Melee

#What Melee does

Melee is the skill of fighting up close. Every level makes your melee attacks hit harder, unlocks sword abilities, and lets you wield better melee weapons. See Melee for every unlock by level.

#How to train it

Fight with a sword, axe or mace equipped. Every kill gives Melee XP, whether you finish it with a basic swing or an ability. Gear that rolls +% Melee XP speeds it up.

#Training tips

• Fight what's yellow. Monsters rated Even give good XP without costing you too many potions. See Danger levels.
• Big packs, big XP. Melee swings hit everything in their arc, and Whirlwind hits everything around you. Wade into a pack rather than picking off stragglers.
• Go where the level is. Each region has a level range. Move on when the monsters turn grey and green. See The World.
• The Ashen Depths are excellent XP: packs are close together, floors keep getting tougher, and shrines can stack a damage boon.
• Life per hit on your gear keeps you topped up while you swing, so you drink fewer potions.

#Abilities

Ability	Unlocks at
Cleave	Melee 1
Whirlwind	Melee 1
Charge	Melee 5

See Combat Styles for how to use them.

#Weapons

Better swords, axes and maces need a higher Melee level to wield.

Name	Requires.level	Min Item Level
Bronze Sword	—	1
Hand Axe	5	2
Hollow Miner's Pick	5	3
Iron Sword	10	4
Flanged Mace	15	6
Raider's Scimitar	15	10
Steel Longsword	20	9
Ashfang Cleaver	20	10
Bearded War Axe	25	12
Mithril Blade	30	16
Minotaur Greataxe	35	28
Emberforged Sabre	40	24
Glacier Maul	45	42
Obsidian Greatblade	50	34
Dragonbone Cleaver	60	44
Kingsteel Runeblade	70	56