- Highlighting the Problem is a secondary quest in the Bramblemead Valley Runecrafting Guild area
- Start by interacting with the wizard statue on the cliffs north of the Temple Woods
- The password (pthentorok) is hidden inside the Thishepen Karavault vault
- Charging the mysterious orb requires activating three tower pedestals with Windstep
- Reward: the Staff of Light recipe, a weapon dealing 4.5 rune damage
Quest Overview: Highlighting the Problem
Highlighting the Problem is a secondary quest in RuneScape: Dragonwilds that rewards one of the more striking early-game weapon recipes in the game: the Staff of Light. The quest begins at a statue of a wizard located in the Runecrafting Guild in Bramblemead Valley, perched on top of the cliffs directly north of the Temple Woods. There are no hard requirements beyond completing the First Steps quest, which makes this a great pickup for players exploring the Brymoor region.
The quest's official description reads: "Explore the Runecrafting Guild to discover the means to craft a powerful magical weapon." While no items are strictly required, the journey takes you through a vault full of enemies and involves vertical traversal, so preparation matters.
Video Highlights:
- Start at the chapel-like building in the northwest of Bramblemead Valley
- Use Windstep to descend the cliff to the vault entrance without taking fall damage
- The password comes from a glowing blue statue inside the vault's rat room
- Three pylon pedestals around the guild towers charge the mysterious orb
- Reward is the Staff of Light recipe (4.5 rune damage)
Here is a quick summary of the quest's key facts:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Quest type | Secondary quest |
| Region | Bramblemead Valley (Brymoor) |
| Start point | Statue of a wizard, Runecrafting Guild |
| Prerequisite | First Steps quest |
| Required items | None |
| Recommended | Good armour and weapons, food, air runes for Windstep |
| Reward | Recipe for the Staff of Light |
The quest relies heavily on Windstep for safe cliff descents, reaching the vault tunnel, and climbing all three guild towers. Stock up on air runes before you start so you don't have to backtrack mid-quest.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Follow these steps in order to complete the quest efficiently. You do not need to fully clear the vault — going straight for the password is perfectly viable if you want a fast run.
Find the Wizard Statue
Head to the northwest of Bramblemead Valley to the chapel-like building in the Runecrafting Guild area. On the left side of the building you'll find the statue of a wizard. Interact with it and speak one of the offered words to receive the quest and a new map marker.
Enter the Thishepen Karavault
The marker points to a cliff right of the chapel. Look down to spot the dungeon entrance at the base of the cliff and use Windstep to hop down without taking damage. The vault is full of loot and enemies, but for a speed run, head directly toward the objective.
Retrieve the Password
Make your way to a room with broken debris and four giant rats. Climb up the broken structure (Windstep helps) and enter the small elevated tunnel on the right. There's a lootable chest plus a glowing blue statue — interact with it to learn the password: pthentorok.
Return to the Wizard Statue
Exit the vault and climb back up to the wizard statue. Speak the password. A mysterious voice will reward you with the mysterious orb (uncharged) and tell you to charge it.
Charge the Orb at Three Pylons
Interact with the pedestals on the three towers surrounding the guild's main tower. Use Windstep plus surrounding rocks, rubble, and boxes to reach each tower top. Watch out for goblins (including an archer) near the third pylon — clear them before climbing.
Claim Your Reward
Once all three pedestals are activated, the orb becomes the mysterious orb (charged). Return to the wizard statue, let him finish talking, and the quest completes — granting the Staff of Light recipe.
Near the third pylon, you'll need to drop down past two goblins and a goblin archer. Fighting them with low health or no food is risky — clear the area first, then use the boxes to Windstep up to the pedestal.
Pylon Locations and Route Tips
The three pylons surround the main guild tower, and each requires a slightly different approach. Here's how to handle each one:
| Pylon | Approach | Hazards |
|---|---|---|
| Pylon 1 | Hop onto the nearby rock, Windstep up to the pedestal | Low — open area |
| Pylon 2 | Windstep toward the tower, grab the chest on the way | Low — mobility-dependent |
| Pylon 3 | Drop down, clear goblins + archer, climb boxes, Windstep up | Moderate — combat required |
Vault Speed Run
- Skip most of the Thishepen Karavault
- Go straight to the rat room
- Grab the chest in the tunnel on the way out
Full Vault Clear
- Loot all chests and resources
- Farm vault enemies for drops
- Slower, but better early-game value
Tower Circuit
- Do pylons in order (1, 2, 3)
- Keep air runes stocked
- Clear goblins before the final climb
You don't need maximum spell power for the climbs. The rubble, rocks, and crates scattered around the guild towers are placed intentionally — chain small hops with Windstep off scenery pieces rather than trying one long jump to each tower top.
Reward: Staff of Light Recipe
The quest's payoff is the recipe for the Staff of Light, which the in-game journal lists at 4.5 rune damage — a notably strong magic weapon for this stage of the game. Crafting it requires the following materials:
| Material | Notes |
|---|---|
| Light wood | Gathered from the world |
| Wild anima | Dropped/collected from creatures |
| Sapphire | Mining/gem source |
| Vault shard | Obtained in vaults like Thishepen Karavault |
| Vault core | Deeper vault reward |
The Staff of Light recipe unlocks a strong rune-damage weapon without requiring a primary questline. If you're building a mage-focused loadout early in Brymoor, Highlighting the Problem is one of the best secondary quests to prioritize — and the vault run doubles as a loot trip for vault shards and cores.
Preparation Checklist
Run through this checklist before heading to the guild so your quest run goes smoothly:
Before You Start:
- Complete the First Steps quest
- Stock air runes for multiple Windstep casts
- Bring good armour and a solid weapon
- Pack food for the vault rats and goblins
- Clear inventory space for vault loot and the orb
FAQ
Q: Do I need to complete the entire Thishepen Karavault for Highlighting the Problem?
No. You only need the password, which is found at a glowing blue statue on an elevated path to the right in the room with four giant rats. The rest of the vault is optional — though looting it along the way can net useful vault materials.
Q: What is the password for the wizard statue?
The password is pthentorok. Learn it from the glowing blue statue inside the vault, then return to the wizard statue at the Runecrafting Guild and speak it to receive the mysterious orb (uncharged).
Q: What ability is required for Highlighting the Problem?
Windstep is essential. You need it to safely descend the cliff to the vault, reach the elevated tunnel in the rat room, and climb all three guild towers to activate the pedestals. Bring plenty of air runes.
Q: What do I get for completing Highlighting the Problem?
You receive the recipe for the Staff of Light, a magical weapon with 4.5 rune damage. Crafting it requires light wood, wild anima, sapphire, vault shard, and vault core.