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The weapon slot.
Weapons artwork

Artwork of some standard RuneScape weapons.

Weapons are wieldable items that a player can use to inflict damage in Combat.

All players wield weapons in their right hand. If a player is using a two-handed weapon, such as a bow or a two-handed sword, they may not have any items equipped in the Shield slot at the same time, thus two-handed weapons are held in both hands preventing the use of a shield. In the case of thrown weapons, which are stackable, multiples of the same thrown weapon may be equipped in the Weapon slot at once. A player may also equip a pickaxe or a Woodcutting hatchet in the weapon slot so that they may hold more ore or logs, respectively.

Basic melee weapons

These weapons are more commonly used than the other weapons available because they don't have to be replaced unless upon death, and they do not require ammunition to use unlike most Magic or Ranged weapons. Most types of basic Melee weapons come in eight different kinds of metal.

Most weapons have a primary attack mode in all three attack styles and a secondary mode in the Aggressive or Controlled style. The secondary mode is normally weaker, but it may be more appropriate to your target.

Chainmail armour is weaker against stabbing; platemail is weaker against crushing, while the slash attack is highly effective against cloth, leather or unarmoured targets. Against monster hide, the most effective style varies. The only absolute Defence against a particular attack is the Protect from Melee prayer, or the occasional NPC that requires something special to kill them, so you will still hit with the "wrong" attack and weapon, just not as often and with less damage (or not even at all, in the case of monsters like vampires).


Weapon groups

The whole idea of having multiple weapon types is that one weapon type should not be all-conquering, or there would be not much point having the others. Overall, there are three attack styles: Stab, Slash, and Crush.

Weapon Stab Slash Crush
Dagger Yes check Yes check X mark
Sword Yes check Yes check X mark
Longsword Yes check Yes check X mark
Scimitar Yes check Yes check X mark
Mace Yes check X mark Yes check
Battleaxe X mark Yes check Yes check
Warhammer X mark X mark Yes check
Two-handed sword X mark Yes check Yes check
Spear/Hasta Yes check Yes check Yes check
Halberd Yes check Yes check X mark
Claws Yes check Yes check X mark
Axe X mark Yes check Yes check
Pickaxe Yes check X mark Yes check
Maul X mark X mark Yes check
Whip X mark Yes check X mark

Weapon characteristics

There are also a variety of 'novelty weapons' available. They deal out very little, if any, damage.

The various groups of weapons are summarised below. The level of Strength in each class is not definitive.

