Combat level


 * To determine combat level, use the combat level calculator.

A player's, monster's, or non-player character's combat level indicates the difficulty in defeating him, her, or it in combat. All new players start out at combat level 3, and the maximum level for RuneScape is level 138 (126 on the free version), while in RuneScape Classic, it is level 123. The strongest monster, the Corporeal Beast, has a Combat level of 785 and is impossible to solo. It usually takes around 10 high-levelled players to kill it.

Combat level is calculated by taking into account the following skills:
 * Attack
 * Strength
 * Defence
 * Hitpoints
 * Ranged
 * Magic
 * Prayer
 * Summoning

Levels that are lower than the player display shades of green, levels that are slightly lower than one's display yellow-ish green , levels that are equal to one's are displayed as yellow and levels that are higher than yours display shades of orange to red. It is commonly believed that monsters/players that are 10 levels below you are displayed in green (greenest green) and monsters/players that are 10 levels above are displayed as red, the reddest red.

Effects of combat level
Normally, aggressive non-player characters stop attacking when the player's combat level is higher than double their combat level. There are exceptions, however - for example, any monsters in the wilderness that are normally aggressive will be aggressive to players no matter what their combat level is. Also, monsters that are normally aggressive will always attack a player if they are level 70 or higher, since the maximum combat level which is 138 for members.

Monsters with a higher combat level than a player cannot be attacked by using a left mouse click. Instead, players need to right click and select the attack monster option. So, to be able to attack a Blue Dragon with a simple left click, a player needs a combat level of at least 111.

Combat level is the only in-game visible parameter that players have to evaluate another player. High combat levels do not always accurately describe a player's capabilities in other skills. There are players with maximum combat that have very low levels in other skills and there are pure skillers with no combat levels and very high non-combat skills. Yet, there is a reasonable chance that a high combat level also implies a decent skill level and a reasonable knowledge of the game.

A more complicated assessment is in the trustworthiness of a player in trades. Some players place higher trust in higher combat level players, as they have more to lose when they get banned after being reported for illegal trading practices..

Jagex revealed formula
In the Combat Triangle Wallpaper update, Jagex revealed the basic formulas used for calculating the basic combat level (excludes summoning) on the top right of the wallpaper.

Please note: The basic formula revealed in the wallpaper, however, is at an early stage and using the formula as provided does not in all cases result in the combat level players observe in game. This is particularly true for Mages and Rangers, as also here even and odd levels do seem to play a role in calculating the correct combat level. In the RuneScape Forums (Combat skill section) a more accurate calculation method has been found by a group of adventurers (the thread is a sticky).

The combat level is calculated for each combat type (melee, magic and ranged). The character's basic combat level is the highest of the following three combat types.

The calculations are performed using integer arithmetic, so when multiplying by a fraction, the remainder is discarded.

For example, if prayer is 43, then $$\frac{1}{2} \text{prayer}$$ gives 21 and not 21.5.

Effects of Summoning level in member worlds
In member worlds the summoning level is included in the following cases:
 * In non-PvP worlds, except when near Bounty Hunter
 * In PvP worlds when the player has a summoned familiar
 * In PvP worlds when the player is carrying a summoning pouch or summoning scroll

The effect of the summoning level in these cases is similar to prayer. This means that the character's overall combat level in these cases is the highest of the following three combat types (with the summoning included).

In PvP worlds, when the player does not have a summoned familiar, and is not carrying a summoning pouch or summoning scroll, the potential Summoning increase is displayed separately even in free-to-play worlds. For example, 79+6 instead of 85.

Trivia

 * Early in RuneScape Classic after the introduction of the Wilderness, combat levels only appeared when hovering over a player with the mouse in the Wilderness. After the release of members, combat levels appeared everywhere on members' worlds due to the release of duelling across the map.  In free worlds, combat levels remained invisible outside of the wilderness until a major game change on September 24, 2002.  Many players lied about their combat level outside of the Wilderness. However, if a player hovered over another player during a loading screen (such as climbing a ladder), for a brief moment the combat level was shown.


 * Most monsters in RuneScape are weaker than players of the same combat level. This is because most of them have no food, drinks, or armour. Keep in mind that there are exceptions, such as revenants, which can usually kill a player their level.


 * Combat levels used to be shown like Level-3 instead of Level: 3.


 * When a player is maxed out (i.e. all combat skills are at 99, including summoning) it is observed that melee combat level is highest at 138 while range and magic combat levels are just 122.


 * To achieve a combat level of 138 prayer and summoning only have to be at level 98 as in these two skills only even levels are taken into account for the calculation of the combat level.