Ashenfall’s beauty masks the dangers that lurk in every corner. The Umbral Sands quickly saps the thirst of the unprepared, and each moving shadow in other regions hides a potential threat. Few playstyles offer the visceral satisfaction of slicing bodies and crushing skulls at close range. A well-crafted melee build in RuneScape: Dragonwilds presents adventurers with this treat, and this guide shows you how to achieve it.

RuneScape: Dragonwilds Melee Build Guide: An Overview

The melee build in RuneScape: Dragonwilds is for the adventurer who prides themselves in close-quarters combat. The best weapons, armor, and skills for this build favor durability and overwhelming tactics over the hit-and-run tactics of ranged fighters. Melee fighters are the proverbial vanguards of any team in a RuneScape: Dragonwilds server, as they step into the fray to protect allies from the gruesome deaths of overwhelming forces. Versatility is arguably the best way to describe this build. The melee combatant can kill almost anything within range. While it can sometimes struggle in groups, this shortcoming can be mitigated with the right gear and skills. While a powerhouse in PvE, the melee build is also a walking force of nature in PvP. However, close-range fighters should do well in blocking and/or dodging incoming fire from ranged attackers to get close to them. Those who fail to read their opponents’ attacks will lose the fight before they even arrive!

Best Weapons for Melee Builds

Remember, in RuneScape: Dragonwilds, there’s no single “best” weapon for the melee build. The optimal choice often resonates with each player’s unique playstyle. Nonetheless, some options have stats that make them better choices than others.

Early Game: Bone Club

• How to Get: Craft using 8x Animal Bone, 6x Ash Logs, and 4x Leather at the Crafting Table.

In the beginning, the standard Stone Club will be your first trusty companion. However, many weapons quickly outclass this rudimentary mace. Aim to upgrade to the Bone Club, as this weapon will be your first meaningful upgrade. Its respectable base damage of 26 to 46 per swing offers a reliable combat rhythm for the ambitious early-game warrior.

Stats

• Weapon Type: Melee Weapon
• Weight: 4.5
• Power Level: 2
• Damage Type: Crush
• Attack Style: Mace
• Base Damage: 26 to 46
• Damage Multiplier: 1.9
• Block: 16.5
• Attack Combo: 5
• Durability: 850

Mid-Game: Skullsplitter

• How to Get: Unlock the recipe by acquiring the Remnants of a Shattered Skull by defeating a Garou Berserker. Then, craft the Skullsplitter using 6x Bronze Bar, 4x Antler, 4x Oak Logs, and 2x Hard Leather at the Smithing Anvil.

Unlocking the Smithing Anvil also reveals new weapon-crafting tiers: Bronze and Iron. Bronze, in particular, helps you craft the Skullsplitter, a reliable mid-game melee weapon that offers a balance of power and utility with an increased critical hit chance.

Stats

• Weapon Type: Melee Weapon
• Weight: 6.0
• Power Level: 3
• Damage Type: Crush
• Attack Style: Mace
• Base Damage: 38 to 67
• Block: 19.5
• Critical Chance Increase: 15%
• Attack Combo: 5
• Durability: 1,050

Endgame: Abyssal Whip

• How to Get: Bring the Abyssal Spine to the Dragonkin Effigy at the Kletterbuja Kara vault to unlock the Abyssal Whip crafting recipe. Then, craft the weapon using 1x Abyssal Spine, 12x Hard Leather, 12x Swamp Thread, 6x Poison Ichor, 12x Vault Shard, and 1x Vault Core at the Smithing Anvil.

While it doesn’t have the satisfying sharp edge of a sword or the sheer crushing force of a mace, the Abyssal Whip is arguably the best endgame weapon for the melee build in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. This Tier 4 weapon causes bleed buildup with each hit, making it the go-to choice for challenging bosses like the Garou King. Tip: Switch to other excellent endgame melee weapons, such as Thane’s Authority and the Iron Two-Handed Sword, based on the current combat scenario.

Stats

• Weapon Type: Melee Weapon
• Weight: 4.5
• Power Level: 4
• Damage Type: Slash
• Attack Style: Whip
• Base Damage: 50 to 87
• Block: 5
• Attack Combo: 5
• Special Action: Abyssal Snare: Throws a slow, homing purple projectile that explodes and deals 30 base damage to hit enemies.
• Durability: 1,300

Best Armor Sets & Pieces for Melee Builds

Armor in RuneScape: Dragonwilds isn't only about defense, as it provides bonuses that enhance your combat and survival capabilities. Melee armor, in particular, offers the highest defense against its imminent threat: close-ranged enemy attacks.

Early Game: Reinforced Armor Set

Set Bonuses: -33% Block Stamina Cost (1-piece), +50% Critical Chance After Blocking (2-piece), and +25 Damage to Staggered Targets (3-piece) The Reinforced Armor is the ideal defensive starting point for any budding melee build user in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. While it doesn’t offer excellent defenses, this set is still better than wearing nothing else but the clothes on your back.

