### Overview: Inverted Archaeology Skillcape (120) #### Summary The Inverted Archaeology Skillcape (120) is a rare cosmetic introduced during the Golden Cape Hunt event in 2022. Players could earn inverted skillcapes for any skill in which they had achieved the 120 mastery milestone (level 120 or its virtual equivalent). The inverted variant of the Archaeology skillcape is particularly sought after due to its striking blue tone and Archaeology’s slower nature of currency farming, limiting availability. Its scarcity and prestige make it highly desirable for collectors and cosmetics enthusiasts alike. #### Release and Rarity The item was released as part of the limited-time Golden Cape Hunt event, specifically during RuneScape's 300M account celebration in mid-2022. Players collected shards from activities to unlock these capes, but due to the event's short duration and the grind-heavy shard requirements, inverted capes are seldom seen in-game. Since they are no longer attainable except via player trading, the supply is static and demand is dictated by collector trends. #### Rarity Tier: Extremely Rare The inverted Archaeology 120 cape ranks among the rarer capes since Archaeology itself was only introduced in 2020, meaning newer players and casuals were unlikely to have hit 120 during the event timeframe. This contrasts with capes like Inverted Cooking or Firemaking, which have broader accessibility due to the ease of training those skills. --- ### Price History and Insights #### Price Data Analysis 1. **Initial Peak (November 2022)**: The item's value spiked to 18B GP after release due to overwhelming hype and low supply. This bubble burst quickly as speculative investors flooded the market with listings. 2. **Correction Phase (Late 2022 to Early 2023)**: After brief volatility, the cape settled between 3B–4.5B GP by December 2022. Holiday promotions and Fresh Start Worlds’ conclusion likely funneled money into collectibles. 3. **Crash (Early 2023)**: A significant price dip occurred post-January due to the 700B/hour Scrimshaw dupe from January 29. This economic destabilization caused hyperinflation, but paradoxically deflated prices of collectibles as players liquidated items to hold GP amidst uncertainty. Prices fell to around 1.2B–2B range in February. 4. **Current Stabilization**: By mid-2023, the cape found a consistent range around 1.5–2.4B GP, driven by collectors regaining confidence in the market, though its upper limit struggles due to alternative prestige cosmetics (e.g., Necromancy capes). --- ### Future Price Prediction (Next Few Months) 1. **Short-Term (1–3 Months)**: - **Predicted Range**: Steady climb towards **2.3B–2.8B GP**. - **Catalysts**: The upcoming RuneScape combat rework in March 2024 may cause short-term demand to spike as collectors and returning players reassess the market. The item’s supply is static, and natural appreciation could be reignited by new long-term players chasing rare cosmetics. 2. **Medium-Term (3–6 Months)**: - **Predicted Range**: Potential recovery to **3B+ GP** by late 2024, especially following updates like Mining/Smithing reworks (August 2024) or seasonal events that bring GP sinks into play. - **Risks**: Further GP injections (e.g., Treasure Hunter rewards or updates like the Max Cash exploit in May 2024) could hinder this recovery, as inflation depreciates relative values of collectibles versus raw gold. #### Interesting Insights: - **Rebound Riches**: The historical crash after the Scrimshaw dupe shows that inverted capes are still inflation-safe investments compared to ultra-high-end rares like partyhats, suggesting resilience in recovering markets. - **Competing Prestige**: Archaeology faces competition from popular skillcape mods such as inverted Necromancy or Slayer. Both newer skills may divert collector focus in the case of significant updates, suppressing valuation gains for Archaeology over time. --- ### Flipping and Margins Inverted items have historically proven ideal for flipping due to their low trade frequency. Typical spreads for the Archaeology cape are in the range of **100–200M GP** when flipped between active buyers/sellers. 1. **Optimal Margin Strategy**: - Purchase during periods of low engagement (e.g., post-event lulls or content droughts). - Sell during hype spikes (e.g., patches, skill rebalance rumors, or upcoming events like Easter or Anniversary promotions offering GP bonuses). 2. **Typical Flip Timing**: - Short-term holds (days to weeks): Look for margins of **50M–75M GP** in volatile markets. - Long-term holds (months): Likely returns of **500M–1B+** GP over a year if purchased during suppressed price phases. --- ### Similar Items and Investment Advice 1. **Alternate Investments**: If looking for similarly rare cosmetics, consider: - **Inverted Necromancy Skillcape** (introduced in mid-2023, has comparable prestige but newer to the market). - **Golden Reaper Title Token** (prestige value for PVMers, with relatively low trade frequency). - **Inverted Slayer Skillcape** (due to Slayer’s popularity, it continues to hold stable demand despite its wide availability historically). 2. **Preferred Seasons for Investing**: - **Positive Outcomes**: Pre-summer updates (June–July 2024) as excitement around major reworks causes gold sinks and price boosts. - **Negative Outcomes**: Post-GP injection events (e.g., Treasure Hunter boosts or reward exploits), as higher GP liquidity disproportionately depresses fixed-supply items. --- ### Conclusion The Inverted Archaeology Skillcape (120) remains an undervalued but fundamentally stable cosmetic in RuneScape 3. While it may experience modest appreciation over the next year, its long-term appeal hinges on favorability in the collector economy. For effective flipping, leverage GP inflation cycles and scarcity trends, and consider diversifying into newer inverted skillcapes for maximum profitability amidst changing player habits.