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Defence is a 
Combat skill. It is one of three skills (along with 
Hitpoints and 
Prayer) that is used when determining a player or monster's Combat Level, regardless of what combat style they are strongest with.
A higher Defence level increases the player's evasion ratings in combat, which lowers a monster's chance to hit. Defence does not affect the damage dealt by a successful attack, which is mostly a factor of Damage Reduction. As it results in fewer hits against the player, however, a higher Defence level can help reduce food usage in combat. Defence has no effect in 
Thieving.
Most Melee-focused armour requires a certain Defence level to be equipped.
Mechanics
The Defence skill increases the player's melee, ranged, and magic evasion ratings. For details on how Evasion Rating is calculated, refer to the Evasion Rating section on the Combat page.
Gaining Defence XP
Defence XP can be earned in combat with any of the three combat styles by selecting the appropriate attack style:
- While using
Melee, choose the "Block" attack style
- While using
Ranged, choose the "Longrange" attack style
- While using
Magic, choose the "Defensive" attack style
Defence XP gained is based on damage dealt to an enemy, not damage taken by the player. When using the Block attack style, 0.4 Defence XP is awarded per point of damage done. When using the Longrange or Defensive attack styles, 0.2 Defence XP is awarded per point of damage done, with another 0.2 XP per point of damage going to Ranged or Magic, respectively.
Skill Level Unlocks
Increasing the Defence skill allows the player to equip more powerful Melee-focused armour. The player's accuracy rating when using the 
Block attack style scales with Defence level, as does the player's evasion rating against all attack styles.
| 1
|
Wear       Bronze Armour
Wear       Iron Armour
Wear  Mirror Shield
Wear  (B) Bronze Helmet
Wear  (B) Bronze Platebody
Wear  (B) Bronze Platelegs
Wear  (B) Iron Helmet
Wear  (B) Iron Platebody
Wear  (B) Iron Platelegs
|
| 5
|
Wear       Steel Armour
Wear  Barrier Touch Shield
 Heavy Boots
Wear  (B) Steel Helmet
Wear  (B) Steel Platebody
Wear  (B) Steel Platelegs
|
| 10
|
Wear      Black Armour
Wear  (B) Black Helmet
Wear  (B) Black Platebody
Wear  (B) Black Platelegs
Build  Pipe Climb in Obstacle 3 (requires  10)
|
| 20
|
Wear  (G) Crystal Boots
Wear  (G) Crystal Helmet
Wear  (G) Crystal Platebody
Wear  (G) Crystal Platelegs
Wear  (G) Crystal Shield
Wear  (S) Crystal Boots
Wear  (S) Crystal Helmet
Wear  (S) Crystal Platebody
Wear  (S) Crystal Platelegs
Wear  (S) Crystal Shield
Wear       Mithril Armour
Wear  Crystal Boots
Wear  Crystal Defender
Wear  Crystal Gloves
Wear  Crystal Helmet
Wear  Crystal Platebody
Wear  Crystal Platelegs
Wear  Crystal Shield
 Aranite Platebody
 Aranite Shield
Wear  (B) Mithril Helmet
Wear  (B) Mithril Platebody
Wear  (B) Mithril Platelegs
Wear  (C) Mithril Helmet
Wear  (C) Mithril Platebody
Wear  (C) Mithril Platelegs
|
| 30
|
Wear       Adamant Armour
Wear   Melee Slayer Gear (Strong) (requires  30)
Wear  (B) Adamant Helmet
Wear  (B) Adamant Platebody
Wear  (B) Adamant Platelegs
Wear  (C) Adamant Helmet
Wear  (C) Adamant Platebody
Wear  (C) Adamant Platelegs
|
| 35
|
Wear  Earth Wall Shield
|
| 40
|
Wear       Rune Armour
Wear  Barrier Sapping Shield
Wear      Ice Armor (requires 40)
Wear      Miolite Armour (requires 40)
Wear  Unholy Platebody (m) (requires 40)
Wear  (B) Rune Helmet
Wear  (B) Rune Platebody
Wear  (B) Rune Platelegs
Wear  (C) Rune Helmet
Wear  (C) Rune Platebody
Wear  (C) Rune Platelegs
|
| 45
|
 Elusive Boots (requires 45)
|
| 60
|
Wear  (G) Pure Crystal Boots
