OSRS Defence Pure Guide (1–99 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 intentionally keeping Attack, Strength, Ranged, Magic, and Prayer at level 1.
This is often confused with a 1 Defence Pure, which does the opposite, maximising offensive stats while keeping Defence at level 1 to maintain a low combat level. A Defence Pure instead stacks Defence while remaining extremely low combat overall.
There are two main variants of Defence Pures:
- Defence + Hitpoints Pure (Most Common):
Defence is trained normally and Hitpoints rises naturally through combat and training. - 10 Hitpoints Defence Pure (Extreme Variant):
Defence is trained while intentionally avoiding Hitpoints XP wherever possible. This version is significantly harder, slower, and more restrictive.
Both builds rely heavily on understanding OSRS combat mechanics rather than raw damage output.
Why Play a Defence Pure?
From a practical standpoint, a Defence Pure has limited traditional use in PvE. You won’t be speed-killing bosses, farming Slayer, or competing for efficiency records. That said, the build has several unique appeals:
Low Combat Level, High Survivability
With 99 Defence and minimal offensive stats, your combat level remains extremely low. This allows you to fight players in PvP brackets who simply aren’t designed to hit through high Defence values.
PvP Niche Utility
While your DPS is extremely low, your damage taken is also extremely low when fighting similarly levelled accounts. In certain PvP scenarios, this makes Defence Pures frustratingly difficult to kill.
Mechanical Challenge & Vanity
For many players, the appeal is the challenge itself. OSRS wasn’t designed around Defence-only progression, and making it work requires planning, restraint, and deep system knowledge.
Tank-Focused Identity
For tank-oriented players (especially MMO veterans), Defence Pures represent the purest expression of mitigation-first gameplay in OSRS.
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.
- Accuracy matters
- Max hit matters
- Attack speed matters
Combat Style Matters
To train Defence without ruining the account, you must use a weapon that allows a Defensive or Block combat style which grants Defence (and sometimes Hitpoints) XP only.
A classic example is the Goblin Paint Cannon set to Block.
Top Tip: Always double-check your combat style after logging in or changing gear. One misclick can permanently ruin a Defence Pure.
Strength Without Training Strength
Even though a Defence Pure never trains Strength, Strength bonus from gear is still critical for efficient Defence training.
Your max hit directly determines how often you deal damage, and Defence XP is only awarded when damage is dealt. A low max hit results in frequent 0s, which dramatically slows XP rates. Small increases in max hit have a disproportionate impact on both accuracy and experience gained.
For this reason, Strength bonus is more important than raw Attack bonus on a Defence Pure. Faster weapons further improve XP/hour by increasing the number of hit attempts, giving you more chances to land damage. The goal isn’t burst damage — it’s low damage, high consistency.
Most efficient Defence Pures aim to reach around 43+ effective Strength to reliably hit 2s, and 51+ effective Strength to begin hitting 3s, achieved purely through equipment bonuses and potions rather than training the Strength skill itself.
How Defence XP Scaling Actually Works
Defence XP scaling is a highly misunderstood mechanics when training a Defence Pure, yet it’s the key reason gear progression matters so much.
Increasing your max hit from 1 to 2 is a massive DPS and XP increase, while moving from 2 to 3 is comparable to gaining roughly +100 Attack bonus in terms of overall effectiveness. Faster weapons further smooth XP/hour by rolling damage more frequently.
Each successful hit also scales XP directly. Hitting a 1 grants 4 Defence XP, while hitting a 2 grants 8 Defence XP. This means increasing your max hit not only reduces the number of 0s, but also multiplies the XP gained per successful attack.
This combination of higher damage consistency and increased XP per hit is what makes even small Strength increases incredibly valuable for Defence Pures.
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 Pure Training Locations
Your training spots should prioritise:
- Low Defence enemies
- High or infinite HP
- Safe or semi-AFK setups where possible
Free
- Chickens – Level 1 Good starter location
- Cows – Levels 5+ Good for making gold while training by selling Cowhide on the Grand Exchange
- Monks – Level 10+ Good semi-AFK location, these enemies self heal and can take a while to kill as a free player.
- Seagulls – Low defence targets, more XP than Monks but you have to play actively.
- Draynor Jail Guards –
Member
- Rock Crab
- Sand Crab
- Ammonite Crab – More health, take longer to kill
These creature locations usually require certain quest completion to travel to the area they are located in.
Gear Progression for Defence Pures
This is the a cheap gear setup you can put together that all works with the weapon being crush damage and the gear giving strength and/or crush bonuses.
