Ranged combat in Old School RuneScape has evolved into one of the most versatile and rewarding combat styles in the game. Whether you’re training on low-level monsters, taking on God Wars bosses, or stepping into high-level raids, the right gear makes all the difference - especially when you upgrade efficiently or choose to buy OSRS gold to speed up progression. This guide will give you a clear understanding of ranged mechanics, break down major weapon types, and help you progress through gear upgrades without getting lost in endless item lists.

Ranged Damage Basics

Your ranged damage output comes down to three key factors: accuracy, max hit, and weapon speed. Leveling your Ranged skill increases both accuracy and damage, so training efficiently should always be a priority. Weapon speed is determined solely by what you’re using, and for most weapons, the Rapid attack style provides the best damage per second.

When you check your equipment stats, the ranged accuracy bonus appears near the top of the screen, while Ranged Strength - which determines how hard you hit - appears near the bottom. Higher numbers in both areas lead to better performance, especially against tougher bosses. Keep in mind that monsters have different ranged defenses: light, standard, and heavy. Crossbows perform better when hitting enemies weak to heavy ranged damage, while bows and thrown weapons excel against lighter defensive types. While exploiting weaknesses increases DPS, it’s not mandatory - many top weapons remain strong even against neutral targets.

Ava’s Devices - Essential Gear

Before you worry about expensive armor, get yourself a device that saves ammunition. After completing Animal Magnetism, you’ll receive Ava’s Attractor, which returns a portion of fired ammo to your inventory. As your Ranged level increases, so can this item:

· Ava’s Accumulator (level 50 Ranged): improves ammo return rate

· Ava’s Assembler (level 70 Ranged + Vorkath’s Head): the best defensive and accuracy option for Ranged builds

Later, Vanescula’s Quiver becomes the true best-in-slot cape when charged, adding both accuracy and strength - but only while using ammo from the ammo slot. Ava’s item effects can also be fused into it, so you get the best of both worlds.

Secure one of these upgrades as soon as you can. It will save you millions in ammunition costs long-term.

Major Weapon Types

Shortbows and Longbows

Crafted through Fletching, these are early and mid-game staples. Shortbows fire faster, while longbows trade speed for range. Your arrows determine your damage, while the bow mainly boosts accuracy. A magic shortbow remains a strong budget option thanks to its special attack.

Crossbows

Crossbows fire bolts, which deal heavy ranged damage. Bolts can be enchanted for powerful effects - ruby bolts can rip chunks of boss health, while diamond bolts increase max hits. Crossbows also allow shields, adding survivability. At higher levels, specialized upgrades like the Dragon Hunter Crossbow dominate bosses such as Vorkath and King Black Dragon.

Thrown Weapons

Darts and knives are extremely fast, making them fantastic for early training - especially when used with the Toxic Blowpipe later on. Throwing axes and javelins are niche but shine in certain PvP moments. Chinchompas are costly yet unmatched for multi-combat training due to their explosive area damage.

Cannons

The Dwarf Multicannon costs plenty in ammo but drastically accelerates Slayer progress. Pair it with ranged potions and aggressive positioning for some of the quickest XP in the game.

High-Tier Power Weapons

As you enter advanced PvM content, the big guns come out:

· Toxic Blowpipe: best for fast, lower-defense targets

· Bow of Faerdhinen (Bofa): elite bossing weapon, especially with full crystal armor

· Zaryte Crossbow: crossbow king with unmatched bolt proc potential

· Twisted Bow: strongest ranged weapon overall when enemies have high magic stats

Each of these fills a specialized but valuable role in end-game setups.

How to Progress Your Setup

Instead of hunting for a massive list and hoping you pick the right item, think in milestones:

Start with a bow → upgrade ammo → unlock an Ava’s device → switch to better accuracy weapons like crossbows → unlock power options like blowpipe or Bofa → finish by adding expensive best-in-slot gear as you take on raids and God Wars bosses.

Ranged combat is one of OSRS’s deepest systems, full of weapon variety, optimization strategies, and fun upgrade paths. If you stay focused on your accuracy, max hit, and attack speed - while collecting better ammo-saving gear and high-tier weapons along the way, whether earned yourself or bought with cheap OSRS gold - you’ll always see your damage output rise. Whether you’re chasing pets, grinding logs, or competing for records, Ranged is an incredibly strong style worth mastering.