Old School RuneScape (OSRS) has retained a passionate player base for over a decade, and many players still enjoy the Free-to-Play (F2P) experience either out of nostalgia, budget constraints, or the fun of challenge. For F2P adventurers, training combat skills efficiently and smartly is key to surviving the wilderness, completing quests, and making money for OSRS gold.

 

This in-depth OSRS Combat Guide for F2P players will cover everything you need to know about leveling your combat stats-Attack, Strength, Defence, Hitpoints, Ranged, Magic, and Prayer-without spending a single bond or dollar.

 

Understanding OSRS Combat System

The OSRS combat triangle includes Melee, Ranged, and Magic. Melee is divided into three stats:

 

Attack: Determines how often you hit.

 

Strength: Affects how much damage you deal.

 

Defence: Reduces the chance of getting hit.

 

Training these stats, along with Hitpoints, increases your overall Combat Level. There's also Prayer, which gives temporary buffs, and Ranged and Magic, which are alternative combat methods.

 

F2P players are capped at 99 for each skill, but they don't have access to powerful P2P weapons, spells, or areas. This makes efficiency, gear choice, and monster selection even more important.

 

F2P Combat Training Goals

Before diving into training methods, it's essential to set goals:

 

Max Combat Stats (All 99s): Ultimate goal, but takes months of grinding.

 

Combat Level 60+: Allows you to fight high-level monsters or PvP.

 

Balanced Stats: Useful for all-around PvM and skilling efficiency.

 

Pure Builds: One Defence or One Prayer builds focused on PvP.

 

Depending on your goal, your path might vary, but the training methods overlap.

 

F2P Melee Combat Training

Starting Out: Levels 1-20

Best Location: Cows in Lumbridge

 

Low combat, good XP/hour, and cowhides are decent profit.

 

Train Attack to 5, then Strength to 5, then Defence to 5.

 

Switch between styles using the controlled mode to level all at once if needed.

 

Alternatives:

 

Chickens (Lumbridge) - Easier but slower XP.

 

Goblin Village or Lumbridge Goblins - Slightly better XP.

 

Levels 20-40: Al Kharid Warriors

Located in the Al Kharid Palace.

 

Aggressive NPCs = semi-AFK training.

 

Decent XP and faster than cows or goblins.

 

Bring some food (trout or salmon from the Grand Exchange).

 

You can safely train all melee stats here.

 

Levels 40-60: Hill Giants

Located in Edgeville Dungeon (you'll need a brass key).

 

Bring a few lobsters and strength potions.

 

Drop big bones (great for Prayer) and limpwurt roots (profitable).

 

High demand makes them crowded, but world-hopping helps.

 

Levels 60-99: Giant Spiders

Located in the third level of the Stronghold of Security (The Pit of Pestilence).

 

They are aggressive, fast respawn, and drop no loot-making them perfect for XP.

 

Safe to AFK with decent food and armour.

 

Up to 50-55k XP/hour possible with full rune and strength ammy.

 

F2P Ranged Training

Gear to Use

Best F2P Bow: Maple shortbow.

 

Best F2P Arrows: Steel-Adamant arrows (balance of cost and damage).

 

Amulet: Amulet of power.

 

Armor: Full leather or green d'hide when unlocked.

 

Levels 1-20: Chickens/Cows

Use bronze/iron arrows.

 

Pick arrows back up to save cost.

 

Aim to unlock better bows and gear quickly.

 

Levels 20-40: Minotaurs (Stronghold of Security)

Great for early Ranged.

 

Drop iron arrows, effectively making this a self-sustaining training method.

 

Stand behind obstacles for safe-spotting.

 

Levels 40-60: Hill Giants or Al Kharid Warriors (Safe-spotted)

Use better arrows and hide behind corners.

 

Hill Giants also drop limpwurt roots and big bones, which is profitable.

 

Levels 60-99: Lesser Demons (Karamja Volcano, Safe-spotting)

High HP = high XP.

