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Defence: OSRS Ironman guide

Lowers the chance of getting hit and decides which armour you can wear.

⚔ Open in the interactive guide

Ironman tips

  • Defensive or Controlled style (1/3 to each).
  • Dragon Slayer I gives 18,650 xp and lets you wear rune platebody.
  • Fighter torso (Barbarian Assault) and Helm of neitiznot are the best cheap pieces for ironman.

Level progression (1-99)

1→ 10

Chickens and cows [wiki]

XP: ~5k xp/h
💡 Pick up feathers and cowhides for Fletching/Crafting.
📍 Lumbridge (farm to the north)Iron scimitarIron scimitar
10→ 30

Quests: Waterfall Quest (30 Att/Str instantly) [wiki]

XP: 13,750 xp Att + 13,750 StrReq: No requirements
💡 Do this quest at level 1. It takes you to 30 Attack and 30 Strength.
📍 Baxtorian Falls
30→ 40

Hill giants (big bones) or Scurrius (Varrock Sewers) [wiki]

XP: ~15-25k xp/h
💡 Keep big bones and limpwurt roots. Scurrius gives excellent xp and rat bones.
📍 Edgeville Dungeon / Varrock SewersAdamant scimitarAdamant scimitar
40→ 70

Gemstone crabs (Varlamore) or Ammonite crabs (AFK) [wiki]

XP: ~30-50k xp/hReq: Children of the Sun / Bone Voyage
💡 Gemstone crabs: continuous combat and they give gems. Gear: Rune scimitar (40, Fire giants/Zamorak warriors), Dragon longsword (50, Lost City), Rune platebody (DS1), Fighter torso (BA).
📍 Tlati Rainforest (Children of the Sun) / Fossil Island (Bone Voyage)Rune scimitarRune scimitarDragon longswordDragon longswordFighter torsoFighter torso
60→ 85

Slayer (main method) + NMZ for AFK [wiki]

XP: Slayer varies; NMZ ~70k with mid gearReq: NMZ: 5 quests with a boss. Dragon scimitar (MM1)
💡 Strong gear sits behind Slayer: Dragon boots (83), whip (85). Neitiznot faceguard (Fremennik Exiles). NMZ: absorptions + Dwarven rock cake.
📍 Slayer masters / Yanille (NMZ)Dragon scimitarDragon scimitarDragon defenderDragon defenderHelm of NeitiznotHelm of Neitiznot
85→ 99

Sulphur naguas (140k with Piety) / Slayer / Vyrewatch sentinels [wiki]

XP: Naguas ~110-140k; Sentinels ~54kReq: Perilous Moons; Piety (70 Prayer); Sins of the Father
💡 Endgame weapons: Blade of Saeldor (Gauntlet), Ghrazi rapier / Scythe (ToB), Inquisitor's mace (Nightmare), Osmumten's fang (ToA).
📍 Neypotzli (Perilous Moons) / Slayer / DarkmeyerAbyssal whipAbyssal whipAbyssal tentacleAbyssal tentacleFire capeFire cape

Gear by level

Weapons (Attack level)

LevelItemHow to get it (ironman)
1Iron scimitarIron scimitarZeke (Al Kharid) sells scimitars up to mithril.
5Steel scimitarSteel scimitarZeke.
10Black scimitarBlack scimitarBlack knights drop.
20Mithril scimitarMithril scimitarZeke.
30Adamant scimitarAdamant scimitarSmithing 75 or drop (Moss giants, Ogres).
40Rune scimitarRune scimitarDrop: Fire giants, Zamorak warriors, Ogress warriors (Corsair Cove). Smithing 90.
40Rune longswordRune longswordScavvo's Rune Store (Champions' Guild, 32 QP).
55Leaf-bladed swordLeaf-bladed swordSlayer 55. Turoth / Kurask drop.
60Dragon scimitarDragon scimitarMonkey Madness I. Bought from Daga on Ape Atoll (100k).
60Dragon swordDragon swordWyrms (Slayer 62).
70Abyssal whipAbyssal whipAbyssal demons (Slayer 85).
70Saradomin swordSaradomin swordCommander Zilyana (GWD).
75Zamorakian hastaZamorakian hastaZamorakian spear (K'ril) + Otto (Barbarian training).
75Abyssal tentacleAbyssal tentacleWhip + Kraken tentacle (Slayer 87).
75Ghrazi rapierGhrazi rapierTheatre of Blood.

