The Complete Max Hit Formula Demystified
In Old School RuneScape, melee max hit is governed by Effective Strength and Equipment Strength Bonus. The formula executes in discrete integer truncation steps:
| Strength Bonus | Base Max Hit | Max Hit w/ Slayer Helm | Max Hit w/ Salve (ei) | Points to Next Max Hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| +100 Str | 48 | 56 | 57 | 4 points |
| +120 Str | 53 | 61 | 63 | 4 points |
| +140 Str | 58 | 67 | 69 | 4 points |
| +160 Str | 63 | 73 | 75 | 4 points |
| +180 Str | 68 | 79 | 81 | 4 points |
- Step 1: Effective Strength = floor((Strength Level + Potion Boost) * Prayer Multiplier) + Style Bonus + 8.
- Step 2: Base Damage = floor(0.5 + Effective Strength * (Equipment Strength + 64) / 640).
- Step 3: Gear Multipliers (Void Knight 10%, Slayer Helm 16.67%, Salve Amulet ei 20%) are multiplied sequentially, with integer truncation at each step.
- Magic & Ranged follow equivalent formulas: Magic utilizes Magic Damage % multipliers against base spell max hit, while Ranged combines Ranged Strength bonus with Ranged Level.
Accuracy Rolls: Attack Roll vs. Defense Roll
When an attack is launched, the engine rolls an integer between 0 and your Maximum Attack Roll (A), and compares it to a roll between 0 and the monster's Maximum Defense Roll (D):
- If Attack Roll > Defense Roll: Hit Chance = 1 - (D + 2) / (2 * (A + 1)).
- If Attack Roll <= Defense Roll: Hit Chance = A / (2 * (D + 1)).
- Boss Defense Scaling: High-defense raid bosses (like Wardens in ToA or Nex) cause standard weapons to fall below 50% hit chance, making defense-reducing special attacks (Dragon Warhammer, Bandos Godsword) exponential DPS amplifiers.
PvM Gear Progression: Highest DPS-per-GP Investment Order
Players often waste tens of millions of GP on marginal armor upgrades before securing essential offensive prayers and special attack weapons:
| Tier | Upgrade / Unlock | Approx Cost | Relative DPS Increase | Investment Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Piety (70 Prayer) & Rigour | 30M GP | +15% to +22% DPS | Mandatory Top Priority |
| Tier 1 | Barrows Gloves & Fire Cape | Quest / Minigame | +8% to +12% DPS | Mandatory Free Upgrade |
| Tier 2 | Osmumten's Fang & Bowfa | 150M GP | +25% to +40% on Bosses | Best Weapons in Game |
| Tier 2 | Bandos Godsword / DWH | 35M–45M GP | +10% to +35% on Raids | Essential Spec Utility |
| Tier 3 | Zenyte Jewelry (Torture/Anguish) | 60M GP | +4% to +7% DPS | High Efficiency Slot |
| Tier 4 | Megarares (Shadow, Tbow, Scythe) | 1.2B–1.5B GP | +40% to +60% Endgame | Account Defining Apex |
| Tier 5 | Torva Armor / Masori (f) | 350M–800M GP | +2% to +4% DPS | Lowest Priority (Buy Last) |
Special Weapon Mechanics: Why Osmumten's Fang Breaks High-Defense Bosses
Osmumten's Fang features a unique double accuracy roll: if the first accuracy check fails, the engine re-rolls a second time. Furthermore, its damage roll is capped between 15% and 85% of max hit rather than 0% to 100%. Against monsters with 200+ defense, this double accuracy roll outperforms flat high-strength weapons like the Ghrazi Rapier by upwards of 35% sustained DPS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does +1 Strength Bonus sometimes not increase my max hit?
The max hit calculation divides effective strength by 640 and rounds down to the nearest whole integer. At 99 Strength, it typically takes 4 points of Strength bonus to reach the next integer threshold. Any points between thresholds provide zero additional damage.
How does the Dragon Warhammer compare to the Bandos Godsword?
The DWH reduces the target's current defence by a flat 30% on a successful hit, making it superior against bosses with very high base defence (250+). The BGS drains defence equal to the numerical damage dealt, making it superior against bosses with low-to-moderate defence or after an initial DWH hit.
Is Osmumten's Fang good for low-defence slayer monsters?
No. Against low-defence targets (like bloodvelds or gargoyles), the Fang's 5-tick attack speed (3.0 seconds) falls behind 4-tick weapons like the Abyssal Whip or Ghrazi Rapier. The Fang excels primarily against high-defence bosses.
How does the Shadow of Tumeken scale magic damage?
The Shadow triples your magic attack bonus and magic damage % from equipment outside the Tombs of Amascut (and quadruples it inside ToA), capping at 100% magic damage bonus. This makes equipment like Ancestral and the Occult Necklace exponential DPS multipliers for the Shadow.