Weapons

The weapon slot.

Artwork of some standard *RuneScape* weapons.

Weapons are worn equipment in the weapon slot used to deal damage in combat. One-handed weapons can be used with a shield in the shield slot (or another item such as a defender) and two-handed weapons prevent the use of the shield slot. Stackable weapons are all equipped at the same time. Some equipment used in other skills such as axes, pickaxes, the Imcando hammer, pearl fishing rods from Alry the Angler's Angling Accessories, and Amy's saw from Mahogany Homes are also equipable.

Weapon bonuses

All weapons have equipment stats, attack bonuses, and defence bonuses in stab, slash, and crush melee combat, Ranged combat, and Magic combat. Each also has a melee strength, Ranged strength, and Magic strength increasing maximum damage with that damage type and Prayer bonus that reduces the rate at which prayers drain points.

Weapons also have an attack speed, which is the rate at which it attacks and an attack range. Melee weapons, except for halberds, all have 1 attack range. Ranged and Magic weapons vary, however most magic weapons cast spells from 10 tiles away.

Special attacks

Certain weapons have special attacks while wielded requiring different amounts of energy to use. Special attacks are unique to a weapon and its upgrades. While most of them are offensive abilities, axes, pickaxes, and harpoons of dragon, infernal, 3rd age, and crystal tools boost their respective skill by 3.

Weapon Categories

The Combat Options tab, where weapon category is found.

When wielding any weapon, the Combat Options tab will show you the category it belongs to as well as providing attack styles to choose from. All weapons within a certain category use the same set of combat options. (The one exception to this is the 3rd age longsword, which uses the combat options of a 2h sword despite displaying "Category: Slash sword" in its Combat Options.)

Melee

Melee weapons are primarily used to attack directly next to a target, however halberds have a 2-tile attack range. These do not require ammunition, except for a few weapons that need to be charged such as the scythe of vitur, Viggora's chainmace, or the blade of saeldor. All melee weapon level requirements are listed on the Attack or Strength level up table. Most of these start out at bronze equipment up to rune equipment for free-to-play while members have access to higher tier equipment like dragon, barrows or Abyssal weapons.

Ranged

Ranged weapons use ammunition to attack from a distance (except for crystal equipment which uses charges). All Ranged weapon level requirements are listed on the Ranged level up table.

Magic

Magic weapons generally use runes to cast spells from a distance and come in two primary types: weapons that can autocast spells using runes from your inventory, and powered staves which need to be pre-loaded and have their own built-in spell. Magic weapons that can autocast spells include elemental staves, bladed staves, and wands, among others. They can be used as melee weapons; however most of them have subpar melee bonuses that make their spell-casting abilities more useful (such as acting as an infinite source of elemental runes, or granting access to specific spells like Magic Dart.) Powered staves can use their built-in spell regardless of the spellbook the player is using. All level requirements are listed on the Magic level up table.