OSRS Combat Level Formula
The complete guide to understanding how your combat level is calculated in Old School RuneScape.
📐 The Formula
// Step 1: Calculate Base
base = 0.25 × (Defence + Hitpoints + ⌊Prayer / 2⌋)
// Step 2: Calculate Combat Style Contributions
melee = 0.325 × (Attack + Strength)
ranged = 0.325 × ⌊Ranged × 1.5⌋
magic = 0.325 × ⌊Magic × 1.5⌋
// Step 3: Final Combat Level
combat = base + max(melee, ranged, magic)⌊⌋ = floor function (round down to nearest integer)
Want to calculate your combat level?
Use our interactive calculator to see your exact combat level.
Understanding Each Component
Base Component
base = 0.25 × (Defence + Hitpoints + ⌊Prayer / 2⌋)
The base component accounts for your survivability. All combat styles benefit equally from these stats:
- Defence - Reduces incoming damage accuracy
- Hitpoints - Your health pool (starts at level 10)
- Prayer - Halved contribution (2 Prayer levels = 1 effective level)
Impact: Every 4 levels in Defence or Hitpoints adds ~1 combat level. Every 8 Prayer levels adds ~1 combat level.
Melee Component
melee = 0.325 × (Attack + Strength)
Melee uses two skills combined. This is why melee accounts often have high combat levels—they need to level both Attack and Strength.
- Attack - Accuracy with melee weapons
- Strength - Maximum hit with melee
Impact: Every 3 combined Attack+Strength levels adds ~1 combat level.
Ranged Component
ranged = 0.325 × ⌊Ranged × 1.5⌋
Ranged has a 1.5× multiplier because it's a single skill handling both accuracy and damage (unlike melee's two skills).
Impact: Every 2 Ranged levels adds ~1 combat level when Ranged-based.
Magic Component
magic = 0.325 × ⌊Magic × 1.5⌋
Magic works identically to Ranged with the 1.5× multiplier.
Impact: Every 2 Magic levels adds ~1 combat level when Magic-based.
Combat Type Determination
Your combat type is determined by whichever contribution is highest:
⚔️
Warrior
Melee is highest
Attack + Strength builds
🏹
Ranger
Ranged is highest
Ranged pure builds
🔮
Mage
Magic is highest
Magic pure builds
Example Calculations
New Account (Level 3)
Stats: All 1, HP 10
base = 0.25 × (1 + 10 + 0) = 2.75 melee = 0.325 × (1 + 1) = 0.65 ranged = 0.325 × ⌊1 × 1.5⌋ = 0.325 magic = 0.325 × ⌊1 × 1.5⌋ = 0.325
Combat Level
3
(2.75 + 0.65 = 3.4)
Maxed Account (Level 126)
Stats: All 99
base = 0.25 × (99 + 99 + 49) = 61.75 melee = 0.325 × (99 + 99) = 64.35 ranged = 0.325 × ⌊99 × 1.5⌋ = 48.1 magic = 0.325 × ⌊99 × 1.5⌋ = 48.1
Combat Level
126
(61.75 + 64.35 = 126.1)
1 Defence Pure
Stats: 60 Att, 99 Str, 1 Def, 85 HP, 52 Pray
base = 0.25 × (1 + 85 + 26) = 28 melee = 0.325 × (60 + 99) = 51.675
Combat Level
79
(28 + 51.675 = 79.675)
Quick Reference: Levels per Combat Level
| Skill(s) | Multiplier | Levels per +1 Combat |
|---|---|---|
| Defence or Hitpoints | × 0.25 | 4 levels |
| Prayer | × 0.125 | 8 levels |
| Attack + Strength (combined) | × 0.325 | ~3 levels |
| Ranged (when dominant) | × 0.4875 | ~2 levels |
| Magic (when dominant) | × 0.4875 | ~2 levels |
