Defence
Defence | ||||
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Released | 4 January 2001 (Update) | |||
Also called | Def | |||
Members | No | |||
Type | Combat | |||
Statistics | ||||
Players with 99 |
336,216 as of 1 November 2024 - update | |||
Players with 200M XP |
406 as of 7 October 2024 - update | |||
Defence is a skill that grants players protection in all forms of combat. Defence level also determines which equipment players are able to wear, as most pieces of armour or other equipment have a Defence level requirement.
Defence level up - normal | |
The music that plays when levelling up.
| |
File:Defence level up (normal).ogg |
Defence level up - with unlocks | |
The music that plays when levelling up and unlocking new content.
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File:Defence level up (with unlocks).ogg |
Mechanics
The higher a target's Defence level, the less likely one is to land successful attacks (Melee or Ranged-based damage greater than zero, or Magic-based offensive spells that don't Splash) 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.
A player's Ranged level will not increase their ranged defence, but 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.
Defence is one of the skills that will raise the combat level of a player regardless of other skill levels. For this reason, many combat pures level Defence to a certain level then stop training it to minimise their combat level, giving them an upper hand in Player-versus-Player combat against players around their level. Notable Defence levels are often tied to specific tiers of items or prayers that lead to advantages in combat. To see a complete list of viable optimised Defence level, check the Defence level caps.
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
Boost | Level increase |
Visibility | Other info | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Defence cape | 1 | Visible | Activating the cape's effect will increase the corresponding skill by 1. | |
Draynor Manor Cabbage | 1 or 2 | Visible | Hitpoints 1 Defence floor(StaticLevel * 0.02) + 1 Available to free-to-play players. | |
Kebab | 1-3 | Visible | 4% chance to do so. Available to free-to-play players. See kebab for details. | |
Poison chalice | 1 or 4 | Visible | Has a variety of beneficial and disastrous effects. See poison chalice for details. | |
Spicy stew (red spice) |
±0-5 | Visible | Hitpoints 11 Depending on type of stew, any skill except Hitpoints can be boosted or reduced by 0 to 5 levels randomly. | |
Excalibur | 8 | Visible | Uses up 100% Special attack energy. | |
File:Defence potion(4).png | Defence potion | 3-12 | Visible | Defence floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) + 3 |
File:Defence mix.png | Defence mix | 3-12 | Visible | Hitpoints 6 per dose. Defence 3 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Requires Barbarian training. |
Abidor Crank | 3-12 | Visible | Defence floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) + 3 | |
File:Elder (-).png | Elder (-) | 4-13 | Visible | Attack 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Defence 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Strength 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Only usable within the Chambers of Xeric. |
File:Overload (-).png | Overload (-) | 4-13 | Visible | Acts as an elder (-), twisted (-), and kodai (-) potion in one dose. Hitpoints - 50 Attack 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Defence 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Strength 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Ranged 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Magic 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) The boost is reapplied every 15 seconds for 5 minutes. (This lost health is refunded after the overload ends). Only usable within the Chambers of Xeric. |
File:Elder potion.png | Elder potion | 5-17 | Visible | Attack 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) Strength 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) Only usable within the Chambers of Xeric. |
File:Overload (Chambers of Xeric).png | Overload (Chambers of Xeric) | 5-17 | Visible | Acts as an elder, twisted, and kodai potion in one dose. Hitpoints - 50 Attack 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) Strength 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) Ranged 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) Magic 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.13) The boost is reapplied every 15 seconds for 5 minutes. (This lost health is refunded after the overload ends). Only usable within the Chambers of Xeric. |
Sapphire glacialis (item) | 4-18 | Visible | Defence 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Can be used on another player. Boost affects the player it is used on. Acquired from the Hunter skill. | |
File:Sapphire glacialis mix.png | Sapphire glacialis mix | 4-18 | Visible | Defence 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Also affects up to three players adjacent to the user, if used in a multicombat area. Acquired from the Hunter skill. |
Bandages (Theatre of Blood) | 4-18 | Visible | Hitpoints 20 Attack 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Defence 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Strength 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Ranged 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Magic 4 | |
File:Super defence.png | Super defence | 5-19 | Visible | Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) |
File:Super def. mix.png | Super def. mix | 5-19 | Visible | Hitpoints 6 per dose. Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Requires Barbarian training. |
File:Divine super defence potion.png | Divine super defence potion | 5-19 | Visible | Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Stat draining for Defence is disabled for 5 minutes, meaning the player's Defence level will stay fully boosted. After the 5 minutes are over, Defence level will be restored to its base level. |
File:Super combat potion.png | Super combat potion | 5-19 | Visible | Attack 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Strength 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) |
File:Divine super combat potion.png | Divine super combat potion | 5-19 | Visible | Attack 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Strength 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Stat draining for melee combat stats is disabled for 5 minutes, meaning the player's melee combat stats will stay fully boosted. After the 5 minutes are over, melee combat stats will be restored to their base level. |
File:Bastion potion.png | Bastion potion | 5-19 | Visible | Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Ranged 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Acts as a ranging and super defence potion in one dose. |
