How to Light a Candle in OSRS A Step-by-Step Guide

In Old School RuneScape (OSRS), lighting a candle is a fundamental skill for navigating dark areas like the Lumbridge Swamp Caves or completing quests such as Enlightened Journey and Merlin’s Crystal. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about lighting a candle in OSRS, from acquiring the necessary items to avoiding common pitfalls. Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned adventurer, mastering this Firemaking task is essential for safe exploration. Let’s dive into the details!

Candles are the lowest-tier light source in OSRS, used primarily in the Firemaking skill to illuminate dark environments. Without a light source, dungeons like the Lumbridge Swamp Caves are pitch black, making navigation impossible and exposing players to dangers like tiny biting insects that deal rapid damage. Candles are also required for specific quests, making them a versatile item for both exploration and progression.

Key Uses of a Lit Candle

Illumination: Provides basic visibility in dark dungeons.
Quest Requirements: Essential for quests like Enlightened Journey and Enakhra’s Lament.
Crafting Candle Lanterns: Can be combined with a lantern frame for a safer light source.

How to Acquire a Candle in OSRS

Before you can light a candle, you need to get one. Candles are easy to obtain through various methods, making them accessible even for low-level players.

Where to Buy Candles

You can purchase candles from several NPCs in OSRS:

Location	NPC	Cost
Catherby	Candle Shop	3–4 coins
Lumbridge Swamp Caves Entrance	Candle Seller	1,000 coins (lit candle)

Other Ways to Obtain Candles

Stealing: Steal a candle from the church on Entrana.
Spawns: Find lit candles in the Ardougne Monastery, the Watchtower north of Yanille, or the sword shop in Varrock (1st/2nd floor).
Trading: Buy from other players via the Grand Exchange or direct trade.
Quest Rewards: Obtain black candles during Merlin’s Crystal by providing a bucket of wax to the Candle Maker in Catherby.

Step-by-Step Guide to Lighting a Candle

Lighting a candle in OSRS is straightforward but requires specific items and precautions. Follow these steps to light your candle safely and effectively.

Items You’ll Need

Candle: Unlit candle (white or black, depending on the context).
Tinderbox: Used to light the candle. Automatically added to your tool belt after completing the tutorial, so you don’t need to carry one separately.

Lighting the Candle

Ensure you have both an unlit candle and a tinderbox in your inventory. If the tinderbox is on your tool belt, you’re good to go.
Right-click the unlit candle in your inventory and select “Light.” Alternatively, use the tinderbox on the candle.
The candle will become a lit candle, ready to illuminate dark areas. Note that lighting a candle grants no Firemaking experience.
If the candle is extinguished (e.g., by falling into swamp water), repeat the process to relight it.

Extinguishing a Lit Candle

To extinguish a lit candle, right-click it and select “Extinguish” or drop it (which automatically extinguishes it in dark areas). Be cautious, as you cannot extinguish a candle in areas where a light source is required, as the game prevents this to ensure visibility.

Safety Tips for Using Candles in OSRS

While candles are simple to use, they come with risks, especially in hazardous areas like the Lumbridge Swamp Caves. Here are some tips to stay safe:

Avoiding Gas Explosions

In certain areas of the Lumbridge Swamp Caves, a lit candle can ignite swamp gas, causing an explosion. When you enter such an area, a message appears: “Your candle flares brightly!” You have about 4.2 seconds (7 ticks) to leave the area or face an explosion that deals up to 25% of your total Hitpoints in damage and extinguishes the candle.

Prevention:

Use a candle lantern instead, as it has a lower chance of igniting gas.
Move quickly through gas-heavy areas or take safer routes, like the Lumbridge Castle basement path to the Chasm of Tears.

Protecting Against Environmental Hazards

Candles can be extinguished by environmental factors:

Swamp Water: Falling into water in the Lumbridge Swamp Caves douses the candle.
Giant Mole: The Giant Mole’s digging can extinguish unshielded light sources like candles.
Cave Wind: Rarely, a gust of wind in caves may extinguish a candle.

Solution: Always carry a tinderbox and consider upgrading to a bullseye lantern or Kandarin headgear for more reliable lighting.

Dealing with Tiny Insects

If your candle goes out in a dark area, you’ll hear: “You hear tiny insects skittering over the ground…” Soon after, “Tiny biting insects swarm all over you!” These insects deal rapid 1 HP damage until you relight your candle or die.

How to Avoid:

Relight your candle immediately using a tinderbox.
Use multiple light sources (e.g., three candles) for maximum brightness, reducing the impact of one going out.

Upgrading from Candles to Better Light Sources

While candles are useful for beginners, they’re not the most reliable light source. Consider upgrading to these alternatives for safer exploration:

Candle Lantern

A candle lantern is a members-only light source requiring level 4 Firemaking. To make one:

Obtain an empty candle lantern (crafted from molten glass or obtained as a drop from cave bugs).
Place an unlit white or black candle in the lantern frame.
Light it with a tinderbox.

Benefits: Less likely to ignite swamp gas and more durable than a standalone candle, though the lens may shatter if you fall.

Bullseye Lantern

The bullseye lantern is a high-tier light source that doesn’t provoke gas explosions and provides maximum brightness. It requires lamp oil (made from swamp tar) and a tinderbox to light.

Kandarin Headgear

Obtained by completing the easy Kandarin Diary, this equippable light source is ideal for advanced players. It doesn’t require maintenance and is perfect for dark dungeons.

Comparison of Light Sources

Light Source	Brightness Level	Members-Only	Risk of Explosion
Candle	1	No	High
Candle Lantern	1	Yes	Moderate
Bullseye Lantern	3	Yes	None
Kandarin Headgear	3	Yes	None

Note: Combining multiple light sources increases brightness, but anything above level 3 has no additional effect. For example, three candles equal the brightness of one bullseye lantern.

By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to light a candle in OSRS and safely explore the game’s darkest corners. Whether you’re tackling a quest or venturing into the Lumbridge Swamp Caves, a lit candle is your first step to success. Happy adventuring!