Introduction
Note: a Table of Contents can be found in the pinned messages.
Runescape has 3 different combat modes: revolution (revo), revolution++ (revo++) and full manual (FM).
This guide aims to cover what these different game modes are, what a player just starting out might want to use, and how to transition to using full manual.
Combat modes can be configured by going to Esc > Gameplay Settings > Combat & Action Bar > Combat Mode.
Related Channels
For further information and reading, you can refer to the following resources.
Revolution (Revo)
Note: For a list of of revo/revo++bars, see !revo, !revo++ and !aoe.
⬥ Revolution lets the game automatically activate abilities on your ability bar in sequential order (based on adrenaline and cooldowns).
⬥ Revo can be configured to activate any combination of:
• Basics
• Thresholds
• Ultimates
⬥ If configured to also use thresholds and ultimates for you, it is referred to as revo++.
⬥ Remember, you can still provide user input to override revo/revo++ when you want.
• This may be easier with ability queueing on.
Is Revolution Good?
⬥ It gives up some control over using your basics but also means less user input is required.
⬥ Some reasons revo can helpful include:
• You're just getting into PvM
• Combat seems to have too much to focus on
• You want the game to use basics but still have control over stronger abilities.
⬥ For most combat situations, you can get away with using Revo
⬥ There are helpful guides and ability bar setups that can make it work.
Is Revolution++ Good?
⬥ Revo++ makes the game far more AFK, by reducing user input significantly.
⬥ This comes at the cost of flexibility and adaptability to different combat situations.
⬥ Places where Revo++ is useful:
• AFK tasks like Slayer 
• Special Revo++ bars specifically designed for a particular boss
⬥ Ideally avoid Revo++ outside the above scenarios → prefer normal Revo everywhere else.
Full Manual
What Is Full Manual
⬥ In full manual, you must use every ability you want yourself - the game activates nothing for you.
⬥ If no inputs are given, full manual will only use auto attacks.
⬥ It has a higher skill floor, but also rewards the player for the effort they put into it.
Is Full Manual Required?
⬥ Full manual is not required to play or enjoy the game, but progressively harder content will benefit from using it.
⬥ It is recommended to learn full manual at some point.
⬥ Full manual offers more control over what you use:
• You can slow down or burst your DPS at important times in a boss fight
• You can save abilities for specific scenarios (e.g. stuns for when you need them, or AoE abilities
Revo vs. Full Manual - Why You Should Switch!
In this section, we cover some reasons why full manual is preferable. Afterwards, in How to Switch to Full Manual, we discuss how you can progress there.
Channeled Abilities
⬥ Channeled abilities usually last longer than 1 global cooldown (1.8s, or 3 ticks).
⬥ Revo/Revo++ introduce a small delay last hit of the channel, and the start of the next ability.
⬥ This applies to the following abilities:
• Greater Concentrated Blast 
• Snipe 
⬥ The delay can be prevented by manually inputting the next ability.
• Revolution will let the delay run its course, which wastes time and damage.
⬥ See the following comparison of manually cancelling (left side) vs. just letting Revo do it for you (right side) - notice how with Revo enabled, there is a 1-tick delay before the next ability is used.
Note: Manually canceling channeled abilities can be done on Revolution mode. But, it still requires a manual input from the player with precise timing.
Ultimate Abilities
⬥ You should use ultimates manually even if using Revo (except for stuff like full AFK slayer, etc.)
⬥ Good Revo bars will have stronger abilities near the front of the bar so they get used more frequently.
⬥ This is good for general usage but detrimental for damage-boosting ultimates.
• e.g. Sunshine 
/ Death's Swiftness 
/ Berserk 
/ Living Death 
• Stronger abilities will likely be on cooldown at the when you use your ultimate, due to being at the front of the revo bar.
• Some of the best abilities are bleeds which will be near the front of the revo bar, but bleeds are NOT boosted by damage boosting ultimates.
⬥ Whereas if you use full manual, you have full control:
• Strong abilities can be saved until you are within the ultimate to get more out of them.
• Use of bleeds can be reduced/avoided in damage boosting ultimates since you can just choose to not press them.
• You can even choose the right time to use your ultimate (e.g. don't use it before the boss becomes immune, etc.)
