### **Elite Dracolich Boots: Overview & Rarity** Elite Dracolich Boots are high-tier Necromancy footwear, released as part of the Necromancy skills expansion on **August 7, 2023**, coinciding with the max combat level increase to 152. These boots provide significant bonuses to Necromancy prowess, such as accuracy and damage boosts, and utility effects that synergize with key abilities in the skill. The boots are obtained primarily as a rare drop from **Necromancy-related bosses** such as Rasial, the First Necromancer, at a drop rate that demands high combat efficiency and kill counts to reliably obtain them. Rarity-wise, these boots are positioned as mid-range among Necromancy gear, being rarer than entry-level Necromancy items like Dagon’hai gear but more common than high-end alternatives like the **Vestments of Havoc** set, which require both drops and completion of intricate kill mechanics. Limited inflow due to the skill being relatively new, combined with fluctuating interest in Necromancy content, makes the boots periodically scarce. Their status as a versatile mid-tier upgrade has held their demand steady since release. --- ### **Historical Price Trends & Analysis** The price trends provided show initial volatility following their release in 2023, with significant spikes and dips alongside major in-game economic events: - **Initial Price Spike:** In **November 2023**, an artificial spike saw prices surge to 295M. This correlates with the Black Partyhat event (12/01/2023), which drew intense speculation and resource-hoarding. - **First Significant Decline:** Shortly thereafter, prices cooled into December (129M on 12/08/2023). This was likely impacted by the influx of new items like the Black Partyhat, drawing liquid wealth away from Necromancy gear. - **Early 2024 Rollercoaster:** From early 2024, prices experienced significant turbulence: - A combat patch on **03/04/2024** resulted in a temporary surge, as builds optimized for Necromancy content led to higher interest (+166% from February lows). - A sharp dip followed in **April 2024** due to duped items from Treasure Hunter (GP oversaturation) and the 1B GP TH jackpots. This crash reduced effective buying power, forcing players to liquidate high-value gear like Necromancy upgrades to secure wealth liquidity. - **Mid-Year Restabilization:** From May 2024 onward, prices rebounded, but the **Max Cash exploit (May 2024)** and **bond price increase (06/25/2024)** drove intermittent instability. The **Mining and Smithing rework (08/12/2024)** reinforced stability for a brief period before speculative trading caused prices to inflate in August. - **Late-Year Decline:** Potential reworks, coupled with dupe-related events (e.g., GIM bug on **11/01/2024**), have driven steady price normalization through September 2024 (current: 109M). --- ### **Price Prediction:** Based on these historical trends and seasonal patterns, the price of Elite Dracolich Boots over the next 3-6 months is expected to fluctuate as follows: 1. **Short-Term (3 months):** Likely price: **90M–115M**, as market oversaturation from recent dupes stabilizes but demand remains suppressed due to a focus on upcoming winter events. Prices may dip marginally in response to decorative rares or festive TH promotions directing GP away from bossing and PvM gear. 2. **Mid-Term (6 months):** Likely price:**130M–160M**, with a rebound likely by **Spring 2025**. Historically, late winter/spring revitalizes PvM interest, boosted by updates or events targeting high-skill combat content. Any fresh extensions to Necromancy mechanics or major boss patches (possible for its **one-year anniversary in August**) could re-ignite interest, especially if paired with player influx from seasonal activities like Treasure Hunter promos. --- ### **Flipping Margins:** Elite Dracolich Boots are a strong candidate for medium-term flipping, with margins highly active during periods of economic instability. Based on historical trends: - **Margin Range:** ~5M–15M during stable periods; ~20M–25M during volatility (e.g., prior to patches or major exploitation occurrences). - Successful flipping requires buying during **post-patch shockwaves** (immediately after an economic disturbance) and selling into recovery. --- ### **Comparable Items to Invest In:** Players interested in broadening their portfolio while trading Elite Dracolich Boots should consider investing in other **Necromancy or bossing-related items**: 1. **Vestments of Havoc Gear:** Higher price range but directly affected by the same Necromancy demand drivers. 2. **Gloves of Passage:** As general-use PvM gear, these are mid-priced and can be included in profitable flips. 3. **Masterwork Spear of Annihilation:** Provides synergy across combat styles and is commonly sought after alongside Necromancy builds due to versatility in dual-style content. --- ### **Seasonal Insight for Price Performance:** - **Positive Price Movements:** Spring (March-May) and Mid-Summer (July-August): PvM-focused updates or combat reworks, coupled with fewer economic disruptions during stable periods, result in higher base pricing. - **Negative Price Movements:** Winter (Dec-Feb): Frequent event-driven speculative trading, holiday promotions diverting GP into decorative rares, and potential Treasure Hunter dumps reduce demand for combat-oriented gear. By leveraging these insights, you can anticipate critical buying and selling windows to maximize profit while keeping inventory aligned with economic trends.