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Defence

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Defence
The Defence logo in detail
The Old Defence Sign

Defence (written as "Defense" in RuneScape Classic; abbreviated as Def) is a skill that gives the player protection during combat. As a player raises their Defence level, opponents will deal damage less often, rather than deal less damage per hit. Defence levels also affect what kind of armour a player can equip ranging from level 1 for Bronze armour and Iron armour to level 78 for the all Ancient Warriors' Equipment. The current minimum requirement to be ranked (at rank 2,000,000) on the hiscores for Defence is level 55.

Using the defensive attack style in the attack style menu.

A small selection of players choose to focus exclusively on Defence and not train any other combat skills. These players are known as Defence Pures. It is suspected that the few players train as defence pures due to the limited appeal of long combat round between a defence pure and their opponent. There are quite a few players who have achieved level 99 Defence without levelling Hitpoints at level 27 combat through the use of Soul Wars and various other levelling methods; for example, experience lamps and Penguin Hide and Seek.

Contents

[edit] Fighting defensively

To increase a player's Defence level, the player must choose the "defensive" attack style. To do this, a player has to select the Combat Styles tab (image with the two swords one left of Stats tab), then select the combat style that says Defensive in parentheses when the mouse cursor is hovered over it. It is also useful to note that clicking the controlled style will also grant experience to the Defence skill, though it is not as efficient as it equally splits experience with the Attack and Strength skills. One-third of the experience is gained when using controlled, 1.33 experience per damage dealt by the player. Using defensive gives 4 experience per damage point the player deals.

[edit] Strategy

Having a high Defence level is key to any fighter's success. If a player wants to land strikes, one has to also be able to take them. Contrary to popular belief, Defence does not lower the amount of damage per hit; rather it makes your opponent's attacks less accurate.

Numerous players, especially melee-pure player killers, neglect their Defence in favour of training Attack and Strength or Strength alone. Most of these players leave their Defence at level 1, and wear iron armour to provide basic Defence. Defence is also sometimes raised to level 10 or 20, so as to enable the wearing of black armour/white armour or initiate armour respectively. Though this strategy gives a person high power in their attacks, some do not recommend it. They argue that even if a person in the wilderness boasts very high Attack and Strength levels, if they do not have the ability to wear (or do not possess) decent armour, a person of a comparable level with high Defence may kill them with little or no trouble. Although it should be noted that since the levels used on defense are put into Strength and Attack (as well as hitpoints), a pure of a comparable combat level could have a high enough attack level to fair with the person easily regardless of their Defence level, or be able to hit high enough to make up for not hitting as often. A pure would also most likely have higher hitpoints than the person with a higher Defence level as well.  It is becoming increasingly popular to train defence to at least level 40, as to enable the player to wear rune armour. Most of the time people go 5 beyond this level, maybe increasing their combat level by one, so that they can wear a berserker helm. These people are known as 'Berserker pures'.

[edit] Experience

A formula is used to calculate how much experience a player obtains when fighting defensively. If a player hits an opponent, whatever damage they deal is multiplied by 4 and given to the player's Defence skill. For example, if a player hits a 1, then they will receive 4 Defence experience.

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 defence.

If a player fights with the "controlled" attack style, then whatever damage they deal will be multiplied by 1.33 and given to the player's Defence, Attack, Strength, and hitpoints level.

Defence can also be trained by ranging in the "long range" attack style. For every hit dealt to the opponent, players receive 2 range experience, 2 defence experience, and 1.33 hitpoints experience.

Defence can also be trained by attacking with magic spells while autocasting spells with a defensive cast style. Doing so gives players 2 experience points to Magic and 2 to Defence, as well as the 1.33 to hitpoints.

[edit] Defence bonuses

Some weapons and armour give players "defence bonuses" against certain attack types. These bonuses can be seen in the equipment menu, to the right of the inventory menu. Defence bonuses give players advantages as well as disadvantages in combat.

Stab: Wearing melee armour lowers the chance of players stabbing with a weapon from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using the stab attack style. The maximum possible bonus attainable by players is 467.

Slash: Wearing melee armour lowers the chance of players slashing with a weapon from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using the slash attack style. The maximum possible bonus attainable by players is 472.

