**Greater Ritual Candle Analysis** ### **Summary, Release Date, and Rarity** The **Greater Ritual Candle** is a high-level utility item in RuneScape 3, exclusively tied to the **Necromancy skill**, which was introduced on **August 7, 2023**, alongside the combat level cap increase to 152. It is most commonly used in Necromancy rituals to significantly boost energy capture, making ritual completion more efficient and cost-effective for players committed to Necromancy training or profit generation. The candle quickly became a cornerstone for high-level skillers and PvMers due to its utility in making Necromancy progression faster, especially in mid-to-high gameplay efficiency scenarios. Its rarity is influenced by its drop rate, which is *uncommon* yet not farmable in high quantities without significant time or resource investment, as it is obtained primarily from **Necromancy-related drops and events** rather than consistent repeatable activities like certain bosses. The limited supply keeps its value relatively high. ### **Price Prediction** Historically, we've witnessed price fluctuations caused by updates to drop sources or sudden demand shifts related to related updates and balancing changes: - **Initial Spike and Decline (Aug 2023 - Nov 2023):** The Greater Ritual Candle likely peaked at release (~August 2023) due to the surge in demand from early Necromancy players rushing to max the skill. This surge was followed by a gradual decline as supply increased through drops and more players scaled their Necromancy skills. - **Impactful Updates:** - **Hero Pass backlash (September 2023):** Less engagement during the backlash likely reduced demand briefly, and prices stabilized. - **Combat Update (March 2024):** If the combat changes interlace with Necromancy mechanics, demand for these candles — already tied to optimizing rituals — could spike temporarily, particularly from high-end PvMers and max-efficiency optimizers. - **Max Cash Update Exploit (May 15, 2024):** This dupe likely **devalued gold significantly**, potentially inflating prices artificially due to weakened currency value. The Greater Ritual Candle may have seen a spike alongside other high-value tradeable items here. - **Sanctum of Rebirth and Mining & Smithing Rework (Late July–August 2024):** These updates will distract focus from Necromancy-related content, temporarily cooling the candle's demand and likely pushing its price downward. **Price Prediction (Oct 2024–Feb 2025):** - **Base Scenario:** Prices will likely remain stable or decline slightly (~5-10%) barring major Necromancy changes or reintroductions. - **Bullish Indicators:** Any content tied directly to Necromancy (like boss releases or new power-creep rituals) could spike demand and push the item price up. - **Bearish Indicators:** Large updates shifting focus away from Necromancy or massive new item giveaways could tank the candle’s value temporarily. ### **Flipping Margins** The **typical flipping margin** for the Greater Ritual Candle fluctuates from **5% to 15%** depending on market liquidity and update cycles. During high-update periods or focused demand spikes (e.g., combat changes or Necromancy content buffs), margins can narrow to 3–7% due to heightened competition. Conversely, in slow periods, margins are healthier, particularly as more casual sellers undercut and buyers consolidate stacks. Ideal flipping strategies capitalize on bulk buys during quiet periods and resales during minor Necromancy resurgences. ### **Comparative Items to Watch** - **Dark Onyx Cores:** A rare drop used for Necromancy weapon upgrades, often mirroring Greater Ritual Candle movements since they share overlap in the Necromancy player market base. - **Greater Ensouled Wisp:** Another Necromancy augmentation item with a smaller, more niche market. It exhibits similar economic behaviors, albeit with less volatility than the candle. - **Ectoplasm and Soul Runes:** As consumables central to Necromancy use, they sometimes experience micro-spikes alongside larger items like the candle and should be monitored for arbitrage opportunities. ### **Seasonal Trends** Necromancy-related items exhibit predictable trends linked to RuneScape’s broader player activity and update calendar: - **Positive Seasons (Price Growth):** - **Skill Release Anniversaries:** Massive spikes occur during event-related activity. For example, the first Necromancy content anniversary in August 2024 may push prices up across the board. - **Major PvM Updates:** Combat adjustments favoring Necromancy or expansions tied to the skill will increase demand. - **Holiday Events with Treasures:** Supply decreases around big Treasure Hunter events divert player attention to cosmetics. - **Negative Seasons (Price Decline):** - **Post-Holidays:** Early January and summer months see price drops due to player inactivity post-events. - **Focus Changes (Skilling Reworks/New Bosses):** As seen with the Mining and Smithing rework in August 2024, major non-Necromancy updates divert player attention away from the skill. ### **Final Insights** The Greater Ritual Candle is a solid, mid-term speculative item. The best margins derive from buying into dips caused by update distractions (e.g., Mining & Smithing rework) and holding for rebounds tied to Necromancy content buffs or player behaviors during event seasons. Diversify investments into parallel Necromancy support items for optimal flipping efficiency and hedge against content shifts.