Tippy: Runescape Skill - Attack Guide

Attack Styles

By clicking on the crossed sword icon (shown in the below picture), you'll be able to see which attack style you're currently using, and you'll be able to switch between the different styles. Each attack method is named differently depending on what weapon you are using. Usually, the order of attack styles is Accurate, Aggressive, Controlled, and Defensive. You can find out the exact name for each style by hovering your cursor over the button. The pictures of each style will also help you to determine how you want to attack.

You will also notice the Auto Retaliate button. Auto Retaliate basically tells your character what to do when you are attacked by another force. If you have this option on, then your character will instantly start fighting back. If this option is off, then your character will stand and do nothing, until you right click on the force and select the option to “Attack”.

When you select an attack type, you'll gain experience in that combat skill when you cause damage to an enemy. You will always earn experience in Hitpoints. You can earn experience in attack, defense, strength, or all 3, depending on the style you use.

Accurate - hits more often; gives 4 exp to Attack per damage point.
Aggressive - stronger but slightly slower; gives 4 exp to Strength per damage point.
Defensive - increases the chance to block; gives 4 exp to Defense per damage point.
Controlled - a combination of all; gives 1.33 exp to Attack, Defense and Strength per damage point.

Attack Classes

If you select the body icon (in the above picture), you'll see the equipment you are wearing. At the bottom of the body menu, you should find a button labeled “Show Equipment Stats”. Clicking that button will pop up a box showing what you’re wearing, an enlarged picture of yourself, and your stats. For now, we'll only discuss the Attack Bonuses, but you'll also see Defense Bonuses.

Attack Bonuses will give you more power with attacks of that type. So for instance, in the above picture there is an added +98 attack bonus for Slash attacks. This means that the Dragon Scimitar is a good Slashing Weapon. The higher the bonus, the better a weapon is when using that attack style.

Stab - a penetrating attack, common with Daggers. Effective against chainmail.
Slash - a very common "swiping" attack. Effective against light armor like robes or Dragonhide.
Crush - a common attack with Maces, Hammers and Mauls. It's very effective against heavy armor like platemail.
Magic - often negated by armor and weapons, but can be increased with staffs. Allows you to hit harder with Magic.
Ranged - Often negated by full helmets and armor. It allows you to hit harder with ranged equipment.
Strength - This effects how hard you hit. Better metals will give higher strength bonuses.

Weapons

This section will describe the different weapons in RuneScape.

Daggers

The dagger is the most basic weapon in the game. In Tutorial Island you will be given a bronze one for free. A fast and versatile weapon, the dagger is most useful when poisoned. Its speed will give you an advantage over low defense monsters and players. It is one handed.

Types: Daggers come in all metal. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: Speed and the ability to be poisoned.
Attack Styles:
Stab (Accurate)
Lunge (Aggressive)
Slash (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Stab

Training Short Sword

In Lumbridge, you'll come across an Attack Tutor, who will give you a free Training Short Sword. This item (like all other Training items) can't be dropped or traded to other players.

Types: Training
Advantage: Speed
Attack Styles:
Stab (Accurate)
Lunge (Aggressive)
Slash (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Styles: Stab

Claws

Claws are nearly the same as daggers, and they are just as fast as them. They cannot be poisoned. They are 2 Handed and Members only. You must complete the Death Plateau Quest to make them.

Types: Claws come in all metals except for dragon. (Bronze-Rune)
Advantage: Speed
Attack Styles:
Chop (Accurate)
Slash (Aggressive)
Lunge (Controlled)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Slash

Short Swords

The short sword is a fast weapon mainly used for stabbing. They deal a little more damage than daggers, but they're not quite as good as a Long Sword. Best to stick with Long Swords if you can afford them. 1 Handed.

Types: Short swords come in all metals except for dragon. (Bronze-Rune)
Advantage: Speed
Attack Styles:
Stab (Accurate)
Lunge (Aggressive)
Slash (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Stab

Maces

The mace is a crushing weapon used mainly by monks or prayer beasts due to its slight prayer bonus. Rarely used because of it's low max hit, which makes them relatively cheap. This weapon is good against platemail. It is one handed.

Types: Maces come in all metals. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: Slight prayer bonus & good against platemail.
Attack Styles:
Pound (Accurate)
Pummel (Aggressive)
Spike (Controlled)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Spike

Scimitars

The scimitar is a weapon most used throughout the F2P worlds. A good compromise between speed and strength the scimitar proves to be a very popular weapon with most players. This weapon will give you an advantage over low defense monsters and players. It is one handed.

