Producing welds with properties matching those of the steel is a challenge at high strength levels. The present study investigated how cooling rates and dilution affects strength and toughness when welding steels with yield strengths of 777 MPa and 1193 MPa. Overmatching weld metal strength was achieved for the less strong steel and weld strengths >1000 MPa were recorded for the stronger steel. Fracture in transverse tensile testing was always located in base material or HAZ. Low dilution, rapid cooling and single pass welding contributed to higher strength. Impact toughness was higher for lower strength and low dilution.