Best Rings for Melee in OSRS Ultimate Guide

Old School RuneScape (OSRS) offers a variety of rings that can significantly boost your melee performance, whether you’re slaying monsters, tackling bosses, or dominating in PvP. Choosing the right ring for your melee build is crucial, as it can enhance your damage output, accuracy, or survivability. In this guide, we’ll dive into the best rings for melee in OSRS, focusing on their stats, uses, and how to obtain them. Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting, this post will help you optimize your ring slot for melee combat.

Rings in OSRS are more than just accessories—they provide critical stat bonuses that can make or break your melee setup. For melee-focused players, rings typically offer boosts to Strength, attack accuracy, or defensive stats, directly impacting your damage per second (DPS) or ability to tank hits. With the right ring, you can maximize your max hit, land more accurate blows, or survive longer in tough encounters. Let’s explore the top rings that every melee enthusiast should consider.

Top Melee Rings in OSRS

Below, we rank the best rings for melee combat based on their effectiveness in PvM, PvP, and general use. Each ring has unique strengths, so we’ll break down their stats, benefits, and ideal scenarios.

Berserker Ring (i) – The DPS King

The Berserker Ring (i) is the undisputed best-in-slot ring for most melee builds, thanks to its massive +8 Strength bonus when imbued. This ring directly increases your max hit, making it a must-have for Slayer tasks, bossing, and PvP.

• Stats: +8 Strength, +8 Crush defense
• How to Get: Dropped by Dagannoth Rex (1/128 drop rate) in the Waterbirth Island Dungeon. Imbue it at Nightmare Zone (650,000 points) or Soul Wars (260 Zeal Tokens).
• Best For: High-DPS scenarios like Theatre of Blood, Chambers of Xeric, or PvP pure builds.

Why It’s Great: The +8 Strength bonus is unmatched, pairing perfectly with gear like the Amulet of Torture and Primordial Boots for maximum damage. It lacks accuracy bonuses, so pair it with high-accuracy weapons like the Abyssal Whip or Ghrazi Rapier.

Brimstone Ring – Versatile Hybrid Option

The Brimstone Ring is a fantastic choice for players who want versatility across combat styles while still benefiting melee. Its unique passive effect makes it shine against high-defense enemies.

• Stats: +4 Slash, Crush, Stab, Magic, and Ranged attack; +6 Magic defense; +4 Strength.
• Passive Effect: 25% chance to ignore 90% of an opponent’s defensive bonuses, boosting DPS.
• How to Get: Crafted by combining Hydra’s Heart, Fang, and Eye from Alchemical Hydra (requires 95 Slayer).
• Best For: Hybrid PvM encounters or bosses like Zulrah where switching styles is common.

Why It’s Great: The Brimstone Ring’s passive effect can outperform the Berserker Ring (i) against heavily armored foes like Verzik Vitur. Its balanced stats make it a solid pick for players not fully committed to melee.

Warrior Ring (i) – Budget Accuracy Boost

For players on a budget or focusing on slash-based weapons, the Warrior Ring (i) offers a decent accuracy boost, though it’s outclassed by higher-tier options.

• Stats: +8 Slash attack, +8 Slash defense.
• How to Get: Dropped by Dagannoth Rex (1/128). Imbue via Nightmare Zone or Soul Wars.
• Best For: Mid-level PvM or PvP with slash weapons like the Abyssal Whip.

Why It’s Great: It’s affordable (often under 100k GP) and viable for early-game melee builds. However, its niche Slash bonus limits its use compared to the Berserker Ring (i).

Tyrannical Ring (i) – Crush Weapon Specialist

The Tyrannical Ring (i) is tailored for crush-based melee weapons, offering a solid accuracy boost for specific setups.

• Stats: +8 Crush attack, +8 Crush defense.
• How to Get: Dropped by Dagannoth Prime (1/128). Imbued at Nightmare Zone or Soul Wars.
• Best For: Crush weapons like the Elder Maul or Dragon Warhammer in PvM (e.g., Tekton in Chambers of Xeric).

Why It’s Great: It shines when using the Dragon Warhammer’s special attack to lower enemy defense, but its niche use makes it less versatile than the Berserker Ring (i).

Ring of Suffering (i) – Defensive Powerhouse

The Ring of Suffering (i) prioritizes survivability, making it ideal for tanking roles or prolonged fights where defense is key.

