Melee training-Attack, Strength, and Defence-is one of the most important progress paths in Old School RuneScape. Whether your goals include bossing, raids, Slayer, or high-level moneymaking, strong melee stats are not optional; they are essential. Unfortunately, many players waste hundreds of hours using inefficient or outdated training methods. In this melee training guide, you will learn the best melee methods in OSRS, from level one progression to AFK options and even methods that generate profit while you train, allowing you to maximize efficiency and make informed progression decisions similar to how some players choose to buy OSRS gold to accelerate access to better gear and content.

Early Levels: Skip the Grind with Questing

If you are starting from level one, the single biggest mistake you can make is manually training on cows, chickens, or goblins. These methods are outdated and extremely inefficient. Instead, you should prioritize early combat quests that instantly boost your stats.

Key quests such as Waterfall Quest, Fight Arena, and The Grand Tree provide massive Attack and Strength experience with little to no combat requirements. By completing these quests immediately, you can reach around 30 Attack and Strength in under 30 minutes. This single step puts your account hours-if not days-ahead of the average player and sets a strong foundation for efficient training going forward.

Ultra-AFK Training: Gemstone Crabs

One of the most popular AFK melee methods in 2026 is Gemstone Crabs. Their popularity comes down to one factor: extreme AFK potential. Gemstone Crabs have very high Hitpoints, low Defence, and long aggression timers, allowing you to AFK for up to 10 minutes at a time with minimal interaction.

This makes them ideal for players who are working, studying, or playing OSRS on a second monitor. While the experience rates are not the fastest available, the consistency and low effort make this method incredibly effective over long sessions. All you need is basic melee gear, the correct combat style, and completion of the Children of the Sun quest. If your goal is relaxed, stress-free melee training, Gemstone Crabs are one of the best options available.

Balanced AFK and XP: Sand Crabs and Ammonite Crabs

For players who want a balance between AFK gameplay and better experience rates, Sand Crabs and Ammonite Crabs remain excellent choices. These monsters are aggressive, have low Defence, and are easy to reset once their aggression timer expires.

You can typically AFK for around five minutes at a time, which is less than Gemstone Crabs but provides higher XP per hour. This method is perfect for mid-level accounts that want steady progress without constant attention.

Classic and Reliable: Nightmare Zone

Nightmare Zone (NMZ) is one of the most reliable melee training methods in OSRS and remains highly relevant in 2026. Its strength lies in flexibility. You can train extremely AFK using absorption potions, maximize experience with overloads, or even make money while training.

With the right setup, players can stay in NMZ for long sessions with minimal effort. Required quests include Vampyre Slayer, The Grand Tree, Fight Arena, Mountain Daughter, and Depths of Despair, among others. At higher levels, Nightmare Zone becomes one of the most efficient ways to push melee stats toward 99.

Structured Progression: Slayer Training

If you do not want melee training to feel repetitive, Slayer is one of the smartest long-term options. Slayer adds variety, structure, and consistent profit to your grind. Many Slayer monsters drop valuable uniques, alchables, and steady GP.

While Slayer is typically slower than Nightmare Zone in raw XP, it is significantly more rewarding over time. Your combat stats increase while your bank value grows, making it an ideal choice for players focused on overall account progression.

Speed and Profit: High-Level Melee Methods

For players focused on maximum efficiency, optimized Nightmare Zone setups, high-level Slayer tasks, and endgame gear can dramatically increase XP rates. These methods require more focus, better equipment, and sometimes higher GP investment, but they offer the fastest path to 99 in 2026.

One of melee training’s biggest advantages is that it does not have to be a waste of time. Bossing content such as Vyre Sentinels, God Wars Dungeon, and melee-focused raids allows you to earn millions while gaining experience. Nightmare Zone hard rewards also provide strong daily profit at higher levels.

Final Thoughts

This guide provides a complete melee training roadmap. From early quest boosts to AFK methods, Slayer progression, and profitable bossing, melee training in OSRS can be both efficient and rewarding, especially for players who want to optimize progress without unnecessary downtime. Instead of choosing between XP and GP, melee allows you to build both simultaneously, and many players further streamline their journey by leveraging in-game wealth options such as cheap RS gold to unlock better gear and faster training methods sooner. Good luck with your training, and may your grind toward 99 be efficient, profitable, and stress-free.