Attack

From the RuneScape Wiki, the wiki for all things RuneScape

This article is about the melee skill. For fighting in general, see Combat.

A player using punch to attack a dummy found in Varrock.

Attack is a melee combat stat that determines the accuracy of the player's melee attacks. A player's Attack level also determines which weapons he/she can use. The current minimum requirement to be ranked (at rank 2,000,000) on the hiscores for Attack is level 60.

Using the accurate attack style in the attack style menu.

An Untrimmed Attack Cape of Achievement

[edit] Fighting accurately

Attack is trained with the "Accurate" attack style, accessed from the Combat styles menu. Most weapons have an option to train Accurately, although some (most notably halberds) cannot effectively train Attack.

The "Accurate" attack style gives an invisible +3 bonus levels to Attack.

Attack is often overlooked by people focusing on Strength who notice the high hits but not how often they hit.

[edit] Experience

A formula is used that decides how much experience a player obtains when fighting accurately. If a player hits an opponent, the damage dealt is multiplied by 4 and that amount of experience is given to the Attack skill. For example, if a player hits a 1, then they will receive 4 Attack experience. Exp = 4x

Some experience is also given to a player's Hitpoints level when they deal damage. If a player hits an opponent, whatever damage they deal is multiplied by 1.33 and given to their Hitpoints. For example, if a player hits a 1, then they will receive 1.33 Hitpoints experience, in addition to the 4 experience in attack. Exp = 1.33x

If a player fights with the "controlled" attack style, then their damage dealt is multiplied by 1.33 and given to the player's Attack, Strength, Defence, and Hitpoints level.

Many players use the Abyssal whip to train Attack, because of its quick speed, and high slash and strength bonuses. Most players who cannot afford an Abyssal whip use a Dragon scimitar instead.

[edit] Combat training (dummies)

Players with an Attack level of 1 or above can train on dummies at Lumbridge
Players with an Attack level of 8 or lower can train on dummies at Varrock.
Members with an Attack level of 5 or above^{[source needed]}, with completion of the Biohazard quest, can train on dummies in the Combat Training Camp.

Dummies are sandbags which players can hit and not risk being dealt damage. Striking a dummy in Varrock gives 5.2 Attack experience, and in Lumbridge, striking a dummy gives 0.1 experience. The Varrock dummy does not give any Hitpoints experience, however the Lumbridge dummy will give a small amount. Dummies can be found in various places across RuneScape, though the most popular places are north of Varrock's east bank and the tutor building in Lumbridge.

[edit] Training

Main articles: Pay-to-play Melee Training and Free-to-play Melee training

[edit] Attack bonuses

Main article: Equipment bonuses#Attack bonuses

Almost all weapons give players "attack bonuses" to certain attack types. These bonuses can be seen in the Equipment Stats menu, to the right of the inventory menu. Attack bonuses give players advantages as well as disadvantages in combat.

[edit] Other attack bonuses

An amulet of accuracy gives an equipment bonus of +4 to all attack types.
An amulet of power gives an equipment bonus of +6 to all attack types.
An amulet of glory gives an equipment bonus of +10 to all attack types. It is also member's only.
The beads of the dead gives +1 in all styles. This is member's only
An amulet of fury gives the same bonuses as the Amulet of Glory in the attack stats, but has more defensive capabilities. It is also member's only.
A warrior ring gives an equipment bonus of +4 to Slash. It is also member's only.
Any gloves received as a reward from the Culinaromancer's Chest as a reward from the Recipe for Disaster quest gives substantial attack bonuses in stab, slash and crush; the more expensive, the better the bonuses. Note that each name of the type of glove is assumed by appearance, as Jagex has called the gloves simply "Gloves." All of the gloves are member's only.
- "Bronze" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +2 in each melee style.
- "Iron" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +3 in each melee style.
- "Steel" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +4 in each melee style.
- "Black" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +5 in each melee style.
- "Mithril" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +6 in each melee style.
- "Adamantite" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +7 in each melee style.
- "Rune" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +8 in each melee style.
- "Dragon" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +9 in each melee style.
- "Barrows" gloves provide equipment bonuses of +12 in each melee style.
Defenders are weapons which can be wielded in the shield slot and provide different attack bonuses depending on the type of metal.
A player's maximum stab bonus is +169.
A player's maximum slash bonus is +184.
A player's maximum crush bonus is +124.

