Guides -> Other -> Duelling Guide
By Avalon
Description:
The Duel Arena is an area where players can challenge each other to safe fights in which no items are lost unless they are staked. It is located to the north of Al-Kharid and directly east of the entrance gate from Lumbridge.
How To Play:
Dueling is a great way to test your stats against other players. Fighting players of your same level or in your PVP world level range is good preparation for doing PKing as you can know how much danger you could be in.
Before a duel starts, you must challenge or be challenged by another player. There is no level range in the arena so you can challenge whomever you want, but for stakes you usually want to fight people using your same combat method and in your level range. Once a player accepts your challenge you can set the rules for a fair duel. For example, if a player has a better amulet than you equipped, you can mark off the amulet slot. Or, if you want to fight using only Magic you would turn on the options for “No Ranged” and “No Melee”. Other options for dueling include:
Staking is mentioned a lot in the options’ descriptions above, as it is very important in the Arena. Staking involves putting up items or coins as a sort of bet that they will win the duel that is restricted by the trade limit. Small amounts are usually staked, with a range from 3k to 5k coins. The staked items will disappear from both players’ inventories for the duration of the duel but will be given to the winner afterwards. A usual stake involves both players staking the same amount because then the trade limit would disrupt future stakes. The next few bits will be dedicated to explaining how to stake duels and what equipment should be used for each combat style.
Finding an Opponent:
While looking for a suitable opponent to stake against a player should take notice of the other player’s worn equipment and combat level. The chat message that many players send is usually something like this:
“Staking xk level xx and under my rules”
- “xk” can represent how much the player is staking, usually 3k to 5k.
- “Level xx” represents the level range in which opponents should be. For example, a player with level 96 combat might ask for level 100 and lower players.
- “My rules” means that they set the duel’s rules. This is often risky to trust and be sure that the options they select would be ones you think you would select too.
Oftentimes players will also say “Staking xk my levels my rules”, which simply means that they want players in a certain level range.
Selecting an opponent is also different from advertising for an opponent. Sometimes you can find a reliable player that can be staked against many times. To “lure” them in you can try losing a few times and then staking against them. Also, wearing false outfits can be a good way of gaining easy wins and money. Wearing lower-level items and weapons can attract lower-level players who may think they can beat you. Once the duel starts, quickly change into your actual armor and weapon and attack them. Before they die, try to change back so that other people in the lobby don’t see your disguise.
Of course, you can always shout out for an opponent. My advice is to “test out” your combat abilities in Friendly duels. If you end up dying too much, don’t start staking.
Staking With Melee:
Melee is by far the most popular way to stake or even duel in the arena. The equipment used should be at least full rune, with either a battleaxe, scimitar or 2h as a weapon. Rune gauntlets from Fist of Guthix are useful while fighting other meleers or rangers because they offer extra protection along with a +2 Strength bonus. Using a rune berserker shield instead of a kiteshield may also be preferable because of the +2 Strength bonus, but it has less protection and more offensive power than a kiteshield, so it’s your call. An amulet of strength should be used and a Prayer level of at least 43 is useful as well, although 28 is very good too as the Steel Skin prayer boosts your Defense by 15%. This used in conjunction with Protect prayers can easily be used to win a duel.
Options that should be selected: No Ranged, No Magic, No Food (if you have none yourself), No Potions (if you have none yourself), No Movement and No Prayer if your Prayer level is less than 43.
Staking With Ranged:
Ranged is a less popular but still effective way of staking. I would recommend only fighting other rangers unless the specific melee fighter is a much lower combat level. The best players to fight, though, are mages. Your Ranged level should probably be 50+, but you can specify a ranged level in a hunt for an opponent. For example, you could say, “Staking 4k under 50 ranged” if your Ranged level was at or under 50. You should wear green dragonhide chaps, vambraces and body. Use a rune full helm in the head slot to maximize your defense against melee and other ranged attacks, but remove it if you are fighting a mage and instead wear either a green dragonhide or normal coif. Use adamant arrows in duels as all fired arrows are returned to you after a duel is over, so no money is lost. And, of course, use a willow bow along with an amulet of either power or accuracy.
Options that should be selected: No Melee, No Magic, Obstacles, No Food, No Potions and No Prayer (if your Prayer level is less than 41).
Staking Using Hybrids:
Using both melee and ranged can be very effective in combat. To start off, wield a rune 2h and full rune, with a willow bow in your inventory and adamant arrows in your quiver. Run towards your opponent in the arena and attack with your 2h. They may activate protection prayers against melee, so quickly wield your willow bow and click to attack them again, even if they didn’t. Repeat this until they are dead. Using this method can deal a lot of damage especially if your Strength and Ranged levels are high. I would recommend setting quick prayers to any available prayers giving Defense boosts.
Option that should be selected: No Magic, Obstacles, No Food, No Potions,
As you can see, the Duel Arena is a good way of making money, though obviously very risky. However, if you know the proper equipment and methods you won’t have any problems. Look forward to more guides coming soon and email any suggestions, edits, typos, etc. to Avalon@runeguys.com.
By Avalon
Description:
The Duel Arena is an area where players can challenge each other to safe fights in which no items are lost unless they are staked. It is located to the north of Al-Kharid and directly east of the entrance gate from Lumbridge.
How To Play:
Dueling is a great way to test your stats against other players. Fighting players of your same level or in your PVP world level range is good preparation for doing PKing as you can know how much danger you could be in.
