THE DEFENCE "NOOB"

This player will have hight attack and defence with less strength, pretty much the opposite of a player killer. This is by far the most common type of dueler, and pretty effective. These will usally/always beat pkers with low defence and impure (those with prayer and magic), especially if prayer and magic is turned off.

Their strength lies in their ability to hit constant low scores while their opponent hits nthing due to their high defence. This is because defence combats the oppositions attack and not strength.

These defence "noobs" range in level from around 35 up to 70 or so.

NOTE: These players may also try to "camoflage" themselfs by wearing a diffrent armor to their best and then changing as soon as the fight starts.

Typical stats for this player at level 50 will be:

Attack	55
Defence	55
Strength	38
Hits	53
Magic	1
Prayer	1
Range	1

The "Madge"

This player will basically use magic to defeate opponents. He will have very high magic and defence and very low attack and strenght.  These are very very powerfull players and a level 30 "madge" can often beat a level 50 or higher player. You can tell one of these players as they have full rune or addy well before most people acquire it (say level 25 with full rune). They will have a magic staff and will insist on having magic turned ON. 

Althought these may sound like the ideal player to make there is one drawback, cost, level 80 magic which is often considered to be the minimum for dueling (as it enables charge making staff much more powerfull) will cost well over 4 million gp buying runes. They also have comparitevly low hit points as magic gives no hit point experience.

Their strength lies in their difficulty to hit due to their high defence, during the battle they will hit the other player with spells which can do alot of damage.

Underestimate this class at your peril.

Typical stats for this player at level 25 (rarley much higher than this) will be:

Attack	1
Defence	40
Strength	1
Hits	20
Magic	80
Prayer	1
Range	1

The "pker"

This player will have been designed for player killing, he has very high strength high attack and very low defence. Although ideal for 3-hitting people in the wild, there is no call for this in dueling as the opposition cannot run (you can kill them by hitting 1's). His attack is too low to regually hit on a defence "noobs" defence, while the defence "noob" will have no problem with his high attack hitting on the "pkers" 1 or 10 defence. This player will not be a very good dueler and will only ever fluke wins against proper duelers, he may beat impures.

Typical stats for this player are:

Attack	50
Defence	10
Strength	80
Hits	60
Magic	1
Prayer	1
Range	1

The "impure"

This class of player is really only effective at hight levels and will almost always lose to one of the above two classes his own level or even those slightly below him, especially if prayer and magic are turned off. I advise that if you want to duel with an inpure you first test stake, with smaller items, also you must insist prayer and magic are left on to give you some advantage, in this way you may stand a chance. However probally your best bet is to start a new pure dueler designed for the task in mind. If not you will probally end up losing alot of gp.

Typical stats for this layer would be:

Attack	42
Defence	42
Strength	44
Hits	44
Magic	32
Prayer	26
Range	26

Now before you rush into a duel I have found that you have periods when you are on form and periods where you are off form. Generally when you were just about to go up a combat level, i.e one more attack defence or hit till you go up a combat level is the best time to duel as you seem to be on form. You can check how soon you will go up a combat level on the combat level calculator on the Rune Tip It web site, there is a link to the calculator on the line above and to the whole website at the top left of the page.   If, after using the calculator you feel you will be in a period where you are on form it is time to see if you indeed are....

Most dueling goes on in Lumbridge on world 8, so go there. I was a defence "noob" in my itenary i always carried a set of full rune (rune chain), full black, rune two hander, rune kite, rune battle axe, a super set, a diamond ammy, gloves and a bit of cash (dont worry you wont lost anything you dont stake even stackable items).

First scout a worth opponent, watch fights and see who you think you can beat. Signs to look out for are people hitting very high for their level is an indication of low defence (i.e a pker). If you are level 50 or above look out for players with rune plate, at least 32 magic is needed to get the plate so they are several levels impure. Make sure you have magic and prayer off though when dueling impures. Dont fight "madges" recognziable by their full rune at a low level and staffs. Also remember that some players try to camoflage themselfsby wearing full black then whipping out full rune as you yourslef may indeed do. If someone is pestering you for a full rune stake or similar they are probally on form and bery confident approach with caution especially if you are not on form yourself.

When you have found your ideal opponent ask them "jimmy02 stake r2h" or whatever. If they say yes take the potions super attack, defence and strength potions quickly. Check they have all been taken if not do so (tip, place an item behind them, whrn taken they will move to the other side of the item). When this has been done set the stake and start the duel. Quickly change into your full rune from your camoflage armor. Have your full rune in the first four spaces in your itenary for ease of access.

Play to your advantages if you do have prayer make sure you allow prayer to be used in the battle, conversly if you have no prayer dont fight if someone insists on haveing it on, even if you have taken potions for the fight. Think of it like this a dose of each potion from a super set is a third of 20k which is 6.5k better to lose that than a rune two hander.

A further tip i can give is get some normal potions and use these to duel for ammys. Nobody else seems to do this and it gives you a good start.

A final tactic some people like to employ is that of swapping between a kite shield and rune two hander. When ever its their turn to attack they pull out the two hander and when its their time to defend they employ the kite shield.

Obviously never duel with anything less than full health, and full equipment. If you are unsure never duel and never never restake, trust me its bad luck. If you are haveing a streak of bad luck go and train up a few level, then give it another go.

Finally enjoy dueling, good luck and remember enjoy your wins but dont be disheartened by your losses, its only a game. Hope this guide was of help.

If there is anything i have left out or a question you want answered send me an email by using the suggestions/questions link at the top of the page on the left or the hyperlink on the above line.