Looking to learn what the best melee armour pieces are? You've come to the right place

There’s a staggering amount of melee armour pieces in osrs and trying to figure out which item is best for you can be overwhelming. That’s why I’ve compiled this list. Now take it and go shatter some kneecaps!

 

15. Guardian Boots (Best melee defence boots)

batman would hate these

The Guardian Boots are undoubtedly the best melee defensive boots in the game. Conveniently, they also happen to be the best ranged defence boots in the game, and coming in at a whopping 7kg, the Guardian Boots are the heaviest boots in the game too. That’s a lot of things to be number 1 in!

These boots are an upgraded version of the Bandos Boots and require 75 defence to wear. Great stats aside, they’re quite useful for the God Wars Dungeon because they render followers of Bandos unaggressive.

Stats:

• -3 magic attack
• -1 ranged attack
• +32 stab defence
• +32 slash defence
• +32 crush defence
• -3 magic defence
• +24 ranged defence
• +3 strength
• +2 prayer

What makes the Guardian Boots awesome:

• Highest melee defence boots
• Highest ranged defence boots

How to get the Guardian Boots (purchasable at the grand exchange): https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Guardian+boots/viewitem?obj=21733

Guardian Boots Details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Guardian_boots

 

14. Primordial Boots (Best strength boots)

those wings look weak as heck

The Primordial Boots require 75 strength and defence to wear and provide the highest strength bonus of all boots in the game. They also have neat little wings on the side, I like to think they make me run faster!

Stats:

• +2 stab attack
• +2 slash attack
• +2 crush attack
• -4 magic attack
• -1 ranged attack
• +22 stab defence
• +22 slash defence
• +22 crush defence
• +5 strength

What makes the Primordial Boots awesome:

• Highest strength boots in the game

How to get the Primordial Boots (purchasable from the grand exchange):

https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Primordial+boots/viewitem?obj=13239

Primordial Boots details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Primordial_boots

 

13. Ferocious Gloves (BIS melee gloves)

who needs fingers that sharp?

Requiring an attack of 80, the Ferocious Gloves are the best-in-slot melee gloves in the game. They, unfortunately, carry a penalty when it comes to magic and ranged attack and are not available at the grand exchange, but they can be crafted by using Hydra leather (purchasable from the grand exchange) on the machinery in the Lithkren Vault.

Stats:

• +16 stab attack
• +16 slash attack
• +16 crush attack
• -16 magic attack
• -16 ranged attack
• +14 strength

What makes the Ferocious Gloves awesome:

• BIS melee gloves

How to Get Ferocious Gloves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQskEWPP0Ps&ab_channel=darkpupitar2enchant

Ferocious Gloves details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Ferocious_gloves

 

12. Infernal Cape (Best melee cape)

if only I could upload the gif, it's so cool

Notoriously difficult to obtain, the Infernal Cape is only available to players who complete the “Inferno” challenge. Not only is it the best melee cape in osrs, but it also grants the player massive bragging rights, and it has a fantastic little animation that constantly plays so your enemies have something pretty to look at while you poke countless holes through them.

Stats:

• +4 stab attack
• +4 slash attack
• +4 crush attack
• +1 magic attack
• +1 ranged attack
• +12 stab defence
• +12 slash defence
• +12 crush defence
• +12 magic defence
• +12 ranged defence
• +8 strength
• +2 prayer

What makes the Infernal Cape awesome:

• Best melee cape available
• Offers substantial bragging rights

How to get the Infernal Cape:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QgF2KQgfXQ&ab_channel=PotUpSonRs

Infernal Cape details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Infernal_cape

 

11. Berserker Helm (PVP pures)

I'd get a kid to paint the horns

The Berserker Helm is often used during PVP because it’s the lowest level headgear to offer a strength bonus (which is also equal to that of the obsidian helm), making this helm a popular choice for pures. It requires 45 defence to wear and the completion of “ The Fremennik Trials” quest. It also provides massive horns in case you wanted to pretend to be a bull and hang out in the Lumbridge cow pens.

