Which IS the best melee weapon?

[Globez]

Im not sure if something like this has been done before, if it has well then... this is just something to compare it to :P

 

 

 

I decided to find out which is the best weapon.

 

 

 

And to do so, I looked around for the 5 most commonly used weapons on members worlds in runescape. I found that the Abbyssal whip, Dragon Battleaxe, Dragon Longsword, Dragon Scimitar and Dragon Dagger Super (DDS) were very popular, so those are the weapons I experimented with.

 

 

 

To conclusively find out which weapon is best, I noted a number of things. Speed, how high it hits, cost, its special (if it has one), exp gained and requirements to wield.

 

 

 

First, ill list the current prices of each of the weapons:

 

 

 

Abbyssal Whip: 2.8 - 3.1 million gp (By FAR the most expensive)

 

Dragon Battleaxe: 140 - 170k (Relatively cheap compared to the whip)

 

Dragon Scimitar: 90 - 110k (Again, Cheap compared to the whip)

 

Dragon Longsword 90 - 110k (Same as the scimitar)

 

Dragon Dagger Super [DDS]: 45 - 65k (The Cheapest by far)

 

 

 

I went out and brought all of these (some I already had) and wondered what monsters would be good to test them on.

 

 

 

I came up with Experiments as they seem to be trained on relatively heavily, and I can kill them without too much worry.

 

 

 

For anyone wondering these are my current stats:

 

 

 

 

 

 

First, I headed to the experiments to start getting some raw info on the weps. I will kill 20 experiments with EACH weapon. Also, I will only be wearing the weapon against experiements which means no armour, no ammys, no rings etc. I will also only fight on "accurate".

 

 

 

 

 

 

I first fought with the whip as I thought it would be the quickest and easiest. Oh and I only killed the level 25 experiments (the sheep and spider).

 

 

 

These were the results for the whip:

 

 

 

1st killed. 13.28 seconds (Highest hit 20 x2)

 

2nd killed. 32.93 seconds (Highest hit 19 x1)

 

3rd killed. 18.51 seconds (Highest hit 21 x2)

 

4th killed. 34.21 seconds (highest hit 16 x1)

 

5th killed. 21.27 seconds (highest hit 16 x3)

 

6th killed. 18.35 seconds (highest hit 21 x1)

 

7th killed. 20.78 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

8th killed. 16.07 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

9th killed. 23.15 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

10th killed. 36.09 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

11th killed. 23.81 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

12th killed. 18.99 seconds (highest hit 21 x1)

 

13th killed. 24.30 seconds (highest hit 18 x1)

 

14th killed. 23.44 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

15th killed. 25.51 seconds (highest hit 16 x3)

 

16th killed. 23.68 seconds (highest hit 18 x2)

 

17th killed. 19.04 seconds (highest hit 21 x1)

 

18th killed. 20.87 seconds (highest hit 21 x2)

 

19th killed. 20.83 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

20th killed. 34.40 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

 

 

Here I am at the experiments hitting my max with whip:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall against experiments, these were the whips results:

 

 

 

Killing Times Ranged Between 13.28 seconds and 36.09 seconds.

 

Average Killing Time was 23.4755 seconds.

 

Average Max Hit was 19.2.

 

And my max hit was 21 which I hit 7 times

 

Exp Gained was: Attack was around 8000exp and Hitpoints was around 2680exp.

 

 

 

Also, I DIDNT use the special with the whip as it doesnt effect the kill time or how high you hit. However I will use the special with the other weapons (expect the scim).

 

 

 

Now for the Dragon Battleaxe (I used the special straight away, as soon as my special bar recharged enough over and over, it actually took my strength to level 101).

