### **Enhanced Gloves of Passage - Overview** - **Release Date**: January 4, 2021 (via *Raksha, the Shadow Colossus* boss drop; Enhanced version became prominent with augmentation). - **Summary**: The Enhanced Gloves of Passage are an augmented version of the Gloves of Passage, which require Invention to upgrade with gizmos. These hybrid combat gloves offer utility in PvM and PvP scenarios, thanks to perks from gizmos and compatibility with defensive abilities like *Freedom* and *Surge*. - **Rarity**: Moderately rare, due to being tied to Raksha, a mid-to-high-tier solo/duo boss with a finite drop rate. Enhancement further restricts supply as it requires materials and high-level Invention—a barrier for many players. ### **Historical Price Analysis** - **2021 Launch Period** - Post-release (late 2021) pricing remained relatively low (~23–39M GP) due to initial accessibility and low awareness of its potential utility. The *Raksha boss* itself was frequently farmed early on, inflating item supply. - The **1/11/2021 Rollback Dupe** flooded the game with gold, increasing inflation, but Gloves didn’t spike due to oversupply. - **2022** - A slow rise began (~75-124M GP). Key drivers included better familiarity with Invention perks and PvM-centric boss mechanics favoring mobile gear options. Fresh Start Worlds (9/22/2022) caused some upward momentum by attracting newer audiences to acquire bosses' unique drops. - **2023** - The **Necromancy skill launch (8/7/2023)** and **Max Combat Level increase** revitalized demand for mid-tier hybrid gear, triggering price peaks of 168M GP in *Q1-Q2 2023*, but also ushered heavy volatility via mass player hacks (2/1/2023) and the *Scrimshaw Dupe (1/29/2023)* which hoarded high-value items across accounts. - By **Q3-Q4 2023**, Hero Pass backlash (9/5/2023) and Widespread GP injections via Treasure Hunter (12/1/2023) caused downward pressure, culminating in a price drop to ~40M GP. - **2024 Trends** - Post-Easter Egg Duplication and **05/15/2024 Max Cash** exploits led to temporary spikes (~83M GP in June 2024). However, subsequent inflationary pressure oversaturated high-end gear, tanking Gloves (~38.2M by September 2024). ### **Insights into Price Fluctuations** 1. **Periods of High Inflation**: Dupes (e.g., Scrimshaw, Max Cash, GIM Bank bugs) directly lead to price instability due to over-pumping GP into circulation. High-end gear often fluctuates, as wealthy players buy multiple units for flipping purposes. 2. **Combat Developments**: The Gloves benefit from content requiring teleportation or hybrid combat, such as the **Necromancy content (Raksha remains Necromancy-relevant)**. The gloves' price spikes directly correlate with major skill or expansion rollouts. 3. **Event Backlash Resets**: Controversial mechanics like Hero Pass or Treasure Hunter GP giveaways lead to devaluation because they shift focus toward other reward systems, alienating niche items like the Gloves of Passage. 4. **Augment Alternatives**: Cheaper or newer hybrid augmented alternatives (e.g., Cryptbloom Gloves or bosses like Zamorak) affect Gloves’ standing. --- ### **Price Prediction (Late 2024 - Early 2025)** - **Short-Term Recovery** (~3-4 months): Expect a gradual correction to **50M–60M GP** following the dip to 38.2M GP. Key drivers include: - The *GIM Bank bug fallout stabilizing wealth transfers*. - More players adopting mid-tier Raksha or hybrid gear for Necromancy leveling. - Slayer and DailyScape mid-game players re-entering markets for augmented gear. - **2025 Prospects** (1-6 months): Assuming no disruptive Dupes or GP injections, the price will stabilize at **55M–75M GP**, fueled by continued Necromancy relevancy and the seasonal bossing cycle (*Raksha thrives in PvM content releases*). However, additional competition from augmented gloves or new Treasure Hunter promo items could cap growth. --- ### **Typical Flipping Margins** - Observed buy/sell margins generally fluctuate at **8–12% GP per flip during low-volume periods** (e.g., post-backlash like 9/5/2023). In high-demand streaks (e.g., Necromancy release or Raksha buffs), margins tighten to **5–8% GP**, as more players actively trade. Target buy/resell prices: - **Low GP buy**: 36–40M. - **Resell peak**: 43–48M. - Experienced merchants often leverage enhanced item disparity by flipping large batches (~10-12 pairs), targeting ~5M profit per glove. --- ### **Complementary Items for Investment** 1. **Cryptbloom Gloves**: - Comparable high-tier augmented gloves geared toward Magic-centric PvM fans. - Pricing around 80–120M aligns with Gloves of Passage trends (spikes during boss patches or Necromancy updates). 2. **Channeler’s Ring**: - Hybrid utility item tied to abilities and Raksha boss. Relatively undervalued but responds to similar content patches. 3. **Elite Tectonic Components/Perks**: - Craft and supply augment materials (e.g., Planted Feet perk), which inherently benefit items like Passage Gloves. 4. **T90 Augmented Gear (Trimmed Masterwork Gloves)**: - The alternative fallback option from Raksha’s lower activity. --- ### **Seasonal Market Behavior** - **Positive Seasons for Value Increase**: - **Winter Events** (*Dec-Jan*): Player activity peaks; GP influx stabilizes, while PvM content surges due to holiday events. - **Major Updates** (~Necromancy, Combat Level) during *Augmented Geared Bossing*. - **Negative Seasons for Devaluation**: - **Post-Dupe Backlashes (*Q1–Q2 Dupes, Market Flooding*)**: Overabundance inflates non-essential markets. - **Jagex’s Seasonal GP Redistribution (Treasure Hunter Dec-Feb Months)**: Fragmented spending priorities tank niche PvM items. By aligning the Enhanced Gloves of Passage with Necromancy or other PvM-centric boss trends, intelligent flipping and long-term holdings should continue yielding reliable returns.