Combat styles
- This article is about the different statistical boosts offered by fighting in certain ways. For the various ways to attack in combat according to strengths and weaknesses, see Attack types.
The Combat style that a player uses in combat affects what experience they receive. A player's attack style is chosen on the combat screen section of the interface.
Melee weapons
Melee weapons vary in their attack styles. Some have four options, with either a controlled option or an alternative aggressive attack with a different action, while others have only three options. Spears have three alternate controlled options and a defensive option. Players intending to remain a pure with no defence need to take care when using the third option (alternative aggressive), as switching weapons may result in controlled or defensive becoming selected, often only spotted when an unwanted defence level is gained.
Accurate
When using the accurate style, for every point of damage a player deals they gain 0.4 experience in Attack and 0.133 experience in Constitution. The player's Attack level is invisibly boosted by +3.
Aggressive
When using the aggressive style, for every point of damage a player deals they gain 0.4 experience in Strength and 0.133 experience in Constitution. The player's Strength level is invisibly boosted by +3.
Defensive
When using the defensive style, for every point of damage a player deals they gain 0.4 experience in Defence and 0.133 experience in Constitution. The player's Defence level is invisibly boosted by +3.
Controlled
When using the controlled style, for every damage point a player deals they gain 0.133 experience in Attack, 0.133 experience in Strength, 0.133 experience in Defence and 0.133 experience in Constitution. The player's Attack, Strength and Defence levels are boosted by +1 each. This attack style is only available with some melee weapons, such as longswords and maces for all free players, as well as spears and the abyssal whip for members. It is also possible, though not recommended, to use a controlled attack style with a scimitar.
Ranged weapons
Accurate
When using the accurate style, for every point of damage a player deals they gain 0.4 experience in Ranged and 0.133 experience in Constitution. The player's Ranged accuracy and damage are boosted separately in unknown amounts, possibly by giving an invisible +3 bonus to Ranged.
Rapid
When using the rapid style, for every point of damage a player deals they gain 0.4 experience in Ranged and 0.133 experience in Constitution. The player's attack speed is boosted by +1. Note that this attack style consumes arrows faster than other ones.
Long range
When using the long range style, for each damage a player deals they gain 0.2 experience in Ranged, 0.2 experience in Defence and 0.133 experience in Constitution. The player's attack range is boosted for certain weapon types. Many people in Clan Wars use this type of style to attack other people from one tower to the other.
Magic weapons
While wielding a Magic weapon (commonly a staff) a player can use the normal melee attack styles in melee combat. However, spellbooks have the Autocast option, which makes the player automatically attack with a spell.
This spell is repeatedly cast, and although the player must have the required runes to cast the spell, they do not need their full magic level to cast it. For example, you can still cast miasmic barrage (requires level 97 magic) if you are hit by the spell Flames of Zamorak (lowers opponents Magic level by 5), however if you stop autocasting the spell you will not be able to cast it until you recover back to the required level (in this case 97) .
The spells a player can automatically cast are chosen from a list which varies with each spellbook. While a player has the autocast option chosen, they must also choose between two styles to represent how they are casting their magic: these are defensive or aggressive (normal) stance.
Normal
If a player chooses the normal style while they have the "Attack with" option chosen and are attacking with spells, they perform a normal magic attack and for each damage that player deals they gain 0.2 experience in Magic, in addition to the basic spell experience.
Defensive
If a player chooses the defensive style while they have the "Attack with" option chosen and are attacking with spells, they perform a normal magic attack and for each damage that player deals they gain 0.133 experience in Magic and 0.1 experience in Defence. The basic spell experience is not divided, and is always given entirely to Magic.
See also
