Best Magic Gloves in OSRS for Every Mage Build

Best Magic Gloves in OSRS for Every Mage Build

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), the glove slot is a critical piece of equipment for mages looking to optimize their magical prowess. Whether you’re casting spells in PvM, PvP, or skilling, the right gloves can significantly enhance your performance. This guide explores the best magic gloves in OSRS, their unique benefits, and how to choose the perfect pair for your mage build. From boosting spell damage to improving accuracy, we’ll cover everything you need to know to dominate as a mage in Gielinor.

Gloves in OSRS are more than just cosmetic. For mages, the glove slot can provide essential bonuses like increased magic attack, strength, or unique effects that synergize with specific spells or activities. Choosing the right gloves can mean the difference between landing a crucial hit in a boss fight or failing a high-stakes PvP duel. With limited options tailored specifically for magic, understanding the strengths of each glove is key to maximizing your build.

Magic Attack vs. Magic Strength

Magic attack bonuses improve your spell accuracy, making it easier to hit high-defense targets like bosses or players in PvP. Magic strength, while less common in gloves, boosts the damage of your spells. Most magic gloves in OSRS focus on attack bonuses, but some offer defensive stats or niche effects that can be game-changing in specific scenarios.

Balancing Stats for Your Build

Depending on your mage build—pure, tank, or hybrid—you’ll need to balance magic bonuses with defensive stats or other utility effects. For example, pures prioritize offensive bonuses, while tanks may prefer gloves with defensive properties. This guide will help you align your glove choice with your playstyle.

Top Magic Gloves in OSRS

A Comprehensive Guide to the Best Mage Gear in OSRS in 2023

Below, we rank the best gloves for magic users in OSRS, focusing on their stats, uses, and how to obtain them. Whether you’re a low-level mage or a maxed-out wizard, there’s a pair of gloves for you.

Barrows Gloves

Barrows Gloves are the gold standard for most combat styles, including magic. With a +12 magic attack bonus and solid defensive stats, they’re incredibly versatile. These gloves shine in hybrid builds where you switch between melee, ranged, and magic.

  • Stats: +12 Magic Attack, +12 Strength, +12 Ranged Attack, +6 Magic Defense
  • Requirements: 70 Defense, completion of Recipe for Disaster
  • How to Get: Complete the Recipe for Disaster quest, requiring significant quest points and sub-quests.
  • Best For: General PvM, Slayer, and hybrid PvP builds

Barrows Gloves are a must-have for mid-to-high-level players due to their balanced stats and accessibility compared to other high-end gloves.

Tormented Bracelet

The Tormented Bracelet is a premium choice for mages prioritizing raw magical power. It offers a +10 magic attack and a +5% magic damage boost, making it ideal for high-damage spellcasting.

The damage boost makes the Tormented Bracelet a top pick for endgame content, but its high cost and lack of defensive stats make it less ideal for budget or tank builds.

Regen Bracelet

The Regen Bracelet is a unique option for mages who need survivability. It doubles your natural hitpoint regeneration rate, effectively healing 2 hitpoints per minute instead of 1.

  • Stats: +8 Magic Attack, +7 Strength, +11 Defense (various)
  • Requirements: None
  • How to Get: Craft with a Dragonstone Bracelet and 74 Magic or buy on the Grand Exchange.
  • Best For: Skilling (e.g., Agility, Thieving) and low-defense PvM

While not a pure magic glove, its regeneration effect and decent magic attack bonus make it a great choice for prolonged activities or builds with low defense.

Budget-Friendly Magic Gloves

Not everyone has the gold or levels for Barrows Gloves or a Tormented Bracelet. Fortunately, OSRS offers affordable gloves that still pack a punch for mages on a budget.

Combat Bracelet

The Combat Bracelet is an accessible option for early-to-mid-game mages. It provides a modest +6 magic attack bonus and useful teleports to key locations like the Warriors’ Guild and Ranging Guild.

