Ranged
For information on training this skill, see Ranged training.
Ranged is a skill in RuneScape Classic that is trained by shooting ammunition at monsters or other players. No Hits experience is received when ranging, so the total ranged experience per kill comes from the monster's base experience plus the experience normally obtained in Hits.
Using ranged, players can attack enemies from a distance, but ranged cannot be used once attacked with melee. Once a player attacks a monster with ranged, the monster will automatically retaliate with melee if the player is reachable and no other players, monsters, or obstacles are blocking its path. For this reason, Ranged is primarily used to 'safe spot' (attacking monsters from behind obstacles), to assist other players with monsters like the King Black Dragon, or to assist other players PKing in the Wilderness. The prayer Protect from missiles gives 100% protection from ranged attacks from other players.
Ranged projectiles (like magic projectiles) can be fired over other players and monsters, tables, through gates and fences, and over many scenery items, but not solid walls. Unlike in later versions of RuneScape, in RuneScape Classic it is also possible to fire projectiles through windows. Ranged projectiles are green, to distinguish them from blue magic projectiles.
Ranged influences combat level as levels are gained if the player character doesn't have high melee levels, but acts as an alternative to Attack and Strength in the combat level formula, making its overall impact much lower than magic at high melee levels.
Weapons[edit | edit source]
All ranged weapons are identical in attack speed, but differ in maximum attack distance, damage, and accuracy.
Bows[edit | edit source]
Bows and arrows are made using the fletching skill and cannot be used with a shield. The primary difference between the bow types is that longbows can be used at up to 5 tiles of distance from the target, while shortbows can be used at up to 4 tiles of distance.[1][2] The tier of bow affects accuracy, while the ammunition affects the maximum hit. Most RuneScape Classic players prefer to use longbows over shortbows due to the increased attack range.
Image | Name | Level | Best ammunition |
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Shortbow | 1 | ![]() |
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Longbow | 1 | ![]() |
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Oak Shortbow | 5 | ![]() |
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Oak Longbow | 10 | ![]() |
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Willow Shortbow | 15 | ![]() |
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Willow Longbow | 20 | ![]() |
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Maple Shortbow | 25 | ![]() |
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Maple Longbow | 30 | ![]() |
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Yew Shortbow | 35 | ![]() |
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Yew Longbow | 40 | ![]() |
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Magic Shortbow | 45 | ![]() |
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Magic Longbow | 50 | ![]() |
Weapon poison can be applied to most arrows to make them into poisoned arrows, which can poison other players in the Wilderness.
Crossbow[edit | edit source]
Like bows, the crossbow fires ammo but instead of arrows, it shoots bolts. There are only two crossbows in RuneScape Classic, the standard crossbow and the Phoenix crossbow, which is needed during the Shield of Arrav quest. Unlike bows, crossbows can be used with shields, which provides some extra protection in the event the player is attacked with melee. Crossbows can be used at up to 4 tiles of distance from the target, one less than longbows and the same as shortbows.[1][2]
There is no known difference in effectiveness between the Phoenix Gang and standard crossbow, and they both have the same capabilities and lack any Ranged level requirement.
Neither crossbows nor standard crossbow bolts can be made by players, and can instead by acquired from shops, trading, or from various item spawns. Oyster pearl bolts provide some extra power and can be made by players as a modification of standard crossbow bolts.
They were useful for player killing in free-to-play since they dealt slightly more damage than a bow with Bronze Arrows, making them the hardest-hitting free-to-play ranged weapon.
Image | Name | Level | Ammunition |
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Crossbow | 1 | ![]() ![]() |
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Phoenix Crossbow | 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Weapon poison can be applied to standard crossbow bolts to make Poison Crossbow bolts, which can poison other players in the Wilderness. Oyster pearl bolts cannot be poisoned.
Darts[edit | edit source]
Darts are one-handed weapons made using the smithing and fletching skills after completing the Tourist Trap quest. The higher level the dart, the more damage it will inflict against opponents, and the more accurate it will be. Darts are believed to deal slightly less damage than arrows, but with slightly higher accuracy. They do not require a bow to use (allowing the player to have an extra inventory slot free), and can be used with a shield, providing some extra protection if the player is attacked with melee. They require the player to be closer to their target than a crossbow or shortbow would.[3][1]
They are invisible when equipped, making them a somewhat "stealthy" weapon (until you attack).
As with arrows, throwing knives, and spears, weapon poison can be applied to darts to poison other players in the Wilderness. Due to a likely unfixed bug, the poisoned variants of these weapons have no requirements to wield.
