Defence

The RuneScape Wiki also has an article on: rsw:DefenceThe RuneScape Classic Wiki also has an article on: classicrsw:Defense

This article is about the Defence skill. For information on training Defence, see Defence training.

For a list of all requirements and unlockables within the Defence skill, see Defence/Level up table.

Defence
Also known as	Def
Release date	4 January 2001 (Update)
Members only?	No
Players with 99	94,291 as of 18 March 2019 - update
Players with 200M XP	69 as of 14 March 2019 - update

Defence (spelled "Defense" in RuneScape Classic; oftentimes abbreviated as Def) is one of the primary combat skills that grants players protection in all forms of combat. Defence is one of the skills that will raise the combat level of a player regardless of other skill levels. For this reason, many pures leave their defence at a certain level and stop training it. They range from 1 Defence pures, to Initiate pures (level 20-25), rune pures (level 40/42), Berserker pures (level 45), and Barrows pures (level 70). All of the above may be considered as a type of 'pure'. Some players may choose to only train Defence, and are known as just 'Defence pures'.

The higher a target's Defence level, the less likely one is to land successful attacks (damage greater than zero) against said target. As such, it is a vital skill in high-level PvM and PvP situations. Defence does not decrease the amount of damage that an opponent can deal against you.

Magical defence is different - it is based on 70% of the player's Magic level, while the remaining 30% is the player's Defence level, which is then followed by the player's magical defence bonus from their armour.

A player's Defence level also determines which equipment they are able to wear, as most pieces of armour or other equipment have a Defence level requirement.

Defence level-up

The music that plays when levelled up.

Equipment

Almost every single piece of combat equipment (except for the ones that go on the weapon, cape, ring, and amulet slots) requires a certain Defence level to wear. Here are links to tables of armour and equipment that require a Defence level to wear:

• Armour - For an overview on the different types of Armour.
• Melee armour - An overview of the different types of Melee armour.
• Magic armour - An overview of the different types of Magic armour.
• Ranged armour - An overview of the different types of Ranged armour.
• Prayer armour - An overview of the different types of Prayer armour.
• Defenders - A weapon that goes on the shield slot and provides offensive bonuses while also having an Attack and Defence levels requirement. The rune defender provides the same strength bonus as an obsidian shield, while only requiring 40 defence as opposed to 60.

Quests rewarding Defence experience

Quest	Experience reward	Defence req.	Other requirements
A Soul's Bane	500	-	-
In Search of the Myreque	600	-	25 Agility
In Aid of the Myreque	2,000	-	25 Crafting, 15 Mining, 7 Magic
Nature Spirit	2,000	-	18 Crafting if crafting your own sickle
What Lies Below	2,000	-	35 Runecraft
The Fremennik Trials	2,812	-	25 Fletching, 40 Woodcutting, 40 Crafting if crafting your own lyre
Heroes' Quest	3,075	-	55 Quest, 53 Cooking, 53 Fishing, 25 Herblore, 50 Mining
Between a Rock...	5,000	30 Defence	40 Mining, 50 Smithing
Olaf's Quest	12,000	-	40 Firemaking, 50 Woodcutting
Holy Grail	15,300	-	20 Attack
Dragon Slayer	18,650	-	32 Quest
Camelot training room (minigame)	20,000	65 Defence	45 Magic
King's Ransom	33,000	65 Defence	45 Magic
Total	116,937

Skill choice

Upon completing any of the following quests, players may choose to allocate experience to Defence. These rewards usually come in the form of items, such as lamps or books, and are independent of any experience rewards directly received for completing the quest.

Quest	Experience reward	Skills available	Skill requirements
X Marks the Spot	300	Any	-
Client of Kourend	500 twice	Any	-
Fairytale II - Cure a Queen	2,500	Any skill above 30	49 Farming, 57 Herblore
A Tail of Two Cats	2,500 twice	Any skill above 30	-
The Great Brain Robbery	5,000	Any skill above 30	16 Crafting, 30 Construction, 50 Prayer
King's Ransom	5,000	Any skill above 50	65 Defence
Darkness of Hallowvale	2,000 three times	Any skill above 30	5 Construction, 20 Mining, 22 Thieving, 32 Crafting, 33 Magic, 40 Strength
A Taste of Hope	2,500	Any skill above 35	48 Crafting, 45 Agility, 40 Attack, 40 Herblore, 38 Slayer
Architectural Alliance (miniquest)	10,000	Any skill above 40	-
Curse of the Empty Lord (miniquest)	10,000	Any skill above 50	Some players will need 31 Prayer
Shadow of the Storm	10,000	Attack Strength Defence Magic Ranged Hitpoints	30 Crafting
Contact!	7,000 twice	Attack Strength Defence Magic Ranged Hitpoints	-
Dream Mentor	15,000	Strength Defence Magic Ranged Hitpoints	32 Agility (Boostable), 85 Combat, 61 Crafting, 40 Defence, 49 Firemaking, 5 Herblore, 65 Magic, 60 Mining, 55 Woodcutting
The Fremennik Isles	10,000 twice	Attack Strength Defence Hitpoints	20 Construction, 40 Agility
One Small Favour	10,000 twice	Any skill above 30	36 Agility, 25 Crafting, 18 Herblore, 30 Smithing
Recipe for Disaster (The final battle)	20,000	Any skill above 50	175 Quest, 48 Agility, 50 Mining, 53 Fishing, 53 Thieving, 25 Herblore, 59 Magic, 40 Smithing, 50 Firemaking, 40 Ranged, 40 Crafting, 10 Fletching, 10 Slayer, 36 Woodcutting
Legends' Quest	7,650 four times	Attack Strength Defence Magic Hitpoints Prayer Woodcutting Crafting Smithing Herblore Agility Thieving	107 Quest, 50 Agility, 50 Crafting, 45 Herblore, 56 Magic, 52 Mining, 42 Prayer, 50 Smithing, 50 Strength, 50 Thieving, 50 Woodcutting
Monkey Madness I	35,000 or 20,000	Attack Defence or Strength Hitpoints	-
Dragon Slayer II	25,000 four times	Attack Strength Defence Magic Ranged Hitpoints	200 Quest, 75 Magic, 70 Smithing, 68 Mining, 62 Crafting, 60 Agility, 60 Thieving, 50 Construction, 50 Hitpoints
Monkey Madness II	50,000 twice	Attack Strength Defence Magic Ranged Hitpoints	69 Slayer, 70 Crafting, 60 Hunter, 55 Agility, 55 Thieving, 60 Firemaking
Total	394,400 or 409,400

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