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Dwarven helmet | +6 Crush DMG |
| Cape | Any | |
| Amulet | Amulet of strength | +10 STR |
| Weapon | Goblin paint cannon | (2 Handed Crush DMG) 3 ATT Speed |
| Body | Fighter torso | +4 STR |
| Shield | – | |
| Legs | Fremennik kilt | +1 STR |
| Hands | Combat bracelet | +6 STR, +5 Crush DMG |
| Feet | Rune boots | +2 STR |
| Ring | Tyrannical ring (i) | +8 Crush DMG |
If you are planning on getting the maximum amount of XP you need to play more active by using Divine super combat potions on cooldown. Combine that with this gear setup, feel free to add in other gear pieces as and when you can, but this base setup will get you 7k+ XP/Hour from level 1. Upgrade to Fire cape or Torva pieces when you reach DEF 75/80.
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | ||
| Cape | Ardougne cloak 1 | +2 Stab |
| Amulet | Amulet of fury | +8 STR +10 Stab |
| Weapon | Swift blade | (1 Handed Stab DMG) 3 ATT Speed |
| Body | ||
| Shield | ||
| Legs | ||
| Hands | Regen bracelet | +7 STR, +8 Stab, x2 HP Regen |
| Feet | ||
| Ring | Treasonous ring (i) | +8 Stab |
This gear has no requirements to use and is for AFK training at level 1.
STR Bonus = 44 & ATT Bonus = 22
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Any | |
| Cape | Any | |
| Amulet | Amulet of fury | +8 STR +10 Crush |
| Weapon | Maple blackjack | +20 STR, Crush DMG, 4 ATT SPD |
| Body | Any | |
| Shield | Any | |
| Legs | Fremennik kilt | +1 STR |
| Hands | Regen bracelet | +7 STR, +8 Crush, x2 HP Regen |
| Feet | Spiked manacles | +4 STR |
| Ring | Brimstone ring | +4 STR, +4 Crush |
This gear has requirements of DEF 40 to use (45 for the hat) and is designed for AFK training.
STR Bonus = 44 & ATT Bonus = 29
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fighter hat | +5 Slash |
| Cape | Any | |
| Amulet | Amulet of strength | +10 STR |
| Weapon | Red topaz machete | +10 STR, +16 Slash, 4 ATT SPD |
| Body | Fighter torso | +4 STR |
| Shield | Any | |
| Legs | Fremennik kilt | +1 STR |
| Hands | Regen bracelet | +7 STR, +8 Slash, x2 HP Regen |
| Feet | Spiked manacles | +4 STR |
| Ring | Berserker ring (i) | +8 STR |
| Slot | Set | Bonus |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Fighter hat | +5 Slash |
| Cape | Any | |
| Amulet | Amulet of fury | +8 STR +10 Crush |
| Weapon | Red topaz machete | +10 STR, +16 Slash, 4 ATT SPD |
| Body | Fighter torso | +4 STR |
| Shield | Toktz-ket-xil | +5 STR |
| Legs | Obsidian platelegs | +1 STR |
| Hands | Regen bracelet | +7 STR, +8 Slash, x2 HP Regen |
| Feet | Dragon boots | +4 STR |
| Ring | Brimstone ring | +4 STR, +4 Crush |
OSRS Defence Pure Gear List
- Maple blackjack – (1 Handed Crush DMG, Requires Level 30 Thieving) +10 STR, 4 ATT Speed
- Red topaz machete – (1 Handed Slash DMG) +10 STR, +16 Slash, 4 ATT Speed
- Swift blade – (1 Handed Stab DMG) 3 ATT Speed
- Ham joint – (1 Handed Crush DMG) 3 ATT Speed
- Goblin paint cannon – (2 Handed Crush DMG) 3 ATT Speed
- Iron spear – (2 Handed Stab DMG) +10 STR, +8 Stab, 4 ATT Speed
- Toktz-ket-xil – (Requires 60 DEF) +5 STR
- Dragonfire shield – (Requires 75 DEF & Dragon Slayer I) +7 STR
- Fighter hat – (Requires 45 DEF) +5 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Dwarven helmet – (Requires 50 DEF) +6 Crush
- Obsidian helmet – (Requires 60 DEF) +3 STR
- Serpentine helm – (Requires 75 DEF) +5 STR
- Torva full helm – (Requires 80 DEF) +8 STR
- Ardougne cloak 1 – (No Requirements) +2 Stab
- Fire cape – (No Requirements) +4 STR, +1 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Amulet of fury – (No Requirements) +8 STR, +10 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Amulet of strength – (No Requirements) +10 STR
- Amulet of rancour – (No Requirements) +12 STR, +25 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Amulet of torture – (No Requirements) +10 STR, +15 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Amulet of glory – (No Requirements) +6 STR, +10 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Amulet of power – (No Requirements) +6 STR, +6 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Amulet of accuracy – (No Requirements) +4 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Fighter torso – (Requires 40 DEF) +4STR
- Obsidian platebody – (Requires 60 DEF) +3 STR
- Bandos chestplate – (Requires 65 DEF) +4 STR
- Torva platebody – (Requires 80 DEF) +6 STR
- Fremennik kilt – (No Requirements) +1 STR
- Obsidian platelegs – (Requires 60 DEF) +1 STR
- Bandos tassets – (Requires 65 DEF) +2 STR
- Torva platelegs – (Requires 80 DEF) +4 STR
- Spiked manacles – (No Requirements) +4 STR
