OSRS Best P2P Melee Gear for Level 50s

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), hitting level 50 in melee stats—Attack, Strength, and Defence—marks a sweet spot for pay-to-play (P2P) players. You’re no longer a low-level adventurer, but you’re not yet swimming in endgame riches either. Choosing the right gear at this stage can make or break your efficiency, whether you’re training, questing, or dipping into PvM. This guide dives into the best P2P melee gear for players around level 50, balancing performance, cost, and accessibility. Let’s gear up and explore what’s worth your gold!

At level 50, your melee stats unlock a range of P2P gear that outperforms free-to-play (F2P) options like full rune. The right setup boosts your damage output, survivability, and training speed, letting you tackle tougher monsters or quests like Monkey Madness. P2P gear also introduces strength bonuses, which are critical for maximizing hits and XP rates. However, with limited GP at this stage, you’ll want affordable options that don’t sacrifice too much power.

Balancing Cost and Performance

Not every level 50 player has millions to burn. Gear like Bandos or Barrows sets is out of reach, so we’ll focus on items that deliver bang for your buck. Think equipment that’s tradable, quest-rewarded, or grindable without insane requirements.

Strength vs. Defence: What to Prioritize

For melee training, strength bonuses are king since they increase your max hit, directly boosting XP per hour. Attack accuracy helps you land hits, while Defence reduces damage taken. At level 50, lean toward strength and attack for faster kills, but don’t neglect Defence if you’re fighting high-hitting mobs.

Best Melee Gear Setup for Level 50

Here’s a breakdown of the optimal melee gear for level 50 P2P players, covering each equipment slot. This setup assumes you have around 50 Attack, Strength, and Defence, with some flexibility for slight variations (e.g., 45 or 55 in one stat). We’ll prioritize accessible items over rare drops or expensive gear.

Helmet: Berserker Helm

The Berserker Helm is a fantastic choice, requiring 45 Defence and completion of The Fremennik Trials quest. It offers +3 Strength bonus, solid defensive stats (+31 stab, +29 slash, +33 crush), and no major GP cost since it’s a quest reward. Compared to the Rune Full Helm, it’s a clear upgrade for melee training.

• Alternative: Helm of Neitiznot (requires The Fremennik Isles and 55 Defence). It’s slightly better (+6 Strength, +36 stab defence) but needs more questing.
• Budget Option: Rune Full Helm. Buy it for ~20k GP if you haven’t done the quests yet.

Body: Fighter Torso

The Fighter Torso is a standout at level 50, offering +4 Strength bonus—matching high-end gear like Bandos Chestplate. You’ll need 40 Defence and a grind at the Barbarian Assault minigame (expect 10-15 hours). It’s free but requires effort, making it perfect for dedicated players. Pair it with a decent weapon to maximize DPS.

• Alternative: Rune Platebody (~30k GP) for pure Defence or Obsidian Platebody (+3 Strength, 60 Defence required, ~800k GP).
• Tip: Start Barbarian Assault early—it’s worth the time.

Legs: Rune Platelegs or Obsidian Platelegs

Rune Platelegs are cheap (~30k GP) and provide solid defensive stats (+51 stab, +49 slash, +47 crush) with no Strength penalty, making them ideal for level 50. If you can stretch your budget and have 60 Defence, Obsidian Platelegs (~400k GP) add +1 Strength, a small but noticeable DPS boost.

• Alternative: Dragon Platelegs (~160k GP, 60 Defence). Slightly better Defence but no Strength bonus.
• Budget Option: Rune Plateskirt (same stats, slightly cheaper).

Weapon: Granite Hammer

For weapons, the Granite Hammer shines at 50 Attack. It’s a one-handed crush weapon with +57 Strength and +56 Attack bonuses, rivaling higher-tier options. At ~150k GP, it’s affordable and excellent for training on monsters weak to crush, like crabs or gargoyles. Pair it with a shield or defender for versatility.

• Alternative: Dragon Scimitar (60 Attack, ~100k GP) for slash attacks or Leaf-Bladed Sword (50 Attack, 55 Slayer, ~40k GP) for specific mobs like Turoth.
• Budget Option: Rune Scimitar (~15k GP) if you’re stuck at 40 Attack.

Shield: Rune Defender

The Rune Defender is a game-changer, offering offensive bonuses (+20 stab, +19 slash, +18 crush, +5 Strength) alongside decent Defence. You’ll need 40 Defence and access to the Warriors’ Guild (requires 65 combined Attack and Strength or 99 in one). It’s free after grinding tokens, beating out shields like the Rune Kiteshield for melee training.