[edit] Levels

Levels needed to wield different types of weapons are as follows:

Type	Level	Notes
Bronze	1	Apart from the "fun" weapons, bronze weapons are the weakest weapons in all of RuneScape.
Iron	1	Iron weapons are stronger than bronze weapons.
Steel	5	Steel weapons are stronger than iron weapons.
Black	10	Black weapons are stronger than steel weapons.
Mithril	20	Mithril weapons are stronger than black weapons.
Adamant	30	Adamant weapons are stronger than mithril weapons.
Rune	40	Rune weapons are stronger than adamant weapons and are also the strongest weapons free players can wield, not counting Corrupt dragon (see below).
Granite (m)	50	Granite weapons are limited to the Granite maul and Granite mace. Granite can only be wielded by members. Granite weapons also have very high crush bonuses, but little or no stab and slash.
Obsidian (m)	60	Obsidian weapons are stronger than rune weapons. Obsidian can only be wielded by members.
Dragon (m)	60	Dragon weapons are stronger than rune weapons. All offer a special attack, it is believed by some lower levels that all Dragon weapons special attacks offer a higher hit. This is NOT true. To understand what their special attacks perform please refer to the item in question. Dragon can only be wielded by members.
Corrupt dragon	60	Corrupt Dragon weapons are stronger than rune weapons. They provide the same bonuses as normal Dragon equipment, and can be wielded by all players (but only members can use their special attacks). These weapons will disappear after 30 minutes of the first time they are equipped , unless put in a bank which "freezes" the countdown, but does not reset it(on both PvP and non-PvP worlds). They are generally more expensive than normal dragon, so mostly free players decide to buy them.
Barrows (m)	70	Barrows is the second strongest set of melee equipment in the game. Barrows can only be wielded by members. Each set of Barrows items (e.g. all of Verac the Defiled's armour plus his flail) give a special set effect that takes place as long as the full set is worn.
Ancient Warriors' Equipment (m)	20/78	Ancient Warriors' Equipment is currently the strongest set of melee equipment in the game. The sets will disappear after one hour of combat, assuming the wearer has the level 78 requirements fulfilled. Otherwise, they will vanish after a mere fifteen minutes.
Godsword (m)	75	The Godsword is amongst the most powerful weapons in the entire game. It was released with the God Wars Dungeon.

(m) stands for Members only.

There are also many other miscellaneous weapons all over RuneScape which do not fit into any particular category. They are often quest rewards or rare drops from monsters. They include Keris and the Abyssal Whip.

[edit] Best Bonuses

[edit] Best Melee Attack Bonuses

The following armour gives the highest possible melee attack bonus for each combat style for members:

[edit] Best Stab Attack Bonus using degradable armour

Item	Stab attack bonus	Requirements to wear/use
Fighter hat	+5	Earned through Barbarian Assault minigame
Statius's platebody⁽²⁾ ⁽⁴⁾	+5	20/78 Defence
Statius's platelegs⁽²⁾ ⁽⁴⁾	+3	20/78 Defence
Vesta's spear⁽¹⁾ ⁽³⁾ ⁽⁴⁾ ⁽⁵⁾	+133	20/78 Attack
Barrows gloves	+12	Completion of Recipe for Disaster
Fire cape	+1	Completion of the TzHaar Fight Cave minigame
Amulet of Glory	+10	None
Total	+169	20/78 Attack, 20/78 Defence, completion of Recipe for Disaster, and the TzHaar Fight Cave

1. Vesta's longsword gives a stab bonus of +106. If combined with a Rune defender, the stab bonus is increased to +126. However, this weapon also degrades.

2. Vesta's chainbody and plateskirt gives the same stab attack bonus as Statius's platebody and platelegs. However, these pieces of armour also degrade.

3. The Leaf-bladed sword gives a stab bonus of +67, the highest one-handed stab weapon that doesn't degrade. If combined with a Rune defender, the stab bonus is increased to +87. However, the weapon requires the wielder to have 55 Slayer and 50 Attack.

4. Both Statius's and Vesta's Equipment degrade and disappear after 15 minutes/1 hour of use, depending if it's either corrupt or normal.

5. The Zamorakian spear gives the best individual stab bonus that doesn't degrade, at +85. However, it is two-handed and so cannot be used with a shield, and requires 70 Attack.

[edit] Best Slash Attack Bonus using degradable armour

Item	Slash attack bonus	Requirements to wear/use
Fighter hat ⁽¹⁾	+5	Earned through Barbarian Assault minigame
Vesta's chainbody ⁽³⁾	+7	20/78 Defence
Vesta's plateskirt ⁽³⁾	+5	20/78 Defence
Vesta's longsword⁽²⁾ ⁽³⁾	+121	20/78 Attack
Rune defender	+19	40 Attack, 40 Defence
Barrows gloves	+12	Completion of Recipe for Disaster
Fire cape	+1	Completion of the TzHaar Fight Cave minigame
Warrior ring	+4	None
Amulet of Glory	+10	None
Total	+184	40/78 Attack, 40/78 Defence, completion of Recipe for Disaster and the TzHaar Fight Cave

1. The Warrior helm and Statius's full helm give the same slash attack bonus as the Fighter hat.

2. The Godsword gives a +132 slash attack bonus, and it doesn't degrade. However, it is two-handed, so a Rune defender cannot be used with it.

