This page was last updated for (v1.1.2).
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Defence is a Combat skill. It is one of three skills (along with Hitpoints and Prayer) that is used when determining a player or monster's Combat Level, regardless of what combat style they are strongest with.
A higher Defence level increases the player's evasion ratings in combat, which lowers a monster's chance to hit. Defence does not affect the damage dealt by a successful attack, which is mostly a factor of Damage Reduction. As it results in fewer hits against the player, however, a higher Defence level can help reduce food usage in combat. Defence has no effect in Thieving.
Most Melee-focused armour requires a certain Defence level to be equipped.
Mechanics
The Defence skill increases the player's melee, ranged, and magic evasion ratings. For details on how Evasion Rating is calculated, refer to the Evasion Rating section on the Combat page.
Gaining Defence XP
Defence XP can be earned in combat with any of the three combat styles by selecting the appropriate attack style:
- While using Melee, choose the "Block" attack style
- While using Ranged, choose the "Longrange" attack style
- While using Magic, choose the "Defensive" attack style
Defence XP gained is based on damage dealt to an enemy, not damage taken by the player. When using the Block attack style, 0.4 Defence XP is awarded per point of damage done. When using the Longrange or Defensive attack styles, 0.2 Defence XP is awarded per point of damage done, with another 0.2 XP per point of damage going to Ranged or Magic, respectively.
Skill Level Unlocks
Increasing the Defence skill allows the player to equip more powerful Melee-focused armour. The player's accuracy rating when using the Block attack style scales with Defence level, as does the player's evasion rating against all attack styles.
1
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Wear Bronze Armour Wear Iron Armour Wear Mirror Shield Wear (B) Bronze Helmet Wear (B) Bronze Platebody Wear (B) Bronze Platelegs Wear (B) Iron Helmet Wear (B) Iron Platebody Wear (B) Iron Platelegs
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5
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Wear Steel Armour Wear Barrier Touch Shield Heavy Boots Wear (B) Steel Helmet Wear (B) Steel Platebody Wear (B) Steel Platelegs
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10
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Wear Black Armour Wear (B) Black Helmet Wear (B) Black Platebody Wear (B) Black Platelegs Build Pipe Climb in Obstacle 3 (requires 10)
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20
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Wear (G) Crystal Boots Wear (G) Crystal Helmet Wear (G) Crystal Platebody Wear (G) Crystal Platelegs Wear (G) Crystal Shield Wear (S) Crystal Boots Wear (S) Crystal Helmet Wear (S) Crystal Platebody Wear (S) Crystal Platelegs Wear (S) Crystal Shield Wear Mithril Armour Wear Crystal Boots Wear Crystal Defender Wear Crystal Gloves Wear Crystal Helmet Wear Crystal Platebody Wear Crystal Platelegs Wear Crystal Shield Aranite Platebody Aranite Shield Wear (B) Mithril Helmet Wear (B) Mithril Platebody Wear (B) Mithril Platelegs Wear (C) Mithril Helmet Wear (C) Mithril Platebody Wear (C) Mithril Platelegs
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30
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Wear Adamant Armour Wear Melee Slayer Gear (Strong) (requires 30) Wear (B) Adamant Helmet Wear (B) Adamant Platebody Wear (B) Adamant Platelegs Wear (C) Adamant Helmet Wear (C) Adamant Platebody Wear (C) Adamant Platelegs
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35
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Wear Earth Wall Shield
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40
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Wear Rune Armour Wear Barrier Sapping Shield Wear Ice Armor (requires 40) Wear Miolite Armour (requires 40) Wear Unholy Platebody (m) (requires 40) Wear (B) Rune Helmet Wear (B) Rune Platebody Wear (B) Rune Platelegs Wear (C) Rune Helmet Wear (C) Rune Platebody Wear (C) Rune Platelegs
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45
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Elusive Boots (requires 45)
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60
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Wear (G) Pure Crystal Boots Wear (G) Pure Crystal Helmet Wear (G) Pure Crystal Platebody Wear (G) Pure Crystal Platelegs Wear (G) Pure Crystal Shield Wear Dragon Armour Wear (S) Pure Crystal Boots Wear (S) Pure Crystal Helmet Wear (S) Pure Crystal Platebody Wear (S) Pure Crystal Platelegs Wear (S) Pure Crystal Shield Wear Pure Crystal Boots Wear Pure Crystal Defender Wear Pure Crystal Gloves Wear Pure Crystal Helmet Wear Pure Crystal Platebody Wear Pure Crystal Platelegs Wear Pure Crystal Shield Wear Recoil Shield Wear Sand Treaders Wear Melee Slayer Gear (Elite) (requires 60) Consuming Shield (m) (requires 48) Wear (B) Dragon Helmet Wear (B) Dragon Platebody Wear (B) Dragon Platelegs Wear (C) Dragon Helmet Wear (C) Dragon Platebody Wear (C) Dragon Platelegs
