### **Cryptbloom Bottoms (Croesus) Analysis**
#### **Overview, Release Date, and Rarity**
The Cryptbloom Bottoms, part of the Cryptbloom set, were introduced with the release of the Croesus Front on September 27, 2021. This boss brought the first collaborative skilling-focused encounter to the Elder God Wars Dungeon, offering Cryptbloom pieces as highly sought-after rewards. The armor is the premier tanking magic armor set in RuneScape 3, focusing on survivability with its unique set effects, including enhanced healing and reduced magic damage.
Its rarity stems from:
1. Difficulty in defeating Croesus efficiently (requires skilled coordination in groups).
2. Randomized drops within the Cryptbloom set.
3. High demand for its utility in both solo and group PvM, particularly encounters requiring sustain or as an "offensive tank" setup in Necromancy.
#### **Historical Price and Market Behavior**
Prices for Cryptbloom Bottoms have fluctuated significantly since release. Major trends are as follows:
- **Initial Release (September 2021):** Valued low at beginning (5M due to overload supply from early Croesus farming).
- **October 2021 - Mid 2022:** Rapid inflation brought the price between 500-650M due to gold flooding (rollback dupes, token/rare injections). Long-term demand pushed further rises.
- **Late 2022 - Early 2023:** Stabilized at 600-700M but began dropping due to economic shocks, such as the Scrimshaw dupe and Treasure Hunter changes.
- **January - August 2023:** Decline accelerated, reaching 285M by August after the Necromancy release shifted meta-preferences (Cryptbloom overshadowed by Necromancy gear and changes in combat level caps).
- **2024 to Date:** Continues oscillating but bottomed out around 200M post-Max Cash exploit and gold injections from Treasure Hunter/dupes. Recent patches have not reinvigorated demand.
#### **Future Price Prediction**
Several influencing factors will determine Cryptbloom Bottoms' trajectory:
1. **Demand Fluctuations:** While still superior for specific encounters like Solak or Arch-Glacor, its relevance has diminished due to power creep with Necromancy and alternative gearing strategies.
2. **Gold Injection Trends:** Massive GP inputs (e.g., TH prizes, Max Cash exploit) have flooded the economy post-2023, devaluing equipment.
3. **Set Piece Synergy:** As part of a full armor set, it retains baseline appeal—but players crafting Necromancy hybrid builds may opt for other pieces like Cinderbanes or Zuk's set enhancements.
**Short-Term Prediction (3 Months):**
Price is likely to stabilize around **175-220M** due to a mix of residual demand and oversupply from Croesus farming. Seasonal economic boosts (e.g., Christmas events) or additional Treasure Hunter gold dumps may suppress further growth short-term.
**Long-Term Prediction (6 Months):**
Potential recovery to **240-260M** if Necromancy builds solidify reliance on defensive gear setups (e.g., as secondary off-prayers). Cryptbloom's defensive niche compensates for the declining demand in PvM setups but won't offset the meta-support lag factor entirely.
#### **Typical Flipping Margins**
The Cryptbloom Bottoms are a liquid item in high-price PvM gear trading, offering solid margins when actively traded:
- **Daily Margins:** 2-5M during regular economic conditions.
- **Event Margins:** 5-10M during high-variance economic periods (e.g., a Treasure Hunter event or post-patch exploits causing temporary buy/sell volatility).
Successful flipping requires monitoring Grand Exchange volumes closely and capitalizing on temporary undersupply bursts or bulk farm sell-offs.
#### **Similar Items to Invest In**
If you're interested in items similar to Cryptbloom Bottoms, consider:
1. **Cryptbloom Helm/Top/Gloves/Boots:** Other pieces in the set follow similar trends, especially as standalone utility.
2. **Elite Tectonic Pieces:** These fluctuate heavily, especially during Necromancy hybrid builds-demand.
3. **Arma Battlestaff:** Occupies neutral inventory space between DPS and tankier setups, often moving in conjunction with meta changes.
#### **Seasonal Trends**
**Positive Price Influence Seasons:**
- **December (Christmas):** Increased player activity and spending increase high-value item demand.
- **Summer (Major Patches):** Content like combat or skill reworks inject trades for PvM gear.
**Negative Price Influence Seasons:**
- **Post-Dupe Periods:** Gold flooding causes massive inflation, temporarily reducing player purchasing power.
- **Flat Periods (February-April):** These months see the market stagnate after New Year's surges, often leading to dumping of excess stock (including drops from higher boss-farming during winter activity).
### **Investment Advice**
Cryptbloom Bottoms are likely a medium-risk, moderately rewarding trade item for flipping due to their ongoing relevance despite clear meta shifts. Supplement trades with other armor staples (Zuk Capes, T90 gear) and focus on buying during Treasure Hunter event gold floods or Necromancy gear rebalancing patches.
For long-term holding, consider pivoting into items benefiting from rework speculation (e.g., hybrid gear like Pernix/Ascensions), as massive updates often drive gear meta overhaul demand spikes.
Ely Intelligence Analysis