torva set is the ultimate melee armor for endgame content.

• Bonuses: +117 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence, +4 Strength
• Requirements: 80 Defence
• How to Get: Nex

Alternative: Justiciar Armor Set

For pure defensive setups, the Justiciar Armor Set is unmatched. Dropped from the Theatre of Blood, it has the highest melee and ranged Defence bonuses, with a set effect that reduces incoming damage. It’s perfect for tanking roles in raids or boss fights.

• Bonuses: +392 Total Defence (full set), +10 Prayer
• Requirements: 75 Defence
• How to Get: Theatre of Blood

Best in Slot Accessories and Off-Hand

Accessories and off-hand items round out your melee setup, providing critical boosts to Strength, accuracy, and utility. Here are the top choices.

Cape Slot: Infernal Cape

The Infernal Cape is the BiS melee cape, earned by completing the Inferno challenge. It offers a +4 Strength bonus and +12 Defence, making it a must-have for serious melee players. Its prestige also adds bragging rights.

• Bonuses: +12 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence, +4 Strength
• Requirements: Complete Inferno
• How to Get: Defeat TzKal-Zuk

Neck Slot: Amulet of Torture

The Amulet of Torture is the best neck slot item for melee DPS, providing +15 to all melee attack bonuses and +10 Strength. It requires 75 Hitpoints and is crafted from a Zenyte shard.

• Bonuses: +15 Stab/Slash/Crush, +10 Strength
• Requirements: 75 Hitpoints
• How to Get: Craft with Zenyte shard

Glove Slot: Ferocious Gloves

Ferocious Gloves are the BiS gloves for melee, offering +16 to melee attack bonuses and +14 Strength. Crafted using Hydra Leather from the Alchemical Hydra, they require 80 Attack and Defence.

• Bonuses: +16 Stab/Slash/Crush, +14 Strength
• Requirements: 80 Attack, 80 Defence
• How to Get: Craft with Hydra Leather

Boot Slot: Primordial Boots

Primordial Boots are the BiS for melee, providing a +2 Strength bonus and high defensive stats. They’re created by combining Dragon Boots with a Primordial Crystal, dropped by Cerberus.

• Bonuses: +22 Stab/Slash/Crush Defence, +2 Strength
• Requirements: 75 Strength, 75 Defence
• How to Get: Craft with Primordial Crystal

Ring Slot: Bellator Ring

The Bellator Ring is the BiS for slash-based melee builds, offering +6 Strength and +20 Slash. It’s a reward from the “Desert Treasure II” quest and requires significant investment.

• Bonuses: +20 Slash, +6 Strength
• Requirements: Complete Desert Treasure II
• How to Get: Quest reward

Off-Hand: Avernic Defender

The Avernic Defender is the BiS off-hand for melee, balancing offensive and defensive stats. Upgraded from the Dragon Defender using an Avernic hilt, it requires 70 Attack and Defence.

• Bonuses: +30 Stab, +29 Slash, +27 Crush, +8 Strength
• Requirements: 70 Attack, 70 Defence
• How to Get: Upgrade Dragon Defender

Melee Gear Progression and Budget Options

Not everyone can afford Torva or an Infernal Cape, so here’s a progression guide for melee gear, including budget alternatives for mid-level players.

Slot	Beginner (1-40 Defence)	Mid-Level (40-70 Defence)	Endgame (70+ Defence)
Head	Rune Full Helm	Fighter Hat	Torva Full Helm
Body	Rune Platebody	Fighter Torso	Torva Platebody
Legs	Rune Platelegs	Bandos Tassets	Torva Platelegs
Weapon	Rune Scimitar	Abyssal Whip	Osmumten’s Fang
Cape	Obsidian Cape	Fire Cape	Infernal Cape

Budget Alternatives

For mid-level players, the Fighter Torso (from Barbarian Assault) matches the Bandos Chestplate’s Strength bonus at a fraction of the cost. The Abyssal Whip is a versatile weapon for 70 Attack players, while Barrows Gloves offer excellent stats for those completing “Recipe for Disaster.” These items provide near-BiS performance without breaking the bank.

Tips for Acquiring BiS Melee Gear

Obtaining BiS gear requires time, skill, and sometimes luck. Here are key strategies to get these items:

• Grind Raids: Theatre of Blood and Tombs of Amascut drop critical items like the Ghrazi Rapier and Osmumten’s Fang. Join a clan or use the World 416 raid community to learn mechanics.
• Slayer for Profit: High-level Slayer tasks (e.g., Cerberus, Alchemical Hydra) drop components for Primordial Boots and Ferocious Gloves.
• Questing: Complete “Desert Treasure II” for the Bellator Ring and “Recipe for Disaster” for Barrows Gloves.
• Save for Upgrades: Prioritize high-impact items like the Amulet of Torture or Ferocious Gloves before splurging on Torva.

With dedication, you can build a BiS melee setup that dominates any challenge in OSRS. Happy grinding, and may your loot be plentiful!