Light sources

"Light source" redirects here. For the objects used in Necromancy rituals, see light source spot.

A player wearing a lit mining helmet, an equippable light source

Light sources are used by players via the Firemaking skill, in order to illuminate dark caves and dungeons. Without them, some dungeons are nearly pitch black and visibility is greatly reduced. Minimap is disabled and the player cannot attack. The access to some dungeons is prohibited without a light source. If a player attempts to extinguish a light source in an area where they need it (with the "extinguish" option), the game will prevent them from doing so.

Consequences

After about 8 seconds in a dark area without a light source, it triggers the following message: You hear tiny insects skittering over the ground... About 10 seconds later, another message appears: Tiny biting insects swarm all over you! The player will then start to get multiple hits of 1-10 life points rapidly until they die or relight their lamp. Protection prayers cannot negate the damage.

Players with high Constitution levels could still rest; this would restore life points faster than the insects can deplete it. Home Teleport is not interrupted by the insects. If the player is within several squares of the exit when the first message appears, the player will automatically run towards and exit the cave. This only works if the second message hasn't appeared yet, and even if it activates, it is still possible to die.

Explosion of gas

Lit oil lamps, torches, and candles can provoke an explosion in two areas in the Lumbridge Swamp Caves: a northwestern area, just north of the Lumbridge Swamp entrance, and a semi-enclosed patch in the south. Both are identifiable by scorch marks on the ground and white smoke coming from walls, and black patches on the minimap; blue gas vents in the rest of the cave are safe.

The explosion will extinguish all lit oil lamps, torches, and candles (although it does not destroy any of them), deal damage equal to about 10%-20% of a player's maximum life points (taking less percentage damage at higher levels), and leave players at the mercy of whatever lurks in the dark until a light source is relit. Players receive the warning Your [oil lamp/candle/torch] flares brightly! and have a few seconds to exit the area or put them out before damage is taken, but they are prevented from putting them out or dropping it (which automatically puts them out if done in a dark area) themselves if they do not have any other light source. If you have multiple types of the dangerous light source in your inventory, only one warning message will be shown, with the same priority as shown (e.g. an oil lamp warning would be given instead of for a lit candle, but if you extinguish the oil lamp, you will not receive a second warning and the lit candle will still cause an explosion).

An extinguished oil lamp can be combined with an oil lantern frame to make an oil lantern, and a candle (both unlit or lit) can be combined with a candle lantern (empty) to make a candle lantern (black) or candle lantern (white). None of the lanterns will ignite the swamp gas. However, candle lanterns will break into useless broken glass when failing the stepping stone Agility obstacle to the Tears of Guthix cavern, although the extinguished candle would be retrieved.

As the two areas contain little of interest players can opt to take other paths to reach the eastern parts of the caves instead; the southern patch is small enough that it is possible to simply run across during the warning period without the gas exploding.

Dark dungeons

The following locations require light sources:

• Elid Genie Cave west of Nardah
• Camdozaal Cavern
• Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon
• Lumbridge Swamp Caves
• Mos Le'Harmless Caves
• Skavid caves
• Sophanem Dungeon
• Temple of Ikov, room downstairs (does not have biting insects, but a light source is required to progress the quest)
• Abandoned Mine, level 6 only (does not have biting insects, but a glowing fungus from the level 2 to level 6 is required as the light source)
• Cave in Woodcutters' Grove accessed during Community Egg Hunt (a light source is required to enter)

Light source mechanics

Most light source items need a tinderbox to be lit. Torches can also be lit with dry sticks. Most light sources cannot be traded unless they are extinguished. Highest-level light sources, such as the Seer's headbands and the Firemaking cape, are permanently lit.

Firemaking levels are required to light different kinds of light sources. No experience is received for doing so. Some lanterns require glass, which can be made by using the Crafting skill. Players may acquire the empty or the filled version of the oil lamp, oil lantern, and bullseye lantern. In order to fill them, a player has to distil swamp tar in the Chemist's House in Rimmington or at the lamp stall in Dorgesh-Kaan.

Some light sources can go out on their own. For instance, a candle could be doused by a minor gust of cave wind. Moreover, the exposed flame could provoke an explosion of gas. Therefore a player should consider the candle lantern as the worst of the lanterns and should try to acquire an oil version. Bullseye lanterns, all versions of the Seer's headbands, and the Firemaking cape are examples of light sources that will never go out.

Falling into the water also extinguishes the light, if a player fails an Agility shortcut, such as the one in the Lumbridge Swamp Caves. The lens of the bullseye lantern may shatter, and the light may be extinguished, by a fall. If the lens is shattered, the candle cannot be relit, and the "tiny insects" will begin to appear.

Light source brightness

There are three levels of brightness (1 being the lowest and 3 the highest) and the brightness stacks to add up to 3. Therefore, three torches are equivalent in light to one bullseye lantern. Although combining multiple level one or two light sources can increase their collective brightness, a total brightness level above 3 makes no difference.

