Combat classes

The three combat classes of RuneScape are the warrior, ranger, and mage. They are balanced so that each class is weak to one other and strong against one other, in what is called the "combat triangle." A player's combat class is determined from that player's skills. A rough way to determine a player's combat class is to compare the following, and the highest number is your combat class: Your combat class also affects your combat level, because in addition to Defence, Hitpoints, and Prayer, the skills listed above for your combat class also contribute to your combat level.
 * 1/3 of your Attack level + Strength level = Warrior
 * 1/2 of your Ranged level = Ranger
 * 1/2 of your Magic level = Mage

Warrior
A warrior uses the melee combat style and is strong against rangers but weak against mages. Warriors generally wear heavy, metal armour that provides excellent defence against melee and ranged attacks, but inhibits the warrior's ability to perform ranged and magic attacks. One advantage of being a warrior is that while arrows and runes will eventually run out, a melee weapon doesn't "run out" and you can use it as long as you like. However, this by no means implies that warriors are stronger or superior to rangers or mages.

Ranger
A ranger uses the ranged combat style and is strong against mages but weak against warriors. Rangers generally wear armour made from animal hide, and they use weapons that can hit from a distance.

Mage
A mage uses the magic combat style and is strong against warriors but weak against rangers. Mages generally wear robes for armour and wield staves for weapons. However, robes and a staff aren't what make a mage powerful, but rather their potent array of spells. To cast spells, mages use runes,  magical energy stored in stones.