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This article is about the Defence skill. For information on training Defence, see Defence training.

Defence

Defence (spelled "Defense" in Link to RuneScape Classic RuneScape Classic; oftentimes abbreviated as Def) is one of the primary combat Link to skills skills that grants players protection in all forms of Link to combat combat. Defence is one of the skills that will raise the Link to combat level combat level of a player regardless of other skill levels. For this reason, many pures leave their defence at a certain level and stop training it. They range from 1 Defence pures, to Link to Initiate armour Initiate pures (level 20-25), Link to Rune equipment#Armour rune pures (level 40/42), Item image of %7B%7B%3ABerserker+helm%7D%7D, File:Berserker helm Berserker pures (level 45), and Link to Barrows equipment Barrows pures (level 70). All of the above may be considered as a type of 'Link to Combat pure pure'. Some players may choose to only train Defence, and are known as just 'Link to Defence Pure Defence pures'.

The higher a target's Defence level, the less likely one is to land successful attacks (damage greater than zero) against said target. As such, it is a vital skill in high-level PvM and PvP situations. Defence does not decrease the amount of damage that an opponent can deal against you.

Magical defence is different - it is based on 70% of the player's Skill icon of Magic, File:Magic icon Magic level, while the remaining 30% is the player's Defence level, which is then followed by the player's magical defence bonus from their armour.

A player's Defence level also determines which equipment they are able to wear, as most pieces of Link to armour armour or other equipment have a Defence level requirement.

Listen to audio.
Defence level-up (link)
The music that plays when levelled up.

Equipment[]

Almost every single piece of combat equipment (except for the ones that go on the weapon, cape, ring, and amulet slots) requires a certain Defence level to wear. Here are links to tables of armour and equipment that require a Defence level to wear:

  • Link to Armour Armour - For an overview on the different types of Armour.
  • Bronze full helm chathead Melee armour - An overview of the different types of Melee armour.
  • Link to Armour/Magic armour Magic armour - An overview of the different types of Magic armour.
  • Link to Armour/Ranged armour Ranged armour - An overview of the different types of Ranged armour.
  • Link to Armour/Prayer armour Prayer armour - An overview of the different types of Prayer armour.
  • Link to Defender Defenders - A weapon that goes on the shield slot and provides offensive bonuses while also having an Attack and Defence levels requirement. The rune defender provides the same strength bonus as an obsidian shield, while only requiring 40 defence as opposed to 60.

Quests rewarding Defence experience[]

Quest Experience
reward
Defence req. Other requirements
A Soul's Bane 500 - -
In Search of the Myreque 600 - 25 Agility icon
In Aid of the Myreque 2,000 - 25 Crafting icon, 15 Mining icon, 7 Magic icon
Nature Spirit 2,000 - 18 Crafting icon if crafting your own sickle
What Lies Below 2,000 - 35 Runecrafting icon
The Fremennik Trials 2,812 - 25 Fletching icon, 40 Woodcutting icon, 40 Crafting icon if crafting your own lyre
Heroes' Quest 3,075 - 55 Quest point icon, 53 Cooking icon, 53 Fishing icon, 25 Herblore icon, 50 Mining icon
Between a Rock... 5,000 30 Defence icon 40 Mining icon, 50 Smithing icon
Olaf's Quest 12,000 - 40 Firemaking icon, 50 Woodcutting icon
Holy Grail 15,300 - 20 Attack icon
Dragon Slayer 18,650 - 32 Quest point icon
Camelot training room
(minigame)
20,000 65 Defence icon 45 Magic icon
King's Ransom 33,000 65 Defence icon 45 Magic icon
Total 116,937

Skill choice[]

Upon completing any of the following quests, players may choose to allocate experience to Defence. These rewards usually come in the form of items, such as lamps or books, and are independent of any experience rewards directly received for completing the quest.

Quest Experience
reward
Skills available Skill requirements
Client of Kourend 500 twice Any -
Fairytale II - Cure a Queen 2,500 Any skill above 30 49 Farming icon, 57 Herblore icon
A Tail of Two Cats 2,500 twice Any skill above 30 -
The Great Brain Robbery 5,000 Any skill above 30 16 Crafting icon, 30 Construction icon, 50 Prayer icon
King's Ransom 5,000 Any skill above 50 65 Defence icon
Darkness of Hallowvale 2,000 three times Any skill above 30 5 Construction icon, 20 Mining icon, 22 Thieving icon, 32 Crafting icon, 33 Magic icon, 40 Strength icon
Curse of the Empty Lord
(miniquest)
10,000 Any skill above 50 Some players will need 31 Prayer icon
Shadow of the Storm 10,000 Attack icon Strength icon Defence icon Magic icon Ranged icon Hitpoints icon 30 Crafting icon
Contact! 7,000 twice Attack icon Strength icon Defence icon Magic icon Ranged icon Hitpoints icon -
Dream Mentor 15,000 Strength icon Defence icon Magic icon Ranged icon Hitpoints icon 32 Agility icon (Boostable), 85 Multicombat, 61 Crafting icon, 40 Defence icon, 49 Firemaking icon, 5 Herblore icon, 65 Magic icon, 60 Mining icon, 55 Woodcutting icon
The Fremennik Isles 10,000 twice Attack icon Strength icon Defence icon Hitpoints icon 20 Construction icon, 40 Agility icon
One Small Favour 10,000 twice Any skill above 30 36 Agility icon, 25 Crafting icon, 18 Herblore icon, 30 Smithing icon
Recipe for Disaster
(The final battle)
20,000 Any skill above 50 175 Quest point icon, 48 Agility icon, 50 Mining icon, 53 Fishing icon, 53 Thieving icon, 25 Herblore icon, 59 Magic icon, 40 Smithing icon, 50 Firemaking icon, 40 Ranged icon, 40 Crafting icon, 10 Fletching icon, 10 Slayer icon, 36 Woodcutting icon
Legends' Quest 7,650 four times Attack icon Strength icon Defence icon Magic icon Hitpoints icon Prayer icon Woodcutting icon Crafting icon Smithing icon Herblore icon Agility icon Thieving icon 107 Quest point icon, 50 Agility icon, 50 Crafting icon, 45 Herblore icon, 56 Magic icon, 52 Mining icon, 42 Prayer icon, 50 Smithing icon, 50 Strength icon, 50 Thieving icon, 50 Woodcutting icon
Monkey Madness I 35,000 or 20,000[1] Attack icon Defence icon or Strength icon Hitpoints icon -
Dragon Slayer II 25,000 four times Attack icon Strength icon Defence icon Magic icon Ranged icon Hitpoints icon 200 Quest point icon, 75 Magic icon, 70 Smithing icon, 68 Mining icon, 62 Crafting icon, 60 Agility icon, 60 Thieving icon, 50 Construction icon, 50 Hitpoints icon
Monkey Madness II 50,000 twice Attack icon Strength icon Defence icon Magic icon Ranged icon Hitpoints icon 69 Slayer icon, 70 Crafting icon, 60 Hunter icon, 55 Agility icon, 55 Thieving icon, 60 Firemaking icon
Total 384,100 or 399,100
  1. The two skills chosen will receive 35,000 experience, and the other two will receive 20,000 experience.


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