Crush: Wearing melee armour lowers the chance of players crushing with a weapon from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using the crush attack style. The maximum possible bonus attainable by players is 377.

Magic: Wearing ranged armour lowers the chance of magic attacks dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using Magic. The maximum possible bonus attainable by players is 201. In addition, your passive magic defence is 70% of your magic level, and 30% of your defence level.

Ranged: Wearing melee armour lowers the chance of players using ranged weapons from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using Ranged attacks. The maximum possible bonus attainable by players is 414.

Summoning: Wearing most melee armours lowers the chance of players using Summoning Familiars from hitting.

[edit] Other defence bonuses

  • Leather gloves, leather boots, and capes give slight defence bonuses.
  • An Amulet of Defence gives a defence bonus of +7 against all attack types.
  • An Amulet of Power gives a defence bonus of +6 against all attack types.
  • An Amulet of Glory gives a defence bonus of +3 against all attack types.
  • A Holy symbol gives a defence bonus of +2 against all attack types.
  • An Amulet of Fury gives a defence bonus of +15 against all attack types.
  • A Gnome Amulet gives a defence bonus of +13 against all melee attack types.
  • A Berserker ring gives a defence bonus of +4 against the crush attack type.
  • A Warrior Ring gives a defence bonus of +4 against the slash attack type.
  • A Seers' ring gives a defence bonus of +4 against the magic attack type.
  • An Archers' ring gives a defence bonus of +4 against the ranged attack type.
  • The Beacon Ring from the quest What Lies Below gives a defence bonus of +1 against the magic attack type.
  • A Lunar Ring from the quest Lunar Diplomacy gives a defence and attack bonus of +2 for magic.
  • The gloves from the quest Recipe for Disaster give varying melee and ranged defence bonuses, ranging from +2 from the "bronze" gloves to +12 from the "barrows" gloves. All Recipe for Disaster gloves give half the defence against magic as they would for the other attack types; i.e. "barrows" gloves give +12 against melee and ranged attack types, while only providing a +6 defence bonus against magic.

[edit] Defence requirements

Defence levels required to equip different types of armour are as follows:

Type Level Notes
Bronze 1 Bronze armour is the weakest metal armour that players can make in all of RuneScape.
Iron 1 Iron armour is stronger than bronze armour.
Steel 5 Steel armour is stronger than iron armour.
Black 10 Black armour is stronger than steel armour.
Mithril 20 Mithril armour is stronger than black armour.
Adamant 30 Adamant armour is stronger than mithril armour.
Rune 40 Rune armour is stronger than adamant armour and is also the strongest armour free players can equip with the exception of Corrupt dragon equipment.
Granite 50 Due to Granite armours weight, an additional 50 strength is required to wear Granite armour, and is a members only armour.
Dragon 60 Dragon armour is stronger than rune armour. Dragon can only be equipped by members, and is expensive compared to Runite armour.
Corrupt dragon 60 Corrupt dragon armour provides the same bonuses as regular Dragon armour but is available to free players. It only lasts 30 minutes of combat, and is much less expensive than the non-corrupt version.
Third Age 65 3rd Age melee range and mage armour obtained from Treasure trails used to be the rarest continued, tradeable items in RuneScape until spirit shields. Currently a 3rd age melee set is 4 whole pieces, yet is still 100m less then the most expensive spirit shield.
Crystal 70 Crystal equipment can only be equipped by members, and also requires 50 Agility, as well as the completion of the Roving Elves quest.
Barrows 70 Barrows is the strongest of all the melee and magic armours. Along with the required 70 Defence, 70 Ranged is needed for Karil's and 70 Magic is needed for Ahrim's Barrows armour, respectively.
Dragonfire Shield 75 The Dragonfire Shield is one of the best shields in the game when it is fully charged, surpassed only by some spirit shields.

*The requirements are determined by a player's base defence level, boosts will not allow a player to wield armour higher than his base.

[edit] Maximum defence bonus

[edit] Maximum P2P defence bonuses

[edit] Best stab defence bonus

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Statius's full helm[1] +65 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Statius's platebody[1] +154 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Statius's platelegs[1] +110 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Lucky cutlass +6 Completed Cabin Fever
Dragonfire shield +70 75 Defence
Dragon gauntlets +14 60 Defence
Bandos boots +17 65 Defence
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
File:Onyx.png Onyx ring (i) +6 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +468 75/78 Defence, completed Cabin Fever and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ a b c All Ancient Warriors' Equipment comes in corrupt versions. Normal versions require level 78 in relevant skills and last for 1 hour. Corrupt versions require level 20 and last 15 minutes.