Stats:

• -5 magic attack
• -5 ranged attack
• +31 stab defence
• +29 slash defence
• +33 crush defence
• +30 ranged defence
• +3 strength

What makes the Berserker Helm awesome:

• Lowest level headgear to offer strength bonus
• Great for pures

How to get the Berserker Helm (Purchasable from the grand exchange):

https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Berserker+helm/viewitem?obj=3751

Berserker Helm details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Berserker_helm

 

10. Serpentine Helm (Great Strength helm and great passive)

wear this if you want 13% of your vision covered by snake fangs

This degradable helmet requires 75 defence to wear. The helmet can be charged with Zulrah’s scales and will last for 15 hours of combat before returning to its uncharged, less cool-looking state.

The Serpentine Helm has some very useful passive effects as well. It grants immunity to venom and poison, it also has a variable chance (Depending on the weapon the player is using) to inflict venom with every successful hit on a monster, as long as they’re not immune to it. These chances are as follows: 16.67 % if the player is using a non-poisoned melee weapon, 50% if the player is using a poisoned weapon and a 100% chance if the player is using the trident of the swamp, toxic blowpipe or casting damaging spells with the toxic staff of the dead.

Stats

• -5 magic attack
• -5 ranged attack
• +52 stab defence
• +55 slash defence
• +58 crush defence
• +50 ranged defence
• +5 strength

What makes the Serpentine Helm awesome:

• Second highest strength helm
• Grants Immunity to venom and poison
• Variable chance to inflict venom

How to get the Serpentine Helm (Purchasable from the grand exchange):

https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Serpentine+helm+%28uncharged%29/viewitem?obj=12929

Serpentine Helm details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Serpentine_helm#Charged

 

9. Neitiznot Faceguard (Best Strength helm and great passive)

fantastic for fashionscape

The Neitiznot Faceguard is one heck of a beauty. Luckily, Jagex used black shadows instead of showing the players eyes durin- wait what? They show the players eyes in the chathead during dialogue with NPC’s, you say? It looks utterly ridiculous, you say? Dang, they were so close with that one.

The helm can be made by combining a helm of Neitiznot and a basilisk jaw (purchasable at the grand exchange) after the player asks Olaf the Bard for stories about basilisk jaws while having it in their inventory. It’s the highest strength helm in osrs and quipping it requires 70 defence and the completion of “The Fremennik Exiles” quest.

Stats:

• +36 stab defence
• +34 slash defence
• +38 crush defence
• +3 magic defence
• +34 ranged defence
• +6 strength
• +3 prayer

What makes the Neitiznot Faceguard awesome:

• Best strength helm
• Nice prayer bonus

How to get the Basilisk Jaw (Purchasable from the grand exchange):

https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Basilisk+jaw/viewitem?obj=24268

Neitiznot Faceguard details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Serpentine_helm#Charged

 

8. Slayer Helmet (Best helm for slayer tasks)

this thing probably balances terribly on tables

The Slayer Helmet looks like it gives players one of those Fu Manchu moustaches from old Chinese movies, other than that, it’s the best helm to use for slayer tasks.

It requires 10 defence to equip and can be made by players with 55 crafting  who have unlocked the "Malevolent masquerade" ability for 400 slayer reward points. The helm grants players a 16.67% melee boost when fighting monsters assigned as their slayer task.

Stats:

• -6 magic attack
• -2 ranged attack
• +30 stab defence
• +32 slash defence
• +27 crush defence
• -1 magic defence
• +30 ranged defence

What makes the Slayer Helmet awesome:

• Best strength helm
• Nice prayer bonus

How to get the Slayer Helmet:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP8k5tKXlGs&ab_channel=Hartblitz

Slayer Helmet details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Slayer_helmet

 

7. Justiciar Chestguard (Best melee defensive chest)

man this whole piece just looks fantastic

The Justiciar Chestguard is the overall best defensive melee chest in osrs, and it looks bloody beautiful! If you want to wear this piece during your holy crusades, you’ll need at least 75 defence.