Image | Name | Level |
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Bronze Throwing Dart | 1 |
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Iron Throwing Dart | 1 |
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Steel Throwing Dart | 5 |
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Mithril Throwing Dart | 15 |
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Adamant Throwing Dart | 25 |
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Rune Throwing Dart | 35 |
Throwing knives[edit | edit source]
All throwing knives except Black can be made using the smithing skill. Throwing knives are one-handed and can also provide bonuses for melee combat. The higher level the knife, the more damage it will inflict against opponents, and the more accurate it will be. Throwing knives are slightly stronger than arrows, but each will occupy an inventory slot (i.e. they are not stackable), meaning that players will have to withdraw them from a bank if they wish to use more than 30. These factors make their use quite uncommon. When equipped, their appearance is identical to most swords.
As with arrows, darts, and spears, weapon poison can be applied to throwing knives to poison other players in the Wilderness. Due to a likely unfixed bug, the poisoned variants of these weapons have no requirements to wield. For this reason, the Poisoned Rune throwing knife in particular was popularly used by players looking to deceive others about their levels, especially magic tanks when dueling after the hiscores were removed.
Image | Name | Attack level | Ranged level |
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Bronze throwing knife | 1 | 1 |
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Iron throwing knife | 1 | 1 |
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Black throwing knife | 1 | 1 |
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Steel throwing knife | 5 | 5 |
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Mithril throwing knife | 20 | 15 |
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Adamantite throwing knife | 30 | 25 |
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Rune throwing knife | 40 | 35 |
Spears[edit | edit source]
Spears can only be obtained from various monsters. Like throwing knives, they are one-handed and can be used for both melee and ranged attacks. The higher level the spear, the more damage it will inflict against opponents, and the more accurate it will be. Spears provide the highest ranged damage out of all weapons in the game besides possibly the Dwarf multicannon.
They cannot be made by players, and in most cases they are only available as an uncommon monster drop, making them difficult to acquire in large quantities. Each spear will occupy an inventory slot (i.e. they are not stackable), meaning that players will have to withdraw them from a bank if they wish to use more than 30. These factors make their use quite uncommon.
As with arrows, darts, and throwing knives, weapon poison can be applied to spears to poison other players in the Wilderness. Due to a likely unfixed bug, the poisoned variants of these weapons have no requirements to wield.
Spears can be thrown at 3 tiles of distance from the target, a shorter distance compared to bows.
Image | Name | Attack level | Ranged level |
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Bronze Spear | 1 | 1 |
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Iron Spear | 1 | 1 |
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Steel Spear | 5 | 5 |
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Mithril Spear | 20 | 15 |
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Adamantite Spear | 30 | 25 |
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Rune Spear | 40 | 35 |
Dwarf multicannon[edit | edit source]
The Dwarf multicannon is the most powerful weapon against monsters in RuneScape Classic, but it cannot be used in player killing. It fires multiple cannonballs at multiple targets simultaneously. You must complete the Dwarf Cannon quest to have access to it.
Holy Water[edit | edit source]
Holy water can be made during the Legend's Quest, after having obtained the Book of Binding and preferably whilst not having depleted the Shallow water from the Kharazi Jungle. It is used to weaken the demon Nezikchened, just like Silverlight would on other demons.
Although theoretically it doesn't require a ranged level to use, starting the Legend's Quest requires the completion of the Underground pass quest, which requires a minimum Ranged level of 25.
Image | Name | Level |
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Holy Water Vial | 25 |
Boosts[edit | edit source]
Item | Boost | Visibility |
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Ranging Potion | +10% + 4 levels | Visible |
Aside from weapons, there is no equipment that provides a known boost to Ranged in RuneScape Classic.
Drains[edit | edit source]
- Hand of Death Cocktail, at the Rising Sun Inn from the Barcrawl card miniquest.
Quest Experience Rewards[edit | edit source]
The following quests provide ranged experience:
- Hero's Quest - Level * 50 + 75 XP
- Temple of Ikov- Level * 250 + 500 XP
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- The first player to achieve level 99 Ranged was Snake Slava. The second player to achieve level 99 Ranged was Snake Slavik.
- There seems to be an approximate increase in ranged accuracy by 1% with each level.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Gnome Ball -- a minigame that gives small amounts of Ranged XP.
- Ranged training
References[edit | edit source]
Shortbows | |
Longbows | |
Arrows | |
Spears | |
Throwing Darts | |
Throwing Knives | |
Other |
Combat | |
Gathering | |
Artisan | |
Support | |
Removed | |
Related |