File:Divine bastion potion.png | Divine bastion potion | 5-19 | Visible | Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Ranged 4 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) Stat draining for Ranged and Defence is disabled for 5 minutes, meaning the player's Ranged and Defence levels will stay fully boosted. After the 5 minutes are over, Ranged and Defence levels will be restored to its base level. |
File:Battlemage potion.png | Battlemage potion | 5-19 | Visible | Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Magic 4 Acts as a magic and super defence potion in one dose. |
File:Divine battlemage potion.png | Divine battlemage potion | 5-19 | Visible | Hitpoints - 10 Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Magic 4 Acts as a battlemage potion. Passive stat draining for Magic and Defence is disabled for 5 minutes, meaning the player's Magic and Defence levels will stay fully boosted. After the 5 minutes are over, Magic and Defence levels will be restored to its base level. |
File:Overload (Nightmare Zone).png | Overload (Nightmare Zone) | 5-19 | Visible | cts as a super combat, super ranging, and super magic potion in one dose. Hitpoints - 50 Attack 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Strength 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Ranged 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Magic 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) The boost is reapplied every 15 seconds for 5 minutes. (This lost health is refunded after the overload ends). Only usable within the Nightmare Zone. |
File:Saradomin brew(4).png | Saradomin brew | 2-21 | Visible | Defence 2 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.2) Hitpoints 2 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) Attack - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.1) - 2 Strength - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.1) - 2 Magic - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.1) - 2 Ranged - floor(CurrentLevel * 0.1) - 2 Hitpoints can rise above base level with this boost. |
File:Elder (+).png | Elder (+) | 6-21 | Visible | Attack 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Defence 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Strength 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Only usable within the Chambers of Xeric. |
File:Overload (+).png | Overload (+) | 6-21 | Visible | Acts as an elder (+), twisted (+), and kodai (+) potion in one dose. Hitpoints - 50 Attack 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Defence 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Strength 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Ranged 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Magic 6 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) The boost is reapplied every 15 seconds for 5 minutes. (This lost health is refunded after the overload ends). Only usable within the Chambers of Xeric. |
File:Moonlight potion.png | Moonlight potion | 3-26 | Visible | Attack 3 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) if 3-44 Herblore Attack 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) if 45+ Herblore Defence 3 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) if 30-65 Herblore Defence 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) if 66-69 Herblore Defence 7 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.2) if 70+ Herblore Strength 3 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.1) if 12-54 Herblore Strength 5 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.15) if 55+ Herblore Prayer 7 + floor(max(StaticLevel * 0.25, HerbloreLevel * 0.3)) Stat draining for Defence is disabled for 5 minutes if Herblore is 70 or higher. Only usable in Neypotzli. |
Bird bath | 2 | Visible | Can also damage or poison the player. See Bird bath for details. | |
Smelling salts | 11-26 | Visible | Attack 11 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Defence 11 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Strength 11 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Ranged 11 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Magic 11 + floor(StaticLevel * 0.16) Restores run energy by 25%. The boost is reapplied every 15 seconds for 8 minutes. Only usable within the Tombs of Amascut. |
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
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 I | 18,650 | - | 32 |
Knight Waves (miniquest) |
20,000 | 65 | 45 |
King's Ransom | 33,000 | 65 | 45 |
Total | 116,937 |
In addition, there is a chance that the Observatory Quest may award 875 Defence experience.
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 | None |
Client of Kourend | 500 twice | Any | None |
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 | None |
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 three times | Any skill above 35 | 48 , 40 , 40 , 45 , 38 |
A Kingdom Divided | 10,000 twice | Any skill above 40 | 54 , 52 , 52 , 50 , 42 , 38 , 35 |
In Search of Knowledge (miniquest) | 10,000 | Any skill above 40 | None |
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 | None | |
Dream Mentor | 15,000 | 32 , 85 , 61 , 40 , 49 , 5 , 65 , 60 , 55 | |
The Fremennik Isles | 10,000 twice | 20 , 40 | |
A Night at the Theatre | 20,000 four times | 90 recommended | |
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 , 70 , 48 , 50 , 53 , 53 , 25 , 59 , 40 , 50 , 40 , 40 , 10 , 10 , 36 |
Legends' Quest | 30,000 four times | | 107 , 50 , 50 , 45 , 56 , 52 , 42 , 50 , 50 , 50 , 50 |
Monkey Madness I | 35,000 & 20,000[sc 1] | None | |
Sins of the Father | 15,000 six times | Any skill above 60 | 62 , 60 , 56 , 52 , 50 , 50 , 49 |
Dragon Slayer II | 25,000 four times | 200 , 75 , 70 , 68 , 62 , 60 , 60 , 50 , 50 | |
Into the Tombs (miniquest) | 50,000 | 95 recommended | |
Monkey Madness II | 50,000 twice | 69 , 70 , 60 , 55 , 55 , 60 | |
Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire | 100,000 three times | 75 , 75 , 70 , 62 , 60 , 60 | |
Total | 1,046,300 |
- ^ 35,000 experience is granted to the chosen pair of skills, and 20,000 is granted to the pair of skills not chosen.
Changes
Date | Changes |
---|---|
[[{{#explode:4 May 2017| |0}} {{#explode:4 May 2017| |1}}]] [[{{#explode:4 May 2017| |2}}]] (update) |
The strength requirement of Granite has been specified in the Defence skillguide. |
Trivia
- In RuneScape Classic, this skill was spelled "Defense".
See also
- Defence/Experience table, a list of all Defence experience sources
- Defence/Level up table, a list of all requirements and unlockables within the Defence skill
Combat | |||||
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Gathering | |||||
Production | |||||
Utility | |||||
Proposed skills |
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Related |