Players looking for a more immersive open-world MMO experience should give RuneScape a shot, especially since the game serves as one of the most popular free-to-play titles in the MMO scene. Despite the existence of hits such as World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, its RuneScape and its perpetually open world of Gielinor, alongside its freeform approach to progression, that makes the title extremely popular for fans.
While players of RuneScape don’t necessarily have to follow a certain approach when it comes to their progression, soloists may still consider trying to create a “solo class” to suit their preferences - especially when taking down monsters and other threats. Thankfully, RuneScape can make it relatively easy for players to approach the creation of a solo class build, and players can follow certain tips to create the best class build that suits their needs.
10 Remember The Combat Triangle
Despite the nature of RuneScape as an open-world MMO, players who want to create optimal solo builds should always keep in mind something called the Combat Triangle. Remember, combat in RuneScape can happen across three (3) Combat Styles: Melee, Ranged, and Magic. These combat methods have their respective advantages, but most importantly have a rock-paper-scissors kind of relationship with each other.
For instance, Melee fighters damage Ranged specialists more effectively as bladed weapons cut through leather faster. Likewise, Ranged combatants eliminate Magic users faster as robes can’t protect from projectiles. Lastly, Magic users eliminate Melee combatants easily as RuneScape lore suggests magic is conducted in metal armor much faster.
9 Set Up Defence Training For Convenience
Unlike other open-world MMOs where the equivalent of a Defense rating is usually improved manually when taking damage, RuneScape gameplay gives players the opportunity to train Defense in conjunction with the other three (3) Combat Styles. Through the Gameplay settings, players can manually set up Defense XP to be obtained when used in conjunction with the other Combat Styles in the game.
In Melee, it’s the Defense Attack Style that exclusively gives Defense XP whereas the Controlled Attack Style splits XP across Strength, Attack, and Defense. For Ranged, players only get Defense XP via the Longrange Attack Style that splits XP between Ranged and Defense. In terms of Magic, players get Defense XP alongside Magic XP when using Defensive Casting.
8 Grab The Right Artisan Skills For Build Preparation
Similar to other open-world MMOs, RuneScape gameplay allows players to approach their experience from whichever perspective they choose. And while solo class builds often engage in combat with various monsters, some of the most efficient approaches to creating a powerful build revolves around players having access to the game’s best gears whenever it’s convenient. This skips the tedious process of engaging in Trading or spending a ton in the Grand Exchange to get equipment players could’ve crafted anyway.
Minus equipment that are locked behind dungeon rewards and rare drops, most of the higher-tier gear in RuneScape can be accessed through creation. In that regard, players should always level up the appropriate RuneScape Artisan Skill for their preferred building approach. For instance, Melee combatants who want to wear tougher metal armor should consider picking Mining and Smithing as Artisan Skills to train in order to be able to create sturdy Tanky Armour. Likewise, Ranged fighters should consider Crafting and Fletching to create their more favored ranged equipment and projectiles from creature parts. For Magic users, Runecrafting is an excellent way of creating Runes and Magic-tailored equipment to facilitate their magic spells.
7 Set Up Secondary Skills To Maximize Builds
Compared to other open-world MMOs that often rely heavily on a selected Class and even pure gear for performance, gameplay in an open world like RuneScape especially for solo “class” builds rely not just on the right equipment but also the right supporting Skills. Aside from having high-enough Attack and Defense for maximum damage and protections, players need to gain enough levels in support Skills to ensure their build’s full potential.
For instance, Prayer is a vital Skill to invest into, especially since activating the right Prayers can give soloists much-needed boosts in Armour, Accuracy, and Damage depending on their preferred Combat Style. Likewise, Dungeoneering is a worthwhile investment for the long-term, as players need this to access the game’s more dangerous (and equally-rewarding) dungeons. When creating builds, soloists need to consider their toolkit’s viability to conquer Dungeons and the Prayers they may need to best the toughest of foes.
6 Always Pick The Most Optimal Weapon
When players build towards their ideal “class” build when going solo in RuneScape gameplay, it’s importantly to stay “in the loop” in the context of weapons to maximize their gains. Remember, a player’s Attack Level dictates the kind of weapons they can wear, meaning players are likely going to unlock higher-tier armor in the game as they engage in combat.
