The Attack speed of a weapon determines the rate of attack of a player wielding that weapon. This is a factor which is often considered by players when forming strategies for activities such as player-killing. Weapons such as the abyssal whip and the dragon dagger are extremely popular because of their high attack speed.
The speed of each weapon is represented by a bar on which there are several possible values ranging from 7 (fastest) to 1 (slowest). The bar is separated into ten squares of lightening shades of blue. The value represents the number of squares shown, with 10 displaying a full bar and 0 displaying an empty bar. The delay time in ticks between each attack is equal to 10 − speed value. If the attack mode is set to Rapid, the speed value increases by 1. If the attack speed of a weapon is 8 or higher the player will hit again before the previous damage vanishes. If a player is under the effect of a Miasmic spell, his or her melee and ranged attack speed will be slowed by 50%.
| Speed | Image | Weapon Types | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Template:Speed Bar | Rapid styled Darts & Throwing knives | An attack speed of 8 is only available to members, and particularly only reached by using rapid style to the already fastest weapons. This speed would cause the damage splash to overlap. It is popular to use low class darts and throwing knives to fend off weak nuisance enemies, such as Almanac Army from Lexicus Runewright. |
| 7 | Template:Speed Bar | Darts & Throwing knives & Rapid Styled Shortbow | The fastest of any regular weapon type, a speed value of 7 is reserved for only the fastest Ranged weapons. Popular for training. Note that short bows with rapid attacking style have attack speed of 7, making them the fastest weapons in F2P. |
| 6 | Template:Speed Bar | Daggers, swords, scimitars, claws, Zamorakian Spear, Saradomin Sword, Toktz-Xil-Ak, Toktz-Xil-Ek, Abyssal whip, God staves, Slayer staff, Ancient staff, shortbows, Hunter's crossbow, Karil's crossbow, Toktz-Xil-Ul, and the Salamanders, when in Ranged Attack mode. | A notch down from the rapid-fire Ranged weapons are the quickest melee weapons, the faster staves, a variety of obsidian weapons, and the shortbows, along with a few crossbows. |
| 5 | Template:Speed Bar | Longswords, maces, axes, spears, pickaxes, TzHaar-Ket-Em, Torag's hammers, Guthan's warspear, Verac's flail, all Magic spells, normal and elemental staves, normal, elemental, and mystic battlestaves, Iban's staff, Composite bows, Ogre composite bow, Seercull, Crystal bow, Longbows (sighted), and Throwing axes . | The barrows melee weapons are sometimes used by advanced players. The Dragon longsword and Crystal bow are also common among players. |
| 4 | Template:Speed Bar |
Battleaxes, warhammers, the Godsword, Barrelchest anchor, Ahrim's staff, Toktz-Mej-Tal, longbows, Dorgeshuun crossbow, Metal crossbows, Hand cannon and javelins . |
These are often the more powerful weapons of choice, medium speed good for final blows or training |
| 3 | Template:Speed Bar | Two-handed swords, halberds, Granite maul, Balmung, TzHaar-Ket-Om, Ivandis flail and Dharok's greataxe . | A speed value of 3 seems to be reserved for two-handed melee weapons, which make their first appearance excluding the Godsword and spears. The Dharok's greataxe, the obsidian maul, the dragon two-handed sword, and the dragon halberd are all notables which remain popular among those who like strength over attack speed. |
| 2 | Template:Speed Bar | Only the Ogre bow . | This weapon is almost exclusively used for Chompy hunting. Even though the Ogre composite bow is faster, the Ogre bow is reccomended over it because of its longer range. |
| 1 | Template:Speed Bar | Only the Dark bow . | This bow is the the only bow able to fire dragon arrows and can hit up to 480, and fires two arrows at once. This weapon is often used by players attempting to kill their opponent with a single hit. |
| Undefined | File:Speedanim.gif | Only the Dwarf multicannon | While the cannon cannot be truly equipped, its rate of attack is the fastest of any weapon if it is used properly. It's also very powerful among ranged weapons, only beaten by the dark bow, the hand cannon and the rune crossbow with more powerful enchanted bolts. |
References
- RuneScape Game Guide
- Combat - Weapon Types - 'Speed' bar