The numbers
- Buy price
- 5c
- Sells for
- 16–24c
- Max stack
- 1
- Category
- Light
Does it earn its slot?
This is one of the rare things that sells for more than it costs: 5c at the shop against 16–24c from the appraiser. If you finish a run without needing it, it has still paid for itself — which makes it close to free insurance. Compare that with armour, where a 30-coin Breastplate returns 1–3.
What a light slot is for
Darkness is a sanity drain, not just a visibility problem, so light is closer to a consumable resource than to equipment. The real decision is placed versus carried: a dropped torch marks a route for the whole crew, while a lamp only helps whoever holds it.
The opportunity cost is the honest way to judge any of it. Your pack is the binding constraint, and the same slot could come home holding a Metal Idol worth 80–120 at the Basic tier and 560–840 at Legendary, or two bottles of wine at up to 720. At 16–24c, this item is not competing on resale — it earns its place through what it doesduring the run, or it doesn't earn it at all.
For the 5c this costs, the shop will also sell you a Machete (5c, 22 damage) with change left over. Whether that trade is right depends entirely on the contract — which is the argument for reading it before you shop.
Other light gear
| Item | Cost | Sells | Stack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cthulhu Lantern | 5c | 16–24c | 1 |
| Torch | 5c | 1–5c | 1 |
| Rushlight | 5c | — | — |
Keep reading
The full quartermaster's table with prices.
What else competes for the slot.
The four roles a crew settles into.
The other half of what you carry.
What to buy first, and what to leave aboard.
Contract gear uses different names — the decoder is here.
Oil Lamp questions
What does the Oil Lamp do in The Mound?
Wick and oil, steady and reliable. Five coin to buy and 16–24 back, three to five times over. Only the 3c Bandage returns a better multiple.
How much is the Oil Lamp worth?
It sells to the appraiser for 16–24c, against a shop price of 5c.