OSRS Melee Training 40-70: Fastest & AFK Methods Compared

Game screenshots and facts are cited from the Old School RuneScape Wiki (strategy, equipment, drops, and related pages). Writing is original editorial, not a copy of the wiki article.

Melee training between levels 40 and 70 is where many accounts start to gain real momentum. The slow early grind is over, but the truly high-intensity methods like Maniacal monkeys or Nightmare Zone with full Obsidian are still a few hours away. This range is crucial for unlocking key weapons, powering through mid-level Slayer, and setting up an account for late-game PvM. In this guide, we'll break down the most efficient routes from the official pay-to-play melee training page and compare them with popular AFK alternatives like experiments. We'll also address the Pest Control void knight path, because many players chase that set early, but note that the main training guide does not include specific Pest Control rates—so you'll need to verify those on the wiki.

Before diving in, remember the core rule from the wiki: experience rates are heavily influenced by your Strength level and strength bonus. It's optimal to keep melee stats balanced until you meet the minimum requirements for your best-in-slot weapon and gear, then push Strength to 99 before Attack and Defence. With that in mind, let's look at how to get from 40 to 70 efficiently, whether you prefer active play or something more laid-back.

Who This Is For & Requirements

This guide is aimed at players who have already passed the early questing stage and are looking to take Attack, Strength, Defence, and Hitpoints from roughly 40 to 70. You should have completed the core early quests that skip the first 30+ levels. According to the pay-to-play melee training page, completing all recommended early quests gives a total of 61,775 Attack, 20,375 Strength, and 15,300 Defence experience, bringing you to level 45 Attack, 34 Strength, and 31 Defence without any direct training. That is the ideal starting point for this bracket.

The Fastest Path: Questing to Skip 40

Even though our focus is 40-70, it's worth re-emphasising the importance of questing. The wiki lists Witch's House first for the Hitpoints safety margin, followed by Waterfall Quest, Fight Arena, Tree Gnome Village, The Grand Tree, Vampyre Slayer, and Holy Grail. These quests are quick, have minimal requirements, and their bosses can be safespotted with Magic. Completing them puts you well on your way to 40+ melee stats with zero weapon grinding. If you haven't done the additional intermediate quests like Dragon Slayer I, Horror from the Deep, or The Fremennik Trials, they also offer large XP rewards and unlock important content. Doing these before any direct training is always efficient.

Efficient Methods: 40-70 Active Training

Once you're ready to actively train, the official guide recommends a few standout locations. Each has its own requirements, attention level, and XP rates. We'll cover the most relevant ones for this bracket.

Gemstone Crab (30-55+, extendable to 99)

Gemstone Crabs in the Tlati Rainforest are an interesting hybrid: they have infinite Hitpoints and low Defence and Attack, requiring no food. They burrow once every 10 minutes and can be reengaged with two clicks. The trade-off is that they give 87.5% of the normal experience per hit, but this is offset by zero auto-retaliate downtime and no lost damage on overkill. This makes them extremely low-attention while still being efficient. They're available after Children of the Sun and can be mined for gems by the top 16 damage dealers, so they can even provide a small profit. For players in the 40-55 range, this is a great option if you want to relax without sacrificing too much XP.

Sulphur Naguas (55-75)

For more active and faster training from 55-75, Sulphur Naguas in Neypotzli are the top recommendation. These level 98 monsters have negative flat armour, which makes double-hit weapons like glacial temotli or dual macuahuitl extremely effective. The guide states you can expect 75k XP/hr at 60 Strength with basic gear, and up to 130k XP/hr at 75 Strength with full Blood Moon armour and Piety prayer. Requirements include 48 Slayer (partial Perilous Moons), 55 Attack for glacial temotli or sulphur blades, 43 Prayer for Protect from Melee, and ideally 70 Attack and 75 Strength for dual macuahuitl. Moonlight potions made inside Neypotzli can restore prayer and boost combat stats with no external supplies. The monsters also drop noted ores and runes, plus Sulphur Essence that gives passive Runecrafting XP if turned in. This method is active but very rewarding.

Scurrius (55-75)

The guide lists Scurrius as an "Other method" for levels 55-75, but the research pack does not include specific XP rates or requirements. Scurrius is a boss that drops the Scurrius spine, which can be used to upgrade weapons. Because the pay-to-play melee page only mentions it as a valid option, you'll need to check the Scurrius strategy page for exact numbers. Many players use Scurrius for mid-level bossing practice while training melee, but for raw XP Sulphur Naguas are generally preferred.

Nightmare Zone (60-99)

Starting at level 60, Nightmare Zone becomes a popular AFK-ish training method, especially with Obsidian armour and a Berserker necklace. The guide lists it under "Levels 60–99" but does not provide detailed rates in the excerpt. NMZ allows customisable rumble modes and can be extremely AFK with the right setup. It's also where many players go to imbue items. For maximum efficiency, the wiki suggests keeping Attack and Defence at 60 until 99 Strength when using the Toktz-Xil-Ak setup. This is worth bookmarking for later, but at 60-70 you may not have the gear to make it shine yet.

