Below all weapon types in RuneScape are detailed, please note the ‘Speed’ bar.

The more the speed bar is coloured in, the faster the weapon/weapon type is.

Attack: Melee Weapons

Daggers

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The dagger is one of the faster weapons in RuneScape. Generally, the daggers best attack style is stabbing, although it also is suitable as a slashing weapon.

On Members servers, you will notice that daggers are more useful, as they can be poisoned. With the combination of poison reducing your opponents hitpoints, and your fast attacks they stand a smaller chance. If the opponent is a player, it may be a good ’starting weapon’, enabling you to quickly poison your opponent and then change to a more powerful weapon.

Swords

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The short sword is a fast stabbing weapon which deals significantly more damage than a dagger. A short sword can also be used as a slashing weapon. It is generally a good all-round weapon and is not too expensive.

Scimitar

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The scimitar is mainly a slash weapon, although it does have a less effective stab attack. It’s not as flexible as the short sword, yet it deals slightly more damage. Slashing weapons are good against cloth and leather armour.

Maces

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Maces are primarily crushing weapons. Faster and more flexible than the Warhammer, RuneScape maces have little pointy studs to stab with. Crushing is particularly useful against plated opponents. Maces are also the preferred weapon of priests as they carry a prayer bonus.

The mace also has a ‘controlled’ fighting option which allows you to spread your experience points between the four combat stats.

Long Sword

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The warrior’s friend. The long sword is excellent when stabbing or slashing opponents. It can deal a good amount of damage, and is faster than the two-hander, battle axe or Warhammer. Like the mace, the long sword also has a ‘controlled’ fighting option.

Hatchet

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The hatchet is a simpler weapon, primarily meant for Woodcutting. However it will serve as a sturdy weapon if nothing else is at hand.

Battle Axe

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The battle axe is another weapon that is faster than the two-handed sword, but does a little less damage. In the Wilderness it’s very useful, as it does a very effective amount of damage in Slashing and Crushing modes, which will get through any player armour.

Warhammers

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The warhammer consists of a large metal ‘head’ on the end of a pole. It’s not the subtlest of weapons, but is great for smashing your opponents. Again, it’s slightly faster than the two-handed sword, and, can be used in conjunction with a shield. The warhammer is perfect for fights against plated warriors.

Two-handed Sword

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The mighty two-handed sword packs an incredible punch, but at the price of being the slowest of all weapons also removing the option of having a shield. The damage it deals is considerably higher than any other weapon made of the same material. Although it cannot be used to stab, very few pieces of armour can stand up to its power.

Spears (Members only)

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The spear is the most flexible of all the weapons in RuneScape, although because of this it sacrifices speed and power.
It’s the only weapon that can effectively stab, crush or slash, and can also be used to poison your opponent. The spear also features the ‘controlled’ fighting option. It should be noted that spears are the only weapon that can have KP poison applied to them. For more information, try the Tai Bwo Wannai Trio quest.

Claws (Members only)

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A player with claws can attack as fast as a player with a dagger. Claws have a better slashing attack than a dagger, although they cannot be poisoned.

Halberd (Members only)

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The halberd doesn’t hit quite as hard as the two-handed sword, is very slow, and cannot be used with a shield. However, it makes up for all of this by having a long reach, allowing the player to attack opponents over short distances and even over small obstacles. Unlike the two-handed sword, it has a reasonable stab attack, along with a substantial slash attack.

Pickaxe

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Any weapon is better than no weapon, and although a pickaxe is mainly used in Mining, it will serve as a weapon if nothing else can be found.

Granite Maul

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Giving a large bonus to crush attacks, the damage a granite maul can inflict can be devastating on player and monster alike. However, these bonuses and the overall strength aspect of the granite maul come at the price of a very slow attack speed.

Weapons from the Tzhaar

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New weapons from the Tzhaar city have now been made available to the humans who trade or fight in their arenas. Weapons from the Tzhaar include the Xil-ak (a split sword), the Ket-em (a mace), the Ket-om (a Maul), and the Xil-ek (a knife).

Abyssal Whip

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The Abyssal whip comes with a ‘flick’ attack style and a very fast rate of attack, ideal for training attack and defense at a good rate. The whip cannot be used to train strength, unless the ‘controlled’ attack is selected.

