Player killing (PKing for short) is a feature that lets you fight other players in Runescape. In order to PK, you have to be in the wilderness. However, you can only attack a certain amount of players, depending on the level of the wilderness you're in and the level of the other players. When you attack a player, you get a skull above your head, which basically marks you as a killer and you're subjected to lose all your belongings in case of death. By “lose”, I mean drop everything in your inventory. Without the skull, you'd normally be able to keep 3 of your best items if you were killed. If you do not attack another player within the next 20 minutes, your skull will disappear.


PK character types

Pures are the most common type of PKers. This style only builds up on the main attributes of the combat skills. Here are some of the most common stats, usually moderate attack and defense, with extremely high strength. Should they reach higher enough levels, better equipment will supplement this playing style making them real killing machines. Regardless of level, pures have one thing in common: to raise their strength as much as possible. They aim to kill players in 3 rounds, which is fairly tough. You can easily notice a pure. Almost all pures have a skull, have a full set of same class armor, with a weapon of greater metal than the armor.

Prayer Beasts are the 2nd common style of PKers. Prayer Beasts range from levels of 35-60. They usually have at least 25 Prayer, so they can protect an item if they die. They also use prayer to increase their fighting for a short time. They can also use prayer to paralyze their opponents (which prevents the opponent from attacking them). If you are going to be a prayer beast, make sure you have at least 25 Prayer. First, raise your prayer to level 6. Then, do the ghost quest. You should have around 11 Prayer. From 11, it should take about 530 big bones to get to level 25. Most Prayer Beasts wear monks robes, an amulet, a helmet, and have a rune weapon.

Mages range from levels 10-15, as they are pure mages. They usually have VERY high magic, allowing them to fire bolt their enemies. Magic can really inflict damage to someone wearing black armor, but not as much to mithril armor. This is why most pure mages will not be any higher in level. A weakness in mages is that they cannot hold as much food as other PKers. So if you choose to be a mage, be careful.


Equipment

Food - This is a need for all PKers. Food is the number one commodity that saves lives. For example, Lobsters and Swordfishes are food that PKers often enough use to heal themselves. If you are going to PK, get a source of food that will heal at least one quarter of your hit points. Be sure to save at least 22 spaces for food since this will save your life in the roughest of times.

Weapons - It's common sense to always bring a weapon to PK with. But if you are going to bring a weapon, make sure you feel safe about using it and consider taking the risks of losing it. Two-handed weapons are always the best kind of PKing weapons, as they have the highest attack and strength than any other kind of weapon. However, you cannot use a shield.

Amulets - Amulets boost some of your main combat skills for as long as you have it equipped. Most amulets boost one specific stat, but the Diamond amulet boosts multiple stats.

Amulet of Accuracy: +4 attack
Sapphire Amulet of Magic: +10 magic
Emerald Amulet of Protection: +10 defense
Ruby Amulet of Strength: +10 strength
Diamond Amulet of Power: +6 defense, +6 strength, +7 magic
Holy Symbol of Saradomin: +8 Prayer

Strength Potion - Strength potions give a boost of 8 in your strength stats, but temporarily. A strength potion can be made with a Limpwurt Root and some Red Spider Eggs. Take them to the Apothecary in Varrock, and he'll make you a bottle for 5 gold. Each bottle has 4 doses. Strength potions aren't that important when you PK, but they do help damage wise. Should you use strength potions while PKing, one should be enough as four doses have a lasting effect for one trip.


Attacking

Never attack other PKers - let them attack you. If they are killing you badly, run, heal, drink a potion if you have one, and only then retaliate. If they are still killing you, then run and log out. If you see multiple people with similar names or armor, it's likely that they are a team. Never try to challenge a team unless you are sure that you can beat them. If you have no food in your bank or cannot cook pizzas, don't PK anymore until you do. Remember that food is your most important survival item. Don't try taking risks, because there is always someone out there who can, and will, kill you. Never underestimate your opponents, and never ever try to team on the first 3 rounds. They can easily turn on you and create an ambush. Also, don't ever ask to team when you are down to 5 hp, because then, they'll just kill you.

Chasing

When your first 3 rounds are up, it's most likely the enemy will run south, since that's the way out of the wilderness. So what should you do? Run south after the first 3 rounds. This way, you can get closer to your opponent. But when you are right even with your opponent (your 2-D sprite is combined with your opponent's), don't attack them. I don't know why, but most of the time, a glitch will make you run to the previous spot they were in, and they would get away. Make sure you’re about 2 steps away from them, and then click attack. If you’re behind, just let them go. Another good technique is to select "follow" on your opponent while fighting. Then, when they run, you can always be right behind them.