Before a duel starts, you must challenge or be challenged by another player. There is no level range in the arena so you can challenge whomever you want, but for stakes you usually want to fight people using your same combat method and in your level range. Once a player accepts your challenge you can set the rules for a fair duel. For example, if a player has a better amulet than you equipped, you can mark off the amulet slot. Or, if you want to fight using only Magic you would turn on the options for “No Ranged” and “No Melee”. Other options for dueling include:
- Fun Weapons: This option can only be selected if both players have a fun weapon in their inventory, i.e. a rubber chicken, an Easter carrot, etc.
- No Food: This option prohibits the use of food in a duel. If staking with no food in your inventory, this option should be selected.
- No Drinks: This option prohibits the use of any potions or brews. Always turn this option on if staking if you have no drinks of your own you may want to use.
- No Prayer: This option prohibits the use of prayers in a duel. Select this option while staking if you have less than 43 Prayer.
- Obstacles: This option places walls around the arena. Especially good if you want to use Ranged or Magic against an unsuspecting opponent. Always leave this option off if you are using only melee while staking.
- No Movement: This option places both opponents next to each other. This can be used to prevent forfeiting, and should be used in conjunction with No Ranged and No Magic if using melee.
- No Forfeit: This option prevents forfeiting from a duel. Always leave this option off, because you will always want to win a duel whether you are staking or not.
Staking is mentioned a lot in the options’ descriptions above, as it is very important in the Arena. Staking involves putting up items or coins as a sort of bet that they will win the duel that is restricted by the trade limit. Small amounts are usually staked, with a range from 3k to 5k coins. The staked items will disappear from both players’ inventories for the duration of the duel but will be given to the winner afterwards. A usual stake involves both players staking the same amount because then the trade limit would disrupt future stakes. The next few bits will be dedicated to explaining how to stake duels and what equipment should be used for each combat style.
Finding an Opponent:
While looking for a suitable opponent to stake against a player should take notice of the other player’s worn equipment and combat level. The chat message that many players send is usually something like this:
“Staking xk level xx and under my rules”
- “xk” can represent how much the player is staking, usually 3k to 5k.
- “Level xx” represents the level range in which opponents should be. For example, a player with level 96 combat might ask for level 100 and lower players.
- “My rules” means that they set the duel’s rules. This is often risky to trust and be sure that the options they select would be ones you think you would select too.
Oftentimes players will also say “Staking xk my levels my rules”, which simply means that they want players in a certain level range.
Selecting an opponent is also different from advertising for an opponent. Sometimes you can find a reliable player that can be staked against many times. To “lure” them in you can try losing a few times and then staking against them. Also, wearing false outfits can be a good way of gaining easy wins and money. Wearing lower-level items and weapons can attract lower-level players who may think they can beat you. Once the duel starts, quickly change into your actual armor and weapon and attack them. Before they die, try to change back so that other people in the lobby don’t see your disguise.
Of course, you can always shout out for an opponent. My advice is to “test out” your combat abilities in Friendly duels. If you end up dying too much, don’t start staking.
Staking With Melee:
Melee is by far the most popular way to stake or even duel in the arena. The equipment used should be at least full rune, with either a battleaxe, scimitar or 2h as a weapon. Rune gauntlets from Fist of Guthix are useful while fighting other meleers or rangers because they offer extra protection along with a +2 Strength bonus. Using a rune berserker shield instead of a kiteshield may also be preferable because of the +2 Strength bonus, but it has less protection and more offensive power than a kiteshield, so it’s your call. An amulet of strength should be used and a Prayer level of at least 43 is useful as well, although 28 is very good too as the Steel Skin prayer boosts your Defense by 15%. This used in conjunction with Protect prayers can easily be used to win a duel.
Options that should be selected: No Ranged, No Magic, No Food (if you have none yourself), No Potions (if you have none yourself), No Movement and No Prayer if your Prayer level is less than 43.
Staking With Ranged:
Ranged is a less popular but still effective way of staking. I would recommend only fighting other rangers unless the specific melee fighter is a much lower combat level. The best players to fight, though, are mages. Your Ranged level should probably be 50+, but you can specify a ranged level in a hunt for an opponent. For example, you could say, “Staking 4k under 50 ranged” if your Ranged level was at or under 50. You should wear green dragonhide chaps, vambraces and body. Use a rune full helm in the head slot to maximize your defense against melee and other ranged attacks, but remove it if you are fighting a mage and instead wear either a green dragonhide or normal coif. Use adamant arrows in duels as all fired arrows are returned to you after a duel is over, so no money is lost. And, of course, use a willow bow along with an amulet of either power or accuracy.
Options that should be selected: No Melee, No Magic, Obstacles, No Food, No Potions and No Prayer (if your Prayer level is less than 41).
Staking Using Hybrids:
Using both melee and ranged can be very effective in combat. To start off, wield a rune 2h and full rune, with a willow bow in your inventory and adamant arrows in your quiver. Run towards your opponent in the arena and attack with your 2h. They may activate protection prayers against melee, so quickly wield your willow bow and click to attack them again, even if they didn’t. Repeat this until they are dead. Using this method can deal a lot of damage especially if your Strength and Ranged levels are high. I would recommend setting quick prayers to any available prayers giving Defense boosts.
Option that should be selected: No Magic, Obstacles, No Food, No Potions,
As you can see, the Duel Arena is a good way of making money, though obviously very risky. However, if you know the proper equipment and methods you won’t have any problems. Look forward to more guides coming soon and email any suggestions, edits, typos, etc. to Avalon@runeguys.com.