Developing your gear in Runescape involves a unique progression compared to other games in the genre. Depending on your playstyle, wealth, and the enemies you encounter, your gear choices may vary. However, there is a general path to follow for OSRS Gear progression, and this guide is here to help you navigate it. Make sure to also check out our RS3 gear progression guide for more tips.
If you’re in need of affordable gear, check out our OSRS Items page. You can also stock up on OSRS Gold to purchase gear from the Grand Exchange.
What should I know about OSRS Gear?
As you progress through the game and increase your combat stats and complete quests, more gear options will become available. In RuneScape, it’s possible to achieve maximum combat stats using lower-level gear, although this may result in slower experience gains. You have the flexibility to mix and match gear pieces at any level if you’re unable to afford certain upgrades, particularly those obtained from raids or treasure trails.
Melee Gear Progression
Melee combat involves three main skills: Attack, Strength, and Defense. While you can train these skills in any order, focusing on Strength can lead to greater efficiency in end-game content. It may take longer to train all three melee stats compared to ranged or magic, but it’s essential for tackling challenging content.
Here is a general guideline for upgrading your melee gear as you progress:
1-20 Str/Att/Def:
- Full iron set without kite shield
- Amulet of Strength
- Event RPG – (most efficient melee weapon until level 20 stats)
- Iron boots
- Combat Bracelet
20+ Str/Att/Def:
- Full mithril set with kite shield
- Mithril Scimitar
- Amulet of Strength or Fury
- Mithril boots
30+ Str/Att/Def:
- Full Adamantite set with kite shield
- Adamantite Scimitar
- Amulet of Strength or Fury
- Adamantite Boots
40+ Str/Att/Def:
- Berserker helmet (at level 45 defense)
- Fighter Torso or Rune Platebody
- Rune platelegs or Fremennik kilt
- Brine saber or Granite Hammer (at 50+ attack and strength)
- Rune Boots or Climbing Boots
- Rune Defender
- Rune gloves or Regen Bracelet
- Amulet of Fury or Strength
60+ Str/Att/Def:
- Full obsidian armor set: helmet, legs, chest plate
- Obsidian Sword
- Dragon Defender
- Berserker Necklace
- Imbued Berserkers’ Ring
- Barrows Gloves
- Dragon Boots
- Fire Cape
Note: The full obsidian set remains effective up to Level 99 if training at the nightmare zone
75+ Str/Att/Def (End Game):
- Serpentine Helm
- Bandos Chestplate and Tassets
- Avernic defender or Dragonfire Shield
- Inferno Cape
- Primordial boots
- Amulet of Torture
- Imbued Berserker Ring
- Possible weapons include: Ghrazi rapier (stab), Abyssal tentacle (slash), Abyssal bludgeon, or Zamorakian hasta
Range Gear Progression
Training in range offers a more straightforward progression in terms of accuracy and damage within the same skill. Most high-level range equipment will require a minimum defense level, which can be trained either with long-range or melee combat for efficiency. Pures can maintain a low defense level to access most equipment, with some exceptions.
Here is a general guide on upgrading your range gear as you progress:
1 Range:
- Leather Armor: cowl, body, chaps
- Combat Bracelet
- Iron knives
- Amulet of Fury or Glory
- Ranger Boots (if budget allows)
20+ Range:
- Studded Leather Armor: body (with 20 defense) and chaps
- Coif
- Amulet of Fury or Glory
- Mithril Gloves (with RFD partially completed)
- Frog Leather Boots (with 25 range and defense)
- Mithril knives
30+ Range:
- Maple Shortbow with steel arrows or higher
- Full Snakeskin armor set (with 30 defense): coif, body, chaps, boots, and vambraces
- Amulet of Fury or Glory
40-70 Range:
- Chromatic dragonhide armor set: body (with 40 defense), chaps, and vambraces
- Rune Crossbow with broad bolts (with 55 slayer) or enchanted bolts
- Ranger Boots or Snakeskin Boots
70 Range:
- Black or blessed dragonhide armor set: body (with 40 defense), chaps, coif, and boots
- Armadyl crossbow with enchanted bolts
- Armadyl god book
- Rune, Dragon, or Barrows Gauntlets
- Ava’s accumulator
75-99 Range (End Game):
- Armadyl Armor set (with 70 Defense): coif, body, and chaps
- Pegasian boots (with 75 defense)
- Twisted Buckler (with 75 defense)
- Necklace of Anguish
- Toxic Blowpipe or Twisted Bow – Depending on damage type needed
- Imbued Archers’ Ring
- Barrows gloves
- Ava’s assembler
Magic Gear Progression
Magic gear primarily affects accuracy rather than maximum damage, making it unique compared to other combat styles. For most PvM or PvP situations, players can opt for defensive gear over magic bonuses unless facing enemies with high defense.
Here is a basic guide to upgrading your magic gear as you level up:
1 Magic:
- Zamorak robe top & bottom
- Gnome hat
- Appropriate elemental staff for spellcasting
- Amulet of Magic
- Seers Ring
20+ Magic:
- Xerician robes set (with 10 defense): hat, top, bottom
- Ancient book or Broodoo Shield (with 25 defense)
40+ Magic:
- Mystic Robes set: Hat, top, bottom, boots, and gloves
- Mystic elemental staves
- Tome of Fire (50 Magic)
- Iban’s Staff (50 Magic)
60+ magic
- Infinity Robes set (with 25 defense)
- Any God Cape (after completing The Mage Arena)
- Mage’s Book, Tome of Fire, or Malediction ward (with 60 defense)
- Mystic elemental staff, Ancient Staff, or Slayer’s staff
75+ Magic (End Game):
- Ancestral Armor set (with 65 defense)
- Arcane Spirit Shield (with 75 defense and 70 Prayer)
- Any Imbued God Cape
- Occult necklace
- Imbued Seers Ring
- Tormented bracelet
- Eternal Boots (with 75 defense)
- Weapons include: Mystic Smoke Staff, Kodai Wand, Staff of the Dead, or Toxic Trident
Void Knight Equipment
Void Knight gear is considered top-tier but situational. It allows players to switch between magic, range, and melee combat based on the hood they wear. This can be a cost-effective alternative to high-end gear, especially for ironmen who rely on lower-level gear due to limited access to rare drops.
To equip Void Knight gear, you need 42 attack, strength, defense, range, magic, and 22 prayer. There are hoods for each combat style: melee (10% damage boost), range (10% damage boost), and magic (45% accuracy boost). Upgrading to Elite Void provides a prayer bonus and an extra 2.5% magic and range damage increase.
Wrap-up
Whether you’re aiming for max combat stats or unlocking high-level content, this OSRS Gear guide will assist you throughout your leveling journey. Keep in mind that certain slayer tasks may require specific gear, such as the Slayer Helmet (i), as you progress to higher levels. Otherwise, the gear recommendations provided should suffice for PvM encounters and training sessions.