Weapon Speed/Strength Primary/Secondary Notes
Dagger Fast/Weakest Stab/Slash A dagger is the first item that can be smithed in any metal. Generally (but not always), it has higher stats than a sword of the weaker metal. A dagger is tied in speed with the scimitar and shortsword. Daggers are primarily stabbing weapons although they have a decent slash attack. Members can poison daggers to great effect. Dragon daggers are discoloured upon poisoning, making the tip of the dagger a bright green colour. A Dragon dagger (p++) is a very popular special attack weapon in general fighting and PvP combat; the store is located in South Varrock.
Axe Medium/Weak Slash/Crush [1] Intended for Woodcutting, but it can be used as a weapon. Bob's Brilliant Axes sells low-tier axes up to steel.
Pickaxe Medium/Weak Stab/Crush [1] Intended for Mining, but it can be used as a weapon. Nurmof's Pickaxe Shop sells pickaxes up to rune.
Shortsword Fast/Medium Stab/Slash A Shortsword is able to hit higher than a dagger at the same attack speed although it cannot be poisoned. This makes it unpopular. However, players can find it useful as a sword is a cheap alternative to scimitars for Rune and lower metals; the store is located in South Varrock.
Mace Medium/Medium Crush/Stab The crush attack is better against platemail, and the Prayer bonus can be useful. Maces are slightly slower than the Shortsword and slightly weaker. It also features a Controlled stabbing attack. The Dragon mace is mainly used in player killing due to its special attack; the store is located in Falador.
Scimitar Fast/Medium Slash/Stab A scimitar is an excellent slashing weapon against cloth or leather and average against chainmail, but it is weak against platemail. It can hit just as fast as a shortsword or dagger, and it deals slightly more damage than shortswords but less than longswords. The secondary stabbing attack is rather inefficient against some armour, but better against chainmail. It is in the controlled style and yields equal experience to Attack, Strength, and Defence. The Dragon scimitar is one of the most popular weapons for PKing along with the Abyssal whip and Dragon dagger (p++), and it's considered one of the most versatile combat weapons in the game although it doesn't have a very good Strength bonus. Nonetheless, the Rune scimitar is considered to be one of the best training weapons for Melee in a free world, and the Dragon scimitar is one of the best training weapons for members whereas the whip lacks a way to train Strength; the store is located in Al Kharid.
Longsword Medium/Strong Slash/Stab [1] A longsword is slower than a scimitar, shortsword, and dagger, but it has higher Strength and Attack bonuses, especially in terms of its controlled stab attack. Considered to be worse than the scimitar due to its lower speed, it has a considerably higher Strength bonus and higher slash and stab bonuses. It is described as the "warrior's best friend" on the RuneScape website. It was once considered the best weapon type before the scimitar's popularity outbreak although many high-levelled players still use the Dragon longsword due to its better stats than the Dragon scimitar and its substantially better special attack; the store is located in South Varrock.
Warhammer Slow/Strong Crush It is an uncommon crushing-only weapon with no specialist store open to non-members. It's right in the middle of the Smithing scale for any metal. This weapon is good to dent other warriors' platemail. Warhammers are not commonly used because of their low speed and mediocre Strength bonuses. They offer the same damage as their slashing cousins, the battleaxes; the store is located in Rellekka.
Battleaxe Slow/Stronger Slash/Crush [1] It provides a better Strength bonus than the warhammer but not as effective in the secondary crush attack. Battleaxes are stronger than longswords yet slower. A battleaxe is considered to be a rather effective PKing weapon, but a quicker weapon, such as a Dragon scimitar or Abyssal whip, fares better; the store is located in Port Sarim.
Two-handed sword Slowest/Second Strongest Slash/Crush A 2h sword is the most powerful of the basic weapons, but it is also the slowest. Furthermore, as its name suggests, the two-handed sword cannot be used with a shield. It may be a good secondary weapon for the Ranged fighter as his/her bow cannot be used with a shield anyway. This weapon has no specialist store open to non-members; the store is located in Taverley.
Halberd Slowest/Third Strongest Stab/Slash A halberd is equally about as slow as the two-handed sword and slightly less powerful, and a shield cannot be equipped with it. However, it can reach over small obstacles (such as tables, fences, other safespots, etc.), which is known as "hallying".
Spear Medium/Medium Stab/Slash/Crush [1] The stabbing equivalent of a two-handed sword, this two-handed members-only weapon is one of only two classes in the game that can use all three attack styles. The spear has an average attack speed, features controlled style for each attack style, and all spears, excluding the Zamorakian spear, can be poisoned. Its bonuses are not as high as other weapons', and the only way to train Attack or Strength with it is to use one of the controlled styles; the store is located in Tai Bwo Wannai.
Hasta Medium/Medium Stab/Slash/Crush [1] This weapon is identical to the spear in every way except that it is a one-handed weapon compared to the two-handed spear and that it has negative Defence bonuses although this can be countered by wearing a shield. This weapon may also be poisoned except the Zamorakian hasta.
Claws Fast/Medium Slash/Stab A members-only weapon that is similar to the shortsword, except that it is two-handed and is primarily a slashing weapon. It cannot be poisoned.
Maul Slow(est)/Strongest Crush Does not follow the standard metal scale (Bronze-Dragon). It is also is two-handed. You usually get them either in granite or obsidian.
Abyssal Whip Fast/Strong Slash Does not follow the standard metal scale (Bronze-Dragon). The Abyssal Whip has a high experience rate in training Attack and Defence but the only way to train Strength is to use the controlled style. They can be used with a shield. It's often used with a Rune defender or Dragonfire shield.
  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Italics indicate decent effectiveness in a weapon's secondary style compared to its primary style. (Less than 20% difference in bonuses)

