Melee is one of the most powerful and rewarding combat styles in Old School RuneScape (OSRS). It’s reliable, self-sustaining, and effective against countless bosses and monsters. Unlike ranged or magic, you don’t need expensive ammunition or runes - just strong gear, good training spots, and patience. For players who want to speed up their progress, choosing to buy OSRS gold can make it easier to afford powerful weapons, armor upgrades, and essential supplies early on. In this guide, we’ll cover how to train Attack, Strength, and Defence from level 1 to 99 efficiently, including early quests, training locations, and best-in-slot setups as you progress.

Understanding Melee Training

Melee training revolves around three core stats: Attack, Strength, and Defence.

· Attack boosts your accuracy and unlocks stronger weapons.

· Strength increases your maximum hit, improving raw damage.

· Defence reduces incoming damage but doesn’t affect your offense.

Early on, it’s smart to train all three evenly, rotating every 10 levels (e.g., 10 Attack → 10 Strength → 10 Defence, then repeat). Once you reach 75 Attack, you’ll have access to the best weapons in the game - from Abyssal Whips to dual Mahedals - allowing you to focus more on Strength and Defence afterward.

Early Quest Boosts (Highly Recommended)

Before grinding, you can skip the slow early levels with some easy, high-XP quests:

· Waterfall Quest - No requirements. Grants 13,750 XP in Attack and Strength, instantly boosting both to level 30.

· The Grand Tree - Adds 18,400 Attack XP, taking you near level 38 after Waterfall.

· Holy Grail - Gives 15,300 Defence XP and 11,000 Prayer XP, perfect for a defensive jump-start.

· Dragon Slayer I - Rewards both 18,400 Strength and Defence XP, unlocking rune platebodies and shields.

Completing these four quests sets you up around 30–40 in all melee stats, skipping hours of low-level training.

1–60 Melee Training Progression

Levels 1–20: Chickens → Cows
Start in Lumbridge Farms, wielding an iron or steel scimitar with basic iron armor. Bring a few food items early on, and swap to cows once your HP reaches 15+.

Levels 20–40: Sand Crabs (Zeah)
Located on the beaches south of Hosidius, sand crabs are the perfect AFK spot. Use a mithril or adamant scimitar and prioritize items with Strength bonuses like the Amulet of Strength and Climbing Boots.

Levels 40–55: Ammonite Crabs (Fossil Island)
Complete Bone Voyage for access. They have more HP and still low max hits, offering solid XP with minimal food use. Equip rune armor, a rune scimitar, and upgrade to a berserker helm at 45 Defence (via Fremennik Trials).

Levels 55–75: Gemstone Crabs (Totetl Rainforest)
After Children of the Sun, you can fight the Gemstone Crab - a massive AFK monster that barely hits you and can be trained from 55 to 99. Ideal setup includes Sulphur Blades or equivalent Earthbound or Glacial weapons, Helm of Neitiznot, Rune Platebody, and Imbued Warrior’s Ring. Expect 40–100k XP/hour, scaling with stats and gear.

60–90: Advanced Melee Methods

1. Sulphur Nagwas (Moons of Peril)
Unlocked after Moons of Peril quest and requiring 48 Slayer, Sulphur Nagwas are among the best XP/hour melee monsters. They have -4 defense, giving you a flat +4 damage per successful hit - doubled if you’re using dual-hit weapons like the Sulphur Blades or Dual Mahedals.

· XP rate: 60k–100k+/hour

· Bonus: Use an Ectoplasmator for passive Prayer XP (20 XP per kill).

· Best gear: Obsidian or Blood Moon sets with Dragon Defender, Berserker Necklace, and Imbued Berserker Ring.

2. Scurius Boss (Great for XP and Drops)
Unlocked around level 60, Scurius is a low-level boss perfect for learning PvM combat. Its unique drop, the Scurrius Spine, can be forged into the Bone Mace, a powerful training weapon. Use Protect from Melee and potions for sustain.

· XP rate: 40k–65k/hour (up to 75k with Bone Mace)

· Drops: Combat XP lamps and unique materials.

3. Slayer Training
Once you hit around 60+ combat, Slayer becomes a fantastic hybrid option - training your melee stats while earning money. Slayer tasks also introduce you to a wide variety of monsters and potential boss unlocks. Use a Black Mask or Slayer Helmet for the 16.67% damage boost on task.

70–99: Endgame and AFK Options

Nightmare Zone (NMZ)
Accessible at mid-levels but ideal from 70+, NMZ remains one of the best AFK training methods.

· Use Obsidian or Blood Moon gear, Dual Mahedals, or Dharok’s set for max hits.

· Combine Overload Potions and Absorption Potions to reach over 100k XP/hour.

· It’s low-input and semi-AFK, perfect for multitasking or mobile players.

Bossing for Profit & XP
Once you hit 85+ Attack and Strength, move into profitable bossing for XP and GP:

· Vorkath - 45k–75k XP/hr + 1–3M GP/hr

· Giant Mole, Venenatis, and Duke Sucellus are great for learning mechanics and farming drops.

Final Thoughts

From slaying cows in Lumbridge to crushing high-tier bosses, melee training in OSRS scales beautifully with your time and effort. Whether you prefer full-AFK grinding at Gemstone Crabs, semi-AFK at Sulphur Nagwas, or active combat at bosses, there’s always a rewarding way to progress. For players looking to speed up their journey, investing in cheap RS gold can help you upgrade gear, buy potions, or unlock key quest items much earlier. Stay consistent, upgrade your gear when possible, and never underestimate the power of a few well-timed quests. With the right setup, you’ll hit 99 in Attack, Strength, and Defence faster - and with far more GP - than ever before.