 

 

 

1st killed. 25.19 seconds (Highest hit 25 x1)

 

2nd killed. 38.19 seconds (Highest hit 24 x1)

 

3rd killed. 31.50 seconds (Highest hit 24 x1)

 

4th killed. 35.40 seconds (highest hit 21 x1)

 

5th killed. 45.35 seconds (highest hit 18 x2)

 

6th killed. 34.17 seconds (highest hit 25 x1)

 

7th killed. 39.36 seconds (highest hit 23 x1)

 

8th killed. 26.16 seconds (highest hit 25 x1)

 

9th killed. 34.83 seconds (highest hit 21 x1)

 

10th killed. 36.09 seconds (highest hit 23 x2)

 

11th killed. 33.38 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

12th killed. 36.34 seconds (highest hit 21 x1)

 

13th killed. 53.68 seconds (highest hit 23 x1)

 

14th killed. 33.18 seconds (highest hit 23 x1)

 

15th killed. 16.49 seconds (highest hit 24 x1)

 

16th killed. 43.06 seconds (highest hit 23 x1)

 

17th killed. 24.14 seconds (highest hit 23 x1)

 

18th killed. 38.17 seconds (highest hit 19 x2)

 

19th killed. 22.11 seconds (highest hit 24 x1)

 

20th killed. 31.51 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

 

 

At the experiments with the battleaxe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall against experiments, these were the dragon battleaxe's results:

 

 

 

Killing Times Ranged Between 16.49 seconds and 53.68 seconds.

 

Average Killing Time was 33.915 seconds.

 

Average Max Hit was 22.45.

 

And my max hit was 25 which I hit 2 times

 

Exp Gained was: Attack was around 8000exp and Hitpoints was around 2680exp.

 

 

 

Now for the Dragon Longsword. With this special, I will use it once, then again when the special bar is completely full. I will do the same with the DDS.

 

 

 

1st killed. 26.19 seconds (Highest hit 21 x1)

 

2nd killed. 41.35 seconds (Highest hit 19 x1)

 

3rd killed. 23.42 seconds (Highest hit 20 x1)

 

4th killed. 26.95 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

5th killed. 27.00 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

6th killed. 31.79 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

7th killed. 26.46 seconds (highest hit 22 x1)

 

8th killed. 28.54 seconds (highest hit 20 x1)

 

9th killed. 37.79 seconds (highest hit 18 x1)

 

10th killed. 26.22 seconds (highest hit 19 x2)

 

11th killed. 23.35 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

12th killed. 36.34 seconds (highest hit 21 x1)

 

13th killed. 42.27 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

14th killed. 37.83 seconds (highest hit 18 x1)

 

15th killed. 44.89 seconds (highest hit 19 x2)

 

16th killed. 22.40 seconds (highest hit 18 x3)

 

17th killed. 37.10 seconds (highest hit 16 x2)

 

18th killed. 31.73 seconds (highest hit 18 x1)

 

19th killed. 43.45 seconds (highest hit 17 x1)

 

20th killed. 23.72 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

 

 

At experiments with the longsword:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall against experiments, these were the dragon longsword's results:

 

 

 

Killing Times Ranged Between 22.40 seconds and 44.89 seconds.

 

Average Killing Time was 31.94 seconds.

 

Average Max Hit was 18.6.

 

And my max hit was 22 which I hit 2 times (Both times were with special)

 

Exp Gained was: Attack was around 7645exp and Hitpoints was around 2540exp.

 

 

 

Now for the Dragon Scimitar. I wont be using the special with this weapon.

 

 

 

1st killed. 25.57 seconds (Highest hit 19 x1)

 

2nd killed. 25.71 seconds (Highest hit 19 x1)

 

3rd killed. 28.16 seconds (Highest hit 18 x1)

 

4th killed. 26.07 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

5th killed. 28.29 seconds (highest hit 18 x1)

 

6th killed. 32.97 seconds (highest hit 17 x1)

 

7th killed. 21.38 seconds (highest hit 18 x1)

 

8th killed. 23.43 seconds (highest hit 18 x2)

 

9th killed. 32.97 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

10th killed. 26.22 seconds (highest hit 19 x2)

 

11th killed. 23.35 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

12th killed. 30.47 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

13th killed. 22.05 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

14th killed. 21.57 seconds (highest hit 19 x2)

 

15th killed. 20.58 seconds (highest hit 17 x3)

 

16th killed. 28.33 seconds (highest hit 18 x1)

 

17th killed. 21.17 seconds (highest hit 17 x2)

 

18th killed. 25.53 seconds (highest hit 19 x1)

 

19th killed. 32.97 seconds (highest hit 12 x5)

 

20th killed. 21.70 seconds (highest hit 18 x2)

 

 

 

At experiments with the scimitar:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall against experiments, these were the dragon scimitar's results:

 

 

 

Killing Times Ranged Between 20.58 seconds and 32.97 seconds.

