Defence

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.

Defence

A higher Defence level increases the player's Melee and Ranged evasion ratings in combat, which lowers a monster's chance to hit if it is using those combat styles. 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 armor 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 armor. 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.

Level	Unlocks
1	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
5	Wear Steel Armour Wear Barrier Touch Shield Heavy Boots Wear (B) Steel Helmet Wear (B) Steel Platebody Wear (B) Steel Platelegs
10	Wear Black Armour Wear (B) Black Helmet Wear (B) Black Platebody Wear (B) Black Platelegs Build Pipe Climb in Obstacle 3 (requires 10)
20	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
30	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
35	Wear Earth Wall Shield
40	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
45	Elusive Boots (requires 45)
60	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
65	Wear Cursed Platebody (m) (requires 65)
70	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)
80	Wear Melee Slayer Gear (Master) (requires 80) Darksteel Shield
85	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)
90	Golden Trowel (requires 118)
95	Relic Shield Build Dragon Fight in Obstacle 10 (requires 95, 95, 95)
99	Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Darkshield Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Shield Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Helmet (Decayer) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Helmet (Dissolver) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Helmet (Fearful) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Helmet (Isolator) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Helmet (Resolver) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Helmet (Ruiner) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Helmet (Woeful) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Platebody (Decayer) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Platebody (Dissolver) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Platebody (Fearful) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Platebody (Isolator) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Platebody (Resolver) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Platebody (Ruiner) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssal Slayer Platebody (Woeful) (requires 99) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Boots (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Helmet (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Platebody (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Abyssium Platelegs (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Blighting Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Boots (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Helmet (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Platebody (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Brumite Platelegs (U) Wear Defence Skillcape Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Echo Walker Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Eldritch Reaper Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Eldritch Reaper Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Eldritch Reaper Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Eldritch Reaper Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Fear Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Boots (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Helmet (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Platebody (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gloomite Platelegs (U) Wear Maximum Skillcape (requires level 99 in all skills) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mind Visage Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Boots (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Gloves Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Helmet (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Platebody (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Netherite Platelegs (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Phantom Shift Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Ravenous Hunger Defender Wear Shield of Melee Power Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tendril Bind Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Thorn Defender Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Tortoise Shell Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Toxic Protection Mask Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Voidborne Shield Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Voidium Entity Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Voidium Entity Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Voidium Entity Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Voidium Entity Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Voidium Shield Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Boots Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Boots (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Helmet Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Helmet (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Platebody Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Platebody (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Platelegs Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Witherite Platelegs (U) Wear Error creating thumbnail: File missing Woeful Platebody
100	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)
105	Wear Augite Armour (requires cleared)
108	Wear Meteorite Armour (requires cleared)
110	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)
112	Wear Blazing Helmet (requires cleared) Wear Mask of Madness (requires cleared)
115	Wield Ethereal Greataxe (requires 115, cleared)
120	Wear Superior Defence Skillcape Wear Superior Max Skillcape (requires level 120 in all skills) Wear Vorloran Protector Armour (requires 120, 120, cleared)

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.

Pet	Name	DLC	Effect
	Leonardo		+1% Damage Reduction