OSRS Combat Level Calculator
Tired of guessing? Plan your right account build, from a Level 3 Skiller to a Maxed Main.
OSRS Combat Level Calculation
Old School RuneScape combat level calculator is a must have for every OSRS player to build a pure account for PvP or plan main account’s progression. Learning how combat levels work in the game is crucial to optimise the account build, access content and compete in PvP battles.
How OSRS Combat Level is Calculated
The combat level formula is a complex calculation that takes into account all 7 combat skills. The max combat level in Old School RuneScape is 126, new accounts start at combat level 3. The calculation involves three main components:
- Base Level Formula:
Base = 0.25 × (Defence + Hitpoints + floor(Prayer / 2)) - Melee Style Calculation:
Melee = 0.325 × (Attack + Strength) - Ranged Style Calculation:
Ranged = 0.325 × floor(Ranged × 1.5) - Magic Style Calculation:
Magic = 0.325 × floor(Magic × 1.5)
Your final combat level is calculated based on your Base Level to the highest of your 3 style calculations, then rounded down (floored) the result.
OSRS Combat Calc Formula
In simple terms, this formula tells us a few things. First, Prayer is the most combat level efficient skill as it only contributes half level to the calculation, giving powerful overhead protection for minimal combat cost. Second Melee is the only style that uses 2 stats (Attack and Strength) so you must balance them. Finally as the game takes the highest of your Melee, Ranged or Magic calculations, you can get very high Ranged and Magic level but only the higher of the two will affect your combat level, makes hybrid builds very effective.
OSRS Combat Skills and Their Impact
Every combat skill has different contribution to your overall combat level. So you must understand these contributions to create optimal account builds:
| Skill | Impact on Combat Level | Pure & Strategic Build Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 0.325 multiplier in melee calculation | Key thresholds are 50 (Granite Maul), 60 (Dragon weapons), and 75 (Godswords, Toxic Blowpipe). |
| Strength | 0.325 multiplier in melee calculation | Primary training skill for melee pures; often maxed out for a given Attack level. |
| Defence | 0.25 multiplier in base calculation | Landmarks are 1 (Pure), 20 (Initiate), 40/42/45 (Rune/Void/Zerker), and 70/75 (Barrows/Bandos). |
| Hitpoints | 0.25 multiplier in base calculation | Gained passively. Can be trained with minimal combat XP via organized crime or controlled with cannoning/splashing to keep combat low. |
| Ranged | Unique 1.5x effective level calculation | Excellent for low combat pure builds due to high damage output at lower levels. |
| Magic | Unique 1.5x effective level calculation | Essential for utility (teleports, alchemy) and powerful combat spells (barraging, Vengeance). |
| Prayer | Halved value in base calculation | Key levels are 25/26 (Protect Item), 31 (Ultimate Strength), 43 (Protect from Melee), 44 (Eagle Eye), 45 (Mystic Might), and 52 (Smite). |
Popular OSRS Account Builds
Pure Account Builds
One Defence Pure builds maximize damage output while keeping combat levels low for PvP benefits. These builds usually have 1 Defence to access lower fight brackets and max out Attack, Strength, Ranged or Magic.
Balanced Account Builds
These builds sacrifice some PvP optimization for more versatility and PvM abilities, thus unlocking better armour and quests.
Specialized Account Builds (Ironman & Skiller)
Other than standard builds, many players take the path with unique restrictions:
- Ironman Builds (Combat 3-126): Ironmen can't trade so their progression is linked to what they can obtain and create themselves. During battle planning, an Ironman must also consider how they will obtain their gear. For example, they can't buy a Dragon Scimitar, they must complete Monkey Madness I that makes questing and Slayer for specific drops (like a Rune Scimitar from Fire Giants), part of their fight strategy.
- Skiller Pures (Combat 3): These accounts aim to get high levels in non-combat skills while staying at combat level 3. They must not get Hitpoints XP which means no combat training and they must use alternative training methods like questing with lamp rewards and minigames (e.g. Tempoross, Wintertodt) to train their skills.
Content Unlocks by Combat Level
Slayer Master Combat Requirements
Slayer training progression is connected to combat level requirements. Choosing the right master is must for efficient XP, points, and profit.
| Slayer Master | Combat Req. | Strategic Note |
|---|---|---|
| Turael | None | Used to skip undesirable tasks from other masters. |
| Mazchna | 20+ | Good for low-level accounts starting Slayer. |
| Vannaka | 40+ | Excellent for mid-level accounts; assigns many tasks in accessible areas. |
| Chaeldar | 70+ | Offers good points per task for its combat bracket. |
| Konar quo Maten | 75+ | The Money Maker. Tasks reward Brimstone Keys for extra loot. |
| Nieve/Steve | 85+ | Great balance of XP, points, and boss task potential. |
| Duradel | 100+ | The XP Master. Offers the best XP/hour and assigns bosses frequently. |
Combat Training Strategies
Efficient combat training differs a lot depending on your account build goals. Here are optimized training paths and methods for different build types.
Meta Training Methods by Combat Style
| Style | Method | Primary Benefit | Key Requirement(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melee | Sand/Ammonite Crabs | Very AFK, low cost | None |
| Melee | Nightmare Zone (NMZ) | Best AFK XP/hour | Completion of several quests |
| Ranged | Dwarf Cannon | Fastest low-level XP | Dwarf Cannon quest, high cost |
| Ranged | Chinchompas | Best overall XP/hour | 55+ Ranged, MM1 completion |
| Magic | Splashing | Fully AFK, very low effort | Low Magic bonus gear |
| Magic | Barraging (MM2 Tunnels) | Best overall XP/hour | Desert Treasure, MM2 |
PvP Combat Brackets and Meta
How PvP Brackets Work
Your ability to attack another player is decided by your combat level relative to theirs, modified by the Wilderness level. In the Wilderness, you can attack another player within Your Combat Level ± Wilderness Level. For example, if you are combat level 80 and stands in level 10 Wilderness, you can attack anyone from level 70 to 90. That's why PKing clans often fight in deeper Wilderness, as it allows a wide members range to attack the same targets. In PvP worlds, this range is often fixed at `±15` levels.
Optimal PvP Combat Levels
These combat level ranges offer the best balance of power and bracket advantages:
| Combat Range | Build Type | Advantages & Popular Gear |
|---|---|---|
| 50-65 | Low-level pures | High damage vs low defence. (Obby maul, granite maul, rune scimitar) |
| 75-85 | Mid-level pures | Access to dragon weapons, good KO potential. (Dragon dagger, dark bow) |
| 90-105 | High-level pures | Godsword access, maximum pure potential. (AGS, ballista, barrows weapons) |
| 110-126 | Main accounts | All equipment access, tank potential. (All weapons, high-defence armor) |
Strategic Planning & Final Tips
Common Combat Level Mistakes to Avoid
Many OSRS players make critical errors when they plan their combat progression. These are the most common mistakes and how to avoid them:
- Accidental Defence XP: Ruins a pure build permanently. Always have your combat style set to avoid Defence XP and be extremely careful with quest rewards.
- Wrong Attack Level: Can result in a suboptimal battle bracket. Plan your target Attack level (50, 60, or 75) from the beginning.
- Excessive Prayer Training: While efficient, getting more Prayer than you need can push you into a higher bracket unnecessarily. Stop at key thresholds (25, 31, 43, 52) unless you have a good reason to go higher.
- Ignoring Quest XP: Many important quests reward with large combat XP amounts. Use a quest planner to ensure these rewards don't give you an unwanted level.