RuneScape has dropped its Combat Modernisation update, marking the latest milestone in the game’s year-long Road to Restoration. And since it’s RuneScape’s 25th anniversary year, Jagex clearly isn’t planning to coast.
As per the press release, this update refreshes RuneScape’s three original combat styles, melee, ranged, and magic, with the goal of making them feel more intuitive, easier to learn, and better aligned as you level up.
Combat Modernisation: simpler to pick up, deeper to master
The headline change is how combat is taught and felt moment to moment. Jagex says the update is designed to make the core styles more approachable through experiential gameplay, so players naturally learn as they climb the levels.
At the same time, it aims for a simpler but deeper harmony between abilities, which is a fancy way of saying your kit should make more sense without losing the interesting bits.
There’s also a Future of Combat video highlighted in the release, shared by @Edimmuz, if you want the dev-side view of where this is all headed.
Three months of betas, and a lot of number-tweaking
This isn’t a “ship it and hope” situation. The Combat Modernisation update follows three months of betas, with the RuneScape community feeding back throughout.
According to the press release, each beta period led to changes including:
- Adjusting the power of tens of player abilities
- Fixing the timings of other abilities
- Tweaking a range of perks
- Other refinements based on feedback
So if you were in the betas and thought, “Hang on, that feels different now,” you probably weren’t imagining it.
Road to Restoration: what’s already landed and what’s next
The Road to Restoration was announced as part of January’s RuneScape Ahead premiere video, and it’s already been busy. Here’s what Jagex says is done, plus what’s planned for the weeks and months ahead.
New Look for the User Interface (done)
Completed at the end of January, RuneScape’s UI update improves visibility, polishes menus and icons, and makes the interface easier to read and navigate.
Early Game Rebalancing (done)
Released in mid-February, this update targets the first hours of play, with skill rebalancing for hunting, thieving, farming, and herblore. It also tweaks early quests including Cook’s Assistant and Sheep Shearer to improve the new player experience.
DailyScape changes (coming in March)
A March update is set to remove much of RuneScape’s “DailyScape” activities. These were flagged through community feedback as chore-like, adding pressure to log in every day, while giving disproportionately high rewards compared to core content.
Environment Refreshes (in progress)
This one focuses on the surface world of Gielinor, aiming to bring more unity to the world so each area feels more consistently, well, RuneScape.
Player Avatar Update (spring and autumn)
Player characters are getting their biggest visual overhaul in over a decade, with a two-part Player Avatar Update landing in spring and autumn. Jagex calls it one of the most requested updates over the years, with modernised characters and improved fidelity and detail.
RuneMetrics Pro for free (this spring)
RuneMetrics, the in-game tool for tracking and analysing XP and wealth gains, will become free for all RuneScape Members this spring.
Where to play RuneScape right now
RuneScape is available on PC, Steam, iOS, and Android, with cross-platform progression and play across PC and mobile.
If Road to Restoration is the plan, Combat Modernisation is the latest checkpoint. And if Jagex sticks the landing on the rest of that list, 2026 could end up being a very different year to start (or return to) RuneScape.