This app is RuneScape 3, the modern client, not Old School RuneScape. Jagex runs 29 skills here, and the newest of them, Necromancy, arrived on 7 August 2023 as a fourth combat style that sits outside the melee, ranged and magic triangle. Necromancy, Invention and Archaeology all climb to level 120 instead of stopping at 99.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Necromancer | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Melee | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Ranged | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Magic | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Skiller | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our RuneScape tier list.
A-Tier: Necromancer
Necromancer is a top-performing option in RuneScape.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Death guard | The Necromancy main hand, made and upgraded at the Um Smithy through tiers 70, 80 and 90 after the matching Kili's Knowledge assignment. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Necromancy as a fourth combat style | Necromancy ignores the melee, ranged and magic triangle and runs its own gear line, the death guard main hand and the skull lantern off hand. |
How to Play Necromancer
Necromancer focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Death guard does the damage and Necromancy as a fourth combat style keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Melee
Melee is a strong option in RuneScape.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Omni guard | A tier 95 Necromancy siphon dropped by Rasial. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Revolution and Full Manual ability bars | Revolution fires basic abilities off your bar automatically while you handle thresholds and ultimates yourself, and Full Manual returns every input for higher damage. |
How to Play Melee
Melee focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Omni guard with Revolution and Full Manual ability bars and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Ranged
Ranged is a strong option in RuneScape.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Fractured Staff of Armadyl | A tier 92 two handed staff assembled from the Armadyl symbol, the stabilisation gem and the shaft, all dropped by Kerapac, the bound in hard mode. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Conjures, Necrosis and Residual Souls | Touch of Death deals 90 to 110 percent damage and banks four Necrosis stacks, while Soul Sap banks Residual Souls that Volley of Souls spends. |
How to Play Ranged
Ranged focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Conjures, Necrosis and Residual Souls covers the gap Fractured Staff of Armadyl leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Magic
Magic is a specialized option in RuneScape.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Bow of the Last Guardian | A tier 95 two handed bow assembled at 95 Fletching from three Zamorak, Lord of Chaos drops. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Invention gizmos and augmented gear | Invention needs level 80 Crafting, Divination and Smithing, none of which can be boosted, and it starts at the Invention Guild north east of the Falador lodestone. |
How to Play Magic
Magic focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Invention gizmos and augmented gear rather than raw numbers, and Bow of the Last Guardian is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Skiller
Skiller is a specialized option in RuneScape.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Zaros godsword | The strongest of the godswords, requiring 92 Attack, and the melee answer to targets that punish ranged positioning. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Kili's Knowledge upgrades at the Um Smithy | Necromancy gear is upgraded at the Um Smithy by finishing Kili's Knowledge assignments, one roughly every ten levels. |
How to Play Skiller
Skiller focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Zaros godsword and Kili's Knowledge upgrades at the Um Smithy pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Melee: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Necromancer once you understand core mechanics and have access to Death guard
- Keep a Ranged setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Skiller for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Set Revolution up properly before you fight anything serious. Put Touch of Death, Soul Sap and your other Necromancy basics on the bar so the game fires them automatically, and keep the thresholds and ultimates on manual so you learn the timings that actually matter.
- Do each Kili's Knowledge assignment the moment you hit the next tenth Necromancy level. Skip two of them and you end up fighting tier 90 content in tier 70 robes, which reads as a damage problem but is really a gear problem.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More RuneScape Guides
- RuneScape RuneScape Overview
- RuneScape Tier List
- RuneScape Walkthrough
- RuneScape Beginner's Guide
- RuneScape Tips & Tricks
- RuneScape Weapons Guide
- RuneScape Combat Guide
- RuneScape Boss Guide
- RuneScape Maps & Locations
- RuneScape Crafting Guide
- RuneScape Classes & Characters
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