Wear  (G) Pure Crystal Helmet
Wear  (G) Pure Crystal Platebody
Wear  (G) Pure Crystal Platelegs
Wear  (G) Pure Crystal Shield
Wear       Dragon Armour
Wear  (S) Pure Crystal Boots
Wear  (S) Pure Crystal Helmet
Wear  (S) Pure Crystal Platebody
Wear  (S) Pure Crystal Platelegs
Wear  (S) Pure Crystal Shield
Wear  Pure Crystal Boots
Wear  Pure Crystal Defender
Wear  Pure Crystal Gloves
Wear  Pure Crystal Helmet
Wear  Pure Crystal Platebody
Wear  Pure Crystal Platelegs
Wear  Pure Crystal Shield
Wear  Recoil Shield
Wear  Sand Treaders
Wear   Melee Slayer Gear (Elite) (requires 60)
 Consuming Shield (m) (requires 48)
Wear  (B) Dragon Helmet
Wear  (B) Dragon Platebody
Wear  (B) Dragon Platelegs
Wear  (C) Dragon Helmet
Wear  (C) Dragon Platebody
Wear  (C) Dragon Platelegs
|
| 65
|
Wear  Cursed Platebody (m) (requires 65)
|
| 70
|
Wear     Ancient Armour
Wear  Barrier Burn Shield
Wear  Dragonfire Shield
Wear  (B) Ancient Helmet
Wear  (B) Ancient Platebody
Wear  (B) Ancient Platelegs
Wear  (C) Ancient Helmet
Wear  (C) Ancient Platebody
Wear  (C) Ancient Platelegs
Build Spike Jump in Obstacle 8 (requires 70)
|
| 80
|
Wear   Melee Slayer Gear (Master) (requires 80)
 Darksteel Shield
|
| 85
|
Wear  Devouring Barrier Shield
Wear  Earth Layered Shield
Wear      Ragnar God Armour
Wear  Ragnar God Boots (B)
Wear  Ragnar God Boots (C)
Wear  Ragnar God Helmet (B)
Wear  Ragnar God Helmet (C)
Wear  Ragnar God Platebody (B)
Wear  Ragnar God Platebody (C)
Wear  Ragnar God Platelegs (B)
Wear  Ragnar God Platelegs (C)
Wear  Relentless Fury Gloves
Wear  Spiked Shell Gloves
Wear      Terran God Armour
Wear  Terran God Boots (B)
Wear  Terran God Boots (C)
Wear  Terran God Helmet (B)
Wear  Terran God Helmet (C)
Wear  Terran God Platebody (B)
Wear  Terran God Platebody (C)
Wear  Terran God Platelegs (B)
Wear  Terran God Platelegs (C)
|
| 90
|
 Golden Trowel (requires  118)
|
| 95
|
 Relic Shield
Build Dragon Fight in Obstacle 10 (requires 95, 95, 95)
|
| 99
|
Wear  Defence Skillcape
Wear  Maximum Skillcape (requires level 99 in all skills)
Wear  Shield of Melee Power
|
| 100
|
Wear       Corundum Armour (requires  cleared)
Wear   Melee Slayer Gear (Legendary) (requires 100, cleared)
Wield  Dark Blade Defender (requires 100, cleared)
Wield  Heated Fury 2H Hammer (requires 100, cleared)
Build Pipe Maze in Obstacle 11 (requires 100, 100)
|
| 105
|
Wear       Augite Armour (requires cleared)
|
| 108
|
Wear    Meteorite Armour (requires cleared)
|
| 110
|
Wear       Divine Armour (requires cleared)
Wear  Burning Protection Platelegs (requires cleared)
Wear  Freezing Touch Body (requires cleared)
Wear  Frostspark Boots (requires 110, cleared)
Wear  Leviathan Shield (requires cleared)
Wear  Lightning Boots (requires cleared)
Wear   Melee Slayer Gear (Mythical) (requires 110, cleared)
Wear  Ward of Flame Platebody (requires cleared)
Build Freezing Climb in Obstacle 14 (requires 110, 110)
|
| 112
|
Wear  Blazing Helmet (requires cleared)
Wear  Mask of Madness (requires cleared)
|
| 115
|
Wield  Ethereal Greataxe (requires 115, cleared)
|
| 120
|
Wear  Superior Defence Skillcape
Wear  Superior Max Skillcape (requires level 120 in all skills)
Wear      Vorloran Protector Armour (requires 120, 120, cleared)
|
Skillcapes
The standard and superior skillcapes for this skill can be purchased from the store for 
1,000,000 and 10,000,000 after the player reaches Level 99 and Level 120, respectively. Reaching Level 120 requires the 
Throne of the Herald Expansion.
Pet
This skill's pet can be unlocked by performing any action that provides Defence XP.
| Pet |
Name |
Effect
|
|
Leonardo
|
+1% Damage Reduction
|
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