### Summary of Pet of Seasons The **Pet of Seasons** is a rare Tradeable Treasure Hunter pet introduced in 2016 during the "Seasons" promotion. It depicts a morphing companion themed around the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter), making it visually unique and desirable for its aesthetic appeal and collectibility. Over the years, its rarity has increased significantly due to limited re-releases on Treasure Hunter and high demand among players collecting rare pets. Its niche as a cosmetic item without gameplay benefits solidifies its appeal to wealthy, status-driven merchants and collectors within RuneScape. ### Historical Rarity Initially introduced as a promotion-exclusive reward, it did not have widespread distribution due to the inherent gamble-based mechanics of Treasure Hunter. As such, its rarity grew exponentially as time passed and fewer players were willing to part with their copies. The pet's value initially tracked with GP inflation but saw dramatic rises and falls due to various updates, economic shocks, and changes to the in-game market environment. --- ### Price Analysis and Historical Trends #### **Price Points Breakdown** - **2021:** Peaked at **795M GP (Jan)** after the dupe rollback flooded the economy, creating excessive liquidity (Jan 11). Prices declined once some economic stability returned. - **2022:** Stabilized around **380-400M GP** due to Fresh Start Worlds and broader efforts to reduce inflation (Sep 22). This plateau reflected cautious trading and reduced unearned wealth circulating in the market. - **2023:** Hit a major low at **23M GP (Sep)** following disastrous updates like the Hero Pass backlash (Sep 5) and massive gold influxes from dupes (Jan 29, Apr 1). Speculators bought most pets on the cheap during this time. - **2024:** Began recovering post-March thanks to stabilization from fresh content like the **Sanctum of Rebirth (Jul 22)** and proactive economic balancing updates. Prices surged, peaking at **56.8M GP (Jul)**, but corrections followed due to a high influx of wealth post-Bond price increases (Jun 25). #### **Key Insights from Historical Shifts** 1. **Major Dips from Exploits:** Dupes, hacks, and lures (e.g., Jan 2023 scrimshaw dupe and Sep 2023 portal lure) caused price collapses by flooding gold and destroying player confidence in high-value rares. 2. **Releases of Major Content:** Game updates introducing novel activities like Croesus (Sep 2021) and Necromancy (Aug 2023) often trigger speculative selloffs among collectors needing gold for upgrades. These events offer excellent entry points for sniping rares. 3. **Post-Dupe and Inflation Recoveries:** Following crashes, the Pet of Seasons slowly rebounded, as speculative buying drained supply. Wealthier collectors tend to hold long-term, restricting access to broader players. 4. **Seasonal Factors:** Since its theme matches *seasons*, minor upticks in demand are observed during spring and end-of-summer periods tied to their respective releases or promotions. --- ### Price Prediction (Q4 2024 - Mid 2025) Given historical trends and future expectations: - **Q4 2024:** The **11/2024 GIM bug duping 2.1B GP and items** will create short-term stagnation, likely lowering **Pet of Seasons** to around **35-38M GP** by year-end. - **Q1-Q2 2025:** Expect gradual recovery towards **50M GP** as the economy stabilizes and new updates (e.g., Necromancy expansions or seasonal Treasure Hunter promos) shift player priorities away from liquid cash hoarding. Upside risks include re-releases in **Christmas promotions** or unforeseen hype from other collectible markets. Downside risks stem from game-breaking exploits or larger GP influxes (e.g., future Treasure Hunter buffs). --- ### Flipping Margins **Historical Margins:** - Based on the provided data, the **Pet of Seasons** exhibits high volatility, making it ideal for flipping during price swings. Typical flipping margins (buy-sell profit) ranged from: - **5-8M GP** on pre-rebound cycles (Q1-Q2 2024). - **10-15M GP** during speculative hype runs (e.g., Jul 2024). - Expect marginally higher spreads (~18M GP) in highly unstable periods following duping events. **Optimal Flipping Strategy:** 1. **Buy Zones:** Look for undervaluation during high-profile events (e.g., dupes, major updates like combat or PvP changes). 2. **Sell Zones:** Target recovery periods, especially ahead of flashy marketing campaigns or event tie-ins (e.g., December holiday-themed promotions). --- ### Related Items for Investment 1. **Golden Partyhat** - Often tracks similarly since both are cosmetics with no functional use but remain scarcity-driven. This hat was overproduced in later Treasure Hunter events, making it generally cheaper per gain cycle. 2. **Shadow Drake Pet** - Another aesthetically themed pet from Treasure Hunter, which mirrors speculation-driven market cycles. Holds slightly steadier due to a different visual appeal. --- ### Seasonal Factors Impacting Prices - **Positive Price Spikes:** End-of-spring (April-May) and late-summer updates (Aug-Sep) when Treasure Hunter typically complements the **seasonal theme** (spring/summer). - **Negative Price Trends:** Post-GIM bugs, PvP/Wilderness updates, or direct re-releases of Treasure Hunter items (especially during December promotional events). Pro Tip: Combine Pet of Seasons flipping with broader investments in thematically adjacent pets during Treasure Hunter promos. Watch for announcement leaks on *Winter*-themed items, as these competitors can siphon demand if introduced without warning.