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65
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Wear Cursed Platebody (m) (requires 65)
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70
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Wear Ancient Armour Wear Barrier Burn Shield Wear Dragonfire Shield Wear (B) Ancient Helmet Wear (B) Ancient Platebody Wear (B) Ancient Platelegs Wear (C) Ancient Helmet Wear (C) Ancient Platebody Wear (C) Ancient Platelegs Build Spike Jump in Obstacle 8 (requires 70)
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80
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Wear Melee Slayer Gear (Master) (requires 80) Darksteel Shield
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85
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Wear Devouring Barrier Shield Wear Earth Layered Shield Wear Ragnar God Armour Wear Ragnar God Boots (B) Wear Ragnar God Boots (C) Wear Ragnar God Helmet (B) Wear Ragnar God Helmet (C) Wear Ragnar God Platebody (B) Wear Ragnar God Platebody (C) Wear Ragnar God Platelegs (B) Wear Ragnar God Platelegs (C) Wear Relentless Fury Gloves Wear Spiked Shell Gloves Wear Terran God Armour Wear Terran God Boots (B) Wear Terran God Boots (C) Wear Terran God Helmet (B) Wear Terran God Helmet (C) Wear Terran God Platebody (B) Wear Terran God Platebody (C) Wear Terran God Platelegs (B) Wear Terran God Platelegs (C)
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90
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Golden Trowel (requires 118)
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95
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Relic Shield Build Dragon Fight in Obstacle 10 (requires 95, 95, 95)
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99
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Wear Defence Skillcape Wear Maximum Skillcape (requires level 99 in all skills) Wear Shield of Melee Power
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100
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Wear Corundum Armour (requires cleared) Wear Melee Slayer Gear (Legendary) (requires 100, cleared) Wield Dark Blade Defender (requires 100, cleared) Wield Heated Fury 2H Hammer (requires 100, cleared) Build Pipe Maze in Obstacle 11 (requires 100, 100)
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105
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Wear Augite Armour (requires cleared)
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108
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Wear Meteorite Armour (requires cleared)
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110
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Wear Divine Armour (requires cleared) Wear Burning Protection Platelegs (requires cleared) Wear Freezing Touch Body (requires cleared) Wear Frostspark Boots (requires 110, cleared) Wear Leviathan Shield (requires cleared) Wear Lightning Boots (requires cleared) Wear Melee Slayer Gear (Mythical) (requires 110, cleared) Wear Ward of Flame Platebody (requires cleared) Build Freezing Climb in Obstacle 14 (requires 110, 110)
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112
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Wear Blazing Helmet (requires cleared) Wear Mask of Madness (requires cleared)
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115
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Wield Ethereal Greataxe (requires 115, cleared)
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120
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Wear Superior Defence Skillcape Wear Superior Max Skillcape (requires level 120 in all skills) Wear Vorloran Protector Armour (requires 120, 120, cleared)
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Skillcapes
The standard and superior skillcapes for this skill can be purchased from the store for 1,000,000 and 10,000,000 after the player reaches Level 99 and Level 120, respectively. Reaching Level 120 requires the Throne of the Herald Expansion.
Regular Skillcape
The Defence Skillcape is the skillcape for the Defence skill. It can be purchased for 1,000,000 from the Shop once the player reaches Level 99 in the Defence skill. The Defence Skillcape offers the following benefits when worn:
+80 All Defence Bonuses
Superior Skillcape
The Superior Defence Skillcape is the superior skillcape for the Defence skill. It can be purchased for 10,000,000 from the Shop once the player reaches Level 120 in the Defence skill. Level 120 can only be reached if the player owns the Throne of the Herald expansion. Likewise, the superior skillcape can only be purchased if the player owns this expansion. The superior skillcape offers the following benefits when worn:
+5% Reflect Damage
Pet
This skill's pet can be unlocked by performing any action that provides Defence XP.