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.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death guard | S | Every Necromancy player from the first hour to the tier 90 wall | The Necromancy main hand, made and upgraded at the Um Smithy through tiers 70, 80 and 90 after the matching Kili's Knowledge assignment. |
| Omni guard | A | Endgame Necromancy bossing once you hold 95 Necromancy | A tier 95 Necromancy siphon dropped by Rasial. |
| Fractured Staff of Armadyl | A | Magic players who want the biggest burst window in the game | 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. |
| Bow of the Last Guardian | B | Ranged players who already clear high end group bosses | A tier 95 two handed bow assembled at 95 Fletching from three Zamorak, Lord of Chaos drops. |
| Zaros godsword | B | Melee mains and anyone who wants a hard hitting two hander | The strongest of the godswords, requiring 92 Attack, and the melee answer to targets that punish ranged positioning. |
S-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Every Necromancy player from the first hour to the tier 90 wall |
| Key Mechanic | Necromancy as a fourth combat style |
| Recommended Build | Necromancer |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Death guard: Pairs naturally with Necromancer thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Omni guard
A tier 95 Necromancy siphon dropped by Rasial. Its Death Spark passive stacks on each basic attack and empowers the fifth for double damage.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Endgame Necromancy bossing once you hold 95 Necromancy |
| Key Mechanic | Revolution and Full Manual ability bars |
| Recommended Build | Melee |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Omni guard: Pairs naturally with Melee thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: 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.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Magic players who want the biggest burst window in the game |
| Key Mechanic | Conjures, Necrosis and Residual Souls |
| Recommended Build | Ranged |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Fractured Staff of Armadyl: Pairs naturally with Ranged thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Bow of the Last Guardian
A tier 95 two handed bow assembled at 95 Fletching from three Zamorak, Lord of Chaos drops.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Ranged players who already clear high end group bosses |
| Key Mechanic | Invention gizmos and augmented gear |
| Recommended Build | Magic |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Bow of the Last Guardian: Pairs naturally with Magic thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Zaros godsword
The strongest of the godswords, requiring 92 Attack, and the melee answer to targets that punish ranged positioning.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Melee mains and anyone who wants a hard hitting two hander |
| Key Mechanic | Kili's Knowledge upgrades at the Um Smithy |
| Recommended Build | Skiller |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Zaros godsword: Pairs naturally with Skiller thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear City of Um
- Omni guard → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Fractured Staff of Armadyl → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Death guard → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- 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.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More RuneScape Guides
- RuneScape RuneScape Overview
- RuneScape Best Builds
- RuneScape Tier List
- RuneScape Walkthrough
- RuneScape Beginner's Guide
- RuneScape Tips & Tricks
- RuneScape Combat Guide
- RuneScape Boss Guide
- RuneScape Maps & Locations
- RuneScape Crafting Guide
- RuneScape Classes & Characters
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