Strength

Strength is a melee combat skill that determines how much damage is done in melee combat. The higher the Strength level, the higher the maximum hit and the higher the average damage.



Fighting aggressively
Strength is trained by fighting with the "Aggressive" attack style. The option to fight aggressively is found under the Attack Style menu on the left-hand side of the menu interface. Most weapons have the option to fight aggressively, but a few, most notably the Abyssal whip, lack the ability to effectively train Strength. Many prefer the Saradomin sword to train Strength, as it has the same stats as an Abyssal whip, but is a Two-handed weapon.

The Aggressive attack style provides an invisible +3 bonus to Strength.

Strength is a very popular skill as many players desire to hit as high as possible for their combat levels.

Experience
A formula is used that decides how much experience a player obtains when fighting aggressively. If a player hits an opponent, whatever damage they deal is multiplied by 4 and given to the player's strength skill. For example, if a player hits a 1, then they will receive 4 Strength 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 receive 1.33 Hitpoints experience, in addition to the 4 experience in Strength.

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 Strength, Attack, Defence, and Hitpoints level.

Strength bonus
Most weapons have a strength bonus which can be seen in the equipment menu, beside the inventory menu. This bonus, along with the Strength level, is used to calculate maximum hit.

The more powerful weapons such as the two handed swords or battleaxes have higher strength bonuses, while the weaker weapons such as daggers and swords have lower strength bonuses. Also, the stronger the metal, the better strength bonus. For example, a rune two-handed sword has a higher strength bonus than an adamant two-handed sword.

Strength is also now required to wield halberds and granite shields, as well as a few of the Barrows weapons. It is also a necessary stat in several Agility shortcuts along with other skills and quests.

Highest strength bonus possible
The following armour gives the highest possible strength bonus for members:

[[Image:111 hit.png]] Max Hit - Melee
The following worn items can yield the highest melee hit in the game:


 * Keris (against kalphites)
 * Dragonfire shield
 * Amulet of Strength
 * Bandos chestplate
 * Bandos tassets
 * Black mask (against slayer monsters)
 * Dragon Boots
 * Fire Cape
 * Barrows Gloves
 * Berserker ring

In order to hit 117, a player must be using a super strength potion while at 99 Strength, have the Piety prayer activated, and be fighting a Kalphite Guardian or Kalphite Queen.

[[Image:111_hit.png]] Max Free-to-Play hit - Melee
The maximum melee damage dealt on a free world is 37. In order to hit it, player should wield:


 * Corrupt dragon battleaxe
 * Amulet of strength
 * Rune gauntlets
 * Rune berserker shield

Also, should have a strength level of 99, drink a strength potion, have the prayer Ultimate Strength on (prayer level 31) and be on the aggressive mode.

Weapons
Every weapon, other than a fun weapon or a law staff has a strength bonus.
 * Granite maul - Requires level 50 Strength and level 50 Attack to wield.
 * Obsidian maul - Requires level 60 Strength to wield.
 * All Halberds - All halberds require a Strength level HALF of the Attack level required to wield.
 * Ex. The Rune Halberd requires level 40 Attack and 20 Strength

Temporary boosts

 * Strength potion - Boosts Strength level by 3 to 12; amount depends on player's Strength level, (12.5 percent of Strength level)
 * Combat potion - Boosts Strength level by 3 to 12; amount depends on player's Strength level. Also boosts Attack at the same time. (12.5 percent for both).
 * Super strength potion - Boosts Strength level by 5 to 19; amount depends on player's Strength level (20 percent).
 * Zamorak potion - Boosts Strength level by 2 to 13; amount depends on player's Strength level.
 * When "Dharoking" with a full Dharok set, players can lower their Hitpoints to where they are nearly dead, such as having less than 10 hp left. Doing so greatly increases their Strength, allowing them to deal massive damage, upwards of 80 if they are lucky. Dharok's armours special effect hits double normal damage at 10% hp or lower.
 * Prayer - Burst of Strength, Superhuman Strength, Ultimate Strength, Chivalry and Piety boost Strength level by 5%, 10%, 15%, 18% and 23% respectively.
 * Black mask - When equipped, boosts strength level by 15%; amount depends on player's Strength level. Also boosts Attack at the same time. Only works while fighting monsters that have been assigned to you by a Slayer Master.
 * Dragon Battleaxe special attack - Boosts your Strength level by 20%. However it also lowers your Magic, Attack, Ranged, and Defence level by 10%. Drains 100 percent of your special attack bar.
 * Salve Amulet provides a boost of 15% attack and strength while fighting undeads. This effect is stackable with prayer and Strength potion or Dragon Battleaxe Special.
 * Salve Amulet(e) provides a boost of 20% attack and strength while fighting undeads. This effect is stackable with prayer and Strength potion or Dragon Battleaxe Special.
 * Beer raises your strength by 2, but lowers your Attack by 4, while most other alcoholic drinks will raise your strength while lowering Attack on varying amounts.

The maximum boost can be achieved using the weapons with the highest strength bonus, Super strength potion (+20%), Piety prayer (+23%), with an additional boost from the Black mask (+15%) when doing slayer tasks or from the Salve Amulet(e) (+20%) when fighting undead monsters.

Training
Note that Attack and Defence can also be trained here.

Giant spiders can be worth up to 60,000-70,000 experience per hour for members, whilst F2P players can gain 50,000-60,000 experience in an hour. Giant spiders have a combat level of 50 with 50 hitpoints. Giant spiders are recommended for free-to-play players as it is close to Edgeville bank, where food can be restocked.
 * Giant spiders

Location: Stronghold of Security, third floor.

Bandits are around 50,000-60,000 experience a hour for a player with level 100 combat or over, although with nearly maxed out combat skills, it has been known for players being able to get up to 100,000 experience an hour.
 * Bandits (Members)

Location: Bandit Camp in the Kharidian Desert

Dagganoth can be worth up to 60,000 experience per hour, although many players like to use Dwarf multicannons here, reducing the effectiveness of melee training for other players.
 * Dagannoth (Members)

Location: Lighthouse near Rellekka

Monkey guards can give up to 50 - 60k experience per hour, without a strength potion. With a strength potion, players could earn up to 70k experience per hour. In order to train here, players must have completed the Monkey Madness quest. There is an altar beside the Monkey guards, so players can increase their damage, and hence experience rate, by using combat boosting skills such as Incredible Reflexes, Ultimate Strength, Chivalry and Piety. Also, using Protect from Melee to avoid damage and eliminate the need of Food.
 * Monkey guards (Members)

Location: Ape Atoll

Slayer is a good way to train any stat and is what some people consider the best method availible as it trains three things at a time, Hitpoints, What you are training, and Slayer. It is also a good way for any player to make money from the points gained from finishing tasks after the Smoking Kills quest which can be used on death and mind runes to sell for approximately 300 and 12gp respectively.
 * Slayer (Members)

Location: Varies depending on the task.

Rock crabs are a great way to train any skill, like attack. They are only level 13 and almost never hit. If they do hit, its 1 damage. They are very good to train on because they have 50hp. That's 200 exp per crab. Few people use these to train skills. Instead, they use the more common Varrock Guards, which only give 88 exp each. Very large difference. Rock Crabs drop pearls too, which can be sold at the grand exchange for a low but fair price.
 * Rock Crabs (Members)

Location: Several places. Most populous is North-East Relleka.