I'm trying to determine the most effective setups for some friends based on their levels and the cost of certain equipment.

Basically, when considering the jump from level 70 to level 75 gear, or 75 to 80 gear, how much are actual levels in Attack+Strength/Ranged/Magic worth?

 

Additionally, what are the best spells for one to use between levels 70-80 Magic? Does PPS scale with level? Do Ancient Magick effects activate with abilities?

 

Lastly, if considering someone who could use equal gear for any of the three styles - with a 2H weapon - which style is considered most effective? What specific abilities or effects make it most effective?

Discount AOE abilities as useful and consider PvP combat when answering please.

Not sure what you're asking. 5 attack levels is worth less than the difference between a godsword and a maul, if that's what you mean. You can find more info here: http://runescape.wikia.com/wiki/Hit_chance

 

At 99 attack you have +1212 from level (bit more from boosts, but okay) and +3031 from weapon (that's primal), so there you go.

 

Spell-wise, just use the highest you can basically. Polypore strike requires 80 magic according to the spellbook, so that's not an option for 75-79.

 

If using a 2h weapon, for pure dps, melee: Berserk is very powerful. If you are dealing with multiple weaker target, it may be better to use Magic for Chain, or Ranged for Bombard. It really depends on what you're fighting. In PvP, it's important to use the style your opponent is weak to, or the same style as your opponent. Shields are very good in PvP as well.

I'm trying to decide if someone should mage, range, or melee based on easily available gear despite them having slightly higher levels in one style compared to another.

 

When I said discount AOE abilities as useful, I meant don't consider them, as we don't want to accidentally hit each other :P

We are fighting unknown enemies. We don't exactly have the luxury of knowing the style they may be weak to, so knowing what of the three styles given similarly-leveled equipment setups is next best.

 

I forgot to ask, if one were using Polypore Staff, does the spell hit like it has level 80 damage, or is it capped by the level of the staff?

It should be capped by the level of the staff.

 

If you are talking about pvp, and there are several people on your side, and you are looking for cheapish setups, then you'll tradable ports armour (yes, it degrades to dust, but chances are you'll die long before that anyway), royal crossbow, godsword and polypore, so that's an advantage for ranged. Death Lotus is comparatively cheap as well. Fragmentation shot is an easy way to combo for a lot of damage, and you have decent enough ultimates with Incendiary Shot.

 

Remember to use Natural Instincts to deprive opponents of adrenaline, especially shield users (Revenge, Resonance, Reflect - it's hard to kill them if they have adrenaline).

Thank you, Quyneax.

 

Unfortunately, the majority of my fellow combatants are quite a bit lower than myself. I have taken care to outline setups for them already though.

 

We have a nice number of each style. :)

 

I've just got to try to figure out action bars for them now. They're not incompetent, if that's how I make them seem from this, I'm just trying to make them as effective as possible.

Depending on which weapon you use, you use a different spell.

 

Basically your damage from magic gets nerfed if a spell is above the tier of the weapon. So now wind wave is more powerful then ice barrage. (chaotics)

As a general rule, don't use anything higher than Wind Surge, since only DG and Seismics can make any use of any spells above that, and don't use any spells whose level requirement is higher than that of the weapon you are using (Polypore strike excepted, since that is an anomaly).

I will be using a Chaotic Staff, but I'm the only one. Should I use Wind Surge then?

And people using Staff of Light should use Fire Wave?

And those with 80 Magic should use the Polypore Strike spell?

Sorry to hijack but what's this business about wind surge being better than ice barrage? 

 

I thought that the update made it so that all spells above the level req for your weapon meaning if you use ice barrage with a chaotic staff you'll have t8 weapon damage and accuracy? 

I will be using a Chaotic Staff, but I'm the only one. Should I use Wind Surge then?

And people using Staff of Light should use Fire Wave?

And those with 80 Magic should use the Polypore Strike spell?

 

Yes, No and Yes.

 

If Flame Wave is cheaper than Wind Surge (which I do not think it is), then use Flame Wave, otherwise use Wind Surge.

Sorry to hijack but what's this business about wind surge being better than ice barrage? 

 

I thought that the update made it so that all spells above the level req for your weapon meaning if you use ice barrage with a chaotic staff you'll have t8 weapon damage and accuracy?

Everything's fixed now, as far as I know, so wind surge is not better damage than ice barrage, as it's both weapon tier, but it's cheaper and less risky to bring only air runes.

 

Sorry to hijack but what's this business about wind surge being better than ice barrage? 

 

I thought that the update made it so that all spells above the level req for your weapon meaning if you use ice barrage with a chaotic staff you'll have t8 weapon damage and accuracy?

Everything's fixed now, as far as I know, so wind surge is not better damage than ice barrage, as it's both weapon tier, but it's cheaper and less risky to bring only air runes.

 

 

Or just use ABS but that is T77 >.>

Depends on whether he has more cash or tokens, but I agree with Lioness, I don't think Chaotic staff is worth using over ABS unless

 

1. You are bossing, when accuracy matters

2. You have more tokens than you know what do you already

3. You already have a Chaotic staff.

Abs is a big risk though, I don't think it'd be worth using over polypore, that's another 14m per death you lose.

Abs is a big risk though, I don't think it'd be worth using over polypore, that's another 14m per death you lose.

 

Only if you don't manage to retrieve it which is quite easy these days...

I challenge you to retrieve the items you lose in PvP without risking the same again :D.

Pvp? why dont you just use blisterwood staff instead?

I personally do have more tokens than I need for any particular purpose, but I'm thinking I'll probably be able to protect it anyway, not that I care too much either way.

Most everyone else will be using one of the other staves mentioned. Many of them only have the basic 75 Magic to use SOL or PPS, so they'll need to use Fire Wave for maximum damage, correct?

In a mixture of karils/torags or karils/ganodermic with SOL you will outwin people in seasinger and cstaff aswell as rangers due to block chances. I usually take RCB and a chaotic staff. When you want to switch styles have portents or a phoenix necklace in your inventory since you won't be able to use abilities for a few seconds.

 

Zuriels staff although it does degrade rather fast. Get a few zealot amulets if you have tokens to spare, it's a nice damage boost. Summoning familiars are useful again, not just the pack familiars for extra food!

 

Bakriminel bolts & Blisterwood is indeed a good choice.

Scrimshaws!

Bakriminel bolts & Blisterwood is indeed a good choice.

I thought Bakriminel bolts no longer have any special effect, and they have less damage than royal bolts which are dirt cheap.

I personally do have more tokens than I need for any particular purpose, but I'm thinking I'll probably be able to protect it anyway, not that I care too much either way.

Most everyone else will be using one of the other staves mentioned. Many of them only have the basic 75 Magic to use SOL or PPS, so they'll need to use Fire Wave for maximum damage, correct?

 

Fire wave or higher, I'd use Air Surge because it costs less in runes than Fire wave and takes less inv space. But yes, fire wave is enough to coax the maximum from these staves (So can polypore strike).