Combat Training Guide for New Players

By Expos.GG Team · 2026-01-29

Train combat efficiently as a new player. Learn where to train, what gear to use, and how to progress from 1 to 70+ combat.

Understanding Combat

OSRS combat has three melee skills, plus Ranged, Magic, Prayer, and Hitpoints. Here's how to train them all.

The Three Combat Styles

Melee - Attack: Accuracy with weapons - Strength: Maximum damage - Defence: Damage reduction

Ranged - Single skill for accuracy and damage - Uses arrows/bolts/darts

Magic - Combat spells - Also utility spells - Rune costs

Where to Train (By Level)

Levels 1-20

Chickens (Lumbridge) - Very easy - Feathers to sell - Bones for Prayer

Cows (Lumbridge) - Slightly harder - Cowhides for money - Good early spot

Levels 20-40

Al Kharid Warriors - In Al Kharid Palace - Safe spot available - Good experience

Hill Giants (Edgeville) - Big bones (Prayer) - Limpwurt roots - Popular spot

Levels 40-60

Sand Crabs (Hosidius) - Very AFK - High HP, low damage - 10 minute aggro timer

Experiments (Creature of Fenkenstrain) - Quest required - Great HP/XP - Underground

Levels 60+

Ammonite Crabs (Fossil Island) - Best AFK option - Requires Bone Voyage - Fossil drops

Nightmare Zone - Requires 5+ quest bosses - Very AFK - Imbues items

Gear Progression

Melee Weapons

| Level | Weapon | |-------|--------| | 1 | Bronze scimitar | | 10 | Black scimitar | | 20 | Mithril scimitar | | 30 | Adamant scimitar | | 40 | Rune scimitar | | 60 | Dragon scimitar |

Armor Sets

| Level | Armor | |-------|-------| | 1 | Bronze | | 10 | Black | | 20 | Mithril | | 30 | Adamant | | 40 | Rune | | 60 | Dragon |

Training Order

Recommended Order 1. Attack to 60 - Unlock dragon weapons 2. Strength to 60 - Max hit increase 3. Defence to 40+ - Wear rune 4. Balance all three - To 70+

Why Strength First? Higher Strength = faster kills = faster XP for all skills.

Ranged Training

Weapons - Shortbow → Oak → Willow → Maple - Magic shortbow (50) is great - Blowpipe (75) is best

Ammo - Bronze → Iron → Steel → Mithril → Adamant - Bone bolts are cheap

Where - Same spots as melee - Sand crabs work great

Magic Training

Combat Magic - Strike → Bolt → Blast → Wave → Surge - Expensive but fast

Budget Option - Splash on rats (AFK) - 20k XP/hour - Very cheap

Prayer

Training Methods - Bury bones (slow) - Gilded altar (fast, expensive) - Chaos altar (fast, risky)

Early Goals - 43: Protection prayers - 70: Piety unlock

Tips for Efficiency

1. Quest for XP - Waterfall gives 30 Attack/Str 2. Always use best weapon - DPS matters 3. Super attack/strength - 10-15% boost 4. Food is cheap - Don't die 5. Bank often - Don't lose loot

Combat Level Calculation

Combat level is based on: - Base (Defence + Hitpoints + Prayer/2) - Plus highest of (Attack+Str, Ranged, Magic)

Ready for Bossing?

With 70+ combat stats, you can start easy bosses.