OSRS Defence training guide
Reduces how often you are hit and unlocks the armour you can wear.
About Defence
Defence determines how often incoming attacks miss you and gates almost all armour in the game. Higher Defence means less food consumed, longer trips and access to the gear that makes late-game content possible.
Some players deliberately leave Defence low to keep their combat level down for player-versus-player. If you have no interest in PvP, train it freely — it makes everything else easier.
Fastest training
Rates assume an attentive player with the gear and unlocks that make each method work. Real sessions include banking, breaks and mistakes.
Defensive style on Sand Crabs
The defensive style splits experience into Defence. Same location, same setup, different tab.
Nightmare Zone
Set the style to defensive or use a controlled style to spread experience across all three melee stats.
Other approaches
- AFK
- Nightmare Zone, or Sand Crabs once your food consumption drops to nothing.
- Free-to-play
- Train alongside Attack and Strength on the same targets; there is no separate free-to-play Defence method worth isolating.
Useful quests
Quest experience is often worth far more than the time it takes, particularly at low levels where the curve is shallowest.
- Dragon Slayer IThe classic free-to-play capstone. Defeat the dragon Elvarg to unlock rune platebody.18,650 xp
- Waterfall QuestNo combat requirements, no skill requirements, and it takes a fresh account to level 30 Attack and Strength.
- Monkey Madness IUnlocks the dragon scimitar and gives 70,000 combat experience split across two skills.35,000 xp
- Horror from the DeepUnlocks the god books, a useful shield-slot alternative with a prayer bonus.
- Between a Rock...Rewards 2 quest points, 5,000 Defence experience, 5,000 Mining experience and A rune pickaxe.5,000 xp
- Recruitment DriveRewards 1 quest point and The Gaze of Saradomin - When you die.
Making money with Defence
- VorkathA solo dragon boss with a predictable pattern and consistently valuable drops. One of the most reliable high-level earners.Level 70
- BarrowsClear six brothers and loot the chest. Predictable, safe and a good bridge between early PvM and serious bossing.Level 70
- Demonic gorillasThe main source of zenyte shards, which become the best-in-slot rings, amulets and bracelets in the game.Level 70
- General GraardorThe Bandos boss in the God Wars Dungeon. Drops Bandos armour, the Bandos godsword hilt and consistent supplies.Level 70