AFK Alternatives: Experiments and Crabs

Sometimes you just want to click once every few minutes and watch a movie. That's where traditional AFK spots like Experiments and various crabs come in. The pay-to-play melee training guide does not detail these, but they remain popular. Experiments (level 51) are found in the Experiment Cave near the Fenkenstrain's Castle quest start, and they have low Defence and drop nothing, making them ideal for pure XP with zero risk. Rock crabs, sand crabs, and ammonite crabs are also classic choices. Because the official guide omits them, you should check the individual wiki pages for current XP rates, spawn densities, and recommended gear. Generally, these methods offer lower XP/hr than Sulphur Naguas or Gemstone Crabs, but they require almost no attention. If you're studying or working, they can be a solid complement to active training sessions.

Pest Control and Void Knight Gear: What to Verify

Many mid-level players consider Pest Control (PC) to train melee while earning Void Knight equipment, which provides a damage bonus to all combat styles. However, the official pay-to-play melee training page does not list Pest Control as an efficient method for raw XP. PC requires at least 40 Combat to board the novice boat, and points are earned per game, which can be exchanged for Void pieces. The set has notable requirements and takes many hours to unlock. Since the primary research for this guide does not include Pest Control rates, we strongly advise you to consult the Pest Control strategy page and the Void Knight equipment page before deciding to train there. In general, PC is not the fastest melee XP, but it offers the unique reward of Void gear that is useful later. If you plan to do PC anyway for points, you might as well train melee there, but don't expect Sulphur Nagua-level rates.

Honest assessment: For pure melee XP from 40-70, Sulphur Naguas and Gemstone Crabs are far superior to Pest Control according to the available data. Choose Pest Control only if you value the Void set progression over raw XP speed.

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

• Training Defence too early. The wiki is clear: prioritize Strength after meeting gear requirements. Many players waste time training Defence before 70, slowing overall progress.
• Ignoring quest XP. The early quest list gives enormous XP for minimal effort. Skipping them means grinding low-level monsters at terrible rates.
• Using the wrong weapon. At Sulphur Naguas, double-hit weapons are essential. A standard scimitar will be much slower. Check the weapon choice section on the pay-to-play page for the best options at each level.
• Overlooking negative flat armour. Sulphur Naguas' negative flat armour makes fast, low-damage weapons like dual macuahuitl incredibly strong. Don't use a slow, high-hit weapon there.
• Not bringing enough prayer potions to Neypotzli. Protect from Melee is mandatory; without it you'll burn through food. Moonlight potions can help but require setup.
• Relying on Pest Control for XP. As noted, PC is not an efficient XP method. If you want Void, do PC, but don't expect to train melee quickly there.

Time, Cost & the Honest Shortcut

Training from 40-70 in melee stats takes varying amounts of time depending on method and budget. At Sulphur Naguas with average gear, you might expect around 75k XP/hr, meaning roughly 7-8 hours of active training to get from 40 to 70 in one skill (assuming around 500k XP needed). With BiS gear and Piety, that drops to under 4 hours. Gemstone Crabs are slower but require almost no attention, stretching the time to perhaps 10-15 hours while you do other things. Pest Control would take even longer due to lower XP rates, but you'd also be working towards Void. If you value your time and have spare gold, buying better gear like dual macuahuitl, Blood Moon armour, or prayer potions can drastically speed things up. Conversely, if you'd rather skip the grind entirely, services exist to train your account safely, but always ensure they don't violate Jagex rules. For most players, the honest shortcut is simply buying gold to afford the best available gear and supplies, then training efficiently. Check live gold rates if you need to top up your cash stack.

View live gold rates to fund your Sulphur Nagua setup or buy prayer potions in bulk.

Practical Next Step

If you're between 40-70 melee, start by making sure all recommended quests are complete. Then decide how much attention you can give. If you can play actively, unlock Sulphur Naguas by completing the partial Perilous Moons requirement and get at least sulphur blades and Protect from Melee. If you need AFK, unlock Gemstone Crabs or head to traditional Experiments. Avoid Pest Control unless you specifically want Void gear, and even then, verify the rates on the wiki first. As you approach 60, consider Nightmare Zone with Obsidian armour, and always remember to push Strength before Defence. Your next milestone should be 70 Attack and 75 Strength for dual macuahuitl at Sulphur Naguas, then you can blitz through the final levels.

All information in this guide is based on the Pay-to-play Melee training wiki page. For methods not covered there (Pest Control, Experiments), always consult the dedicated wiki pages for the most up-to-date rates and requirements.