Weapon requirements

Attack icon level Icon Weapon Degrades? Other skills/
requirements
1 Red topaz machete Red topaz machete No None
1 Bronze scimitar Bronze weapons No None
1 Iron scimitar Iron weapons No None
5 Steel scimitar Steel weapons No None
10 Black scimitar Black weapons No None
10 White scimitar White weapons No Wanted!
15 Ancient mace Ancient mace No 25 Prayer icon and partial completion of Another Slice of H.A.M.
20 Mithril scimitar Mithril weapons No None
30 Adamant scimitar Adamant weapons No None
40 Rune scimitar Rune weapons No None
40 Brine sabre Brine sabre No None
42 Void knight mace Void mace No 250 Pest Control points plus the following:
42 Attack icon, Strength icon, Defence icon, Hitpoints icon, Ranged icon, Magic icon, and 22 Prayer icon
50 Granite maul Granite maul No 50 Strength icon
60 Dragon scimitar Dragon weapons No Various quests [1] [2] [3] [4]
60 Toktz-xil-akToktz-xil-ek
Tzhaar-ket-emTzhaar-ket-om
Obsidian weapons No 60 Strength icon for Tzhaar-ket-om [5]
60 Barrelchest anchor Barrelchest anchor No 40 Strength icon and The Great Brain Robbery
65 3rd age longsword Third-age longsword No File:Coins.gif
70 Abyssal whip Abyssal whip No None
70 Abyssal dagger Abyssal dagger No None
70 Abyssal bludgeon Abyssal bludgeon No 70 Strength icon
70 Saradomin sword Saradomin sword No None
70 Zamorakian spearZamorakian hasta Zamorakian spear/hasta No None
70 Verac's flailGuthan's warspear
Torag's hammersDharok's greataxe
Barrows weapons Yes; 15 hours in Combat 70 Strength icon for Torag's hammers and Dharok's greataxe
75 Armadyl godsword Godswords No File:Coins.gif
75 Abyssal tentacle Abyssal tentacle Yes; 10,000 hits None
75 Saradomin's blessed sword Saradomin's blessed sword Yes; 10,000 hits None

The table above shows what level is needed to wield a certain metal and some specific weapons. The foot notes indicate additional skills and/or requirements as followed:

Weapons are made of different metals, some stronger and more expensive than others. Higher Attack levels allow wielding weapons of better metals. For example, a player needs an Attack level of 10 to wield a black weapon, whereas the player would need level 20 to wield a mithril weapon. Almost all metal weapons can be smithed, except for halberds, and any Black, White, Dragon, or Barrows weapons.

Weapons table

Bronze Iron Steel Black White Mithril Adamant Rune Dragon
Dagger Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Sword Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Scimitar Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Mace Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Longsword Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Axe Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Battleaxe Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Warhammer Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Two-handed sword Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pickaxe Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Spear Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes
Hasta Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No
Claws Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Halberd Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Other melee weapon types

TzHaar

Barrows

Infestation

A player fighting using Guthan's warspear.

Miscellaneous

Quest weapons, fun weapons, and blackjacks

Quest weapons

File:Darklight special attack.gif

A player fighting with the Darklight.

Blackjacks

Fun weapons

Kitchen weaponry

Kitchen weaponry are members only weapons that can be bought from the Culinaromancer's chest. To buy and wield more advanced kitchen weapons the player must complete the Recipe for Disaster subquests.

