Strength

Strength (often abbreviated as Str) 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. Strength also helps with some other skills, such as fishing and agility. This is the most common level 99 skill, having 128,243 players at 99 Strength (As of 18 March 2010).

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 and given to the player's experience in their Strength skill. For example, if a player hits a 10, then they will receive 4 Strength experience.

Some experience is also given to a player's Constitution level when they deal damage. If a player hits an opponent, whatever damage they deal is divided by 7.5 and given to their Constitution. For example, if a player hits a 10, then they will receive 1.33 Constitution 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 divided by 7.5 and given to the player's Strength, Attack, Defence, and Constitution experience.

Many prefer the Saradomin sword to train Strength, as it has the same stats as an abyssal whip, but is a two-handed weapon. Although the abyssal whip is cheaper, the only way to train strength using it is by selecting the controlled attack style, rendering it inefficient for training strength. Most players that can't afford a Saradomin sword use a Dragon scimitar instead. The Staff of Light is now considered to be an equal if not better alternative to using a Dragon scimitar to train Strength. The only drawback is the high price of the Staff of Light. Characters who are pure strength with a low attack often use a Red topaz machete or an Obsidian maul, due to their low attack level requirements.

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 melee 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 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 strength:

[[File:111 hit.png]] Max Hit - Melee
The highest recorded maximum hit with melee is 1389, excluding quests, and to hit it (because before the update the hit was rounded down, so theoretically its possible to hit a 1389), a player must meet the following requirements:


 * On a Kalphite slayer task
 * Fighting a Kalphite Guardian or the Kalphite Queen
 * Using an Extreme strength potion (a 1260 has been hit with only using a Super Strength potion)
 * Using Turmoil
 * Wearing the following items:
 * Wearing the following items:

1. A Player could also use a Slayer helmet, but it is harder to get.

2. The Black mask or Slayer helmet gives an invisible +15% boost to Strength and Attack on Slayer tasks.

3. Keris gives the chance to hit triple what you would of hit to Strength when attacking Kalphite Guardians or the Kalphite Queen.

During A Soul's Bane, the player can hit up to 2000 regardless of armour. During the While Guthix Sleeps quest, players may hit over 1000 after touching the Stone of Jas. In the 2009 Thanksgiving Event, players can hit up to 1990. Outside of the quests, the maximum hit is yielded as above. Using the Turmoil prayer may further increase this max hit.


 * Note: The hit of 1260 was recorded by Sosolid2k who only used a Super Strength potion and was posted on a video on YouTube:Sosolid2kk's Runescape High/Max Hits With Melee 3 . Now, players can use Extreme strength potions, which increases the maximum hit to more than 1260.

[[File:111 hit.png]] Max Free-to-Play hit - Melee
The maximum melee damage recorded on a free world is 368 (due to a new update, all damage must now be multiplied by 10). In order to hit it, a player should wield:


 * Corrupt dragon battleaxe
 * Amulet of strength
 * Rune gauntlets
 * Rune berserker shield (charged)

Also, they 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.

''The maximum time-limitless max melee hit recorded in a free world is about 320. In order to hit it, a player should wield:''


 * Silverlight
 * Amulet of strength
 * Rune gauntlets
 * Rune berserker shield (charged)

Also, they should have a strength level of 99, be fighting a Lesser demon or a Greater demon, 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, any bow, a law talisman staff or the Dark dagger from Legends' Quest has a strength bonus.
 * Granite maul - Requires level 50 Strength and level 50 Attack to wield.
 * Granite mace - Requires level 50 Strength and level 50 Attack to wield.
 * Obsidian maul - Requires level 60 Strength to wield.
 * Dharok's greataxe - requires level 70 strength and level 70 attack to wield.
 * Torag's hammers - requires level 70 strength and level 70 attack to wield
 * All Halberds - All halberds require a Strength level half of the Attack level required to wield, except for the steel halberd, which requires no strength.
 * For example the Rune halberd requires level 40 Attack and 20 Strength

Temporary boosts

 * Strength potion - Boosts Strength level by 3 to 10; amount depends on player's Strength level, (12.5% of Strength level).
 * Combat potion - Boosts Strength level by 3 to 10; amount depends on player's Strength level. Also boosts Attack at the same time. (12.5% for both).
 * Super strength potion - Boosts Strength level by 5 to 19; amount depends on player's Strength level (20%).
 * 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 100 hp left. Doing so greatly increases their Strength, allowing them to deal massive damage, upwards of 800 if they are lucky.
 * Prayer - Burst of Strength, Superhuman Strength, Ultimate Strength, Chivalry and Piety boost Strength level by 5%, 10%, 15%, 18% and 23% respectively.
 * Ancient Curses - Leech Strength and Turmoil boosts a player's strength level by 5%, then up to 10% after time, and 23% + 10% of the opponent's level 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.note: not stackable with salve amulet of either charge.
 * 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. This is not stackable with a Strength potion, Super Strength potion, or extreme strength potion.
 * Salve Amulet - Provides a boost of 15% attack and strength while fighting the undead. This effect is stackable with any one strength-boosting prayer and any one of the following: a Strength potion, Super Strength potion, Zamorak brew, or Dragon Battleaxe special attack. Note: not stackable with black mask of any charge.
 * Salve Amulet (e) - Provides a boost of 20% attack and strength while fighting the undead. This effect is stackable with the same combinations of prayers and potions as the unenchanted version.
 * 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.
 * Braindeath 'rum' - Raises your Strength by 3 and Mining by one, but decreases Attack, Defence, Prayer, Magic, Agility and Herblore by five.
 * The special move of the Obsidian golem familiar raises strength by 9.

The maximum boost can be achieved using the weapons with the highest strength bonus, Overload or Extreme strength (+26%), Leech Strength (up to 25%), then switching to the Turmoil prayer (+32% at maximum), with an additional boost from the Salve Amulet(e) (+20%) when fighting undead monsters.

Training

 * Pay-to-play Melee Training and Free-to-play Melee training has detailed information on training this skill.

Fun Weapons
Fun weapons are weapons that give a large negative attack and strength bonuses and are usually used by skillers not wanting to gain any strength experience or are used just for showing off. Examples of a fun weapons include flowers.

Other features

 * You can go into the God Wars Dungeon with a Strength of level 60 by pushing the boulder out of the way.
 * A door in the God Wars Dungeon, leading to Bandos' enclosure and General Graardor, requires each player to have level 70 Strength and a hammer to open.
 * In the Warriors Guild, you can do the Strength minigame to earn tokens.
 * You can push through the magical wheat in Puro-Puro easier.
 * Strength is also a requirement for many agility shortcuts involving grapples.
 * Pest Control and Soul Wars are good minigames for Strength experience too.