Wearing the full Justiciar set is highly recommended (unless fighting mages) because of its unique set bonus which (all that math nonsense aside) reduces your total damage received by a variable percentage during PVE.

Stats:

• -40 magic attack
• -20 ranged attack
• +132 stab defence
• +130 slash defence
• +117 crush defence
• -16 magic defence
• +142 ranged defence
• +4 prayer

What makes the Justiciar Chestguard awesome:

• Best strength helm
• Nice prayer bonus

How to get the Justiciar Chestguard (Purchasable from the grand exchange):

https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Justiciar+chestguard/viewitem?obj=22327

Justiciar Chestguard details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Justiciar_chestguard

 

6. Bandos Tassets (Best Strength legs)

murder skirt

The Bandos Tassets are just straight-up great. This item requires 65 defence to wear and provides the player with the highest strength bonus of any leg slot item. On top of that, they generally offer some of the best stats compared to any leg slot item and provide a prayer bonus. Making it great for slayer tasks, melee training and some boss encounters.

Sure, the Bandos Tassets may be a skirt, but there’s nothing more badass than showing off those pretty little knees of yours while you mercilessly tear through hordes of monsters!

Stats:

• -21 magic attack
• -7 ranged attack
• +71 stab defence
• +63 slash defence
• +66 crush defence
• -4 magic defence
• +93 ranged defence
• +2 strength
• +1 prayer

What makes the Bandos Tassets awesome:

• Best strength legs
• Some of the best overall leg stats
• Prayer bonus

How to get the Bandos Tassets (Purchasable from the grand exchange): https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Bandos+tassets/viewitem?obj=11834

Bandos Tassets details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Bandos_tassets

 

5. Dragonfire Shield (A dragon slayer’s best friend) 

is likely to eat your children

The Dragonfire Shield is an upgrade to the anti-dragon shield and requires 75 defence along with the player having started the “Dragon Slayer 1” quest. The shield provides great protection against adult dragonfire and icy breath attacks from dragons and wyverns respectively and it also looks really freaking cool.

The shield may hold up to 50 charges, with each charge increasing the shield’s melee and ranged defensive bonus by +1; one charge is absorbed per adult dragonfire and icy breath attack aimed at the player, it can also be charged through bottled dragonbreath.

The shield has a neat little bonus in which stored charges can be discharged as attacks. Right-clicking “activate” on the equipped Dragonfire Shield during combat will expend a charge and fire a blast of dragonfire at the target, dealing a maximum of 25 damage with a range of 10 squares.

Stats:

• -10 magic attack
• -5 ranged attack
• +20 stab defence
• +25 slash defence
• +22 crush defence
• +10 magic defence
• +22 ranged defence
• +7 strength

What makes the Dragonfire Shield awesome:

• Great protection against dragonfire and icy breath
• Can be charged to increase stats
• Charges can be released as attacks

How to get the Dragonfire Shield (purchasable from the grand exchange): https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Dragonfire+shield/viewitem?obj=11284

Dragonfire Shield details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Dragonfire_shield#Charged

 

4.Elysian Spirit Shield (Best crush defence and a great passive)

kinda looks like a backwards F

The Elysian Spirit Shield is a definite contender for the best shield in the game. It has highest crush defence in the shield slot along with a fantastic passive. The shield requires 75 defence and 75 prayer to wield, along with a casual cost of 800,000,000+ coins (subject to variability) to purchase on the grand exchange.

One thing that makes the Elysian Spirit Shield special is its passive. The shield has a 70% chance of reducing the damage the player receives by 25% on hit (but reduces no damage from monster special attacks and non-combat damage). This effect stacks with the Justiciar armour set’s passive as well, making for a killer combo.