⬥ The clip below will demonstrate how Revo can make someone use bad abilities in a damage-boosting ultimate. See what abilities were used right after Sunshine :
⬥ If using full manual instead, they could have better planned out what abilities to use before using
• They could have made sure the good abilities like Dragon Breath 
, Sonic Wave 
and Impact 
are off cooldown and ready immediately after , by using other abilities to build adrenaline like Corruption Blast 
or Combust 
.
Boss Mechanics
As you progress in PvM and face tougher and tougher bosses, you will encounter bosses with mechanics where revolution could greatly hinder your combat ability. Here are a few scenarios where Revo could cause more harm than good:
⬥ Araxxor 
• During his web shield, players must manually input to stop attacking, otherwise all damage dealt gets reflected onto the player, potentially killing them.
⬥ Vorago 
• During his reflect mechanic, similar to Araxxor, players must manually stop attacking to prevent killing themselves or another person via reflect damage.
⬥ Telos 
• For his "Hold Still, Invader" attack, you switch to a shield 
and use Resonance 
• This requires somewhat precise timing and there's a chance Revolution activates an ability while you are waiting to Resonance , triggering the global cooldown which can mess up the timing.
⬥ Kalphite King 
• During his 'Green' attack, a player needs to provoke 
the boss and use either Devotion 
or Resonance to avoid dying
• If Revolution uses something else and delays the defensives, it might kill them.
⬥ Nex 
• Any attacks during her 'Blood Siphon' will heal Nex rather than hurt her, requiring manual input to prevent Revolution from attacking her.
• During Blood Phase, Nex heals from bleeds, requiring manual input to avoid using bleeds.
⬥ Helwyr 
• A common way to deal with his 'You Will Bleed!' swipe attack is to Resonance it to heal some HP.
• This needs somewhat precise timing and there's a chance that Revolution activates an ability while you are waiting to Resonance , triggering the global cooldown which can mess up the timing.
⬥ Arch-Glacor 
• During his 'Arms' mechanic, players must quickly deal damage on one of his arms to break free.
• Revolution might waste a strong ability on the boss (who is immune at this point) before you switch to target his arms, lowering your DPS output.
Revo with (Mostly) Manual Inputs
⬥ There is not much difference between using Full Manual without Revolution, vs. Full Manual with Revolution as a backup.
• The main difference is it ensures you don't suddenly use an ability that you didn't intend to.
• Auto attacks do not work well with Revolution - e.g. 4TAA with Magic with Revo on will require twice the inputs (once to cancel revo, and a second input to cast an auto) compared to without Revo.
How to Switch from Revolution to Full Manual
Learning full manual can take time - this is normal. However, just like with any other game, its not unreasonable to expect players to pick up the required skill over time.
Step by Step
⬥ Set good keybinds.
• It is very important that your keybinds are comfortable to reach and make sense to you.
• It is up to you to decide what works best for you.
• See the Action Bars and Keybinds sections in #interface-guide for some ideas.
⬥ Practice the keybinds.
• You need to be able to use your keybinds effectively - this means committing them to muscle memory.
• Your goal is to not need to think about what keybind does what ability - you should know what ability you want to do, and the muscle memory should do the rest for you.
• It is normal for this to take some time, but trust the process!
⬥ Choose - gradual transition, or full sending it.
• Some players find it easier to start to keep Revo on for backup, but focus on using more manual inputs until they can turn off Revo entirely.
• Others may just jump in and turn off Revo, and practice until they can effectively use their binds, and not lose time trying to use abilities.
• It is up to you to decide what works best for you.
⬥ Focused practice
• When practicing keybinds, make sure the focus is practicing keybinds.
• This means you shouldn't try to learn too many other things at the same time, such as prayer flicking or new boss mechanics, etc.
• Get used to full manual doing PvM you're already familiar with.
⬥ Good places to practice keybinds:
• Combat Dummies 
- to initially learn your keybinds.
• Full manual slayer - makes you think about prioritising abilities and using AoEs properly.
• GWD2 - relatively easy bosses with few mechanics and high health to practice rotations on (plus decent 
profit!)
• Arch-Glacor - toggleable mechanics for a customised fight to practice movement, defensives, and DPS checks.
• Check out #bossing-path for more ideas.
Keybinds Guide
⬥ As a reference, check out this very well thought out guide to setting up your keybinds that can help you plan your own keybinds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zn_y-_2giZg