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This article is about the skill. For information on training strength, see Melee training.
Strength
Strength
Release date 4 January 2001 (Update)
Members only No
Minimum level
for Hiscores
15
as of 12 Dec 2017
Players with
99
236,179
as of 4 Feb 2023
Players with 120 8,744
as of 4 Feb 2023
Players with
200M XP
1,639
as of 4 Feb 2023
[view][talk]
A detailed image of the strength icon.

Strength is a melee combat skill which increases the amount of damage a player can inflict in melee combat by two and a half points per level. Additionally, Strength may be required to wield certain weapons and armour, access some Agility shortcuts, and complete several quests. Strength is one of the most popular skills among players, having more players with level 99 than any other skill.

History[]

Strength was among the first skills available, introduced with RuneScape's launch on 4 January 2001, along with Attack, Defence, Hitpoints (now Constitution), Ranged, Cooking, Woodcutting, FiremakingSmithing, and Mining. As the game has progressed, the concept of the skill has remained largely untouched.

Since the skill's inception, increasingly higher tiers of equipment have been released. Bronze through adamant equipment were available since the introduction of the game itself, but rune equipment was not made available until 26 July 2001. Each successive tier of equipment offered increasing Strength bonuses, but none of them required a specific Strength level to equip. It was not until after the release of Regicide on 20 September 2004, the fourth part of the Plague City quest series, that the game saw a weapon which required a Strength level to wield. The quest introduced halberds, two handed weapons which were capable of engaging an opponent in melee combat around obstacles and from up to 2 tiles away. All halberds stronger than steel required a Strength level half of the Attack level required to wield the weapon.

Until 26 January 2005, halberds remained the only weapon type which required a Strength level to equip. However, the release of Slayer introduced gargoyles, which dropped granite mauls, two-handed weapons which required 50 Attack and 50 Strength to equip. On 9 May 2005, the Barrows minigame was added, introducing two new weapons which required a Strength level to equip. Dharok's greataxe and Torag's hammers were two of six legendary weapons originally belonging to the Barrows brothers which could be obtained as a reward from the minigame. Both of these weapons required 70 Attack and Strength to wield, further increasing the maximum Strength level required to equip a weapon. Additionally, Dharok's greataxe, boasting a +105 Strength bonus, was the first weapon to exceed a +100 Strength bonus. Later that year, the TzHaar City was released and along with it, the Tzhaar-ket-om, colloquially known as the obsidian maul, was released. This was only the second maul to be released and, like the granite maul before it, required a Strength level to equip. Yet, unlike the granite maul, the obsidian maul did not have an Attack requirement, making it the first weapon to only require Strength to use.

No new weapons which required Strength to wield were introduced until 6 March 2007, when the barrelchest anchor was released as a reward for the Great Brain Robbery quest. A powerful but slow weapon, the anchor required 40 Strength to equip, even though it offered a massive +100 Strength bonus. On 17 March 2009, another quest reward featured a weapon requiring a Strength level to use. The granite mace was the second granite weapon released, and required 50 Attack as well as Strength to wield.

A host of new weapons were released with the Dungeoneering skill on 12 April 2010. Of these new weapons, one entire weapon type featured Strength prominently in its use. Novite through primal mauls required only Strength to wield and offered extremely high Strength bonuses. With a +166 Strength bonus, the primal maul was the strongest weapon in RuneScape. However, its use is restricted to Daemonheim.

Before the Evolution of Combat, when fighting in the aggressive stance, Strength experience was awarded per hit, where is the amount of damage dealt. Fighting using the controlled stance, however, awards Strength experience per hit, where is the amount of damage dealt. For example, a player who hits a 10 would receive 4 Strength experience when fighting in the aggressive stance and 1.33 Strength experience when fighting in the controlled stance. The amount of experience received when fighting in the controlled stance may be calculated in the same way that experience awarded to the Constitution skill is calculated.

The difference between these two stances is that the aggressive stance solely provides experience for the Strength and Constitution skills. However, the controlled stance distributes experience equally among Strength, Attack, Defence, and Constitution. A player who hits a 10 would receive 1.33 experience in each one of these skills. Additionally, fighting using the aggressive stance provides a hidden boost of +3 to the Strength skill while using the controlled stance only provides a boost of +1.

However, with the release of the evolution of combat, the Strength skill was significantly changed along with all forms of combat. Combat experience is no longer gained from individual hits, but rather successful kills. Furthermore, the skill's effect on overall damage rating was tweaked.