Stats:

• +63 stab defence
• +65 slash defence
• +75 crush defence
• +2 magic defence
• +57 ranged defence
• +3 prayer

What makes the Elysian Spirit Shield awesome:

• Highest crush defence in shield slot
• Great stats
• Fantastic passive

How to get the Elysian Spirit Shield (purchasable from the grand exchange): https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Elysian+spirit+shield/viewitem?obj=12817

Elysian Spirit Shield details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Elysian_spirit_shield

 

3. Spectral Spirit Shield (Best magic defence and a great passive)

are purple items always better with magic?

The Spectral Spirit Shield is the best shield if you’re planning on getting into aggressive slap-fights with magic enemies, it’s got the highest magic defence in the shield slot and is a lot cheaper than its brother on this list (roughly 60,000,000).

It’s also got a neat little passive in that the Spectral Shield reduces the effectiveness of all Prayer draining attacks (outside of PvP encounters) by 50%. 

Stats:

• +53 stab defence
• +55 slash defence
• +73 crush defence
• +30 magic defence
• +52 ranged defence
• +3 prayer

What makes the Spectral Spirit Shield awesome:

• Highest magic defence in shield slot
• Great stats
• Fantastic passive

How to get the Spectral Spirit Shield (purchasable from the grand exchange): https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Spectral+spirit+shield/viewitem?obj=12821

Spectral Spirit Shield details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Spectral_spirit_shield

 

2. Avernic Defender (Best strength in shield slot)

I bet it wishes it could be a real shield

Jagex bamboozled us with this one. The Avernic Defender may look like a weapon, but it’s actually a shield slot item- so it’s really just a very pointy shield. Not only that, but it’s also got the highest strength bonus of any shield slot item in the game!

The defender can be obtained by combining a dragon defender with an Avernic Defender hilt (purchasable from the grand exchange).

Stats:

• +30 stab attack
• +29 slash attack
• +28 crush attack
• -5 magic attack
• -4 ranged attack
• +30 stab defence
• +29 slash defence
• +28 crush defence
• -5 magic defence
• -4 ranged defence
• +8 strength

What makes the Avernic Defender awesome:

• Highest strength in shield slot
• Great overall stats

How to get the Avernic Defender hilt (purchasable from the grand exchange): https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Avernic+defender+hilt/viewitem?obj=22477

How to get the Dragon Defender: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNTZVGdq5vU&ab_channel=Pupsker

Avernic Defender details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Avernic_defender

 

1. Dinh’s Bulwark (Highest overall defence shield)

turn it away when you're in the shower

The shield, the whole shield, and nothing but the shield! Dinh’s Bulwark certainly is a sight to behold, and with that little eye it’s got, it’ll also be beholding you!

Due to its high defensive stats, it’s often used by players in the wilderness who’d like to go about their business while receiving as little damage as possible from monsters and other players. While the shield is active, the wielding player can’t attack, but they receive 20% reduced damage (if not in PVP). The shield also stops players from casting spells while equipped and prevents the dwarf Multicannon from firing.

This is a 2-handed shield, so you won’t be able to hold any weapons with this one, but the shield does have a special: “Shield Bash”. At the cost of 50% of the player’s special attack gauge, shield bash hits up to 10 enemies in an 11x11 area with 20% increased accuracy.

Stats:

• +110 crush attack
• +141 stab defence
• +145 slash defence
• +145 crush defence
• +148 ranged defence
• +38 strength

What makes the Dinh’s Bulwark awesome:

• Highest defence shield
• Great overall stats

How to get Dinh’s Bulwark (purchasable from the grand exchange): https://secure.runescape.com/m=itemdb_oldschool/Dinh%27s+bulwark/viewitem?obj=21015

Dinh’s Bulwark details: https://oldschool.runescape.wiki/w/Dinh%27s_bulwark

 

And there it is, folks! The definitive list of the: [Top 15] Old School RuneScape Best Melee Armour Pieces (And How To Get Them). We hope you found this list helpful and hope to see you again soon at Gamers Decide. until next time, happy murdering!

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