Defence

Defence is a player's protection in melee combat. As a player raises their defence level, opponents will deal damage less often. Defence levels also affect what kind of armour a player can equip.

Fighting defensively
To increase a player's defence level, they must choose the "defensive" attack style. To do this, a player has to click on the image with the two swords beside the menu that shows their skills. This menu is called the "attack style menu". The player can then click on the attack style that says "defensive" in brackets.

While fighting defensively, players will not be hit as often as they would when fighting aggressively or accuratley.

Experience
A formula is used that decides how much experience a player obtains when fighting defensively. If a player hits an opponent, whatever damage they deal is multiplied by 4 and given to the player's defence skill. For example, if a player hits a 1, then they will recieve 4 defence experience.

Some experience is also given to a player's hitpoints level when they deal damage. If a player hits an opponent, whatever damage they deal is multiplied by 1.33 and given to their hitpoints. For example, if a player hits a 1, then they will recieve 1.33 hitpoints experience, in addition to the 4 experience in defence.

If a player fights with the "controlled" attack style, then whatever damage they deal will be multiplied by 1.33 and given to the player's defence, attack, strength, and hitpoints level.

Defence can also be trained by ranging in the "long range" attack stlye. For every hit dealt to the opponent, players receive 2 range experience, 2 defence experience, and 1.33 hitpoints experience.

Defence can also be trained by maging with a staff with a defensive attack style. Doing so gives players 2 experience points to magic and 2 to defence, as well as the 1.33 to hitpoints.

Defence bonuses
Some weapons and armour give players "defence bonuses" against certain attack types. These bonuses can be seen in the equipment menu, to the right of the inventory menu. Defence bonuses give players advantages as well as disadvantages in combat.

Stab: Wearing melee armour lowers the chance of players stabbing with a weapon from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using the stab attack style.

Slash: Wearing melee armour lowers the chance of players slashing with a weapon from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using the slash attack style.

Crush: Wearing melee armour lowers the chance of players crushing with a weapon from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using the crush attack style.

Magic: Wearing ranged armour lowers the chance of magic attacks dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using magic.

Ranged: Wearing melee lowers the chance of players using ranged weapons from dealing high damage. The higher this bonus is, the less often an opponent will deal damage by using ranged attacks.

Other defence bonuses

 * Some weapons also give a small increase or reduction in a player's defence bonus. For example, staves increase a player's defence bonus while two handed swords and halbreds reduce a player's defence bonus.
 * Leather gloves, leather boots, and capes give slight defence bonuses.
 * An Amulet of Defence gives a defence bonus of +7 against the stab, slash, and crush attack types.
 * An Amulet of Power gives a defence bonus of +6 against the stab, slash, and crush attack types.
 * A Holy symbol gives a +2 defence bonus against all attack types.

Levels
Levels needed to equip different types of armour are as follows:

Quests
The following quests give defence experience upon completion.
 * A Soul's Bane - 500 xp
 * In Search of the Myreque - 600 xp
 * In Aid of the Myreque - 2,000 xp
 * Nature Spirit - 2,000 xp
 * A Fairy Tale Part II - 2,500 xp (optional)
 * The Fremennik Trials - 2,812.4 xp
 * Heroes Quest - 3,075 xp
 * Between a Rock... - 5,000 xp
 * Legends Quest - 7,650 to 30,600 xp
 * Shadow of the Storm - 10,000 xp (optional)
 * One Small Favour - 10,000 to 20,000 xp (optional)
 * Holy Grail - 15,300 xp
 * Dragon Slayer - 18,650 xp
 * Recipe for Disaster - 20,000 xp (optional)
 * Monkey Madness - 	20,000 or 35,000 xp (optional)

Temporary boosts

 * Cabbage - Cabbage from Draynor Manor raises defence by 1 level for a short time.
 * Defence potion - Boosts defence level by 3 to 12; amount depends on player's defence level.
 * Super defence potion - Boosts defence level by 5 to 19; amount depends on player's defence level.
 * Saradomin brew - Boosts defence level by 2 to 21; amount depends on player's defence level.
 * Excalibur - Reward from the Merlin's Crystal quest. Using its special raises a player's defence level by 10 for a short while.