Gaining experience[]

Combat[]

Players may receive Strength experience during combat. Strength experience is only awarded when players select either Strength experience, or Attack, Strength, and Defence experience in the combat interface. Experience gains depends on the monster slain, and the total experience gained per kill will remain the same unless experience boosting items are used.

For example, if a player kills a cow while strength experience is selected, he/she will gain 34.5 strength experience and 11.5 constitution experience for a total of 46 experience, but if a player selects shared experience and uses only melee combat, they will gain 11.5 experience in Strength, Attack, Defence, and Constitution, still giving a total of 46 experience.

Experience rewards[]

Strength experience may be awarded after the completion of certain quests, miniquests, tasks, random events, Distractions and Diversions, and other minigames. Additionally, experience lamps, dragonkin lamps, and books of knowledge may be used to gain Strength experience.

Bonus/other experience[]

Several items provide bonus experience in Strength, as well as other melee skills, when equipped. Melee brawling gloves provide a 300% experience bonus to Strength (as well as Attack and Defence) when training combat in the Wilderness and a 50% bonus when training outside of the Wilderness. The brawling gloves last for approximately 100,000 experience before disintegrating.

Individual pieces of sacred clay equipment obtained through the Stealing Creation minigame also provide an experience bonus to Strength and other combat skills. These items double the amount of experience received through combat when equipped. Only one piece of sacred clay armour must be worn to receive this bonus. Similar to the brawling gloves, a piece will disappear after the experience threshold of 24,450 experience is reached.

Strength experience may also be received from damage dealt by certain Summoning familiars. However, different familiars provide experience for different combat skills.

Obsidian golem
Familiar Combat Combat level Summoning Summoning level required
Honey badger 38 32
Pyrelord 55 46
Spirit jelly 94 55
Spirit graahk 98 57
Barker toad 78 66
Obsidian golem 125 73
Talon beast 92 77
Moss titan 94 79
Lava titan 99 83

The following familiars grant 13.3% Attack, Strength, and Defence experience per point of damage dealt.[source needed]

Arctic bear
Familiar Combat Combat level Summoning Summoning level required
Spirit scorpion 23 19
Vampyre bat 36 31
Spirit larupia 98 57
Stranger plant 94 64
Arctic bear 84 71
Giant ent 93 78
Spirit dagannoth 99 83

Equipment[]

Weapons[]

A secondary use of the Strength skill is determining which weapons a player may wield in combat. Generally, weapons which require a higher level to equip confer greater combat bonuses, providing some incentive for players to train the skill. All of the weapons in the following table are members only.

Weapon Attack level Strength level
Barrelchest anchor Barrelchest anchor 60 40
Granite maul Granite maul 55 55
Granite mace Granite mace 55 55
Tzhaar-ket-em Tzhaar-ket-em 60 60
Tzhaar-ket-om Tzhaar-ket-om 1 60
Torag's hammer Torag's hammers 70 70
Dharok's greataxe Dharok's greataxe 70 70

Dungeoneering weapons[]

Conventional weapons used throughout Gielinor are not allowed in Daemonheim, so a separate set of metals is used during Dungeoneering. The metal types are classified by their "tiers", with tier 1 being the weakest and tier 11 being the strongest. Tiers 1 through 10 weapons may be player made or received as a drop from several monsters, but tier 11 items may only be received as a drop from boss monsters. Of the Dungeoneering weapon types, only mauls require a Strength level. Members-only weapons are indicated by (m).

Gorgonite maul detail
Tier Maul type Strength level
1 Novite maul Novite 1
2 Bathus maul Bathus 10
3 Marmaros maul Marmaros 20
4 Kratonite maul Kratonite 30
5 Fractite maul Fractite 40
6 Zephyrium maul Zephyrium 50
7 Argonite maul Argonite 60
8 Katagon maul Katagon (m) 70
9 Gorgonite maul Gorgonite (m) 80
10 Promethium maul Promethium (m) 90
11 Primal maul Primal (m) 99

Armour[]

Certain pieces of armour require a Strength level to wear. Though uncommon, a few such pieces exist. All of the pieces of armour in the following table are members only.

Armour Strength level Other requirement(s)
Black mask Black mask 20 10 Defence
Full slayer helmet Full slayer helmet 20 10 Defence, 20 Magic and Ranged, and completion of Smoking Kills
Void knight melee helm Void Knight equipment 42 42 Attack, Defence, Constitution, Magic and Ranged, 22 Prayer, and up to 250 commendation points per piece
Granite shield Granite equipment 55 55 Defence

Other[]

Strength levels are required for various other aspects of the game, including quests, tasks, Agility shortcuts involving grapples, barbarian fishing, minigames, and access to certain areas. Some of these requirements are listed below.

