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
Released		4 January 2001 (Update)
Also called		Def
Members		No
Type		Combat
Statistics
Players with 99		148,423 as of 1 July 2020 - update
Players with 200M XP		128 as of 1 July 2020 - 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. 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 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 in order to gain the upper hand in Player-versus-Player combat, where players are often restricted to attacking others within a certain range of levels to them. 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 70/75). 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'.

Defence level up - normal

The music that plays when levelling up.

Defence level up - with unlocks

The music that plays when levelling up and unlocking new content.

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.

Temporary boosts

Main article: Temporary skill boost

Boost		Level increase	Visibility	Other info
	Defence cape	1	Visible	Activating the cape's effect will increase the corresponding skill by 1.
	Spicy stew (red spice)	±0-5	Visible	Depending on type of stew, any skill can be boosted or reduced by 0 to 5 levels randomly.
	Kebab	1-3	Visible	4% chance to do so
	Poison chalice	1, 4	Visible	Has a variety of beneficial and disastrous effects.
	Defence potion	3-12	Visible	Boosts defence by $Level*{\frac {1}{10}}+3$. Defence boosts do not allow players to equip higher level armour.
	Sapphire glacialis (item)	4-18	Visible	Boosts defence by $Level*{\frac {15}{100}}+4$. Must be used on another player. Boost affects the player it is used on. Acquired from the Hunting skill.
	Super defence	5-19	Visible	Boosts defence by $Level*{\frac {15}{100}}+5$. Reduces the chance of receiving damage. Defence boosts do not allow players to equip higher level armour.
	Divine super defence potion	5-19	Visible	Acts as a super defence potion. Stat draining for defence is disabled for 5 minutes, meaning the player's defence will stay fully boosted. After the 5 minutes are over, defence level will be restored to its base level.
	Battlemage potion	5-19	Visible	Boosts defence by $Level*{\frac {15}{100}}+5$. Allows for the use of higher level magical spells.
	Bastion potion	5-19	Visible	Boosts defence by $Level*{\frac {15}{100}}+5$. Boosts ranged by $Level*{\frac {1}{10}}+4$.
	Saradomin brew	2-21	Visible	Boosts defence by $Level*{\frac {1}{5}}+2$ and hitpoints by $Level*{\frac {15}{100}}+2$. Reduces Attack, Strength, Magic and Ranged levels by $Level*{\frac {1}{10}}+2$. Hitpoints can rise above normal level with the boost.
	Draynor Manor Cabbage	1 or 2	Visible	Restores 2 Hitpoints.
	Super combat potion	5-19	Visible	Acts as a super attack, super strength, and super defence potion in one dose.
	Divine super combat potion	5-19	Visible	Acts as a super combat potion. Stat draining for combat skills is disabled for 5 minutes, meaning the player's combat stats will stay fully boosted. After the 5 minutes are over, combat stats will be restored to its base level.
	Overload	5-19	Visible	Boosts combat stats by $Level*{\frac {15}{100}}+5$ (excluding hitpoints and prayer). The boost is reapplied every 15 seconds for 5 minutes. Also damages the player for 50 Hitpoints. (This lost health is refunded after the overload ends.) Only usable within the Nightmare Zone or within the Chambers of Xeric

Quests

Quests requiring Defence

Quest	Defence requirement	Other skill requirements
Rag and Bone Man II	20	40
Between a Rock...	30	40 , 50
Lunar Diplomacy	40	61 , 49 , 5 , 65 , 60 , 55
King's Ransom	65	45

Quests rewarding Defence experience

Main article: Quest experience rewards

Quest	Experience reward	Defence requirement	Other requirements
A Soul's Bane	500	-	-
In Search of the Myreque	600	-	25
In Aid of the Myreque	2,000	-	25 , 15 , 7
Nature Spirit	2,000	-	18 if crafting your own sickle
What Lies Below	2,000	-	35
The Fremennik Trials	2,812	-	25 , 40 , 40 if crafting your own lyre
Heroes' Quest	3,075	-	55 , 53 , 53 , 25 , 50
Between a Rock...	5,000	30	40 , 50
Olaf's Quest	12,000	-	40 , 50
Holy Grail	15,300	-	20
Dragon Slayer	18,650	-	32
Camelot training room (minigame)	20,000	65	45
King's Ransom	33,000	65	45
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 , 57
A Tail of Two Cats	2,500 twice	Any skill above 30	-
The Great Brain Robbery	5,000	Any skill above 30	16 , 30 , 50
King's Ransom	5,000	Any skill above 50	65
Darkness of Hallowvale	2,000 three times	Any skill above 30	5 , 20 , 22 , 32 , 33 , 40
A Taste of Hope	2,500	Any skill above 35	48 , 45 , 40 , 40 , 38
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
Shadow of the Storm	10,000		30
Contact!	7,000 twice		-
Dream Mentor	15,000		32 (Boostable), 85 , 61 , 40 , 49 , 5 , 65 , 60 , 55
The Fremennik Isles	10,000 twice		20 , 40
One Small Favour	10,000 twice	Any skill above 30	36 , 25 , 18 , 30
Recipe for Disaster (The final battle)	20,000	Any skill above 50	175 , 48 , 50 , 53 , 53 , 25 , 59 , 40 , 50 , 40 , 40 , 10 , 10 , 36
Legends' Quest	7,650 four times		107 , 50 , 50 , 45 , 56 , 52 , 42 , 50 , 50 , 50 , 50
Monkey Madness I	35,000 or 20,000	or	-
Dragon Slayer II	25,000 four times		200 , 75 , 70 , 68 , 62 , 60 , 60 , 50 , 50
Monkey Madness II	50,000 twice		69 , 70 , 60 , 55 , 55 , 60
Total	394,400 or 409,400