Old School Runescape Defence Pure
If you’re looking to build a Defence Pure in Old School RuneScape, this guide compiles the most accurate and up-to-date information available. Defence Pures are one of the least documented account builds in OSRS, often misunderstood or confused with 1 Defence Pures, but when done correctly they offer a unique, tank-focused playstyle that prioritises survivability over damage.
This guide focuses on pure Defence training, covering mechanics, levelling methods, gear philosophy, and account limitations to help you optimise your journey from level 1 to 99 Defence.
What is a Defence Pure in Old School Runescape
A Defence Pure is an Old School RuneScape account that trains Defence as its primary (or only) combat skill, while deliberately avoiding experience in: Attack, Strength, Ranged, Magic and Prayer.
Most Defence Pures also train Hitpoints, while more extreme versions avoid HP experience entirely. The defining feature is achieving very high Defence at a very low Combat Level, creating an account with exceptional damage mitigation but extremely low offensive output.
This build is fundamentally different from a 1 Defence Pure, which does the opposite by maximising damage while keeping Defence at level 1.
Why Play a Defence Pure?
Realistically, a Defence Pure is not a “meta” account for bossing or mainstream PvP. It is best described as a challenge build, vanity account, or niche PvP tank.
That said, there are a few legitimate advantages:
- Extremely low Combat Level relative to Defence
- Very high survivability against similar-level players
- Strong damage reduction in low-level PvP brackets
- Unique account prestige due to difficulty and rarity
In PvP scenarios, a Defence Pure can fight opponents with far higher offensive stats but similar combat levels. While your DPS will be extremely low, opponents will also struggle to damage you consistently, creating long, attrition-based fights.
However, this playstyle comes with heavy trade-offs:
- Limited gear options
- Restricted quest access
- Very slow kill speeds
- Careful planning required to avoid accidental experience gains
Types of Defence Pures
There are two recognised Defence Pure variants:
Defence + Hitpoints Pure (Most Common)
- Defence trained normally
- Hitpoints gained naturally through combat
- Easier to play and more forgiving
- Slightly higher combat level
No-Hitpoints Defence Pure (Extreme)
- Defence trained while avoiding HP experience
- Much slower and significantly more difficult
- Extremely low combat level for the Defence achieved
Both builds are viable, but the no-HP variant requires absolute precision and is generally recommended only for experienced players.
Defence Levelling Mechanics (Important)
Understanding OSRS combat mechanics is critical for Defence Pures.
You Only Gain Defence XP by Dealing Damage
- Blocking attacks does NOT grant Defence XP
- You must successfully hit an enemy for at least 1 damage
- Hits of 0 generate no experience
This means Defence training is actually a damage-optimisation puzzle, despite the account having no Strength levels.
Combat Style Matters
- To gain Defence-only experience, you must use weapons and combat styles that:
- Do not award Attack or Strength XP
- Are explicitly set to Defensive or Block style
A classic example is the Goblin Paint Cannon, which when used on the correct combat option generates Defence and Hitpoints XP only.
Top Tip – Always double-check your combat style when:
- Logging in
- Switching weapons
- Changing gear
One incorrect hit can permanently ruin a Defence Pure.
Why Strength Bonus Still Matters
Even though you never train Strength, Strength bonus from gear is essential.
- Your max hit determines whether you can deal consistent damage
- Low max hits cause frequent 0s, killing XP rates
- Increasing max hit from 1 → 2 or 2 → 3 massively improves accuracy and XP
As a result:
- Strength bonus is more important than raw Attack bonus
- Faster weapons mean more hit attempts per hour
- The goal is low damage, high consistency, not burst DPS
Most efficient Defence Pures aim to reach 51+ effective Strength purely through equipment and potions.
Gear Philosophy for Defence Pures
Core Priority Order
Max Hit > Attack Speed > Accuracy
- Max hit reduces 0-damage rolls
- Faster weapons increase XP/hour
- Accuracy helps land consistent 1–3 damage hits
For a Defence Pure, gear selection is not about defence stats alone.
What Actually Matters
- Strength bonus (primary)
- Weapon speed
- No Attack or Strength requirements
- Defence-based or requirement-free equipment
Defensive stats are helpful, but they are secondary to improving hit consistency.
Potions
When available, boosts dramatically improve XP rates:
These allow temporary Strength increases without training the skill.
Defence Training Strategy (1–99)
Common Training Locations
These enemies are favoured because they have low Defence and high HP, allowing long combat sessions without killing targets too quickly:
Enemy choice is less about difficulty and more about XP consistency.
Free
- Chickens – Levels 1+
- Cows – Levels 5+ (5.7k xp/h)
- Monks – Level 10+ (3.5k xp/h) Good semi-AFK location
- Seagulls – Excellent low-defence targets
Member
- Chickens – Levels 1+
- Cows – Levels 5+ (5.7k xp/h)
- Monks – Level 10+ (3.5k xp/h) Good semi-AFK location
- Seagulls – Excellent low-defence targets
- Gem Crabs – AFK training option
- Draynor Jail Guards
Gear Setups
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | ||
| Cape | ||
| Amulet | Amulet of fury | |
| Weapon | Maple blackjack | 20 STR, 4 Ticks |
| Body | ||
| Shield | ||
| Legs | ||
| Hands | Regen bracelet | |
| Feet | Spiked manacles | |
| Ring | Brimstone ring |
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | ||
| Cape | ||
| Amulet | ||
| Weapon | ||
| Body | ||
| Shield | ||
| Legs | ||
| Hands | ||
| Feet | ||
| Ring |
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | ||
| Cape | ||
| Amulet | ||
| Weapon | ||
| Body | ||
| Shield | ||
| Legs | ||
| Hands | ||
| Feet | ||
| Ring |
Safe Quests
Free
Cook’s Assistant
Ernest the Chicken
Goblin Diplomacy
Misthalin Mystery
Sheep Shearer
Pirate’s Treasure
Rune Mysteries
