The rune longsword is a free-to-play melee weapon that needs 40 Attack to wield and swings every 5 ticks (3.0s). It's the strongest longsword in free-to-play, beating the adamant longsword on accuracy and strength, but its slower speed means the rune scimitar usually out-DPSes it. An inexpensive staple, well under 100k on the Grand Exchange.
Equipment bonuses
The rune longsword leans on slash, offering +47 slash attack alongside +38 stab and +49 melee strength — the highest of any free-to-play longsword.
Attack bonuses
Defence bonuses
Other bonuses
It attacks once every 5 ticks (3.0 seconds) and only asks for 40 Attack, so it's wieldable early but trades raw speed for that higher per-hit accuracy and strength.
Grand Exchange price history
How to get the rune longsword
The easiest route for most players is the Grand Exchange — it's a cheap, common item that trades for well under 100k. In-game you can also:
- Buy it from a shop — Scavvo's Rune Store in the Champions' Guild stocks one in free-to-play. (Keldagrim's Quality Weapons Shop also sells it, but that's a members area.)
- Smith it — at level 91 Smithing you can forge one from 2 runite bars on an anvil for 150 Smithing xp.
It also drops from several members-only monsters, most notably the King Black Dragon at a rate of 10/128, plus Kurask and bronze and black dragons — but those aren't reachable on a free account.
Is the rune longsword worth it?
In free-to-play, yes — it's the top longsword and a solid pick for high-Attack training and bossing-lite content where accuracy matters. Its +47 slash and +49 strength edge out every other F2P longsword.
The catch is speed. The rune scimitar hits every 4 ticks versus the longsword's 5, so the scimitar usually wins on damage-per-second against most targets. The longsword's higher attack bonus can pull ahead against high-defence monsters, where landing hits matters more than swing speed. If you want the fastest F2P melee weapon, grab the scimitar; if you want the hardest individual hits and best accuracy in the longsword class, this is it. For more options, see our melee gear guide.
Rune longsword FAQ
What level do you need for a rune longsword?
You need 40 Attack to wield the rune longsword. There's no other requirement to equip it.
Is the rune longsword free-to-play?
Yes. It's a free-to-play item — you can buy it, wield it, and smith it on a free account. You can pick one up from Scavvo's Rune Store in the Champions' Guild or off the Grand Exchange.
How do you make a rune longsword?
At level 91 Smithing you can smith one from 2 runite bars on an anvil with a hammer, granting 150 Smithing experience.
Is the rune longsword better than the rune scimitar?
Not usually. The rune scimitar attacks every 4 ticks to the longsword's 5, so it out-DPSes it against most monsters. The longsword has higher attack and strength bonuses, so it can edge ahead against high-defence enemies where accuracy matters more than speed.
How fast is the rune longsword?
It has an attack speed of 5 ticks, which is one swing every 3.0 seconds — 25% slower than a scimitar.
How much is a rune longsword worth?
It's an inexpensive F2P weapon. Check the live price and history chart above for the current Grand Exchange value — it typically sits in the low tens of thousands of coins.