The weapons:

Magic weapons

The weapons listed below are Magic weapons. While they can be used in Melee, they are more powerful when used to cast spells in Combat.

Weapon requirements

Level Type
1 Staff Staff, Magic staff Magic staff, Staff of airElemental staves (air, fire, earth, water), Skull sceptre Skull sceptre, Rod of ivandis Rod of ivandis (15 Magic required due to quest requirement, boostable), Dramen staff Dramen staff
30 Smoke battlestaffBattlestaves (with 30 Attack), Pharaoh's sceptre Pharaoh's sceptre (with 30 Attack)
40 Mystic mud staffMystic staves (with 40 Attack)
42 Void knight mace Void knight mace (with 42 Attack, Strength, Defence, Hitpoints, Ranged, and 22 Prayer)
45 Beginner wand Beginner wand
50 Slayer's staff Slayer's staff (with 55 Slayer), Apprentice wand Apprentice wand, Ancient staff Ancient staff (after Desert Treasure with 50 Attack), Iban's staff Iban's staff (after Underground Pass)
55 Teacher wand Teacher wand
60 Toktz-mej-tal Toktz-mej-tal (Obsidian staff), Master wand Master wand, Saradomin staffGod staves
65 Lunar staff Lunar staff, 3rd age wand 3rd age wand
70 Ahrim's staff Ahrim's staff (with 70 Attack)
75 Staff of the dead Staff of the dead (with 75 Attack), Trident of the seas Trident of the seas

Weapon groups

Battlestaves

Mystic staves

God staves

Wands

Other

Ranged weapons

Ranged weapons are used for Ranged attacks.

Weapon requirements

Level Type
1 Training bowTraining bow, Cursed goblin bowCursed goblin bow, ShortbowShortbow, LongbowLongbow, CrossbowCrossbow, Phoenix crossbowPhoenix crossbow, Bronze crossbowBronze c'bow, Bronze dartBronze dart, Bronze knifeBronze knife, Bronze thrownaxeBronze thrownaxe, Bronze javelinBronze javelin, Iron dartIron dart, Iron knifeIron knife, Iron thrownaxeIron thrownaxe, Iron javelinIron javelin
5 Oak shortbowOak shortbow, Oak longbowOak longbow, Steel dartSteel dart, Steel knifeSteel knife, Steel thrownaxeSteel thrownaxe, Steel javelinSteel javelin
10 Black dartBlack dart, Black knifeBlack knife
16 Blurite crossbowBlurite crossbow
20 Willow longbowWillow longbow, Willow comp bowWillow comp bow, Willow shortbowWillow shortbow, Mithril dartMithril dart, Mithril knifeMithril knife, Mithril thrownaxeMithril thrownaxe, Mithril javelinMithril javelin
26 Iron crossbowIron c'bow
28 Dorgeshuun crossbowDorgeshuun crossbow
30 Maple shortbowMaple shortbow, Maple longbowMaple longbow, Comp ogre bowOgre composite bow, Adamant dartAdamant dart, Adamant knifeAdamant knife, Adamant thrownaxeAdamant thrownaxe, Adamant javelinAdamant javelin
31 Steel crossbowSteel c'bow
36 Mith crossbowMith c'bow
40 Yew comp bowYew comp bow ,Yew shortbowYew shortbow, Yew longbowYew longbow, Rune dartRune dart, Rune knifeRune knife, Rune thrownaxeRune thrownaxe, Rune javelinRune javelin
45 File:Chinchompa (item).pngGrey chinchompa
46 Adamant crossbowAdamant c'bow
50 Magic comp bowMagic comp bow ,Magic shortbowMagic shortbow, Magic longbowMagic longbow, SeercullSeercull, File:Hunter's crossbow.pngHunter's crossbow
55 Red chinchompaRed chinchompa
60 Dark bowDark bow, Dragon dartDragon dart
61 Rune crossbowRune c'bow
65 3rd age bowThird-age bow, Black chinchompaBlack chinchompa
70 Crystal bowCrystal bow, Karil's crossbowKaril's crossbow, Armadyl crossbowArmadyl crossbow
75 Toxic blowpipeToxic blowpipe

Weapon groups

Shortbow

Longbows

Crossbows

Composite bows

All composite bows (excluding the composite ogre bow) have a speed in-between a longbow and a shortbow, an attack range equal to a longbow, and slightly higher accuracy compared to a shortbow or longbow of the same materials.