Barrows Weapons

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If you are lucky to recieve a melee brothers weapon as a reward from the Barrows minigame, you have a powerful weapon indeed. Not only does the weapon offer exceptional combat bonuses, but if you complete a set (full armour set and weapon), you can unleash a deadly ’set effect’. For more information, see the Barrows rewards page.

Attack: Mage Weapons

Staff

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Where a staff’s name is preceded by the name of a rune, the wielder will never need that rune to cast spells. For example, a Staff of Fire or a Fire Battlestaff would replace the need for fire runes if they are equipped.

Staffs are essential for spell casting, as not only can you autocast certain spells with them, you can also use it as a form of melee weaponry to attack with when your runes run dry!

Battlestaff (Members only)

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Again, essential for spell casting, you can autocast certain spells with them, Battle staves also have increased stats, and provide a better form of weaponry as the stats are similar to Adamantite longswords.

Mystic Battlestaff (Members only)

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Mystic battlestaves are again essential for spell casting, allowing you to autocast certain spells. They have increased melee stats, and, provide a better form of weaponry than the other types of staff (the stats are similar to rune swords).

Other Staves (Members only)

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These other staves have unique properties and are required for their own specialised spells. The Slayer staff is used in casting Slayer Dart and the Iban staff is used for Iban blast. The god Staves can be used to cast the corresponding god spell, and the Ancient Staff can be used to autocast Ancient Magicks.
Ahrims staff can be obtained as a random reward from the Barrows chest. With a full set of Ahrims, you stand a chance of reducing your opponent’s strength with your attacks. Finally the Tzhaar staff will serve as a good combat weapon, whilst also being able to cast spells well, and give a good bonus to prayer.

Attack: Ranged Weapons

Bows

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Bows are the favoured weapon of rangers. They can fire normal, or poisoned arrows, which can inflict additional constant damage on an opponent. Longbows are more powerful, but at the price of fire rate. Short bows have a quicker rate of fire, but they sacrifice damage inflicted to achieve this.
The Seercull is a random drop from the Dagannoth kings found on Waterbirth Island. With its special attack you will find that your opponent’s Magic level is decreased by the amount of damage inflicted.

Crossbow

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Crossbows use bolts as their ammunition, fire at a good rate of speed, and can be used with a shield for extra defence. The crossbow can fire a variety of bolts, such as normal, pearl and opal. If you are using Karils (2 handed) Crossbow, you will need to get special bolt racks, which can be bought from the traveller found on the docks of Port Phasmatys.

Darts (Members only)

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Darts have an excellent rate of fire. Combining a dart with poison can inflict further quick and lethal damage to an opponent. Obtaining Darts is much easier than knives as you get more darts ‘per bar’ when smithing.

Throwing Knives (Members only)

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Knives have an excellent rate of fire. Combining a knife with poison allows you to inflict further lethal and quick damage to an opponent. Whilst you do not get as many knives as darts when smithing, knives have a slightly increased attack range, and are stronger.

Thrownaxe (Members only)

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Thrown axes can be used to obtain a more powerful attack. However, they come at the price of being slower than the other thrown weapons. Unlike many other thrown weapons, they cannot be poisoned.

Javelins (Members only)

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Javelins have a medium rate of fire and can inflict a nice amount of damage. As like many other thrown weapons, they can also be poisoned.

Other Weapons (Members only)

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The Ogre bow is a reward from the Big Chompy Bird Hunting and the Composite Ogre bow from Zogre Flesh Eaters quest. The Ogre bow fires Ogre arrows, which hit harder than standard arrows. The composite Ogre Bow can fire devastating ‘Brutal’ arrows, which are arrows with the head of a nail.

The Crystal bow is a reward (and can be bought after) the Roving Elves quest. Although no ammo is required, you’ll need a level of 70 ranged and 50 agility in order to be able to wield it. The Crystal bow is an amazing form of ranged attack. With completion of the Dwarf Cannon quest, you can buy a Multicannon that when set up (and filled with cannonballs) will automatically fire at nearby targets and hit with incredible force. Finally, the Tzhaar have learnt combat skills in ranged, and they have deadly throwing rings, with a high attack bonus, making the option for a shield available.