• Alternative: Rune Kiteshield (~30k GP) for pure Defence or Book of War (~50k GP) for prayer bonus.
• Tip: Get the Defender early—it’s a long-term investment.

Accessories and Other Slots

Accessories like amulets, rings, and capes round out your setup, adding crucial bonuses without breaking the bank. Here’s what to aim for at level 50.

Amulet: Amulet of Strength

The Amulet of Strength is a no-brainer, providing +10 Strength bonus for ~100k GP. It’s tradable, requires no quests, and directly boosts your max hit. If you’re questing, the Amulet of Glory (+10 Attack, +3 Strength) is a pricier option (~400k GP) with balanced stats.

• Alternative: Amulet of Power (~20k GP) for a cheaper mix of Attack, Strength, and Defence.

Ring: Warrior Ring

The Warrior Ring gives +4 slash Attack bonus, perfect for scimitar users. It’s a drop from Dagannoth Rex, but you can buy it for ~100k GP. For crush weapons like the Granite Hammer, consider a Ring of Wealth (~10k GP) for utility or skip rings entirely to save GP.

• Alternative: Ring of Life (~2k GP) to avoid death in risky areas.

Cape: Fire Cape or Ardougne Cloak

The Fire Cape is best-in-slot for melee (+4 Strength, +11 Defence across the board), but it requires beating TzTok-Jad in the Fight Caves—a tough task at level 50. If you’re not ready, the Ardougne Cloak 1 (from Ardougne Diary) offers +2 prayer and is free with minimal effort. A basic Cape of Accomplishment (~10k GP) works in a pinch.

• Alternative: Team Cape (~5k GP) for style on a budget.

Budget vs. Optimal Gear Comparison

To help you decide, here’s a table comparing a budget setup (all tradable, under 200k GP) to the optimal setup (includes grinds/quests). Both assume 50 Attack, Strength, and Defence.

Slot	Budget Setup	Cost (GP)	Optimal Setup	Cost (GP/Effort)
Helmet	Rune Full Helm	20k	Berserker Helm	Free (Quest)
Body	Rune Platebody	30k	Fighter Torso	Free (Barbarian Assault)
Legs	Rune Platelegs	30k	Rune Platelegs	30k
Weapon	Rune Scimitar	15k	Granite Hammer	150k
Shield	Rune Kiteshield	30k	Rune Defender	Free (Warriors’ Guild)
Amulet	Amulet of Power	20k	Amulet of Strength	100k
Ring	Ring of Wealth	10k	Warrior Ring	100k
Cape	Team Cape	5k	Ardougne Cloak 1	Free (Diary)
Total		~160k		~380k + Grinds

The budget setup is quick to assemble, while the optimal setup requires quests and minigames but offers superior Strength (+16 vs. +7) and Attack bonuses, speeding up kills.

Tips for Getting Your Gear

Acquiring this gear doesn’t have to be a slog. Here are practical steps to build your setup efficiently.

Questing for Free Gear

Knock out The Fremennik Trials for the Berserker Helm—it’s a short quest with no combat requirements. If you’re close to 55 Defence, push for The Fremennik Isles to grab the Helm of Neitiznot. These quests also unlock useful areas for training.

Grinding Minigames

Barbarian Assault: Team up for the Fighter Torso. Focus on one role (e.g., Attacker) to learn quickly. Aim for 500 Honour Points in each role for the Torso.
Warriors’ Guild: Farm tokens by fighting Animated Armour, then defeat Cyclopes for the Rune Defender. Bring food and potions to last longer.

Making GP for Tradables

If you’re short on gold, try these low-requirement methods:

• Slayer: Train on tasks like trolls or banshees for decent drops.
• Agility Pyramid: Nets ~150k GP/hour with 30 Agility.
• Flipping: Buy low, sell high on the Grand Exchange with small investments.

With ~400k GP and some grinding, you can afford the optimal setup, setting you up for faster training and tougher content.

Upgrading Beyond Level 50

Once you hit 60 Attack or Defence, look into Dragon weapons (e.g., Dragon Scimitar) and Obsidian armour for incremental upgrades. Save for Barrows gloves (~130k GP post-Recipe for Disaster) for a massive boost. These steps keep you progressing without wasting GP on mid-tier gear.

Equipping the best P2P melee gear at level 50 in OSRS transforms your gameplay, making training smoother and quests more manageable. Whether you stick to the budget setup or grind for the optimal loadout, you’ll notice the difference in every swing. Get out there, slay some monsters, and enjoy the journey to 99!