Thrown weapons

Darts

Darts can be forged from Bronze, Iron, Steel, Mithril, Adamantite, Rune and Dragon. Each metal bar can make ten Dart Tips. Darts can be poisoned and are stackable. Black and Dragon Darts are available but cannot be smithed by players. Darts can only be made after completing the Tourist Trap quest.

Throwing knives

Throwing knives are poisonable, and can be forged by players from Bronze, Iron, Steel, Mithril, Adamantite, and Rune. Each metal bar yields five Throwing Knives. Black Throwing Knives are only dropped by Shadow Warriors, Imperial Guard members, ankous, and cyclopes in the warrior's guild.

Thrownaxes

Thrownaxes come in Bronze, Iron, Steel, Black, Mithril, Adamantite, and Rune. They can only be bought from a shop in the Ranging Guild. The rune thrownaxe has a special attack ("Chain Hit") that, when activated in a multicombat zone with multiple enemies nearby, will bounce from enemy to enemy up to 10 times(10% special bar used per enemy hit).

Javelins

Javelins are stackable and made out of Bronze, Iron, Steel, Black, Mithril, Adamantite, and Rune. Javelins can be found as drops from defeated monsters and can also be purchased inside the Ranging Guild. Javelins are notoriously slow and are generally considered to be the most unpopular out of the one-handed Ranging weapons.

Chinchompas
Miscellaneous

Other

Ammunition

Arrows are used as ammunition for bows, and bolts are used as ammunition for crossbows. The better the arrow/bolt, the higher damage a player can deal. However, players require certain bows to use certain arrows. All arrows except for Training Arrows can be made using the Fletching skill.

Image Arrow Bow required Location
Training arrows Training arrows Training bow Given for free by the Ranged tutor in Lumbridge.
Bronze arrows Bronze arrows Any Can be bought from Lowe's Archery Store in Varrock.
Iron arrows Iron arrows Any Can be bought from Lowe's Archery Store in Varrock.
Steel arrows Steel arrows Oak Can be bought from Lowe's Archery Store in Varrock or from Brian's Archery Supplies in Rimmington.
Mithril arrows Mithril arrows Willow Can be bought from Lowe's Archery Store in Varrock or from Brian's Archery Supplies in Rimmington.
Adamant arrows Adamant arrows Maple Can be bought from Lowe's Archery Store in Varrock or from Brian's Archery Supplies in Rimmington.
Ice arrows Ice arrows Yew Can be obtained in various amounts in the chests of the ice part of the Temple of Ikov. They are used to defeat the Fire Warrior of Lesarkus.
Rune arrows Rune arrows Yew Can be bought from the Ranging Guild, can be bought from other players or can be fletched.
Broad arrows Broad arrows Magic Can be bought from any Slayer Master, used to kill Turoths and Kurask, and cannot be traded.
Dragon arrows Dragon arrows Dark bow Can be fletched by materials dropped by Dragon implings.
File:Seercull special attack.gif

A player fighting with a Seercull.

Salamanders

Can be used as Ranged, Magic or Melee weapons*. They are obtained using the Hunter skill.

*It has been reported that while doing the Knight's Training ground miniquest (unlocked upon completion of the "King's Ransom" quest), the salamanders are not registered as a melee weapon, even while on the melee setting (This is relevant because you are permitted only to use melee weapons while in the training ground).

See also

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