Types: Scimitars come in all metals. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: Fast speed & Moderate strength.
Attack Styles:
Chop (Accurate)
Slash (Aggressive)
Lunge (Controlled)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Slash

Long Swords

Long swords are another popular weapon in the game. They too have a good compromise between speed and strength. A weapon popular with members the long sword is usually the choice of weapon to go in the wilderness while in a Members world. It is one handed.

Types: Long Swords come in all metals. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: Moderate speed & Moderate strength.
Attack Styles:
Chop (Accurate)
Slash (Aggressive)
Lunge (Controlled)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Chop

Spears

Spears are rarely used in the game. The spear is both slow and weak but has all styles of attack. It is members only and is 2 handed, except for the Bone Spear. They are the only weapon classes that can be poisoned with Karambwan Poison (KP).

Types: Spears come in all metals. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: All attack styles.
Attack Styles:
Lunge (Controlled)
Swipe (Controlled)
Pound (Controlled)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Lunge

Battle Axes

Battle axes are slow but strong. They are used commonly in the game and acts as way of dealing high damage without compromising your defense by removing your shield. They are good against high and low defense monsters and players
because of its attack styles. 1 Handed.

Types: Battle axes come in all metals. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: High damage without compromising defense
Attack Styles:
Chop (Accurate)
Hack (Aggressive)
Smash (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Smash on platemail, Hack on robes and dragon hide.

2-Handed Swords

Questionably the most powerful weapon in RuneScape, but not the most widely used. Due to their size, you must hold a 2 Handed sword with, yes, both hands, so you cannot use a shield. Despite this, the 2 Handed sword was considered
by most to be the "Best" weapon in RuneScape Classic, due to its general power. This changed when the newer RuneScape was launched, and the speed of the 2 handed sword became a problem. Always a good weapon to use when showing off your Maximum Hit, but now rather neglected otherwise. Also, when a 2-Handed Sword is equipped and the character is wearing a cape, the bottom of the cape moves back and forth.

Types: 2 handed swords come in all metals, from Bronze to Dragon.
Advantage: Very high damage.
Attack Styles:
Chop (Accurate)
Slash (Aggressive)
Smash (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Any, against platemail.

Warhammers

These bulky weapons are newer to the runescape world. They boast a very high strength, but have quite a slow attack speed. Some think their power overcomes this disadvantage. 1 Handed.

Types: Warhammers come in all metal except for dragon. (Bronze-Rune)
Advantage: Very high damage.
Attack Styles:
Pound (Accurate)
Pummel (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Any, against platemail.

Halberds

Slow but strong, the halberd is one of the more popular weapons. Despite it being slow many players use it as it has a great advantage of being able to attack two square distances away and even over some obstacles. They are Members-Only, hard to obtain and 2 Handed.

Types: Halberds come in all metals. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: High damage, Attack from 2 Squares
Attack Styles:
Jab (Controlled)
Swipe (Aggressive)
Fend (Defensive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Swipe

Hatchets

Hatchets are fast but weak, as they are made for Woodcutting. They have lower bonuses than regular items or the sort. 1 Handed.

Types: Hatchets come in all metals. (Bronze-Dragon)
Advantage: High Speed, Cuts wood
Attack Styles:
Chop (Accurate)
Hack (Aggressive)
Smash (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Chop

Staffs

Not very fast, and not really made for melee combat, these provide users additional magical focusing for attacking. You can set attacking spells to autocast, and some allow you to use some spells that you cannot use without the appropriate staff. More about staffs can be found in the Magic Guide.

Types: Plain, All elementals, Battlestaffs, Mystical Staffs, God Staffs, Slayer Staff
Advantage: Autocasting Spells, Elemental staffs stops you from wasting runes of a kind.
Attack Styles:
Bash(Accurate)
Pound (Aggressive)
Focus - Block (Defensive)
Attack With - (Choose Spell)
Recommended Attack Style: Attack With Spell

Also, the best style while casting an offensive spell and at the same time carry a staff with you is to choose focus-block, as it gives exp to defense as well. So in whole, you will receive magic, hitpoints and defense exp altogether.

Pickaxes

Pickaxes are very weak and are not considered good weapon, as they are slow and cumbersome... they are 1 handed. They're general purpose is Mining, not combat

Types: Pickaxes come in all metals, except black and dragon. (Bronze-Rune)
Advantage: Mining, Smashing Attack
Attack Styles:
Spike (Accurate)
Impale (Aggressive)
Smash (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Impale Or Smash

Blackjacks & Clubs

Clubs have strong smashing bonus (Bone Clubs), Blackjacks can stun. They are one handed. Bone Clubs can be found in Lost Tribe Mines, and blackjacks in The Feud Quest.

