You know that feeling when you blow 30M on Dragon Claws, then realize your old DDS was doing almost the same damage? Yeah, I’ve been there too. That’s exactly why I love this special attack calculator.
Been playing OSRS for years now, and I wish this tool existed back when I was making terrible weapon choices. Would’ve saved me so much money and frustration.
Here’s the Thing About Spec Weapons
Most players just buy whatever looks cool or costs the most. Big mistake. I learned this the hard way after spending my entire bank on an Armadyl Godsword, thinking it would revolutionize my PvM experience.
Spoiler alert: it didn’t.
The problem? I was fighting mostly medium-defense monsters where my expensive AGS barely outperformed cheaper alternatives. This calculator would’ve shown me that immediately.
What This Tool Actually Does
Simple concept, really. You pick your weapon from the dropdown (DDS, AGS, Dragon Claws, whatever), punch in the target’s defense level, add your strength bonus, and boom. You see exactly how much damage you’re getting for your money.
No more guessing. No more forum arguments about which weapon is “better.”
My Weapon Testing Adventures
Dragon Dagger Days
Started with DDS like everyone else. Cheap, accessible, gets the job done. But I kept wondering if upgrading was worth it. Turns out, for low-defense targets, DDS punches way above its weight class.
The Claws Obsession
Saved up for months to get Dragon Claws. First spec landed a nice 40+ damage and I thought I was a PvM god. Then I started actually tracking my damage over time. Reality check: they’re good, but not always 150x better than DDS despite costing 150x more.
AGS Disappointment
This one hurt. Spent 80M on an Armadyl Godsword expecting to demolish everything. Against high-defense bosses? Amazing. Against the Slayer monsters I actually fight most often? Massive overkill and terrible value.
Why Defense Level Matters So Much
Here’s something most players ignore: your target’s defense completely changes which weapon is optimal.
Fighting something with 1 defense? Your DDS special can hit almost as hard as weapons costing 100x more. But crank that defense up to 200+, and suddenly those expensive weapons start earning their price tag.
The calculator shows this perfectly. Plug in different defense levels and watch how the weapon rankings completely flip.
Real Scenarios Where This Saves You Money
Slayer Tasks
Most Slayer monsters have medium defense. You don’t need a 100M weapon setup to kill Bloodvelds efficiently. The calculator shows exactly where your money is better spent.
Boss Preparation
Planning to camp Bandos? Input his defense level and see which spec weapon actually gives you the best damage per GP spent. Might surprise you.
Budget Planning
Got 20M to spend on upgrades? See if a spec weapon upgrade beats spending that money on other gear instead.
Common Player Mistakes I See
Buying Based on Max Hit
Everyone gets excited about big numbers. But max hit doesn’t tell the whole story. How often do you actually hit that max? What’s your average damage? This calculator factors in accuracy, not just potential.
Ignoring Your Actual Targets
You might drool over AGS specs on YouTube, but if you’re mostly doing medium-level content, you’re paying premium prices for performance you don’t need.
Following Outdated Advice
The meta changes. Prices fluctuate. What was optimal six months ago might be terrible value now. This calculator uses current data.
How I Use This Tool
Before any major purchase, I run the numbers. Recently wanted to upgrade from my Dragon Claws to something better. Ran different scenarios through the calculator and realized that for MY typical activities, the upgrade wasn’t worth the cost.
Saved me 50M right there.
My Process:
- List the monsters/bosses I fight most often
- Note their defense levels
- Input my current strength bonus
- Compare weapons in my price range
- Buy only if the upgrade is actually significant
The GP Efficiency Reality
This isn’t just about raw DPS. It’s about damage per coin spent. Sometimes a 20M weapon gives you 80% of a 100M weapon’s performance. That extra 20% costs you 80M more. Is it worth it?
Depends on your bank and goals. The calculator gives you the data to decide.
Budget Tier Surprises
Dragon Warhammer against certain targets. Bone Dagger in specific situations. Voidwaker’s defense-ignoring special. There are hidden gems in the weapon lineup that most players overlook.
Personal Discoveries
The Bandos Godsword Revelation
Never paid much attention to BGS until I started testing with this calculator. Its defense-reducing special creates interesting scenarios where it outperforms “better” weapons in extended fights.
Whip Special Situations
Abyssal Whip’s special is usually memed on, but there are niche cases where it’s actually optimal. The calculator helped me find those situations.
Questions This Answers
Wondering which weapon to save up for next? Plug in some numbers.
Curious if your current setup is holding you back? Compare it to alternatives.
Want to optimize your bossing loadout? Test different defense levels.
Thinking about selling expensive gear for multiple cheaper upgrades? See the trade-offs clearly.
The Bottom Line
Stop making expensive mistakes based on gut feelings or outdated guides. This calculator gives you actual data for YOUR specific situation.
I wish I had this years ago. Would’ve saved me millions in bad purchases and helped me optimize way faster. Now I never buy a spec weapon without running it through here first.
Your bank will thank you. Trust me on this one.
Pro tip: bookmark this calculator and check it before every weapon upgrade. Even experienced players get surprised by the results sometimes.