OSRS Defence Guide 1-99: The Ultimate Training Roadmap

Leveling up Defence from 1 to 99 in Old School RuneScape (OSRS) is a rewarding journey that unlocks powerful armor, improves your survivability, and prepares you for endgame content like raids and bossing. Whether you’re a new player or a veteran looking to optimize your training, this comprehensive OSRS Defence guide will walk you through the best methods, gear, and strategies to hit that coveted level 99. With a mix of free-to-play (F2P) and pay-to-play (P2P) options, plus tips for efficiency, this guide has you covered. Let’s dive into the roadmap to mastering Defence!

Defence is one of the three core melee combat skills in OSRS, alongside Attack and Strength. It determines how often enemies hit you and unlocks access to higher-tier armor, making it essential for tanking damage in PvM (Player vs. Monster) and surviving PvP encounters. A high Defence level also complements Slayer tasks and bossing, where durability can make or break your success. Plus, hitting 99 Defence is a badge of honor, showing off your dedication to Gielinor’s combat scene.

Benefits of High Defence

• Reduced Enemy Accuracy: Higher Defence lowers the chance of taking hits, letting you stay in combat longer.
• Better Armor Access: From Rune to Torva, Defence unlocks top-tier gear for all combat styles.
• Quest and Diary Requirements: Quests like “Dragon Slayer I” and diaries like the Achievement Diary cape need Defence levels.
• Endgame Viability: Tanks in raids or boss fights often rely on maxed Defence to soak up damage.

Getting Started: Levels 1-40

The early grind from 1 to 40 is all about building a foundation. These levels are relatively quick, and you can leverage quests and low-level monsters to speed things up. Both F2P and P2P players have solid options here.

Questing for Early Defence XP

Quests are a fantastic way to skip the slow early levels. They’re especially useful for fresh accounts or pures transitioning to mains. Here are some key quests that grant Defence XP without much hassle:

• Dragon Slayer I: 18,650 Defence XP (and Strength XP). Requires 32 Quest Points, but it’s a classic for F2P players.
• Holy Grail: 15,300 Defence XP. Needs 20 Attack and some quest prerequisites, but it’s worth it.
• Monkey Madness I: Choose the 35,000 Defence/Attack XP option (with 20,000 in Strength/Hitpoints). Requires partial completion of other quests.

Completing these can boost you to around level 30-40 Defence in just a few hours, skipping tedious low-level training.

Low-Level Training Spots

If quests aren’t your style, or you’ve exhausted them, head to these beginner-friendly spots:

• Chickens (F2P): Lumbridge farms offer 3 HP each, yielding around 10-15k XP/hour on controlled style (splitting XP between Attack, Strength, and Defence).
• Rock Crabs (P2P): Found on Rellekka’s shore, these have 50 HP and low Defence, offering 20-30k XP/hour.
• Flesh Crawlers (F2P/P2P): In the Stronghold of Security, they’re aggressive and deal minimal damage, netting 15-25k XP/hour.

Mid-Level Grind: Levels 40-70

By level 40, you’ve got access to decent gear like Rune armor (F2P) or Dragon gear (P2P), and the XP rates start to climb. This range is where you can diversify your training methods and decide between AFK or active playstyles.

Gear Recommendations

Upgrading your equipment here boosts your survivability and XP rates:

Level	F2P Gear	P2P Gear
40	Rune Platebody, Rune Full Helm	Dragon Chainbody, Helm of Neitiznot
50	Rune Platelegs	Granite Armor, Fighter Torso
60	–	Dragon Platelegs, Abyssal Whip (for Attack/Defence)

Pair these with a Defender (from Warriors’ Guild) for extra offensive bonuses while training Defence.

Mid-Tier Training Methods

• Hill Giants (F2P/P2P): Edgeville Dungeon offers 35 HP targets with Big Bone drops, giving 30-40k XP/hour.
• Sand Crabs (P2P): Hosidius beach provides 60 HP and aggressive behavior, yielding 40-50k XP/hour AFK.
• Nightmare Zone (P2P): Using absorption potions and a Dwarven Rock Cake, you can AFK for 50-70k XP/hour with bosses like Bloat or Dad.