Types: Bone Club/Oak & Willow Blackjacks
Advantage: Stun (Blackjacks)
Attack Styles:
Pound (Accurate)
Pummel (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: Pound

Shortbows

Shortbows are the fastest types of bows, and the most commonly used. They are effective in short range. 2 Handed

Types: Shortbows Come In all Wood Types (Normal-Magic)
Advantage: Fast shooting
Attack Styles:
Accurate
Rapid
Longrange
Recommended Attack Style: Rapid

Longbows

Longbows are stronger, shoot a bit more slowly, but are most effective in long range, and you can shoot farther. 2 Handed

Types: Longbows Come In all Wood Types (Normal-Magic)
Advantage: Long Ranged
Attack Styles:
Accurate
Rapid
Longrange
Recommended Attack Style: Long Range/Accurate

Crossbows

Crossbows are a different type of ranged weapon, using bolts, not arrows. They are slower, but have the advantage of being 1 handed, which means you can have a shield with it. The better the bolts, the better the damage.

Types: Regular, Phoenix, and Bronze to Rune.
Advantage: 1 Handed
Attack Styles:
Accurate
Rapid
Longrange
Recommended Attack Style: Accurate

Ogre Bows

Ogre bows have a strong ranged bonus, are the only bows to be able to shoot ogre & Brutal arrows, and are made for Chompy Hunting. The first chompy bow is quite slow, but the composite one is faster. 2 Handed.

Types: Normal chompy bow, Composite
Advantage: Powerful, Ogre/Brutal Arrows
Attack Styles:
Accurate
Rapid
Longrange
Recommended Attack Style: Rapid

Throwables

There are many types of throwable items. Knifes and darts offer less damage, but have incredible speed when used with rapid and can be poisoned, and you can smith them. Javelins and Throwing axes offer more damage and durability, but less speed and cannot be poisoned. These items are not smithable either. Holy water vials (Legends) offer damage versus demons, but are ineffective against anything else. All are 1 Handed.

Types: Javelins/Knifes/Darts/Throw Axes Come in all metals (Bronze-Rune)
Advantage: Stackable, 1 Handed, Speed.
Attack Styles:
Accurate
Rapid
Longrange
Recommended Attack Style: Rapid

Abyssal Whip

The Abyssal Whip is most probably the best weapon in the game. The abyssal whip is both fast and strong. It is a one handed weapon and is the weapon of choice for all those who can afford it. It can be obtained by slaying Abyssal Demons. It requires
70 attack to wield and is called a whip for short.

Advantage: Deals high damage and fast.
Attack Styles:
Flick (Accurate)
Lash (Controlled)
Deflect (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: ??

The only real disadvantage of the Abyssal Whip is the fact that you can't train Strength with it, unless you use the "Controlled" style which also trains your other combat stats.

Granite Maul

The granite maul deals more damage than a whip but is much slower and is two-handed. It can be obtained by slaying Nechryaels and Gargoyles.

Advantage: Deals high damage.
Attack Styles:
Pound (Accurate)
Pummel (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: ??

Barrows Weapons

There are several different kinds of Barrows weapons that belong to the brothers. They are actually part of the separate sets that give extra bonuses.

Types: Torags Hammers, Veracs Flail, Guthans Warspear, Dharocks Greataxe, Kharils Crossbow, Ahrims Staff.
Advantage: very powerful; each set has specific bonuses.
Attack Styles:
Hammers - Crush, Controlled
Flail - Stab, Crush, Controlled
Warspear - Stab, Slash, Crush, Controlled
Greataxe - Slash, Crush, Controlled
Crossbow - Accurate, Rapid, Longrange
Staff - Slash, Crush, Stab
Recommended Attack Style: ??

Mjolnirs

You can get these from completing the Enchanted Key Mini-Quest, and they are also known as God Spears.

Types: Saradomin, Zamorak and Guthix.
Advantages: None
Attack Styles: ??
Recommended Attack Style: ??

Obsidian Equipment

Types: Maul, Mace, Sword, Axe.
Advantages: None
Attack Styles: ??
Recommended Attack Style: ??

Flowers

Flowers are one of the weakest weapons in the game, as they reduce attacks by 100, and are more for decorative purpose. They sprout from mithril seeds, Or Trollweiss is found during Troll Romance Quest. 1 Handed.

Types: Colors, Trollweiss
Advantage: None, Decorative
Attack Styles:Pound (Accurate)
Pummel (Aggressive)
Block (Defensive)
Recommended Attack Style: None

Rubber Chicken