### Trimmed Masterwork Platebody Overview **Summary and Rarity:** The Trimmed Masterwork Platebody is a high-end melee torso piece crafted through Smithing. It's considered one of the best-in-slot items for PvM. Introduced on **January 7, 2019** with the Mining and Smithing rework, it stands out due to its laborious creation process requiring various crafting stages, Masterwork components, and time-intensive procedures to "trim" the armor. Its **rarity** derives from both the difficulty of crafting and the inherent item sink built into the degradation mechanics, as it cannot be repaired with gold but must be fully remade upon depletion. This system keeps its demand relatively stable while controlling oversupply. --- ### Price History and Key Trends From the supplied data, several insights emerge: 1. **Historic Peaks:** - The platebody was trading consistently above **220M GP** in the second half of 2022 during high activity times like the **Fresh Start Worlds event**. This was likely due to a surge in new and returning players rushing to obtain endgame gear. - Prior to that, in April 2022, demand spiked to **233.8M GP**, possibly fueled by disposable income from the **bond price adjustment** or enhanced PvM challenges. 2. **Major Crashes:** - **Post-Wilderness (October 2022):** A sudden dip to **125.5M GP** occurred after the removal of PvP in the Wilderness. This likely stemmed from reduced competitive interest among players who previously invested in Trimmed Masterwork for PvP tanking durability. - **February 2024:** A small crash to **115M GP** coincided with various gold exploits and **duping episodes**, which contributed to inflation and decreased purchasing power across the economy. 3. **Recent Surge (March 2024):** The price surged to its current value of around **154M GP**, likely related to the **Combat update (03/2024)**, which revamped PvM mechanics. Players are likely gearing up to tackle buffed bosses or taking advantage of Necromancy’s synergy with melee builds, causing a rebound in trimmed armor demand. --- ### Price Prediction (Next Few Months) **Short-Term (Q2 2024):** - **Expected Price Range:** **130M - 180M GP** - Upcoming updates in **June 2024** like **Sanctum of Rebirth** and **Mining/Smithing tweaks** may influence Masterwork platebody indirectly as new bosses or meta shifts may increase demand for durable PvM setups. However, the **Bond Price Update (06/2024)** to $8.99 could trigger a gold injection into the economy, artificially inflating prices. **Key Factors:** - If **gold sinks** or crafting adjustments target Masterwork armor, prices may stabilize or increase. - Botting crackdowns or anti-dupe measures could significantly bolster item prices. - Conversely, new BIS gear from **Sanctum of Rebirth** might cause Trimmed Masterwork Platebody prices to stagnate short-term due to competition. **Medium-Term Prediction (Q4 2024):** - **Expected Price Range:** **160M - 200M GP** - Should no significant disruptors be introduced, a steady increase is likely as new players integrate into the post-Summer economy, especially among late adopters of Necromancy. A likely **GIM bug-induced gold sink (11/2024)** will strengthen the item’s value. --- ### Flipping Margins - **Typical Margin:** ~5M to 10M GP per flip. - Flipping opportunities rely on **daily volatility**, which is often fueled by updates, Treasure Hunter promos, or patch notes. For example: - Buying around **major downtime patches** (e.g., Mining rework in August 2024 or PvM updates) often leads to underpriced listings. - Selling during **update hypes**, such as Necromancy boss rotations, can yield solid margins. - Monitoring GE trends daily ensures procurement in the region of **low 140Ms** and selling during rebound peaks (above 150M). --- ### Comparable Items & Investment Strategy **Complementary/Similar Items:** 1. **Trimmed Masterwork Helm and Legs**: These tend to follow trends similar to the Platebody. Investing in the set can reduce risk if demand for one fluctuates less than the others. 2. **Elder Rune +5 Gear:** A cheaper alternative often used by PvM learners or casual players. It sees parallel spikes with updates targeting mid-tier PvMers. 3. **T92 Reprisal Armor (PvP-Derived):** If PvP reworks happen in late 2024, it’s worth diversifying into competitive alternatives to Trimmed armor targeting similar niches. **Seasonality Outlook:** - **Positive Seasonality:** - **August-October:** Post-summer events attract players focused on endgame PvM gearing. - **Holiday Season (December):** Players often liquidate Treasure Hunter rewards or splurge GP after acquiring promo earnings and Black Partyhat-related wealth. - **Negative Seasonality:** - **January-March:** Item prices tend to slump with new lower-tier gear or reworks as players liquidate assets to try updates. The **Mining rework in August 2024** could provoke a brief crash for Smithing-related armor. **Strategy:** Carefully balance flipping Trimmed Masterwork against underdog investments like Elder Rune or T85 Defenders, which see consistent profit surges during PvM updates or Necromancy content.