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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. 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. 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 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, though, popular weapon types for each style are:

Stab

Slash

Crush

There are also a variety of 'novelty weapons' available. They do 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 Fastest/Weakest Stab/Slash The first item that can be smithed in any metal. Generally (but not always) has higher stats than a sword of the weaker metal. Daggers are primarily stabbing weapons, though they have a decent slash attack. Members can poison daggers to great effect. Dragon dagger are discoloured upon poisoning, making the tip of the dagger a bright green colour. The dragon dagger was a popular Pking weapon and is still commonly used in PvP combat
Hatchet Medium/Weak Crush/Slash Intended for Woodcutting, but can be used as a weapon.
Pickaxe Medium/Weak Stab/Crush Intended for Mining, but can be used as a weapon.
Sword Fast/Medium Stab/Slash 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.
Mace Medium/Medium Crush/Stab The crush attack is better against platemail, and the prayer bonus can be useful. It also features a controlled stabbing attack.
Scimitar Fast/Medium Slash/Stab An excellent slashing weapon against cloth or leather, and average against chainmail, but weak against platemail. 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 was one of the most popular weapons for Pking, along with the abyssal whip and dragon dagger. But 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.
Longsword Medium/Strong Slash/Stab Slower than a scimitar, but 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.
Warhammer Slow/Strong Crush 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. It also offers the second best attack bonuses among all the basic one-handed weapons; the store is located in Rellekka
Battleaxe Slow/Stronger Slash/Crush Provides a better strength bonus than the warhammer, but not as effective in the secondary crush attack. It is considered to be a rather effective Pking weapon. The Battleaxe is the strongest 1-handed weapon in the melee weaponry class.
Two-handed sword Slowest/Second Strongest Slash/Crush The most powerful of the basic weapons, but 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 their 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 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 etc.)
Spear Medium/Medium Stab/Slash/Crush 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 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. It can be poisoned with Karambwan paste.
Hasta Medium/Medium Stab/Slash/Crush 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 be poisoned with Karambwan paste.
Claws Fastest/Medium Slash/Stab A members-only weapon that is similar to the sword, except that it is two-handed and is primarily a slashing weapon. Also it beats the sword in speed. It cannot be poisoned.
Maul Slow(est)/Strongest Crush Does not follow the standard metal scale (Bronze-Dragon). It is also is 2-handed. You usually get them either in granite or obsidian.
Abyssal Whip Fastest/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.

Italics indicate decent effectiveness in a weapon's secondary style compared to its primary style. (Less than 20% difference in bonuses)

Weapon requirements

Attack Level Type
1 Bronze weapons
1 Iron weapons
5 Steel weapons
10 Black weapons
10 White weapons1
20 Mithril weapons
30 Adamant weapons
40 Rune weapons
50 Granite maul (with 50 Strength)
60 Dragon weapons
70 Abyssal whip
70 Barrows weapons2
70 Barrows weapons (with 70 Strength)3

The table above shows what level is needed to wield a certain metal and some specific weapons. Annotations above a word in the table correspond to the following:

1Wanted! must be completed.
2Guthan's warspear and Verac's flail.
3Torag's hammers and Dharok's greataxe.

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
Hatchet 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 Yes
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, Magic staff, Elemental staves (air, fire, earth, water), Skull sceptre, Rod of ivandis (15 Magic required due to quest req, boostable),Dramen staff
30 Battlestaves (with 30 Attack), Pharaoh's sceptre (with 30 Attack)
40 Mystic staves (with 40 Attack)
42 Void knight mace (with 42 Attack, Strength, Defence, Hitpoints, Ranged, and 22 Prayer)
45 Beginner wand
50 Slayer's staff (with 55 Slayer), Apprentice wand, Ancient staff (after Desert Treasure with 50 Attack), Iban's staff (after Underground Pass)
55 Teacher wand
60 Toktz-mej-tal (Obsidian staff), Master wand, Godstaves
65 Lunar staff
70 Ahrim's staff (with 70 Attack)
75 Staff of the Dead (with 75 Attack)

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, File:Bronze c'bow.pngBronze c'bow, Bronze dartBronze dart, Bronze knifeBronze knife, Iron dartIron dart, Iron knifeIron knife
5 Oak shortbowOak shortbow, Oak longbowOak longbow, Steel dartSteel dart, Steel knifeSteel knife
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
26 File:Iron c'bow.pngIron c'bow
28 File:Dorgeshuun c'bow.pngDorgeshuun crossbow
30 Maple shortbowMaple shortbow, Maple longbowMaple longbow, Comp ogre bowOgre composite bow, Adamant dartAdamant dart, Adamant knifeAdamant knife
31 File:Steel c'bow.pngSteel c'bow
36 File:Mith c'bow.pngMith c'bow
40 Yew comp bowYew comp bow ,Yew shortbowYew shortbow, Yew longbowYew longbow, Rune dartRune dart, Rune knifeRune knife
46 File:Adamant c'bow.pngAdamant c'bow
50 Magic comp bowMagic comp bow ,Magic shortbowMagic shortbow, Magic longbowMagic longbow, SeercullSeercull, File:Hunter's crossbow.pngHunter's crossbow
60 Dark bowDark bow, Dragon dartDragon dart
61 File:Rune c'bow.pngRune c'bow
70 Crystal bowCrystal bow, File:Karils crossbow.pngKaril's crossbow, Armadyl crossbowArmadyl crossbow

Weapon groups

Shortbow

Longbows

Crossbows

Composite bows

All composite bows (excluding the composite ogre bow) has some of the speed of a shortbow and some of the power of a longbow.

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 Weapon required Location
Training arrows Training arrows Training Can be bought from Beefy Bill 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.
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 can be traded.
Dragon arrows Dragon arrows Dark Can be fletched by materials dropped by Dragon implings, Kingly 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 mini-quest (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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