- Decorative boots (gold) – (Requires 30 DEF) +1 STR
- Rune boots – (Requires 40 DEF) +2 STR
- Dragon boots – (Requires 60 DEF) +4 STR
- Guardian boots – (Require 75 DEF) +3 STR
- Black gloves – (No Requirements) +5 STR, +5 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Combat bracelet – (No Requirements) +6 STR, +7 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Regen bracelet – (No Requirements) +7 STR, +8 Stab/Slash/Crush, 2x HP Regen
- Berserker ring (i) – +8 STR
- Brimstone ring – +4 STR, +4 Stab/Slash/Crush
- Tyrannical ring (i) – +8 Crush
- Treasonous ring (i) – +8 Stab
- Warrior ring (i) – +8 Slash
- Ring of suffering (i) – +20 All DEF
Free-to-Play Defence Pures
Free-to-play Defence Pures operate under heavy limitations in Old School RuneScape, with very few Strength-boosting items, limited weapon choices, and significantly slower XP rates compared to members. The core of any F2P Defence Pure setup is the Goblin paint cannon, purchased from Diango’s Toy Store in Draynor Village, which should always be set to the block combat style to ensure only Defence and Hitpoints experience is gained. Its fast attack speed and consistent crush hits make it one of the best Defence-only weapons available to free players. Gear optimisation in F2P is minimal, so the focus is simply on wearing the highest Defence armour you can access at your level, progressing through Bronze, Iron, Steel, Mithril, Adamant, and Rune armour as your Defence increases. Decorative boots (gold) from Castle Wars are the only notable Strength-boosting boots available in F2P, while gloves, capes, and rings offer no meaningful combat bonuses. Amulets are the one real choice point: while the Amulet of strength provides raw max hit, testing shows the Amulet of accuracy often results in higher overall DPS by reducing zero-damage hits. With these limitations in mind, most F2P Defence Pures simply train at the Monks of Edgeville, allowing slow but consistent semi-AFK Defence progression all the way from early levels to 99.
Safe Quests
Below is a curated list of quests that can be safely completed on a Defence Pure without gaining any experience in Attack, Strength, Ranged, Magic, or Prayer. These quests either provide no combat experience at all, or allow completion methods that avoid unwanted XP entirely.
Just as importantly, none of the quests listed require prerequisites that would force additional combat training, making them fully compatible with a Defence-only account from level 1 onward. Completing these quests is a great way to unlock early quality-of-life features, access useful areas, and gain quest points without compromising the purity of the build.
Credit: Quest list originally compiled by Skia and verified against in-game experience rewards.
Free
Member
- Observatory Quest
WARNING: if your account is old you can gain Attack or Strength XP from this quest. Check the Wiki guide before you continue and if you get assigned the Aries or Capricorn sign this WILL give you combat experience and you should not complete this quest. - The Ascent of Arceuus
- Between a Rock… (5,000 Defence XP)
- Biohazard
- Bone Voyage
- Client of Kourend (2x Antique Lamps/1000 Skill XP)
- Clock Tower
- Cold War
- Contact! (1x Combat Lamp/14k Skill XP)
- The Depths of Despair
- The Dig Site
- Druidic Ritual
- Dwarf Cannon
- Eagles’ Peak
- Elemental Workshop I
- Enlightened Journey
- The Feud
- Fishing Contest
- The Forsaken Tower
- Gertrude’s Cat
- Getting Ahead
- The Golem
- Grim Tales
- The Hand in the Sand
- Hazeel Cult
- Icthlarin’s Little Helper
- Jungle Potion
- Lost City
- The Lost Tribe
- Merlin’s Crystal
- Monk’s Friend
- Murder Mystery
- One Small Favour (2x Antique Lamps/10k XP)
- Plague City
- A Porcine of Interest
- The Queen of Thieves
- Ratcatchers
- Recipe for Disaster/Another Cook’s Quest
- Recipe for Disaster/Freeing Evil Dave
- Recipe for Disaster/Freeing Pirate Pete
- Recipe for Disaster/Freeing the Goblin generals
- Recipe for Disaster/Freeing the Mountain Dwarf
- Sea Slug
- Shadow of the Storm (10k Combat XP)
- Sheep Herder
- Shilo Village
- A Soul’s Bane
- A Tail of Two Cats (Two Antique Lamps /5k XP)
- Tears of Guthix
- Temple of the Eye
- The Tourist Trap
- Tower of Life
- Tribal Totem
- What Lies Below (2000 Defence XP)
- Witch’s House (6325 Hitpoint XP)
Research & Credits
This guide was compiled through extensive research across community discussions, including Reddit threads, OSRS Discord conversations, and shared resources from the OSRS Defence Discord. Information has been verified through in-game testing where possible and consolidated into a single up-to-date reference for Defence Pure players.
