Light sources are used by players via the Firemaking skill, in order to illuminate their way through dark caves and dungeons. Without them, some dungeons are pitch black and visibility is zero. The access to some dungeons is prohibited without a light source in hand. If a player attempts to extinguish a light source in an area where they need it (with the "extinguish" option), the game will not let them.
Consequences
The absence of a light source while in a dark area triggers the following message:
You hear tiny insects skittering over the ground...
A few seconds later, another message appears, which says:
Tiny biting insects swarm all over you!
The player will then start to get multiple hits of 1 life point or below very quickly until they die or relight their lamp. No Magic, item or Protection prayer can negate the damage. However certain Emotes, such as a skillcape emote, though unable to block the attacks, can temporarily slow their infliction. Once out of the movement phase of the emotes, you will get hit for the damage that you have missed while in the movements.
Players cannot attack without a light source in dark areas.
Explosion of gas
Oil lamps, candle lanterns, torches and candles can provoke an explosion in the Lumbridge Swamp Caves, which extinguishes the light source and causes up to 23 life points of damage.
Giant Mole
Sometimes, the Giant Mole will retreat by digging through the ground. If you stand near him while he's retreating, the mud from the ground will extinguish your light source, but not covered light sources like a bullseye lantern.
Dark dungeons
The following locations require light sources:
- A genie's cave west of Nardah
- Dorgesh-Kaan South Dungeon
- Falador Mole Lair
- Lumbridge Swamp Caves
- Mos Le'Harmless Caves
- Skavid Caves
- Sophanem Dungeon
- Temple of Ikov, room downstairs
Types of light source
Apart from the bullseye lantern, 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 one should consider the candle lantern as the worst of the lanterns and should try to acquire an oil version.
Falling into the water also extinguishes the light, if one attempts but 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 "tiny insects" will begin to appear.
Light source items all need a tinderbox to be lit, with the exception of torches which can also be lit with dry sticks. Most lit light sources cannot be traded unless they are extinguished.
Members can light lanterns to see in dimly lit underground dungeons. However, certain Firemaking levels are needed to light different kinds of lanterns. No experience is received when lighting a lantern. Some lanterns require glass, which can be made by using the Crafting skill.
There are three levels of brightness (1 being the lowest and 3 the highest) and the brightness does stack to add up to 3. Therefore, three torches are equivalent in light to one bullseye lantern.
| Name | Level to light | Brightness | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torch Torch |
1 | 1 | 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. |
 Candle |
1 | 1 | Players can purchase candles at Catherby's candle shop. One can also be purchased just outside of the Lumbridge Swamp Caves from the candle seller, but it will cost 1,000 coins and if taken into certain chambers it will set off an explosion. |
 Black candle |
1 | 1 | Used during the Merlin's Crystal quest. It can be purchased from the Catherby candle shop afterwards. |
| Candle lantern Candle lantern |
4 | 1 | Players can craft candle lanterns or buy them from other players. |
 Black candle lantern |
4 | 1 | Made by using a black candle on a candle lantern, no additional affect. |
 Oil lamp |
12 | 2 | Can be crafted by players, or bought from other players. |
 Oil lantern |
26 | 2 | Players can learn how to craft oil lanterns by talking to the candle seller at the Lumbridge Swamp. When the lantern is lit, the fire will eventually go out. |
 Bullseye lantern |
49 | 3 | Players can craft bullseye lanterns or buy them from other players. |
| Sapphire lantern Sapphire lantern |
49 | 2 | This lantern is created by taking a bullseye lantern and using a cut sapphire on it. It is mainly used for the Tears of Guthix quest. |
| File:Emerald lantern.png Emerald lantern |
49 | 3 | This lantern is used during the Lunar Diplomacy quest. |
| Mining helmet Mining helmet |
65 | 2 | Mining helmets are dropped by level 11 cave goblin miners in the Lumbridge Swamp Cave. Players can also give a brooch to Mistag to obtain one. (Only works the first time.) The helmets are worn on a player's head. Once they are lit, they will not go out on their own, except in the water-filled chamber in the Haunted Mine quest and in the Sophanem Dungeon during the Contact! quest. |
 Firemaking cape |
99 | ? | The cape acts as a permanent light source and cannot be extinguished. The Max cape has the same effect, as it inherits the effects of the cape. |
| Kandarin headgear (any) | N/A | ? | Inextinguishable light source. Completion of Kandarin Diary required (any set). |
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Filling sources
One may acquire the empty or the filled version of the oil lamp, oil lantern and bullseye lantern. In order to fill them, one has to distill swamp tar in the chemist's in Rimmington or at the lamp stall in Dorgesh-Kaan.
Shops
- Torches can be purchased in cities such as Dorgesh-Kaan, Keldagrim, Shilo Village, Tai Bwo Wannai, Yanille.
- The Candle Seller standing near the entrance of the Lumbridge Swamp Caves sells candles for 1000 coins.
- 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."
Other kinds of light
- Despite being a lantern, the bug lantern item cannot be used as a light source. It is used in the Slayer skill giving the ability to kill Harpie Bug Swarms. It requires 33 Slayer to wield.
- 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.
Trivia
- Although combining multiple level one or two light sources can increase their collective brightness, a total brightness level above 3 makes no difference.
- Dungeons that require these are the only locations where you are able to adjust the lighting without changing graphics options, making it a possible tool for videomaking.
- If you find yourself in a dungeon without a light source or a teleport (home teleport does not work when being attacked by bugs), you have a grace period of roughly 10 seconds to get to an area where a light source is not required.