[edit] Best stab defence bonus without PvP armour

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Torag's helm[1] +55 70 Defence
Torag's platebody[2] +122 70 Defence
Torag's platelegs[3] +85 70 Defence
Lucky cutlass +6 Completed Cabin Fever
Dragonfire shield +70 75 defence
Dragon gauntlets +14 60 Defence
Bandos boots +17 65 defence
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
File:Onyx.png Onyx ring (i) +6 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +401 75 Defence, completed Cabin Fever and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ Guthan's and Verac's helms both give the same stab defence bonus and require 70 Defence.
  2. ^ Guthan's and Dharok's platebodies both give the same stab defence bonus and require 70 Defence.
  3. ^ Verac's plateskirt and Dharok's platelegs both give the same stab defence bonus and require 70 Defence.

[edit] Best slash defence bonus

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Statius's full helm[1] +70 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Statius's platebody[1] +145 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Statius's platelegs[1] +106 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Lucky Cutlass +6 Completed Cabin Fever
Dragonfire shield +75 75 Defence
Dragon gauntlets +15 60 Defence
Bandos boots +18 65 Defence
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
Warrior's Ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +469 75/78 Defence, completed Cabin Fever and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ a b c All Ancient Warriors' Equipment comes in corrupt versions. Normal versions require level 78 in relevant skills and last for 1 hour. Corrupt versions require level 20 and last 15 minutes.

[edit] Best slash defence bonus without PvP armour

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Torag's helm[1] +58 70 Defence
Torag's platebody[2] +120 70 Defence
Torag's platelegs[3] +82 70 Defence
Lucky Cutlass +6 Completed Cabin Fever
Dragonfire shield +75 75 Defence
Dragon gauntlets +15 60 Defence
Bandos boots +18 65 Defence
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
Warrior's ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +408 75 Defence, completed Cabin Fever and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ Guthan's and Verac's helms both give the same slash defence bonus and require 70 Defence.
  2. ^ Guthan's and Dharok's platebodies both give the same slash defence bonus and require 70 Defence.
  3. ^ Verac's plateskirt and Dharok's platelegs both give the same slash defence bonus and require 70 Defence.

[edit] Best crush defence bonus

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Statius's full helm[1] +63 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Vesta's chainbody[1] +145 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Vesta's plateskirt[1] +112 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Maple blackjack (d) +24 Completed Rogue Trader
Elysian spirit shield[2] +75 75 defence, 75 prayer, completed Summer's End
Dragon gauntlets +15 60 Defence
Bandos boots +19 65 Defence
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
File:Berserker.jpg Berserker ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +487 75/78 Defence, 75 Prayer, completed Rogue Trader, Summer's End and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ a b c All Ancient Warriors' Equipment comes in corrupt versions. Normal versions require level 78 in relevant skills and last for 1 hour. Corrupt versions require level 20 and last 15 minutes.
  2. ^ The Divine spirit shield gives the same crush defence bonus. The Dragonfire shield gives +72 crush defence and also requires 75 Defence, but is much less expensive.

[edit] Best crush defence bonus without PvP armour

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Torag's helm[1] +54 70 Defence
Third age platebody[2] +113 65 Defence
Torag's platelegs[3] +83 70 Defence
Maple blackjack (d) +24 Completed Rogue Trader
Elysian spirit shield[4] +75 75 defence, 75 prayer, completed Summer's End
Dragon gauntlets +15 60 Defence
Bandos boots +19 65 Defence
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
File:Berserker.jpg Berseker ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +417 75 Defence, 75 Prayer, completed Rogue Trader, Summer's End and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ Guthan's and Verac's helms both give the same crush defence bonus and require 70 Defence.
  2. ^ Torag's, Guthan's, and Dharok's platebodies all give +107 crush defence and require 70 Defence, but are much less expensive.
  3. ^ Dharok's platelegs, Verac's plateskirt, and Third age platelegs all give the same crush defence bonus. Dharok's platelegs and Verac's plateskirt require 70 Defence and Third age platelegs require 65 Defence.
  4. ^ The Divine spirit shield gives the same crush defence bonus. The Dragonfire shield gives +72 crush defence and also requires 75 Defence, but is much less expensive.