  • Stats: +6 Magic Attack, +6 Strength, +3 Defense (various)
  • Requirements: None
  • How to Get: Enchant a Dragonstone Bracelet with 68 Magic or buy on the Grand Exchange.
  • Best For: Low-level PvM, Slayer, and utility

Its low cost and teleport utility make it a favorite for players who haven’t unlocked Barrows Gloves yet.

Mystic Gloves

Mystic Gloves are a staple for low-to-mid-level mages. They offer a solid +6 magic attack bonus and are relatively cheap, making them a great stepping stone.

  • Stats: +6 Magic Attack, +3 Magic Defense
  • Requirements: 40 Magic, 20 Defense
  • How to Get: Dropped by various monsters (e.g., Basilisks, Cockatrice) or bought on the Grand Exchange.
  • Best For: Early-game PvM and training

Mystic Gloves are perfect for players grinding Magic levels or tackling early-game bosses like the Giant Mole or Barrows.

Specialized Gloves for Niche Magic Builds

Some gloves cater to specific magic-related activities, offering unique effects that can optimize certain strategies or playstyles.

Chaos Gauntlets

Chaos Gauntlets are a niche choice for mages using bolt spells (e.g., Chaos Bolt, Wind Bolt). They increase the damage of bolt spells by 10%, making them highly effective for specific PvM encounters.

  • Stats: +3 Magic Attack, +10% Bolt Spell Damage
  • Requirements: Completion of Family Crest quest
  • How to Get: Complete Family Crest and have Steel Gauntlets imbued by Caleb in Varrock.
  • Best For: Budget PvM with bolt spells (e.g., Barrows, Crazy Archaeologist)

These gloves are situational but shine in setups where bolt spells are your primary damage source.

Lunar Gloves

Lunar Gloves are part of the Lunar equipment set, offering minor magic bonuses and access to the Lunar spellbook when worn with other Lunar gear.

  • Stats: +3 Magic Attack, +2 Magic Defense
  • Requirements: 65 Magic, 40 Defense, completion of Lunar Diplomacy
  • How to Get: Crafted after completing Lunar Diplomacy or bought on the Grand Exchange.
  • Best For: Utility casting with Lunar spellbook (e.g., Vengeance, Bake Pie)

While not combat-focused, Lunar Gloves are essential for mages using Lunar spells for skilling or support roles.

Comparing Magic Gloves: Which Is Best?

Choosing the right gloves depends on your goals, budget, and playstyle. The table below compares the top magic gloves to help you decide.

Glove Magic Attack Other Bonuses Requirements Best Use
Barrows Gloves +12 +12 Strength, +6 Magic Defense 70 Defense, Recipe for Disaster General PvM, Slayer, PvP
Tormented Bracelet +10 +5% Magic Damage 75 Hitpoints Endgame PvM, PvP
Regen Bracelet +8 2x HP Regen, +7 Strength None Skilling, Low-defense PvM
Combat Bracelet +6 Teleports, +3 Defense None Budget PvM, Utility
Mystic Gloves +6 +3 Magic Defense 40 Magic, 20 Defense Early-game PvM
Chaos Gauntlets +3 +10% Bolt Spell Damage Family Crest Bolt Spell PvM
Lunar Gloves +3 Lunar Spellbook Access 65 Magic, 40 Defense Lunar Spell Skilling

How to Choose Your Gloves

Endgame Mages: Go for the Tormented Bracelet if you’re tackling raids or PvP and can afford it. Barrows Gloves are a close second for versatility.
Budget Players: Mystic Gloves or Combat Bracelets are affordable and effective for early-game content.
Niche Builds: Chaos Gauntlets for bolt spells or Lunar Gloves for skilling are situational but powerful in their respective roles.
Tank Mages: Regen Bracelet offers survivability without sacrificing too much magic attack.

Final Thoughts

The glove slot in OSRS may seem minor, but it can make or break your mage build. Whether you’re splashing for XP, bursting Slayer tasks, or battling in the Wilderness, the right gloves will give you an edge. Barrows Gloves and Tormented Bracelets dominate for most combat scenarios, while budget options like Mystic Gloves and niche picks like Chaos Gauntlets cater to specific needs. Equip the best gloves for your goals, and watch your magic skills soar in Gielinor!