All skills
Combat skill

OSRS Defence training guide

Defence lowers enemy accuracy and unlocks armour. It can be trained through melee, Ranged, Magic, minigames, and reward experience.

Quick tip: Raise Defence when it unlocks a meaningful armour or Defender tier, then train it alongside Slayer or through a dedicated defensive method.

Milestone progress0%
5
Routes
6
Milestones
F2P routes included

Account type

Training focus

Availability

Training routes

Choose the trade-off that matters

4 routes shown

Route 1

Recommended

Catch Defence up during permanent account upgrades.

SafeMembers
  1. 1Optional Holy Grail quest XP
  2. 2Train to 40 for Rune and Rune Defender
  3. 3Train to 60 while obtaining Dragon Defender
  4. 4Use Defensive melee during Slayer
  5. 5Finish through bossing or Pest Control
RecommendedQuestCombat

Route 2

Fastest practical

Use multi-target Ranged or Magic, then direct rewards into Defence.

SafeMembers
  1. 1Defensive Burst or Barrage
  2. 2Longrange Chinchompas
  3. 3Veteran Pest Control reward XP
FastestCross-skillMinigame

Route 3

Maximum AFK

Use the same low-defence targets as Attack and Strength.

SafeMembers
  1. 1Gemstone Crab
  2. 2Nightmare Zone
  3. 3Bandits or AFK Slayer
AFKLow Intensity

Route 4

F2P

Use defensive melee on aggressive monsters or safespotted Ranged on Longrange.

SafeF2P
  1. 1Low-defence monsters
  2. 2Flesh Crawlers
  3. 3Giant Spiders
  4. 4Moss Giants or Ogresses on Longrange
F2PAFK

Level checklist

Milestones worth planning around

Progression

What this skill unlocks

  • Armour tiers
  • Defenders
  • Longer PvM trips
  • Reduced enemy accuracy

Cross-skill value

What it helps train

  • Attack
  • Strength
  • Hitpoints
  • Ranged
  • Magic
  • Slayer

Resources

Useful outputs

  • This skill is mainly trained for levels, access, or combat power rather than bankable outputs.

Before committing supplies

Important method warnings

  • Holy Grail awards Defence XP and can break restricted builds.
  • Longrange and defensive casting split experience rather than giving full Defence XP.

Connected progression

Related skill guides

Use milestone levels when they unlock your next goal. Level 99 does not need to be the first target.