[edit] Best ranged defence bonus

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Statius's full helm[1] +71 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Statius's platebody[1] +157 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Statius's platelegs[1] +121 78 Defence (20 Defence for Corrupt version)
File:Void Knight mace.png Void knight mace +2 42 Attack, 42 Strength, 42 Defence, 42 Ranged, 42 Magic, 42 Hitpoints, 22 Prayer
File:Dragonfire shield.gif Dragonfire shield[2] +72 75 Defence
Dragon gauntlets +14 60 Defence
File:Rogue boots.png Rogue boots +2 Completed the Rogue's Den
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
File:Archerimbued.png Archers' ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +468 42 Attack, 42 Strength, 75/78 Defence, 42 Ranged, 42 Magic, 42 Hitpoints, 22 Prayer, completed Rogue's Den and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ a b c All Ancient Warriors' Equipment comes in corrupt versions. Normal versions require level 78 in relevant skills and last for 1 hour. Corrupt versions require level 20 and last 15 minutes.
  2. ^ A new Crystal shield gives +80 ranged defence, but degrades and loses its stats.

[edit] Best ranged defence bonus without PvP armour

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
File:Torag's helmet.png Torag's helm[1] +62 70 Defence
File:Bandoschestplate.gif Bandos chestplate +133 65 Defence
File:Armourtassets.gif Bandos tassets +93 65 Defence
File:Void Knight mace.png Void knight mace +2 42 Attack, 42 Strength, 42 Defence, 42 Ranged, 42 Magic, 42 Hitpoints, 22 Prayer
File:Dragonfire shield.gif Dragonfire shield[2] +72 75 Defence
Dragon gauntlets +14 60 Defence
File:Rogue boots.png Rogue boots +2 Completed the Rogue's Den
Fire cape +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of Fury +15 None
File:Archerimbued.png Archers' ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +412 42 Attack, 42 Strength, 75 Defence, 42 Ranged, 42 Magic, 42 Hitpoints, 22 Prayer, completed Rogue's Den and the TzHaar Fight Cave, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ Guthan's helm gives the same ranged defence and also requires 70 Defence.
  2. ^ A new Crystal shield gives +80 ranged defence, but degrades and loses its stats.

[edit] Best magic defence bonus

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Armadyl helmet +10 70 Ranged, 70 Defence
Morrigan's leather body[1] +75 78 Ranged, 78 Defence (20 Ranged, 20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Morrigan's chaps[1] +46 78 Ranged, 78 Defence (20 Ranged, 20 Defence for Corrupt version)
Master wand +20 60 Magic
Spectral spirit shield[2] +30 65 Magic, 75 Defence, 70 Prayer, completed Summer's End
Third age vambraces[3] +9 65 Ranged, 40 Defence
File:Jester boots.png Silly jester boots[4] +5 Started The Fremennik Isles
Fire cape[5] +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of fury +15 None
Seer's ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +229 75/78 Defence, 70/78 Ranged, 65 Magic, 70 Prayer, Completed Summer's End and the TzHaar Fight Cave, Started The Fremennik Isles, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ a b All Ancient Warriors' Equipment comes in corrupt versions. Normal versions require level 78 in relevant skills and last for 1 hour. Corrupt versions require level 20 and last 15 minutes.
  2. ^ A Mage's book only gives +15 magic defence and requires 60 Magic, but is much less expensive
  3. ^ Black d'hide vambraces only give +8 magic defence and require 70 Ranged, but are much less expensive
  4. ^ Infinity boots give the same magic defence and require 50 Magic and 35 Defence
  5. ^ God capes only give +10 magic defence, but are easier to get