 

Average Killing Time was 25.924 seconds.

 

Average Max Hit was 18.05.

 

And my max hit was 19 which I hit 12 times

 

Exp Gained was: Attack was around 7235exp and Hitpoints was around 2405exp.

 

 

 

Now for the Dragon Dagger Super. I will be using the special with this weapon, the same way I used the longs special.

 

 

 

1st killed. 31.54 seconds (Highest hit 16 x1)

 

2nd killed. 29.97 seconds (Highest hit 14 x2)

 

3rd killed. 25.66 seconds (Highest hit 13 x2)

 

4th killed. 41.13 seconds (highest hit 11 x4)

 

5th killed. 26.37 seconds (highest hit 14 x1)

 

6th killed. 15.86 seconds (highest hit 15 x1)

 

7th killed. 22.49 seconds (highest hit 14 x3)

 

8th killed. 34.38 seconds (highest hit 11 x2)

 

9th killed. 35.09 seconds (highest hit 15 x1)

 

10th killed. 37.61 seconds (highest hit 10 x3)

 

11th killed. 25.17 seconds (highest hit 12 x1)

 

12th killed. 25.35 seconds (highest hit 14 x2)

 

13th killed. 25.49 seconds (highest hit 15 x1)

 

14th killed. 30.72 seconds (highest hit 11 x1)

 

15th killed. 25.49 seconds (highest hit 16 x1)

 

16th killed. 25.12 seconds (highest hit 14 x1)

 

17th killed. 29.51 seconds (highest hit 12 x2)

 

18th killed. 23.10 seconds (highest hit 13 x2)

 

19th killed. 35.24 seconds (highest hit 12 x1)

 

20th killed. 28.11 seconds (highest hit 15 x2)

 

 

 

At experiments with the dagger:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall against experiments, these were the dragon dagger's results:

 

 

 

Killing Times Ranged Between 15.86 seconds and 41.13 seconds.

 

Average Killing Time was 28.67 seconds.

 

Average Max Hit was 13.35.

 

And my max hit was 16 which I hit 2 times

 

Exp Gained was: Attack was around 7455exp and Hitpoints was around 2475exp.

 

 

 

Summing up the results against the experiments:

 

 

 

The Weapon with the HIGHEST max hit was: The Dragon Battleaxe due to its special with a max hit of 25.

 

 

 

The Weapon with the FASTEST AVERAGE killing time was: The Abbyssal Whip with an average time of 23.4755 seconds. Followed closely behind by the 2.9 million gp cheaper Dragon Scimitar with an average time of just under 26 seconds. Funnily enough though, the cheapest AND weakest weapon, the dds got the quickest killing time out of them all with a kill in 15.86 seconds.

 

 

 

Pretty much all the weapons gave the same ammount of exp, so there is no real clear winner there

 

 

 

In my opinion, the overall winner has to be the dragon scimitar. It was very reliable, hitting in the mid to high teens almost always, making it very fast. Its cheap, you can easily pick one up for 100k. It has a 60 attack requirement (which is relatively low), as do all other dragon weapons. The only real trouble with it is the monkey madness quest requirement, but in my opinion, its well worth doing.

 

 

 

But that of course isnt taking any glory away from the whip, it is a DAMN good weapon, and if you have the cash, use it. I just think that the scimitar is a very good alternative.

 

 

 

The other three weapons didnt really do anything for me, the battleaxe's special is good, but only against experiments as your defence and attack levels are lowered and experiments cant really hit you, so all you really want is to hit high each time. The dagger was good, nothing fantastic but I must say the poison really does help. And the longsword was also good but didnt really stand out.

 

 

 

I hope this helps anyone and everyone pick a suitable weapon for their needs. They all have their pro's and con's and are all great weapons.

 

 

 

And of course, any feedback is welcome, postive or negative. :wink:

[JIMMIE]

Still think whip is the best weapon.

 

Good kill time and decent hits.

 

 

 

It will still be my weapon of choice (except for when training str, with a scimitar).