3. Both Statius's and Vesta's Equipment degrade and disappear after 15 minutes/1 hour of use, depending if it's either corrupt or normal.

[edit] Best Crush Attack Bonus using degradable armour

Item	Crush attack bonus	Requirements to wear/use
Dwarven helmet	+6	Completion of Grim Tales quest
Statius's platebody ⁽¹⁾	+7	20/78 Defence
Statius's platelegs ⁽¹⁾	+5	20/78 Defence
Statius's warhammer	+123	20/78 Attack
Rune defender	+18	40 Attack, 40 Defence
Barrows gloves	+12	Completion of Recipe for Disaster
Fire cape	+1	Completion of the TzHaar Fight Cave minigame
Amulet of Glory	+10	None
Total	+182	40/78 Attack, 40/78 Defence, completion of Recipe for Disaster, Grim Tales the TzHaar Fight Cave

1. Both Statius's and Vesta's Equipment degrade and disappear after 15 minutes/1 hour of use, depending if it's either corrupt or normal.

[edit] Best Free-to-Play Melee Attack Bonuses

The following armour gives the highest possible melee attack bonus for each combat style for non-members:

[edit] Slash

Item	Slash attack bonus	Requirements to wear/use
Corrupt dragon battleaxe⁽¹⁾	+70	60 attack
Amulet of power	+6	None
Total	+76	60 attack

1. The Corrupt dragon battleaxe will last for 30 minutes before crumbling to dust. The best slash attack bonus with a non-degrading weapon is +75, using a Rune two-handed sword (+69).

[edit] Stab

Item	Stab attack bonus	Requirements to wear/use
Corrupt dragon longsword⁽¹⁾	+58	60 attack
Amulet of power	+6	None
Total	+64	60 attack

1. The Corrupt dragon longsword will last for 30 minutes before crumbling to dust. The best stab attack bonus with a non-degrading weapon is +44, using a rune short- or longsword, both giving a bonus of +38. The short sword is most accurate, since it has a accurate stab attack style, unlike the longsword.

[edit] Crush

Item	Crush attack bonus	Requirements to wear/use
Corrupt dragon battleaxe⁽¹⁾	+65	60 attack
Amulet of power	+6	None
Total	+71	60 attack

1. The Corrupt dragon battleaxe will last for 30 minutes before crumbling to dust. The best crush attack bonus with a non-degrading weapon is +59, using a Rune warhammer (+53).

[edit] Temporary boosts

A player wearing the Attack cape and performing the attack skillcape emote.

Other than the first three prayers listed, all of these boosts are members only.

Attack potion - Boosts attack level by 15%; amount depends on the player's attack level.
Combat potion - Boosts attack level by 3 to 12; amount depends on the player's attack level. It also boosts Strength at the same time.
Super attack potion - Boosts attack level by 20%; amount depends on the player's attack level.
Zamorak brew - Boosts attack level by 25%; amount depends on the player's attack level.
Prayer - Clarity of Thought, Improved Reflexes, Incredible Reflexes, Chivalry and Piety boosts a player's attack level by 5%, 10%, 15%, 15% and 20% respectively.
Black mask/Slayer helmet - When equipped, it boosts Attack and Strength level by 15%; amount depends on the player's attack level. The bonus only applies while fighting monsters that have been assigned to you by a Slayer Master. The bonus does not stack with Salve amulet.
Salve amulet - This amulet is a reward from the Haunted Mine quest. It boosts attack and strength by 15% against undead monsters. The enhanced Salve amulet (e) gives a 20% boost against undead monsters, and is obtained by completing The Lair of Tarn Razorlor miniquest. Neither stacks with a Black mask/Slayer helmet.
Cup of tea - Temporarily boosts attack by 2.
Ruby Harvest - When used on another player in a multi-combat zone, it increases that players attack by 20%.

The maximum boost in Attack can be achieved by using a Zamorak brew (+25%), the Piety prayer (+20%), with an additional boost from the Salve amulet (e) (+20%) when fighting undead monsters. That sums up for a total of 65% boost in Attack.

[edit] See also

Quest experience rewards - Attack

Skills
Free skills
Members skills