Light sources

Light sources are used through the Firemaking skill to light the way through dark dungeons. Without them some places are pitch black and players cannot see where they are going. Some places won't even let a player in without one.

Apart from the Bullseye lantern, some light sources can go out. 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 would also extinguish the light. Some lanterns could also break while falling. The Bullseye lantern will not break during a fall nor will it be extinguished by water.

If a light source is extinguished while in the dark area, and the player does not switch it on fast enough, a message appears, which reads:

You hear tiny insects skittering over the ground...

A bit later, another message appears, which says:

Tiny biting insects swarm all over you!

The player will start to lose 1 hp every few seconds until he/she dies or relights their lamp. No Magic, item or Protection prayer can negate the damage. However, the Protect Item prayer is effective, and certain Emotes, such as Give Thanks, though unable to block the attacks, can temporarily slow their infliction.

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.

Light source Items
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). They add up till 3. Therefore, three torches are equivalent in light to a Bullseye lantern.

Filling
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.

Explosion of gas
Oil lamps(or lower)can provoke an explosion in the Lumbridge cave, which extinguishes the lamp and does 15 damage.

Shops

 * Torches can be purchased in cities such as Dorgesh-Kaan, Keldagrim, Shilo Village, Tai Bwo Wannai, Yanille, the Grand Exchange and by trading with other players.


 * The Candle Seller standing near the entrance of the Lumbridge Swamp Caves sells candles for 1000gp.


 * There is a Candle Shop in Catherby where players may purchase white or black candles, for 1 gp 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 gives this message "A higher power smites you" & does 3 damage (similar to pickpocketing farmers)

Other kind of lights

 * 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.


 * The Seers' headbands, rewards for the Seers' Village Diary, can be used as light sources. They are always lit and do not require use of a tinderbox.
 * Seers' headband 1 is a level 1 light source.
 * Seers' headband 2 is a level 2 light source.
 * Seers' headband 3 is a level 3 light source.

Trivia

 * The more light sources a person has lit in a cave, the brighter it will be.