List of light sources

Item		level to light	Brightness	Slot	Notes
	Lit torch	1	1	Backpack	Players can purchase torches in Dorgesh-Kaan, Keldagrim, Shilo Village, Tai Bwo Wannai Village and Yanille. Interestingly, torches can be lit in the chamber filled with water in the Haunted Mine by rubbing dry sticks together and using them on the unlit torch.
	White candle (lit)	1	1	Backpack	Players can purchase white candles at Catherby's Candle Shop. A lit white candle can also be taken for free from the 1st floor[UK]2nd floor[US] of the Varrock Sword Shop.
	Black candle (lit)	1	1	Backpack	A black candle is used during the Merlin's Crystal quest. It can be purchased from the Candle Shop in Catherby afterwards.
	Candle lantern (lit white)	4	1	Backpack	Players can craft candle lanterns or buy them from other players.
	Candle lantern (lit black)	4	1	Backpack	Made by using a black candle on an empty candle lantern.
	Oil lamp	12	2	Backpack	An oil lamp can be crafted, or bought in Dorgesh-Kaan or from other players.
	Oil lantern	26	2	Backpack	When an oil lantern is lit, the fire will eventually go out.
	Bullseye lantern (lit)	49	3	Backpack	Players can craft bullseye lanterns or buy them from other players.
	Sapphire lantern (lit)	49	2	Backpack	This lantern is created by using a cut sapphire on an empty bullseye lantern and then adding swamp tar. It is mainly used for the Tears of Guthix and While Guthix Sleeps quests.
	Emerald lantern (lit)	49	3	Backpack	This lantern is used during the Lunar Diplomacy quest.
	Mining helmet (lit)	65	2	Head	Mining helmets can be bought at Miltog's Lamps in the Dorgesh-Kaan marketplace. They are dropped by level 11 cave goblin miners in the Lumbridge Swamp Caves. Players can also give a brooch to Mistag to obtain one (only works the first time). The helmet is worn on a player's head. Once it is lit, it will not go out on its own, except in the water-filled chamber in the Haunted Mine quest and in the Sophanem Dungeon during the Contact! quest.
	Seer's headband 1	Always lit	1	Head	Reward from the easy Seers' Village achievements.
	Seer's headband 2	Always lit	2	Head	Reward from the medium Seers' Village achievements.
	Seer's headband 3	Always lit	3	Head	Reward from the hard Seers' Village achievements.
	Seer's headband 4	Always lit	3	Head	Reward from the elite Seers' Village achievements.
	Bronze torch	Always lit	1	Main hand	Reward from the Gielinor Games.
	Silver torch	Always lit	1	Main hand	Reward from the Gielinor Games.
	Gold torch	Always lit	1	Main hand	Reward from the Gielinor Games.
	Flaming head	Always lit	2	Head	Obtained from Treasure Hunter and umbral chests
	Lightbulb hat	Always lit	2	Head	Can be created at an inventor's workbench.
	Pumpkin mask	Always lit	2	Head	Reward from the 2023 Halloween event. Does not need to be equipped.
	Ensouled pumpkin mask	Always lit	2	Head	Reward from the 2023 Halloween event. Does not need to be equipped.
	Firemaking cape	Always lit	3	Back	Requires level 99 Firemaking. Does not need to be equipped. Sold by Ignatius Vulcan.
	Firemaking master cape	Always lit	3	Back	Requires virtual level 120 Firemaking. Does not need to be equipped. Sold by Ignatius Vulcan.
	Glow Worm	Always lit	3	N/A	A perk from Invention that can be put on augmented equipment.

Shops

• Torches can be purchased in cities such as Dorgesh-Kaan, Keldagrim, Shilo Village, Tai Bwo Wannai, Yanille, at the Grand Exchange, and by trading with other players.
• There is a candle shop in Catherby where players may purchase white or black candles, for 1 coin each.
• Miltog's lamp shop has torches, mining helmets, and tinderboxes in its main stock and other light sources in its player stock.
• Players can steal candles from the north-east table in the Saradomin church on Entrana. Failing deals 30 life points of damage and produces the message "A higher power smites you."

Enhancers

Light enhancers are Summoning familiars that increase the brightness of light sources in the inventory.

Pouch	Familiar
	Vampyre bat
	Fruit bat
	Light creature

Other kinds of light

• The glowing fungus is the only light source working in the deepest parts of the Abandoned Mine. It does not function anywhere else.
• The city of Dorgesh-Kaan is kept alight by hundreds of magical lamps. As these lamps often break, one needs to repair them with the help of light orbs. This is one way to gain some Firemaking experience.
• The following items are not light sources despite their name or appearance:
  • Bug lantern (a Slayer item)
  • Ancient lantern (a rebounder)
  • Sana's fyrtorch (a skilling off-hand)
  • Skull lanterns and the Soulbound lantern (necromancy weapons)

Update history

This information has been compiled as part of the update history project. Some updates may not be included – see here for how to help out!

• patch 13 November 2012 (Update):
  • There is now a warning on exiting the Tears of Guthix cave about needing a light source.