Feature Strength
level
Other requirements
River crossing from Al Kharid to Lumbridge Swamp 19 15 Agility and 48 Fishing
Grapple shortcut from Water Obelisk Island to Catherby 22 36 Agility and 39 Ranged
Ability to catch leaping salmon barehanded 30 30 Agility, 58 Fishing, and completion of barbarian fishing training
Ability to climb the cliff on White Wolf Mountain from Catherby 35 Completion of Fishing Contest
Ability to catch tuna barehanded 35 55 Fishing and completion of barbarian fishing training
Falador wall shortcut north of Falador Park 37 11 Agility and 19 Ranged
Yanille wall shortcut south of the Dragon Inn 38 39 Agility and 21 Ranged
Ability to catch leaping sturgeon barehanded 45 45 Agility, 70 Fishing, and completion of barbarian fishing training
Ability to catch swordfish barehanded 50 70 Fishing and completion of barbarian fishing training
Access to the statues in Bandos's throne room 60 Completion of The Chosen Commander
Access to the God Wars Dungeon via the boulder 60 None
Access to Bandos' Stronghold in the God Wars Dungeon 70 A hammer
Ability to catch shark barehanded 76 96 Fishing and completion of barbarian fishing training
Ability to cross the cave south of Dorgesh-Kaan 80 Completion of Death to the Dorgeshuun
Keep big rock and use for an emote after King of the Dwarves 90 Completion of King of the Dwarves

Warriors' Guild[]

Main article: Warriors' Guild

The Warriors' Guild is a guild for players who have attained mastery or near mastery of melee combat skills. Entrance to the guild requires either 99 Attack, 99 Strength, or a sum of 130 in Attack and Strength. The guild features several activities which involve combat and combat experience, including the shot put room. In this room, players may practice throwing differently weighted balls for Strength experience.

Cape of Accomplishment[]

For players with level 99 Strength, a Strength cape can be bought from the Sloane or Yadech Strongarm in the Warriors' Guild. The cape will cost 99,000 coins, like all other Capes of Achievement. If Strength is a player's only mastered skill, they will have an untrimmed cape. If the player has 99 in any other skill, it will sport a red trim.

Temporary boosts[]

Main article: Temporary skill boost

Various items, potions, prayers, and familiars provide temporary boosts. Below is a list of all possible boosts to Strength.

Visible[]

Visible boosts are indicated in the stats interface by showing a level increase from the base level.

Potions[]

Item Members Level increase Level to make Notes
Strength potion (4) Strength potion F2P icon 1 + 8% 7 Herblore Can also be bought at Apothecary at cost of Limpwurt root and a Red spiders' eggs.
Strength mix (2) Strength mix P2P icon 9 Herblore Heals 300 Life points.
Combat potion (4) Combat potion P2P icon 1 + 8% 36 Herblore Also boosts Attack.
Combat mix (2) Combat mix P2P icon 40 Herblore Heals 300 Life points. Also boosts Attack.
Super strength (4) Super strength P2P icon 2 + 12% 55 Herblore
Super strength mix (2) Super strength mix P2P icon 59 Herblore Heals 600 Life points.
Zamorak brew (4) Zamorak brew P2P icon 1 + 8% 78 Herblore Also boosts Attack and drains 12% of current life points.
Zamorak mix (2) Zamorak mix P2P icon 85 Herblore Also boosts Attack, heals 600 Life points and drains 12% of current life points.
Extreme strength (4) Extreme strength P2P icon 3 + 15% 88 Herblore Non-tradeable
Overload (4) Overload P2P icon 96 Herblore Non-tradeable. Also boosts Attack, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes.
Supreme overload potion (6) Supreme overload potion P2P icon 4 + 16% 98 Herblore Non-tradeable. Also boosts Attack, Ranged, Magic and Defence, lasting 6 minutes. Requires Plague's End.

Cooking[]

Item Members Level increase Level to make Notes
Wizard Blizzard Wizard Blizzard P2P icon +5 18 Cooking Heals up to 360 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4. Premade version works.
Short Green Guy Short Green Guy P2P icon +4 20 Cooking Heals up to 400 Life points, also lowers Attack by -3. Premade version works.
Asgarnian ale Asgarnian ale P2P icon +2 24 Cooking Heals up to 240 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4.
Spicy stew Spicy stew P2P icon -5 to +5 25 Cooking Non-tradeable. After Evil Dave's Big Day Out it grants a +2 minimum boost.
Drunk Dragon Drunk Dragon P2P icon +5 32 Cooking Heals up to 640 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4. Premade version works.
Blurberry Special Blurberry Special P2P icon +7 37 Cooking Heals up to 740 Life points, also lowers Attack by -5. Premade version works.
Dragon bitter Dragon bitter P2P icon +2 39 Cooking Heals up to 390 Life points, also lowers Attack by -4.
Cavefish Cavefish P2P icon +2 88 Cooking Heals up to 2200 Life points, may randomly boosts other combat skills besides Strength.