Armour (Defence level)

LevelItemHow to get it (ironman)
1Iron full helmIron full helmIron set: Horvik (Varrock) / smithing.
5Steel platebodySteel platebodySmithing 48 or Horvik.
20Mithril platebodyMithril platebodySmithing 68 / drops.
30Adamant platebodyAdamant platebodySmithing 88 / drops (Ogres, Moss giants). Ironman: very common from Slayer.
40Rune platebodyRune platebodyRequires Dragon Slayer I. Drop: Fire giants, Greater demons, Ogress warriors.
40Rune full helmRune full helmSlayer drops / Champions' Guild (Scavvo).
40Rune kiteshieldRune kiteshieldSlayer drops.
40Dragon defenderDragon defenderWarriors' Guild (60 Def for dragon).
60Dragon platelegsDragon platelegsBrutal black dragons, Skeletal wyverns.
60Helm of NeitiznotHelm of NeitiznotThe Fremennik Isles. Best helm until Slayer helm/Serpentine.
60Fighter torsoFighter torsoBarbarian Assault (Defender role). Best body until Bandos.
65Bandos chestplateBandos chestplateGeneral Graardor (GWD), 65 Def.
70Dharok's platebodyDharok's platebodyBarrows (70 Def).
70Obsidian platebodyObsidian platebodyTzHaar (obsidian set).
70Fire capeFire capeFight Caves.
70Dragon bootsDragon bootsSpiritual mages (Slayer 83).
70Barrows glovesBarrows glovesFull Recipe for Disaster.

Extras

Dragon defender – Warriors' Guild.Helm of Neitiznot – Fremennik Isles.Fighter torso – Barbarian Assault.

Quests with xp

QuestRewardRequirements
Waterfall Quest13,750 Attack + 13,750 StrengthNone
Fight Arena12,175 Attack + 2,175 ThievingNone
Tree Gnome Village11,450 AttackNone
Vampyre Slayer4,825 AttackNone
Dragon Slayer I18,650 Strength + 18,650 Defence32 QP; unlocks rune platebody
Holy Grail11,000 Defence + 15,300 PrayerMerlin's Crystal, 20 Attack
Monkey Madness I35,000 Att/Def or Str/HP (your choice)The Grand Tree, Tree Gnome Village
Nature Spirit2,000 Defence + 2,000 HitpointsPriest in Peril
Heroes' QuestAtt/Def/Str/HP and more55 QP, 53 Cooking, 53 Fishing, 25 Herblore, 50 Mining

Temporary boosts

ItemBoostHow to get it (ironman)
Defence potionDefence potion+3 to +12Herblore 30 (ranarr + white berries)
Super defenceSuper defence+5 to +19Herblore 66
Saradomin brewSaradomin brew+2 to +21 (heals, lowers Att/Str/Rng/Mag)Herblore 81
ExcaliburExcalibur+8Merlin's Crystal (Enhanced with Seers elite)
Bastion potionBastion potion+5 to +19Herblore 80

AFK methods

LevelMethodXP/hAFKNote
1Ammonite / Sand crabs~100k10 minFossil Island / Hosidius. No real damage.
60Nightmare Zone (melee)~105k20 minAbsorptions + rock cake.
70Nightmare Zone (ranged)~150k20 minAbsorptions + rock cake.
60Sulphur Nagua~120k10 minVarlamore (Cam Torum).
75Desert bandits~130k17 minWith a Zamorak/Saradomin item equipped.
70Vyrewatch Sentinel~54k17 minDarkmeyer, blood shard drops.
80Maniacal monkeys (chinning)~500k10 minMM2 tunnels. Chins from Hunter.

Sources on the OSRS Wiki

← Previous SmithingHerblore Next →

All skills

Combat

AttackDetermines your melee accuracy and which weapons you can wield.StrengthRaises your melee max hit.DefenceLowers the chance of getting hit and decides which armour you can…HitpointsRises on its own with any combat (1/3 of combat xp).RangedRanged combat. As an ironman you rely on Fletching for ammo.PrayerBones and ashes. Very time-expensive for ironman: hoard every bone…MagicRunes from Runecraft or drops. For ironman, magic is mostly utility:…

Gathering

MiningThe base of Smithing for ironman. Motherlode Mine gives coal + gold;…FishingYour food. Barbarian fishing is fastest; Tempoross gives food, seeds…WoodcuttingLogs for Firemaking, Fletching and Construction. Woodcutting Guild…FarmingThe most important ironman skill: herbs for Herblore, trees for xp.…HunterBirdhouses every 50 min = free seeds. Chinchompas for Ranged.…SailingBoats, courier tasks, sea charting and Barracuda Trials. Ironman:…

Artisan

SmithingFor ironman: Blast Furnace with gold + Goldsmith gauntlets, Giants'…CookingCook what you fish. Hosidius kitchen and Cooking gauntlets reduce…FiremakingWintertodt is THE ironman method: 50-99 with tons of seeds, herbs,…CraftingGlass (giant seaweed + Superglass Make), Zaff battlestaves, gold…FletchingYour Ranged ammo. Broad arrows (300 Slayer pts) is the ironman…HerbloreDepends on Farming. Requires Druidic Ritual. Prioritise useful…ConstructionCosts gp and logs. Planks at the sawmill (Varrock). Mahogany Homes…RunecraftGuardians of the Rift (27) is the ironman method: outfit, pouches,…

Support

AgilityGraceful outfit (260 marks) comes first. Rooftops to 60, then…ThievingMaster farmers = seeds. Ardougne knights = AFK gp. Pyramid Plunder =…SlayerThe backbone of the ironman: gear, herbs, seeds, runes and gp.

Content based on the OSRS Wiki (oldschool.runescape.wiki), CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 licence. XP rates are approximate. · Leer en español