Reinforced Armor Pieces

Reinforced Helmet

• How to Craft: Use 4x Animal Bone and 2x Leather at the Crafting Table.
• Power Level: 2
• Melee Defense: 6
• Ranged Defense: 4
• Magic Defense: 3
• Weight: 8.0
• Durability: 1,000

Reinforced Body

• How to Craft: Use 10x Animal Bone and 8x Leather at the Crafting Table.
• Power Level: 2
• Melee Defense: 14
• Ranged Defense: 9
• Magic Defense: 8
• Weight: 16.0
• Durability: 1,000

Reinforced Legs

• How to Craft: Use 8x Animal Bone and 6x Leather at the Crafting Table.
• Power Level: 2
• Melee Defense: 9
• Ranged Defense: 6
• Magic Defense: 5
• Weight: 12.0
• Durability: 1,000

Mid-Game: Steel Armor Set

Set Bonuses: -33% Block Stamina Cost (1-piece), +50% Critical Chance After Blocking (2-piece), and +25 Damage to Staggered Targets (3-piece)

Steel Armor Pieces

Progressing through Ashenfall eventually unlocks better materials than Leather and Animal Bone. Over time, you’ll come across Iron Ore and Coal, two essential materials to smelt at the Blast Furnace for Steel Bar. Then, use Steel Bar, along with other crafting ingredients, to make the Steel armor set for superior protection during mid-game encounters.

Steel Full Helm

• How to Craft: Use 4x Steel Bar, 4x Draconic Leather, 1x Fine Cloth, 1x Sacred Oil, and 2x Vault Shard at the Smithing Anvil.
• Power Level: 5
• Melee Defense: 15
• Ranged Defense: 13
• Magic Defense: 12
• Weight: 8.0
• Durability: 1,500

Steel Platebody

• How to Craft: Use 10x Steel Bar, 6x Draconic Leather, 4x Fine Cloth, 3x Sacred Oil, and 1x Vault Shard at the Smithing Anvil.
• Power Level: 5
• Melee Defense: 38
• Ranged Defense: 32
• Magic Defense: 30
• Weight: 16.0
• Durability: 1,500

Steel Platelegs

• How to Craft: Use 6x Steel Bar, 4x Draconic Leather, 3x Fine Cloth, 2x Sacred Oil, and 4x Vault Shard at the Smithing Anvil.
• Power Level: 5
• Melee Defense: 23
• Ranged Defense: 19
• Magic Defense: 18
• Weight: 12.0
• Durability: 1,500

Endgame: Black Knight Armor Set

Set Bonuses: -33% Block Stamina Cost (1-piece), +50% Critical Chance After Blocking (2-piece), and +25 Damage to Staggered Targets (3-piece) Unlocked by purchasing and using the Grim Black Codpiece vestige from the Evil Emporium shop in Dowdun Reach, the Black Knight armor set is the epitome of defense for many melee build users in RuneScape: Dragonwilds. It offers top-tier melee defense and above-average ranged and magic defense stats. With these stats, close-quarters combat becomes more manageable at the endgame.

Black Knight Armor Pieces

Black Knight Helmet

• How to Craft: Use 4x Black Metal Bar, 2x Mithril Bar, 4x Cursed Leather, 1x Mystic Cloth, and 1x Demonic Oil at the Smithing Anvil.
• Power Level: 6
• Melee Defense: 18
• Ranged Defense: 15
• Magic Defense: 15
• Weight: 8.0
• Durability: 1,750

Black Knight Platebody

• How to Craft: Use 10x Black Metal Bar, 2x Mithril Bar, 6x Cursed Leather, 4x Mystic Cloth, and 3x Demonic Oil at the Smithing Anvil.
• Power Level: 6
• Melee Defense: 45
• Ranged Defense: 39
• Magic Defense: 38
• Weight: 16.0
• Durability: 1,750

Black Knight Platelegs

• How to Craft: Use 6x Black Metal Bar, 2x Mithril Bar, 4x Cursed Leather, 2x Mystic Cloth, and 2x Demonic Oil at the Smithing Anvil.
• Power Level: 6
• Melee Defense: 27
• Ranged Defense: 24
• Magic Defense: 23
• Weight: 12.0
• Durability: 1,750

Best Skills for Melee Builds

Unlike other titles that grant skill points upon leveling up, RuneScape: Dragonwilds players earn these marks by performing specific actions. For the melee build, players should focus on the Attack skill type, which demands fighting using short-range weapons. With that, below are the notable skills melee players can get as they progress through the Attack skill tree:

• Parry (Level 5): Unlocks the ability to parry attacks by blocking at the last moment of an opponent’s attack animation, causing stagger and dealing increased damage.
• Melee Weapon Special Actions (Level 8): Grants access to unique special actions for all melee weapons, such as the Two-Handed Sword's devastating crowd-control swing.
• Tempest Shield (Level 11): Summons an Air Magic Shield that temporarily prevents all damage while blocking. A powerful burst explodes when the spell ends. The duration of this skill increases per Attack level.
• Weapon Expertise (Level 16): Unlocks additional attacks for all melee weapons, increasing your damage output per combo.
• Enchant Weapon: Fire (Level 20): Enchants your current melee weapon with fire, applying Burning to enemies when landing critical hits.
• Adaptability (Level 23): A passive ability that ensures evading or blocking no longer interrupts your combos when using a melee weapon.
• Enchant Weapon: Air (Level 30): Enchants your melee weapon with air, increasing your weapon's attack speed.
• Lesser Potion of Attack (Level 34): Unlocks the recipe to craft the Lesser Attack Potion at the Brewing Cauldron. Use 1x Snapdragon, 1x Ground Granite, and 1x Clay Vessel to craft this potion, and using it grants a +25% increased chance of landing critical hits with melee attacks for 10 minutes.
• Whetstone (Level 40): Allows crafting of whetstones to sharpen melee weapons for increased damage. Use 5x Granite and 10x Stone at the Crafting Table to craft 1x Whetstone.