Introduction
For players participating in Runescape 3 Leagues, melee progression offers a powerful path through the competitive season. This guide outlines a clear, step-by-step approach for advancing from Tier 6 with basic gear toward best-in-slot equipment. The strategy focuses on efficient upgrades that maximize power gains relative to the time investment required.
Current Position: Tier 6 Foundation
Players typically reach a pivotal point around Tier 6 with core gear including Anima Core of Zaros body and helmet, a Dragon Rider lance, and Bandos equipment filling remaining slots. This setup provides a solid foundation for tackling more challenging content. The immediate goal involves accumulating the final 4,000 points needed to unlock Tier 7, which offers significant combat advantages through enhanced drop rates and additional relic powers.
Immediate Post-Tier 6 Upgrades
Upon reaching Tier 7, several weapon upgrades become accessible. The Laniakea's spear represents a substantial improvement over the Dragon Rider lance, offering tier 90 damage despite its tier 75 accuracy, which is mitigated by the 100% accuracy bonus available in Leagues. Alternatively, drygore weaponry from the Kalphite King provides another strong option, particularly for players who prefer dual-wield combat styles.
Armor progression typically remains stable until players can acquire Vestments of Havoc. The Anima Core of Zaros set provides sufficient defensive and offensive bonuses for most intermediate content. However, players should consider working toward the Masterwork trim achievement for permanent melee power armor.
Mid-Game Progression Paths
Two primary paths emerge for mid-game advancement: Elder God Wars Dungeon 2 and the Fight Kiln for the Igneous Kal-Zuk cape.
Elder God Wars Dungeon 2 offers multiple valuable rewards for melee specialists. The dungeon contains codexes for essential abilities including Greater Barge, Greater Fury, and Greater Flurry. These upgrades significantly enhance melee rotation damage output. Players may benefit from using dragonbane weapons against the dragonkin enemies within this dungeon.
Concurrently, completing normal mode Fight Kiln for the Igneous Kal-Zuk cape provides a permanent damage boost. This upgrade should be prioritized early in the progression path as it affects all subsequent combat encounters.
High-Tier Bossing and Equipment
After establishing a foundation with ED2 codexes and the Zuk cape, attention turns to higher-level bosses. Zamorak stands as a primary target for melee players seeking the Vestments of Havoc armor set and the Chaos Roar ability. A complete four-piece vestment set provides the maximum benefit, though a three-piece setup still offers substantial power.
The Elder God Wars Dungeon presents another key upgrade opportunity through Arch-Glacor. Defeating this boss can yield Leng swords and the Enhanced Gloves of Passage, which enable important glove enchantments.
For players seeking ultimate best-in-slot weapons, hard mode Zuk offers the possibility of obtaining the Ek-ZekKil, a tier 95 two-handed sword that represents the pinnacle of melee weaponry.
Specialized and Niche Upgrades
Several specialized upgrades can further optimize melee performance. The Abyssal Scourge whip from Abyssal Lords provides a strong main-hand weapon option. The Magister offers the opportunity to obtain the Strife gloves for additional damage output.
Jewelry upgrades include completing the Reaver's ring by combining multiple Berserker rings, and obtaining an Essence of Finality amulet to store powerful special attack weapons like Dragon claws or Dragon halberd.
For poison-immune targets, Cinderbane gloves remain a valuable addition when used with Weapon Poison+++.
Supporting Grinds and Considerations
Beyond direct combat upgrades, several supporting activities enhance overall melee effectiveness. Completing the Perkfection relic at Tier 6 provides significant quality-of-life improvements for equipment perk management. Archaeological pursuits like the City of Een relic can offer additional combat benefits.
Players should also consider summoning familiars like Kalgerion demons or Ripper demons, depending on specialization choices and group composition needs.
Task completion remains crucial throughout the progression journey. The additional rewards and points from achievements often provide unexpected power spikes or quality-of-life improvements that streamline the gearing process.
This progression path represents an optimized route through Runescape 3 Leagues melee content, balancing immediate power gains with long-term investment toward best-in-slot equipment.
