Single-way combat

Single-way combat area, also known as a Single-combat area, is an area of the Old School RuneScape world where a player or monster can be attacked by only one player or monster at a time. Most areas of the world are single-way combat. Those that are not are multi-combat areas, where a player or monster can be attacked by several players or monsters at a time. Multi-combat areas are identified by an icon of two crossed swords which appears in the top right-hand corner of the interface or under the minimap. If this icon is not present, then the area is single-way combat.

Exceptions

These monsters do not follow single-way combat rules.

Barrows brothers

If the player is under attack by another monster in the crypt and a brother spawns, the brother will take priority, causing the player to end combat with the monster and start with said brother. If multiple brothers are present, they will all be able to hit the player simultaneously even though it is a single-way combat zone.

Blessed spiders

During the Underground Pass quest, when the player kills Kalrag, the blessed spiders in the same room become aggressive and attack the player simultaneously even though it is a single-way combat zone. In addition, if the player has a blessed spider trying to attack them, they will be able to hit the player regardless if the player is in combat with another monster or not. This can lead to many spiders attacking the player at once, even before Kalrag is killed.

Superior slayer creatures

When a superior slayer creature spawns and is attacked by the player, any other monster in combat with the player will stop attacking them. However, aggressive superiors such as the Basilisk Sentinel and Dreadborn Araxyte will attack the player even if they are in combat with another monster.

Likewise, the delay of the marble gargoyle's special attack (as it is not a traditional attack) can frequently result in a nearby gargoyle attacking the player for a single hit if they are still aggressive towards them.

(Chaotic) death spawns

(Chaotic) death spawns summoned by nechryael or nechryarch in the Slayer Tower are able to attack the player even though it is single-way combat. The player cannot attack the spawns back unless they are not currently being attacked by a nechyrael or nechryarch.

Ghouls

If multiple ghouls attempt to attack the player, it is possible for them to do simultaneously even though it is single-way combat. This is more common for players who are less than level 85 combat, when ghouls are aggressive.

Thrower trolls

At Death Plateau, while trolls are aggressive, if the player walks north towards the thrower trolls from the south single-way combat area, the trolls may simultaneously attack the player while the player is still in single-way combat

Shaman Caves

Monsters that are spawned through smashing barrels in the Shaman Caves are all able to attack the player at once even though the area is not designated as a multi-combat area.

Undead Zealots

Multiple Undead Zealots spawned in the Shade Catacombs can attack the player that spawned them at once despite the area being single-combat.

v t e Combat Mechanics
Combat	Attack range Attack speed Auto Retaliate Autocast Combat triangle Special attacks Hitsplat Tanking Magical melee Magical ranged Ranged magic Ranged melee Typeless
Maximum hit	Maximum magic hit Maximum melee hit Maximum ranged hit Monster maximum hit
Damage per second	Damage per second/Melee Damage per second/Ranged Damage per second/Magic
Mechanics	Aggressiveness Buffs Elemental weakness Flinching Hit delay Retaliation Retreat Safespot Spawning Successful hit Maximum damage cap Flat armour Tolerance Wander radius PJ timer Red-X Line of sight
Other	Single-way combat Multicombat area Singles-plus combat Player killing