NMZ is a game-changer at this stage. Set it to Hard mode, use Protect from Melee, and let the XP roll in while you watch Netflix.

High-Level Push: Levels 70-99

The final stretch from 70 to 99 is where efficiency matters most. You’ll need high-end gear and the best methods to keep the grind bearable. P2P players dominate here with access to Slayer and minigames, but F2P options still exist.

Best Gear for High Levels

At 70+ Defence, you can wear elite armor that maximizes your tanking potential:

• Bandos Armor (P2P): Chestplate and Tassets offer high Defence and Strength bonuses.
• Barrows Sets (P2P): Guthan’s for healing, Dharok’s for damage at low HP.
• Torva Armor (P2P): Requires 80 Defence; the ultimate endgame set with massive bonuses.
• Rune Armor (F2P): Still viable, but lacks the punch of P2P options.

Weapons like the Abyssal Whip (Attack/Defence) or Blade of Saeldor pair well with a Dragon Defender or Dragonfire Shield.

Fastest Training Methods

• Nightmare Zone (P2P): With Overloads and Absorptions, you can hit 80-100k XP/hour. Use bosses with high HP but low accuracy, like Tree Spirit or King Roald.
• Slayer (P2P): Train Defence on Controlled style with tasks like Abyssal Demons or Dust Devils. Expect 60-90k XP/hour plus Slayer XP and loot.
• Giant Spiders (F2P): Stronghold of Security’s Pit of Pestilence offers 50 HP targets, netting 40-60k XP/hour.

Slayer is the king of multitasking—level Defence, Slayer, and Hitpoints while banking profit from drops like Rune items or alchables.

AFK and Profitable Alternatives

Not everyone wants to sweat for 99 Defence. If you prefer a laid-back or money-making approach, these methods balance XP with convenience or profit.

AFK Training Options

• Ammonite Crabs (P2P): Fossil Island’s 100 HP crabs reset aggro every 10 minutes, offering 60-80k XP/hour AFK.
• Nightmare Zone (P2P): As mentioned, it’s the ultimate AFK spot with minimal input for 50-100k XP/hour.
• Ogress Warriors (F2P): Corsair Cove Dungeon (post-Corsair Curse) gives 30-40k XP/hour and decent GP from drops.

Profitable Training

Make money while you train:

• Slayer (P2P): Tasks like Gargoyles or Wyverns drop millions in loot over time alongside 60-80k XP/hour.
• Pest Control (P2P): Earn 40-60k XP/hour and points for Void armor, a solid mid-game set.
• Hill Giants (F2P): Big Bones and Limpwurt Roots add up to 50-100k GP/hour with 30-40k XP.

Tips and Tricks for Faster Levelling

To optimize your Defence grind, keep these pointers in mind:

General Efficiency Tips

• Use Controlled Style: Splits XP evenly across Attack, Strength, and Defence for balanced growth.
• Prayer Boosts: Protect from Melee in NMZ or Piety for Slayer boosts your longevity and damage.
• Inventory Management: Bring high-healing food (Monkfish or Sharks) and teleports to reset aggro or bank quickly.
• Minigames: Warriors’ Guild for Defenders and Pest Control for XP and gear are worth the detour.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Don’t waste time on low-XP methods past level 70, like cows or goblins. Skip expensive gear unless it significantly boosts XP rates—Bandos is great, but Obsidian armor is a cheaper alternative with a solid 10% melee boost. Lastly, plan your Slayer tasks to align with Defence training for maximum efficiency.

With this OSRS Defence guide, you’ve got everything you need to go from 1 to 99. Whether you’re AFKing at NMZ, slaying for profit, or grinding it out F2P-style, the path to 99 is yours to choose. Grab your armor, sharpen your sword, and start tanking like a pro—Gielinor awaits!