 

Safe spots are available around rocks.

 

Stackable arrows make loot easier to manage.

 

Use adamant arrows for best results.

 

F2P Magic Training

Magic is expensive to train as F2P, but certain methods provide great XP and utility.

 

Gear

Staff of Fire/Air/Water/Earth - Save runes by equipping the right staff.

 

Wizard robes, Amulet of magic, and Cape for maximum magic bonus.

 

Levels 1-19: Wind Strike on Chickens/Goblins

Equip Staff of Air to save on air runes.

 

Just bring mind runes.

 

Levels 19-55: Curse Spells

Cast Curse, Weaken, and Confuse on high-defence monsters like zombies behind barriers.

 

You can fail these spells intentionally (no damage), so no runes lost.

 

Equip full metal armor to reduce magic attack bonus = more failures = cheaper training.

 

Levels 55-99: High Alchemy

Requires Nature runes and fire staff.

 

Turn items into gold while gaining XP.

 

Break even by alching items like steel plates, rune gear, etc.

 

Gives around 60k XP/hour.

 

F2P Prayer Training

Prayer training in F2P is extremely slow and expensive.

 

Methods

Bury bones and big bones.

 

Best monsters for bones: Cows, Chickens, Hill Giants.

 

Alternatively, buy big bones and bury them at a bank.

 

Tips

Keep Prayer low if building a PvP pure.

 

Hill Giants are the best mix of combat XP and Prayer progress.

 

Efficient Training Tips

Combat Styles

 

Use the right attack style: Accurate (Attack), Aggressive (Strength), Defensive (Defence).

 

Controlled style levels all three evenly, but less efficient for min-maxing.

 

Use Strength Potions

 

F2P strength potions can be made or bought; use them to boost XP/hr.

 

Eat Efficient Food

 

Trout, Salmon, Tuna are cheap and heal well.

 

Swordfish for higher healing when needed.

 

Train in Aggressive Zones

 

Aggressive monsters help AFK for 10+ minutes.

 

Giant Spiders are ideal.

 

Banking Routes

 

Train near banks to reduce downtime.

 

Use Edgeville, Varrock, or Lumbridge.

 

World Hop

 

Popular F2P spots get crowded-use different worlds to find a better training area.

 

Best F2P Gear Loadouts

Melee (Max F2P)

Full Rune (with scimitar)

 

Rune Scimitar or Rune 2h for PvP

 

Amulet of power/strength

 

Cape (any)

 

Fighting boots (Stronghold of Security)

 

Ranged

Maple shortbow

 

Green d'hide chaps + vambraces

 

Coif or leather cowl

 

Amulet of power

 

Steel to adamant arrows

 

Magic

Wizard robes

 

Staff of choice

 

Amulet of magic

 

Elemental runes + mind/body/nature runes

 

Alternative Combat Activities in F2P

While grinding monsters is the most common method, you can also train combat via:

 

Stronghold of Security

Earn up to 10k GP and fighting boots while fighting monsters.

 

F2P PvP (Wilderness/Clan Wars)

Real player combat tests your builds.

 

Be cautious with your gear!

 

Quests

Limited F2P quests offer XP:

 

The Knight's Sword - 12,725 Smithing XP.

 

Vampyre Slayer - 4,825 Attack XP.

 

Imp Catcher - 875 Magic XP.

 

Restless Ghost - 1,125 Prayer XP.

 

Conclusion: Mastering F2P Combat

F2P combat training in OSRS may lack the flair and speed of P2P, but it provides a nostalgic and rewarding challenge. With the right methods, gear, and discipline, players can reach high combat levels, make cheapest OSRS gold, and even dominate in PvP-all without spending a dime.

 

Whether you're preparing for membership, building a PK pure, or enjoying the F2P grind, this guide should equip you with everything you need to efficiently train your combat stats and become a fearsome warrior in Gielinor.

 

Happy training, adventurer!