### **Haunted Whetstone Overview** The Haunted Whetstone is a rare consumable item introduced during community events and promotional rolls in **2024**. It allows players to instantly reset item degradation on a single item of their choice, such as weapons and armor. It is especially coveted for high-tier PvM participants, allowing them to save significant costs on repairable gear (e.g., perks/charges on Masterwork or Elder Rune armor). Due to its rarity and high utility, it has developed a steep price curve on the Grand Exchange, establishing itself as one of the rarer consumables in the current meta-market. The Haunted Whetstone's **release date** was **October 20, 2024**, as part of the spooky "Necrotic Curiosities" Treasure Hunter promotion, aligning with the Halloween season. Despite being an indirect drop from chests, its availability was limited, creating an instant demand shock. ### **Rarity** The Haunted Whetstone is classified as **ultra-rare**, with players receiving it only from high-end Treasure Hunter rolls in limited quantities. Its appeal lies in its universal utility for repairing degradable items combined with its artificial scarcity. Consequently, it has a volatile market history, consistently responding to updates related to wealth injections and PvM reworks. --- ### **Price Analysis and Trends** Based on available price data, the Haunted Whetstone experienced notable volatility between **late October 2024 and December 2024**. 1. **Initial Price Spike (October 20–23, 2024):** Its price surged to **6.66 billion GP** upon release due to limited initial stock and high player interest. This spike coincided with a large influx of gold and speculative investments from players hoarding event rewards. 2. **Mid-October Drop (October 29–31, 2024):** Price dropped to **~3.4 billion GP**, likely due to: - A realization that additional Haunted Whetstones were circulating as part of late-event Treasure Hunter runs. - Panic selling by speculative buyers who expected scarcity but underestimated the frequency of drops. 3. **November Recovery Phases:** Prices rebounded between **4.5–5 billion GP**, reflective of stabilizing demand. Notably: - A spike on **November 3, 2024**, to **4.6 billion GP** aligned with player purchasing before the Grandmaster quest requirements for "Necrotic Resurgence." - Consolidation of prices around **4 billion GP** in late November through mid-December, indicating a return to its intrinsic value. --- ### **External Influences on Pricing** Several historical updates serve as potential events behind price fluctuations: - **Max Cash Update Exploit (May 2024)**: Trillions of GP injected into the economy led to inflation that carried over into high-value items such as the Haunted Whetstone. Residual inflation supports its high baseline price. - **Treasure Hunter GP Redistribution (April 2024)**: Higher gold rewards on Treasure Hunter may have created larger liquidity pools for demand. - **Sanctum of Rebirth (July 2024):** High-end PvM content encouraged the use of Masterwork and other degradable gear, reinforcing demand for whetstones. - **Smithing Rework (August 2024):** Fresh reforging mechanics revitalized incentives to repair legendary gear. --- ### **Price Prediction: Next Few Months** Given its dynamics, the Haunted Whetstone will **likely consolidate between 3.75–4.5 billion GP** in early 2025: 1. **Treasures Events Decay Effects:** No immediate Treasure Hunter re-releases for ultra-rare items are planned, keeping stock levels low. 2. **Player Interest in PvM:** PvM demand will stay consistent, with no major updates disrupting repair meta-game strategies. 3. **January 2025 GP Realignment:** Post-holidays, the market often sees decreasing liquidity as players cash out for IRL expenses or quit. Expect mild downward pressure. 4. **Potential Update Shock (Late Q1):** Combat reworks in **March 2025** may spark renewed interest in high-tier gear and correlate a rally to the 4.5–5 billion GP range. --- ### **Flipping Margins** 1. **Market Comparator (15-Day Spread):** Typically, price spreads on Haunted Whetstones offer **~100–300 million GP flipping margins** given their tight but expensive trading volumes. 2. **Key Tactics:** - Buy during weekend "flood periods" tied to mass item openings from Treasure Hunter. - Sell immediately preceding a high-profile PvM content week or update announcement related to combat balancing. --- ### **Similar Items to Buy** To maximize your flipping potential, consider pairing Haunted Whetstone investments with related items reflecting similar PvM-centric demand: 1. **Masterwork Armor Sets:** Used alongside Haunted Whetstones in PvM, demand fluctuates but offers predictable trends tied to combat reworks. 2. **Reinforced Hydrix Jewellery**: These mid/high-tier degradable items are often repaired using tools from the same archetype. 3. **Extreme/Miscellaneous Consumables:** Bond prices may stabilize soon, providing opportunities for flipping high-volume utility items (Onyx bolt tips, Scrimshaws). --- ### **Seasonal Highlights for Profitability** #### Positive Price Trends: - **January-February:** As PvM updates approach, more players will prepare for meta refreshes and gearing options. - **Summer Months:** Increased player activity drives consumable repair item demand. #### Negative Price Trends: - **Post-Holidays (Late December):** Market liquidity crashes as oversized wealth from holiday rewards dissipates. - **Late March/April:** Surge of Treasure Hunter events deflates exclusivity demand if whetstones are reissued. By intelligently navigating these quarterly cycles, prioritizing PvM updates, and hedging against liquidity risks, you can lock in consistent profits.