 

 

 

~Jimmie

[muhelos]

I have a whip because they rock, but i do keep a dragon scimmy in my bank for training strength, it's one of the best weapons in the game for that.

[Mordendravid]

Interesting analysis, I think the results support widespread opinion as well.

 

 

 

One point and a question:

 

 

 

I would expect the xp gained to be identical in all cases except for the DDS, since you're killing the same number of creatures, with the same hitpoints. The DDS is the exception because the damage dealt through poison won't give you xp.

 

 

 

And my question is why you didn't use the specials for whip and d scimmy? Do they really have no additional effect (increased chance of hitting maybe?)

[Biabf]

Click here for the actual speeds comfirmed by Jagex.

 

 

 

Nice work but abby whip is probably the best as it is one of the fastest and strongest.

[Globez]

Interesting analysis, I think the results support widespread opinion as well.

 

 

 

One point and a question:

 

 

 

I would expect the xp gained to be identical in all cases except for the DDS, since you're killing the same number of creatures, with the same hitpoints. The DDS is the exception because the damage dealt through poison won't give you xp.

 

 

 

And my question is why you didn't use the specials for whip and d scimmy? Do they really have no additional effect (increased chance of hitting maybe?)

 

 

 

The point about the DDS's poison is a good one but as the poison only hit about once in every 4 experiments, the variation wasnt/isnt that great.

 

 

 

And with the specials of the whip + scim. You're right. I thought the only effects were energy drain + the inability to use protection prayers for 5 seconds. But I read tip.it's combat guide and it does say it is more accurate than usual.

[Marios44]

according to the jagex knowledge base the whip special attack is "This attack is more accurate and, if successful, will transfer 10% of your opponent's run energy to you." So it's more accurate.

[Lets_3ekout]

there's a weapon (or should i say set?) that's better then whip, scimmy, dds, d long, d scimmy etc.

 

full dharoks. when used by someone who will take a risk, it really by far exceeds all of them. the bad side of dharoks:

 

no shield= bad defence. but still better then full rune or maybe even full dragon!

 

You have to have the guts of fighting on the lowest ammounts of hp possible, knowing that in an INSTANT you could lose millions and be standing in falador buying another set of dharoks. if you know how to use dharoks, the risk is well worth it.

 

someone's arguement may be that the whip hits twice as fast as dharoks. but i've tried both and here is my results:

 

whip: doesn't hit anywhere near as accurate as dharoks, on average a hit of 17.

 

dharoks: hits very accurately (the set itself equals strenght and attack bonuses over one hundred!) and very strong. on average i will be hitting 39's when used in places like on experiments. as you can see, a whip is overpowered.

 

however sometimes a whip will get the job done faster, it's all luck. I just find dharoks to be faster most of the time.

 

 

 

anyway, nice little experiment. Good job :P

[jsmith3]

to do that more accuratly you should of used all of the specs when ever you could becasue when people are fighting they use them. btw wip and skimmy in crease accuracy when used.

 

 

 

and you should of also tried barows weapon with and without the armour

[Globez]

Just wanted to clear up that I was trying out the 5 most commonly used weapons, not barrows sets.

 

 

 

And I dont think that any barrows weapon without its full armour is used more commonly than the 5 weapons I tried out.

[Darkduellord]

Best combo for me is i think, first use special atack of batle-axe and then just switch to whip so you have a higher strenth lvl for a while =)

[LordSoultar]

D Scimmy is a great weapon, but nothing can beat the Abyssal Whip :P

 

 

 

The increased accuracy of the specials wouldn't have made any effect on the results anyway. I doubt anyone needs more accuracy when fighting experiments.

[tomdavies90]

or you could combine some weps, take whip for its quickness and accurateness, dds if u feel like poisoning now and again, d baxe for that super str bonus and d scimmy for training strength!

[Lightningja]

Dharoks at lvl 45 skeletons is great exp, so i think thats often worse testing.

 

 

 

The other thing is poison does not give XP when it damages.

[nyyankees588]

whip-all the way :D d scimmy is 2nd best though

[oliversdaddy]

Great investigation, really well done.

 

There is one further thing that needs taking into account - attack style. For instance I think if u tested on dragons whip would not come out best because it can only slash.

 

 

 

OD.