In Old School RuneScape, damage per second (DPS) depends on two key stats: effective strength and accuracy. Strength boosts your max hit, while accuracy determines how often your hits actually land. Many players focus heavily on one and overlook the other—but that’s where diminishing returns come in.
Piling on strength bonuses won’t help if you keep missing, and stacking accuracy alone won’t maximize your potential damage. In this guide, we’ll break down how these stats interact, when each matters most, and how to balance them for real DPS gains.
What Is Effective Strength?
Effective strength is the hidden number that determines your maximum hit. It comes from:
- Your base Strength level
- Bonuses from gear, potions, and prayers
- Multipliers like the Void set
A higher effective strength = bigger max hit. But if your hit chance is too low, those high rolls rarely land. Before heading into a raid, test your gear combination using the OSRS DPS Calculator.
What Is Accuracy?
Accuracy determines how often your attacks actually connect. It depends on:
- Attack level
- Weapon accuracy bonuses
- Target’s Defence level and gear
- Boosts like accuracy prayers
If accuracy is low, you’ll miss often—even with huge strength.
Why Diminishing Returns Happen
Strength and accuracy scale together. If one stat is high while the other lags, the extra investment gives less DPS gain.
Example Table: Strength vs Accuracy DPS Impact
| Setup | Effective Str | Accuracy % | DPS Gain vs Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced (baseline) | 100 | 100 | – |
| +20 Strength only | 120 | 100 | +8–10% |
| +20 Accuracy only | 100 | 120 | +8–10% |
| Split +10/+10 | 110 | 110 | +18–20% |
👉 Balanced scaling beats stacking a single stat.
Real Combat Scenarios
Slayer Tasks (low–mid Defence mobs)
Strength gains matter more because enemies are easier to hit. Accuracy beyond ~80–85% isn’t as impactful.
Try testing your loadout in the OSRS effective strength calculator.
Bossing (high Defence targets)
Accuracy becomes essential. A +10 strength bonus won’t matter if you’re missing 40% of the time.
Use the OSRS accuracy calculator to see how your hit chance scales against boss Defence.
PvP or high-pressure PvM
You need balance. Reliable hits plus strong damage. Inconsistent accuracy in PvP can lose you fights even if your max hit is high.
Practical Tips to Avoid Diminishing Returns
- Keep accuracy above ~85% before stacking more strength.
- In bossing, consider swapping a strength amulet for a power amulet if you’re missing too often.
- Use potions and prayers to balance gaps (accuracy prayers for bosses, strength prayers for Slayer).
- Test setups with a DPS calculator to find the “sweet spot.”
FAQs
Does strength or accuracy matter more?
Neither on its own—both scale DPS together. Balance is key.
What are diminishing returns in DPS?
When you stack one stat too much, each extra point adds less value unless the other stat rises too.
When should I prioritize accuracy?
Against high-Defence bosses or in PvP.
When should I prioritize strength?
On low-Defence Slayer mobs where you already hit consistently.
Edwards is the creator of OSRSDPSCalc.online, a specialized calculator site designed to help Old School RuneScape players optimize their damage output and gear setups. With a focus on accuracy and ease of use, Edwards provides reliable tools and insights that save players time and enhance gameplay. His dedication to the OSRS community ensures each feature is built with precision, helping users make smarter in-game decisions.