[edit] Best magic defence bonus without PvP armour

Item Bonus Requirements
Table: View • Edit
Armadyl helmet +10 70 Ranged, 70 Defence
Armadyl chestplate +70 70 Ranged, 70 Defence
Armadyl plateskirt +40 70 Ranged, 70 Defence
Master wand +20 60 Magic
Spectral spirit shield[1] +30 65 Magic, 75 Defence, 70 Prayer, completed Summer's End
Third age vambraces[2] +9 65 Ranged, 40 Defence
File:Jester boots.png Silly jester boots[3] +5 Started The Fremennik Isles
Fire cape[4] +11 Completed the TzHaar Fight Cave
Amulet of fury +15 None
Seer's ring (i) +8 Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
Total
 +218 75 Defence, 70 Ranged, 65 Magic, 70 Prayer, Completed Summer's End and the TzHaar Fight Cave, Started The Fremennik Isles, and a Mobilising Armies Rank of 300
  1. ^ A Mage's book only gives +15 magic defence and requires 60 Magic, but is much less expensive
  2. ^ Black d'hide vambraces only give +8 magic defence and require 70 Ranged, but are much less expensive
  3. ^ Infinity boots give the same magic defence and require 50 Magic and 35 Defence
  4. ^ God capes only give +10 magic defence, but are easier to get

[edit] Maximum F2P defence bonus

This section or article is incomplete and could do with improvement. Reason: incomplete
You can edit this page to improve it.
Image Name Stab Slash Crush Magic Ranged Strength Prayer
File:CorruptMhelm.png
Corrupt dragon med helm(1) 33 35 32 -1 34 0 0
File:CorruptChain.png
Corrupt dragon chainbody(2) 81 93 98 -3 82 0 0
File:Corrupt-legs.png‎
Corrupt dragon platelegs(3) 68 66 63 -4 65 0 0
File:Talismanstaff.png
Talisman staff(4) 2 3 1 15 4 33 0
File:Fightingboots.png‎File:Fancy_boots.png
Fighting boots/Fancy Boots 1 2 3 0 0 0 0
File:RedWildyCape.PNG
Team cape(any) 0 1 1 0 2 0 0
File:Emerald_amulet.png
Amulet of defence 7 7 7 7 7 0 0
File:Rune_gauntlets.gif
Rune gauntlets(charged) 10 11 11 -1 10 2 0
File:CorruptShield.png‎
Corrupt dragon sq shield (5) 50 52 48 0 50 0 0
File:Explorer's_ring_(1).pngFile:Explorer_ring.png
File:ExplorerRing3.png‎
Explorer's ring(6) 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
File:Defence_detail.png
Total 252 270 264 14 254 35 1


[edit] Maximum F2P defence bonus using non degradable armour

Image Name Stab Slash Crush Magic Ranged Strength Prayer
File:Rune_full_helm.png
Rune full helm 30 32 27 -1 30 0 0
File:Rune-platebody-inv.png
Rune platebody(1) 82 80 72 -6 80 0 0
File:Rune-platelegs-inv.png‎
Rune platelegs 51 49 47 -4 49 0 0
File:Talismanstaff.png‎
Runecrafting staff 2 3 1 15 4 33 0
File:Fightingboots.pngFile:Fancy_boots.png
Fancy Boots/Fighting boots 1 2 3 0 0 0 0
File:RedWildyCape.PNG
Team cape (any)(2) 0 1 1 0 2 0 0
File:Emerald_amulet.png
Amulet of defence 7 7 7 7 7 0 0
File:Rune_gauntlets.gif‎
Rune gauntlets (charged) 10 11 11 -1 10 2 0
File:Rune-kiteshield-inv.png
Rune kiteshield 44 48 46 -1 46 0 0
File:Explorer's_ring_(1).png‎File:Explorer_ring.png
File:ExplorerRing3.png
Explorer's ring 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
File:Defence_detail.png
Total 227 231 215 10 228 35 1


[edit] Temporary boosts

A player wearing a Defence cape (t) and performing the Skillcape emote.

The maximum boost can be achieved using the best armour, Saradomin brew (+25%) and Piety prayer (+25%) or Mystic Might (For defending against magic, gives +15% mage defence/attack).

[edit] See also


Wikipedia
Wikipedia has an article about:
v • d • e
Skills
Free-to-play skills
Combat skills

Attack • Strength • Defence • Ranged • Prayer • Magic • Hitpoints

Other skills

Runecrafting • Crafting • Mining • Smithing • Fishing • Cooking • Woodcutting • Firemaking

Member skills

Agility • Herblore • Hunter • Thieving • Fletching • Slayer • Farming • Construction • Summoning

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