### Summary of the Dark Sliver of Leng (T95)
The Dark Sliver of Leng is a Tier 95 main-hand melee weapon introduced on **September 27, 2021**, alongside the release of the **Croesus boss**, RuneScape 3's first skilling boss. It is a rare drop obtained during encounters with this boss. The item stands out for its place among end-game weapons, particularly for its synergy with melee builds focused on high-tier PvM content.
The sliver is part of the weapon ecosystem that thrives on the growing demand for top-tier melee setups, solidifying its role in combination with items like the *Ek-ZekKil*. However, it competes with other hard-hitters such as the Fractured Staff of Armadyl in terms of profit-per-hour efficiency, carving a niche for players who excel in melee mechanics.
#### **Rarity:**
The Sliver is considered moderately rare. Drop rates fluctuate based on team size and efficiency during Croesus runs. However, the skilling mechanics of the boss encourage accessibility for a broader audience, slightly reducing its exclusivity compared to other high-tier PvM drops.
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### **Price Trends & Insights**
Based on the historical price data, the Dark Sliver of Leng has undergone significant fluctuations due to a mix of content releases, exploits, and broader economic shifts in the game. Key moments include:
- **Initial release period high:** The weapon debuted with mass hype, hitting **2.6B (Sept 2021)** at launch but quickly corrected downward after the market saturated. Early speculation inflated prices given Croesus being a new boss with high player interest.
- **Dupe-related deflations (2021-2023):** Instances like the rollback dupes in **Sep 2021**, the major **700B/hour Scrimshaw dupe (Jan 2023)**, and subsequent gold floods caused widespread deflation. The market witnessed steady price drops as gold injection dampened item value across the board.
- **Necromancy release (Aug 2023):** The max combat level increase to 152 with Necromancy rejuvenated combat gear prices, driving renewed demand for weapons like the T95 sliver. Price spiked **~30% from Aug to Sep 2023**.
- **Max cash cap exploitation (May 2024):** This event likely caused artificial inflation due to increased liquidity. The price briefly stabilized but later declined as the economy struggled to absorb excess wealth.
- **Sanctum of Rebirth (July 2024):** This release created demand for various combat upgrades, causing moderate upward price momentum.
#### **Current Trends (Nov 2024):**
- The Sliver has seen a decline to **830M GP** as of November 2024. The downtrend correlates with increasing supply due to mass skilling updates (e.g., Mining & Smithing rework) and erosion of GP demand after the **GIM partial rollback dupe** in **November 2024**.
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### **Price Prediction for the Next Few Months**
Drawing from historical context and upcoming game developments, the Dark Sliver of Leng's price will likely continue fluctuating as follows:
1. **Short-term (3 months):** Minor price dips or stabilization likely, especially amid the community adjusting from **November 2024 duplications**. Potential bottom around **750-800M GP**, as excess wealth segments absorb the collectible value.
2. **Medium-term (6 months):** A potential upward move could occur in early Q2 2025. The March 2024 combat update injected melee relevance, leaving room for late adopters to reinvest in melee builds. If Jagex announces new PvM challenges or combat reimaginations, the Sliver could surge near **1.1B-1.3B GP.**
3. **Longer-term (9+ months):** By late 2025, the item’s value will stabilize near its "prestige" range (**950M–1.2B GP**) unless disrupted by major economic changes or competing T95+ weapons.
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### **Typical Flipping Margins**
Flipping the Dark Sliver of Leng is profitable but requires capital efficiency and timing. Margins typically range **3-8% per trade**, but spikes occur during market shocks (e.g., treasure hunter events or gold influxes).
#### Example Scenarios:
- Purchase during "panic sell" cycles (e.g., after dupe or hacking events). Recent history indicates **frenzied drops of 100M+ GP** within a week post-incident.
- Sell post-newsworthy updates like the **hero pass backlash correction** or playerbase updates driving PvM demand.
Recent example: The price dropped to **784M (Aug 2023)** during Necromancy launch volatility but spiked 15%+ within weeks for savvy flippers.
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### Similar Items to Invest In
1. **Ek-ZekKil (T92 Melee Off-hand):**
- Complimentary to the Sliver, this item benefits from melee-specific synergies.
- Best purchased during slumps driven by melee lulls or PvP removal.
2. **Fractured Staff of Armadyl (T95 Magic):**
- Competes with melee weapons in tier rankings, offering stability during new spell-based meta changes.
3. **Zaros Godsword (T92):**
- Affordable alternative for newer players; prices rise with generalized melee buffs.
4. **Scythe of Vitur (T90 - OSRS cross-variant interest):**
- Often an indirect investment due to crossover player speculation post-EoC. Bonds occasionally funnel this price upward.
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### Seasonal Effects on Prices
1. **Positive price influencers:**
- **Mid-summer renewal (July-August):** With higher player activity, PvM updates drive Sliver demand.
- **Post-Christmas driving PvM compilations (Jan-Feb):** Players return to upgrading melee content after seasonal breaks.
2. **Negative price influencers:**
- **November-April:** Historically deflation-heavy due to economic destabilizers (e.g., dupes, treasure hunter gold floods).
- **Post-holiday profit-declines (Feb):** Holiday gold buys taper, dampening item-specific interest.
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### Conclusion
The Dark Sliver of Leng remains a valuable indicator of RuneScape's economic health and PvM meta. Flipping opportunities are strong if timed around pre-update buzz, and its value is underscored during melee-centric content pushes. While this item consistently ranks as a safe long-term hold, tracking seasonal trends and competitive item cycles can amplify gains. For diversification, pairing with other scarce Tier 92+ items ensures flexibility during RuneScape's economic shifts.
Ely Intelligence Analysis