### Summary of the Left Banana of Knowledge The **Left Banana of Knowledge** is a rare tradeable cosmetic item in RuneScape 3, released during a limited-time Treasure Hunter promotion on **September 25th, 2021**. The item features a visually humorous design with an animated glow, making it a quirky collectible sought after by players who value oddity and exclusivity in vanity items. It is classified as "very rare," particularly due to its limited release and minimal reappearances in Treasure Hunter or other promotional events. It has developed cult intrigue among niche collectors who specialize in unconventional items. ### Rarity The Left Banana's rarity stems from its original release window being tied to a limited promotional pool with no consistent re-releases. Additionally, the item's appeal remains niche due to its overt eccentricity, meaning demand fluctuates. However, collectors of unusual or comedic items like the banana are willing to pay exorbitant sums to secure it when it resurfaces. ### Price Analysis and Historical Trends #### **Price Trends and Influences** From its initial release, the item saw a **gradual rise in price until late 2022**, driven by its exclusivity and lack of availability. Several subsequent RuneScape events indirectly influenced price volatility: 1. **Gold Inflation Events:** - **01/11/2021 Rollback dupe** and subsequent dupe scandals (e.g., 01/29/2023 Scrimshaw dupe) introduced trillions of GP into the economy, pushing up prices for rare items like the banana. - The **Treasure Hunter 1B GP addition** in April 2024 also likely contributed to renewed price inflation for cosmetic collectibles. 2. **Major Unrelated Item Disruptions:** - Events such as the **2023 player hacks**, **Scrimshaw dupe**, **Red Portal lures**, and the **700B+/h exploits** caused speculative spikes in banana prices as players sought stable alternative investments outside unstable traditional items like partyhats. 3. **Update-Driven Speculation:** - The **Sanctum of Rebirth (July 2024)** and other combat or gameplay updates nudged item prices by increasing the active player base and enhancing economic liquidity. #### **Key Turning Points** - **March to April 2023 Dip:** Price dipped sharply from **206M GP to 149M GP**, due to general player market pessimism following mass account hacks and economic instability. - **June to July 2024 Spike:** Price surged from **350M GP (June 2024)** to almost **500M GP (July 2024)** during RuneScape's **Sanctum of Rebirth release**, as many collectors re-entered the market post-combat updates and gold supply spikes. - **September 2024 Crash:** The price dropped catastrophically from **499M GP to 181M GP**, coinciding with **Mining and Smithing balance updates (August 12, 2024)** and broader diminishing of speculative demand amidst post-sanctum market corrections. #### **Price Cycle Prediction** In the next **2-3 months**, prices are expected to stabilize between **150M-200M GP**, with brief speculative spikes possibly pushing it back to **250M GP**. Influencing factors include: - Potential re-releases of quirky items in the build-up to **Holiday 2024 events**. - Long-term player base declines post-content releases as casual purchasers stop driving prices upward. ### Flipping Margins Insights - **Current Range (Sept 2024)**: Around **4-6M GP per flip** for experienced merchants who time buys at ~175M and sells at ~180-185M during price swings. - Historically, flipping margins expanded to **20-30M GP per day** during periods of high speculation (e.g., May/July 2024 spikes). - Insider tip: Watch for **mid-week Treasure Hunter updates** that briefly increase demand for rare cosmetics, especially if part of synergistic promotions like seasonal collections. ### Investment Advice and Alternative Items #### **Similar Items to Monitor:** 1. **Chick-Axe (2019):** Another comedic cosmetic with cyclical demand—prone to speculative spikes during collectible-related Treasure Hunter releases. 2. **Christmas Cracker Hats:** Rare vanity accessories often spike in tandem with eccentric item markets. 3. **Fish Mask:** Comparable niche demand, and it cycles similarly between speculative boom and long neutral periods. #### **Seasonal Influence:** 1. **Positive Seasonal Factors:** Items like the Left Banana often rise: - **Holiday Seasons (December-April):** Increased Treasure Hunter activity and new players. - **Major Updates (Expansions/Skills):** Following a skill rework or major new boss, GP circulation increases, encouraging speculative investments. 2. **Negative Seasons:** - **Post-Summer Slumps (September-November):** As casual player interest wanes and eccentric thrill hunts subside, demand for purely cosmetic items diminishes. - **Pre-Holiday CP Inflation (November):** Players direct GP toward collectible partyhats instead, lowering banana demand temporarily. ### Final Insight The Left Banana of Knowledge is tied closely to RuneScape's quirky economy, where demand dances unpredictably between speculative investors and collectors. Position yourself ahead of re-releases with minor purchases and align with broader RuneScape seasonal cycles—winter and expansion updates are historically the most fruitful for appreciating value on unique cosmetics.