• Stats: +20 to all defensive bonuses, +4 Prayer bonus.
• Passive Effect: Can be charged with Rings of Recoil for recoil damage (up to 100,000 charges).
• How to Get: Crafted with a Zenyte shard and Onyx ring. Imbued at Nightmare Zone or Soul Wars.
• Best For: Solo bossing (e.g., Kalphite Queen) or tank roles in group PvM.

Why It’s Great: Its +20 defense bonuses across the board make it a lifesaver in high-damage encounters. The recoil effect can outdamage the Berserker Ring (i) in specific scenarios, like against the Kalphite Queen.

How to Choose the Right Melee Ring

Selecting the best ring depends on your playstyle, budget, and the content you’re tackling. Here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide:

Ring	Best Use Case	Cost (GP)	Difficulty to Obtain
Berserker Ring (i)	Max DPS (PvM, PvP)	~3-4M	Moderate (Dagannoth Rex, NMZ grind)
Brimstone Ring	Hybrid styles, high-defense foes	~10-12M	Hard (95 Slayer, Alchemical Hydra)
Warrior Ring (i)	Budget Slash accuracy	~50-100k	Easy (Dagannoth Rex)
Tyrannical Ring (i)	Crush weapon accuracy	~200-300k	Moderate (Dagannoth Prime)
Ring of Suffering (i)	Tanking, solo bosses	~15-20M	Hard (Crafting, NMZ)

Factors to Consider

• Combat Goals: Prioritize DPS with Berserker Ring (i) for most scenarios, but opt for Ring of Suffering (i) if survivability is key.
• Budget: Warrior Ring (i) is dirt cheap, while Brimstone and Suffering require significant investment.
• Content Type: Brimstone excels in hybrid fights, while Tyrannical is niche for crush weapons.

How to Obtain These Rings

Getting these rings can be a grind, but here’s a concise guide to acquiring them:

Dagannoth Kings (Berserker, Warrior, Tyrannical)

The Dagannoth Kings in Waterbirth Island Dungeon drop the Berserker, Warrior, and Tyrannical rings. Focus on Dagannoth Rex for Berserker and Warrior (safespottable with Magic or Ranged) and Dagannoth Prime for Tyrannical. Expect a 1/128 drop rate, so patience is key.

Alchemical Hydra (Brimstone)

The Brimstone Ring requires killing the Alchemical Hydra (95 Slayer). You’ll need to collect three components: Hydra’s Heart, Fang, and Eye. Solo or team up, but high combat stats and gear are recommended.

Crafting and Nightmare Zone (Ring of Suffering)

Craft the Ring of Suffering with a Zenyte shard (from Zulrah) and an Onyx ring. Imbuing any ring requires Nightmare Zone points or Soul Wars tokens—stock up on these through minigames.

Tips for Maximizing Melee Ring Effectiveness

To get the most out of your melee rings, follow these strategies:

• Imbue Early: Always imbue your rings (except Brimstone, which doesn’t need it) to double their bonuses. Nightmare Zone is the most accessible option for most players.
• Gear Synergy: Pair Berserker Ring (i) with Strength-boosting gear like Bandos Chestplate or Amulet of Torture for insane DPS.
• Switch Rings: Use OSRS’s equipment presets to swap rings mid-fight. For example, switch to Ring of Suffering (i) when tanking heavy hits.
• Prayer Bonus: Ring of Suffering (i)’s +4 Prayer bonus can extend your prayer points—great for bosses requiring Protect prayers.
• Hybrid Tactics: Brimstone’s versatility lets you mix melee with Ranged or Magic without losing much effectiveness.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even seasoned players can misuse rings. Here are pitfalls to steer clear of:

Overlooking Imbuing

Using an unimbued Berserker or Warrior Ring is a huge DPS loss. Always imbue them to unlock their full potential.

Ignoring Content Needs

Don’t default to Berserker Ring (i) for everything. For tanking roles or hybrid fights, Ring of Suffering (i) or Brimstone might be better.

Neglecting Budget Options

If you can’t afford a Brimstone Ring, don’t sleep on the Warrior Ring (i). It’s cheap and effective for mid-level content.

By choosing the right ring and avoiding these mistakes, you’ll elevate your melee game in OSRS. Whether you’re grinding Slayer, raiding, or PKing, these rings will give you the edge you need. Equip wisely and happy scaping!