Light sources

Light sources are used to illuminate dark caves and dungeons. Some of these areas are inaccessible or very dangerous without a light source.

Most light sources are items that require certain Firemaking levels to be lit. However, there are also certain equipable and stationary light sources.

After spending 9 seconds in a dark area without a light source, there will be a warning message and after 18 seconds (30 ticks), the message Tiny biting insects swarm all over you! is displayed in the chatbox. Starting with that message, 1 damage per tick will be dealt in quick succession, which cannot be blocked with protection prayers. The damage will stop upon leaving the dark area or igniting a light source.

Note: The 18 seconds timer can be reset by logging out, however, it is not possible to log out after being damaged, as it is considered in-combat.

Players cannot attack without a light source in dark areas but can still be attacked.

• Abandoned Mine
• Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon
• Dorgesh-Kaan mine
• Mole Hole
• The genie's cavern west of Nardah
• Kruk's Dungeon
• Lumbridge Swamp Caves
• Mos Le'Harmless Cave
• Shayzien Crypts
• Skavid Caves
• Sophanem Dungeon
• Temple of Ikov dungeon lower level

• Chasm of Tears
• Crombwick Manor
• Slayer Tower basement

Unlit light sources may be lit by using a tinderbox on them. Torches may also be lit with dry sticks or on a heat source that is capable of cooking food, such as a fire, fireplace, sulphur vent, range, and Gnome cooker. Each lightable item has a certain Firemaking level requirement to be lit. Players may use spicy stews to boost their level with up to 5.

Empty oil lamps, empty oil lanterns, and empty bullseye lanterns have to be filled with lamp oil before they can be lit. Lamp oil is made by distilling swamp tar at either the lamp oil still in the Chemist's house in Rimmington, or the lamp still next to Miltog in Dorgesh-Kaan.

Light sources that have been lit can be extinguished at any time by the player, unless it is the only light source in a dark area. Some light sources can also forcibly be extinguished by several monsters and environmental effects:

• Falling into water (upon failing an Agility obstacle) will douse all extinguishable light sources.
• Gas explosions will extinguish candles, torches, and oil lamps while dealing damage to the player.
• The giant mole might extinguish any candles, torches, or oil lamps when it digs away.
• Scarab mages can occasionally make all extinguishable light sources go out: Your lights have been magically extinguished..
• In the Sophanem Dungeon, falling into a scarab trap puts out every extinguishable light source.

Torches, candles and oil lamps will cause gas explosions in certain areas of the Lumbridge Swamp Caves, as the flames are exposed to the gas.

Upon entering such area with one of these light sources, a message is displayed in the chat box; Your [light source] flares brightly!. After roughly 4.2 seconds (7 ticks) in the area, a gas explosion occurs, dealing 25% of a player's total Hitpoints in damage. The light source will then also be extinguished.

Constructing the Fire of Eternal Light (after the quest Making Friends with My Arm) in the swamp caves will disable gas explosions. It also functions as a light source throughout the caves.

Certain light sources do not have to be ignited, and may be equipped.

Each light source has a different level of brightness, which only visually changes how illuminated a dark area will be. There are three levels of brightness, and these will stack (for example, the brightness of three candles is equivalent to the brightness of one bullseye lantern). Combining multiple light sources increases the brightness, however a brightness level above three makes no difference.

• The bug lantern is not a light source despite its name. Its only uses are for Slayer to kill Harpie Bug Swarms, for Lantern harpooning, and as warm clothing at Wintertodt.