Strength

Strength is the second melee skill — where Attack decides whether you hit, Strength decides how hard. Most veterans of the genre know it as the skill they "always wanted maxed first" because the satisfaction of a higher max-hit number is its own progression curve. In Tideward, Strength scales linearly into your damage formula, so the level number you see on the menu is the same number you feel in combat.

How Strength works

Damage rolls a number between 0 and your max-hit ceiling. Strength is the dominant input to that ceiling, with weapon Strength bonus and any active prayers stacking on top. Aggressive stance trains Strength XP exclusively. Controlled splits across Attack/Strength/Defense.

Strength does nothing if you can't land the swing in the first place — pure-Strength builds underperform until Attack catches up. The classic genre advice (alternate Attack and Strength every few levels until 60, then keep Strength a few levels ahead) holds in Tideward too. After 60, the gear ladder slows down and Strength becomes the primary lever you pull for damage growth.

For offline play, Strength matters more than Attack — a pure-damage build kills enemies faster, which means more loot per AFK hour. Hit chance plateaus at 100%; max hit doesn't plateau until you stop training.

Tips for training Strength

1. After Attack 60 and Strength 60, leave Attack and let Strength run — the marginal accuracy from another Attack level is small; the marginal damage from another Strength level isn't.
2. Aggressive stance is the right default for AFK — fastest XP, fastest kills, more loot per hour.
3. Strength potions are cheap to brew at modest Apothecary levels. Stack them on bosses where the difference between a 2-shot and 3-shot kill matters.
4. Two-handed weapons usually have higher Strength bonuses than one-handed; the Defense trade-off matters less when your Vitality is high.
5. Bonfire kindling boosts (from the Kindling skill) stack with Strength potions for serious damage windows.

Skills that pair with Strength

The 23 trades aren't isolated. Strength works best alongside these:

Frequently asked about Strength

Should I train Attack or Strength first?

Alternate. Train Attack until your hit chance is comfortable, then switch to Strength to bump your damage, then back to Attack for the next gear unlock. Most players land at roughly equal levels until 60, then push Strength ahead.

Does Strength affect ranged or magic damage?

No. Each combat style has its own damage skill — Ranged for ranged damage, Magic for magic damage. Strength is melee-only.

What's the max-hit formula in Tideward?

Base damage scales linearly with Strength level, then multiplies by weapon Strength bonus, prayer multipliers, and any active boost. The exact constants are documented in-game in the Almanac entry for any weapon you equip.