Combat
Combat in HighSpell shares many similarities with RuneScape Classic, but with some key differences. Notably, players are not locked into a minimum of three combat rounds before they can flee—this makes combat more flexible and generally safer. Even the strongest non-boss enemies in the game max out around 15 damage, so exploring at low levels is viable as long as you carry a bit of food and avoid fighting multiple enemies at once.
Multi-Combat World
The entire game operates as a multi-combat zone, meaning you can be attacked by multiple NPCs simultaneously, or by other players while in the Wastelands.
Experience and Training
In melee combat, each point of damage gives floor(4/3 × damage) Experience in Hitpoints, as well as 4 × damage Experience distributed between the skills selected to be trained, rounded down. For this reason, it is optimal to avoid training all three melee styles simultaneously (i.e., using "Controlled" mode), as 1-2 XP will be lost if the damage dealt is not divisible by 3. This experience lost is significantly more impactful on lower damage hits. Experience is distributed as follows:
- Single Style:
4 × damage)XP in each skill - Two Styles:
2 × damage)XP in each skill - Three Styles:
floor(4/3 × damage)XP in each skill
Tick-Based Combat
Combat is based on the game's global tick system, where 1 tick equals 600 milliseconds. Each weapon type has its own attack speed based on this system:
| Weapon Type | Attack Speed |
|---|---|
| Scimitars | 4 Ticks (2.4s) |
| Bows | 5 Ticks (3s) |
| Hatchets | 5 Ticks (3s) |
| Pickaxes | 5 Ticks (3s) |
| Longswords | 5 Ticks (3s) |
| Battleaxes | 6 Ticks (3.6s) |
| Staves | 6 Ticks (3.6s) |
| Fishing Rods | 7 Ticks (4.2s) |
| Great Swords | 7 Ticks (4.2s) |
Longswords are generally considered the best all-around melee weapon. Scimitars excel when fighting weaker enemies due to their speed, while Longswords provide better Accuracy—useful against tougher enemies. Battleaxes, although stronger on paper, are often less efficient due to their slower speed and marginal Strength benefit compared to the consistent value of Accuracy.
Safe-Spotting
Most enemies in HighSpell can be safely defeated using Range or Magic by taking advantage of the environment. By positioning yourself on the opposite side of an obstacle—such as a rock, crate, or other impassable object—you can attack enemies without them being able to reach you.
This tactic, known as safe-spotting, makes Range and Magic highly effective for training or fighting tougher enemies, as it allows you to deal consistent damage without taking any in return. As a result, it's possible to defeat nearly all enemies in the game without needing to use any food, with the exception of Damogui.
Combat Triangle
HighSpell loosely follows a "combat triangle" reminiscent of other fantasy MMOs:
- Range bonus appears to determine Magic defense. This means heavy metal armor (with low Range bonuses) leaves you vulnerable to Magic.
- Magic tends to counter Melee users due to their poor magic resistance (unless they remove armor to reduce vulnerability).
- Melee can overpower both Range and Magic users, but must close distance to deal damage.
Note: Your Defense level and bonuses are applied universally across all combat styles—both in PvP and PvE. This makes training Defense a valuable investment regardless of whether you specialize in melee, ranged, or magic.
Combat Level Formula
A player's combat level in HighSpell is calculated using a formula that takes into account several combat-related stats:
((Hitpoints + Accuracy + Strength + Defense) + (Magic ÷ 4) + (Range ÷ 4)) ÷ 3.75
This means that your Hitpoints, Accuracy, Strength, and Defense all contribute equally, while Magic and Range contribute at a reduced rate—only a quarter as much as the other stats. For example, gaining four levels in Magic is roughly equal to gaining one level in Strength or Defense in terms of combat level impact.
Because of this, players who train all melee skills tend to see faster increases in combat level compared to those who focus solely on Magic or Range. However, all combat styles are equally valid and useful in different scenarios.
Combat Level Calculator
Want to see how your stats affect your level? Try our Combat Level Calculator, where you can either look up your own character or input potential future stats to see what your combat level would be.