Other[]

Item Members Level increase Level to obtain Notes
Beer Beer F2P icon +2 None Heals 100 Life points and lowers Attack by up to -7%.
Beer (tankard) Beer (tankard) P2P icon +4 None Heals 200 Life points and lowers Attack by -9.
Keg of beer Keg of beer P2P icon +10 None Heals up to 250 Life points and lowers Attack by up to -50%.
Grog Grog P2P icon +3 None Heals up to 100 Life points and lowers Attack by -6.
Braindeath 'rum' Braindeath 'rum' P2P icon +3 None Heals up to 990 Life points, boosts +3 Mining, but lowers Attack, Defence, Ranged, Magic, Agility, Herblore by -5%.
Volcanic strength scroll Obsidian golem P2P icon +9 73 Summoning Special attack of the obsidian golem.
Blisterberry Blisterberry P2P icon +2 86 Strength Non-tradeable. Also reduces defence by -1.
Strength cape Strength cape P2P icon +1 99 Strength Non-tradeable. Requires Skill mastery to equip.
Dominion marker (stage 4) Dominion marker P2P icon Varies 110 Combat Non-tradeable. Boosts depends on marker stage, also boosts Attack, Ranged, Magic and Defence.

Invisible[]

Invisible boosts are not indicated in the stats interface, but they are applied in combat calculations nevertheless.

Prayer[]

Prayers and curses do not actually boost your Strength level, but increase damage by a percentage.

Prayer Members Boost Level to use Notes
Burst of Strength Burst of Strength F2P icon +2% 4 Prayer Standard prayer book.
Superhuman Strength Superhuman Strength F2P icon +4% 13 Prayer Standard prayer book.
Ultimate Strength Ultimate Strength F2P icon +6% 31 Prayer Standard prayer book.
Chivalry Chivalry P2P icon +7% 60 Prayer Standard prayer book, also boosts Attack and Defence. Requires completion of the Camelot training room.
Piety Piety P2P icon +8% 70 Prayer Standard prayer book, also boosts Attack and Defence. Requires completion of the Camelot training room.
Sap Warrior Sap Warrior P2P icon -2% to -6% 50 Prayer Ancient Curses prayer book, only decreases enemy damage levels over time. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Leech Strength Leech Strength P2P icon +2% to +8% 82 Prayer Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy damage levels over time, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Turmoil Turmoil P2P icon +10% 95 Prayer Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy damage levels over time, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten.
Malevolence Malevolence P2P icon +12% 99 Prayer Ancient Curses prayer book, decreases enemy damage levels over time, while boosting yours. Requires completion of The Temple at Senntisten and unlocked by using a praesul codex.

Other[]

Item Members Level increase Level to obtain Notes
Black warlock Black warlock P2P icon 20% 45 Hunter Boost only affects the other player it is used on.
Salve amulet Salve amulet P2P icon 15% accuracy and damage 35 Crafting Non-tradeable. Boost only applies when fighting undead monsters. Requires partial completion of Haunted Mine.
Salve amulet (e) Salve amulet (e) P2P icon 20% accuracy and damage 40 Slayer Non-tradeable. Boost only applies when fighting undead monsters. Requires completion of The Lair of Tarn Razorlor and the Salve amulet.
Black mask Black mask P2P icon 12.5% accuracy and damage 58 Slayer Boost only applies when fighting monsters assigned by a Slayer Master.
Dragon slayer gloves Dragon slayer gloves P2P icon 10% 70 Slayer Non-tradeable.Boost only applies when fighting monsters assigned by a Slayer Master. Boost stacks with Black Mask.
Dharok's armour set equipped

Wretched Strength

P2P icon Varies conform Life points 70 Strength
70 Attack

70 Defence

Full set must be worn for special effect to take place.

Skilling pet[]

Kangali chathead
Main article: Kangali

Like all skills, there is a skilling pet obtainable from training this skill. For Strength, the pet is called Kangali.

Trivia[]

Audio options icon
The old jingle for level Up 50 - 99

The current minimum requirement to be ranked (at approximately rank 1,307,430) on the hiscores for Strength is level 15. As of 04 February 2023, there are 236,179 current members that have achieved level 99 in Strength. There are 8,744 current members that have achieved level 120 in Strength.

See also[]

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