In that regard, players should always be on the lookout as to what kind of Attack rating they have and equip the best weapon available for that Attack Level to maximize their overall damage. For example, players who reach Attack Level 25 should immediately buy a Black Weapon to maximize their available Accuracy and Damage. If players can’t grab their ideal weapon, perhaps they can work on getting the necessary Artisan Skills to craft them, such as the right Mining Skill and Smithing Skill.
5 Consider Creating Builds Around Dual-Wield, 2H
While players have the freedom in RuneScape gameplay of using any Weapon they want provided they can equip them, it’s recommended players create builds around Dual-Wielding and Two-Handed Weapons for the sake of combat benefits.
At its core, both Dual-Wielding and Two-Handed Weapons provide 150-percent additional damage of a One-Handed Main-Hand Weapon but without the defensive benefits of a Shield. In these instances, it’s important to consider that in Dual Wielding, the Hit Chance is calculated separately between the Main and Off-Hand Weapons while only the Main-Hand Weapon is considered for Accuracy in Abilities.
4 Build A Defensive Juggernaut Through Tank Armour
While there’s no surefire way of “creating” a tank in RuneScape gameplay on the get-go, players do have the opportunity to slowly build a tank-leaning combatant with the right approach. Aside from focusing on building a high Defense Level, it’s important for tank aspirants to be on the lookout for what’s known as Tank Armour.
Tank Armour is a “class” of Armour in RuneScape specifically tailored for PvM or Player-versus-Monster environments. This is the most “basic” Armour class as all kinds of equipment fall into this category. As players get capable of wearing Rune Armour at Defense 50, players can boost their Defense Levels further to wear much more powerful Tank Armour, ranging from craftable Grifolic (65, for Magic), Dinosaurhide (75, for Ranged), Tetsu (85, for Melee), or even boss-farmed equipment. Tank Armour is best known to be the only Armour type to be able to provide Life Point bonuses.
3 Get Aggressive With Power Armour
One of the more unique variants of Armour in RuneScape gameplay would be Power Armour, a special equipment classification reserved for the more aggressive playstyle. Compared to Tank Armour, the Power Armour can’t give as much Armour bonuses to players but compensates with Damage Bonuses. Soloists who plan on making more specialized builds can create a build around a preferred Power Armour to tear through RuneScape bosses with a more aggressive approach.
Power Armour variants are usually obtained either through drops (such as in the case of Dragon Armour, 60, for Melee) or clearing dungeons (such as the Armadyl Armour, 60, for Ranged). When defeating Nex of the God Wars Dungeon, players may acquire rare Nex Armour (Pernix, Torva, Virtus) that also provide Life Point bonuses.
2 Specialize In Combat Against Players Through PvP Armour
An interesting classification of Armour players might want to check out when playing RuneScape would be PvP Armour, especially since they’re geared towards Player-versus-Player (PVP) combat. At its core, they provide both the Armour and Damage bonuses of Tank Armour and Power Armour, respectively, without the setbacks. Likewise, they’re designed to reduce damage specifically when fighting other players. Soloists who plan on focusing on pulverizing other players should create builds revolving around their preferred PvP Armour.
However, this kind of Armour isn’t exactly easy to acquire for players, especially soloists, as much of them are locked behind special events of rather difficult dungeons. For instance, Combat Robes (20, Magic) and Druidic Mage Robes (20, Magic) are only acquired through the Fist of Guthix minigame. Likewise, Ancient Warriors Equipment (78) are only obtained either through the Forinthry Dungeon in the Wilderness or as an extremely rare drop from the Chaos Elemental.
1 Hybrid Armour Is Fun But Skip For Long-Term Use
Soloists playing RuneScape who want a more flexible Armour setup might want to consider acquiring “All” or Hybrid Armour. As the name implies, Hybrid Armour accommodates all sorts of Combat Styles without sacrificing Accuracy. However, it’s important to remember that Hybrid Armour has generally lower Defence compared to other Armours and offers no damage reduction to PVE.
Its all-around nature makes it an ideal Armour to wear for soloists who plan on experimenting with their builds or if they plan on attacking monsters that have different approaches to combat. However, the generally-lower stats make them unideal for long-term use. Players planning on attaining Hybrid Armour might want to consider reserving them for special occasions.
RuneScape is available to play on the PC.