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{{external|rs}}{{otheruses|the function that allows players to remove items from their inventories|the items that monsters drop when they die|Drops}}
The '''drop''' function is the action in which a [[player]] removes an item from their [[inventory]], placing it on the ground. The drop function is one of the default right-click options (sometimes replaced with [[destroy]] for most untradable, holiday, and quest related items) but can be made into the left-click option by toggling Shift Click to Drop in the Controls tab of the Options menu, this enables the player to drop items by holding the left-shift key and left-clicking.  A dropped item does appear on the ground where the player was standing, and can be recovered at any time. Every item holds this function, except for certain untradeable items (such as [[event rewards]]) where the drop function is replaced by 'destroy' and items that cannot be dropped or destroyed such as [[bonds]]. Destroyed items do not appear where the player was standing, and to recover it, the player will have to return to the original source of the item (or a special [[NPC]] that replaces them) unless the item is permanently lost and cannot be reclaimed.

The limit to the number of different items that can fit on one game tile is 128, with stackable items such as coins and noted items counting as one. However, items dropped on the ground disappear after a certain time. Tradeable items appear to other players 60 seconds (one minute) after being dropped, and disappear after another 120 seconds (two minutes) if not picked up. Items placed on tables will appear to other players 60 seconds (one minute) after being placed, and disappear after 9 minutes. Untradeable items disappear after 180 seconds (three minutes). Items dropped by an account with less than 20 hours of playtime follow the rule for dropped untradeable items.

==Functions==
Drop is normally used to free a space in the player's inventory, whether temporarily or permanently. For example, if a player wishes to bury the bones in front of them, they may drop their coins, pick up and bury the bones, and then recover the coins. If a player receives an item useless to them, it is often dropped promptly so as to not waste inventory space.

==Restrictions==
Players can still drop items for others to pick-up; however, in order for such items to become visible they must be logged in prior to when the item was dropped, or placed on a table, and stay logged in until the item becomes visible. Logging out during or after this period, when the item is either invisible or after it becomes visible, will make it impossible to see or pick up the item. 

==Variants==
The drop function is replaced by the destroy function in certain items, usually [[event rewards]] or items requiring a specific [[skill]] or [[quest]], etc. The destroy function is similar to the drop; it likewise removes the item from the inventory, but unlike drop, it does not appear on the game screen and cannot be recovered. Because of this, when a player attempts to destroy an item, they will always get a warning message. The message usually lists possible ways to recover the item as well.

==Drop trading==
Drop trading is the term given to the trading method by which one [[player]] drops an item to give to another player, and, after waiting for the item to become visible, the receiving player picks it up.

===Historical drop trading===
Drop trading has been used historically as a way of breaking [[Code_of_Conduct#Original_rules|Rule 6]] (Account Sharing/Trading), which dictated that no items may be transferred between [[account]]s of the same owner, usually a [[main account]] and a [[pure]]. This use of drop trading was used when having two clients opened at the same time was not possible. Notably, Rule 6 was expanded to allow accounts owned by the same player to trade without being in violation of the rules{{CiteGeneral |url = https://www.jagex.com/en-GB/terms/rules-of-runescape |title = Rules of RuneScape |publisher = Jagex |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20230128053017/https://www.jagex.com/en-GB/terms/rules-of-runescape |archivedate = 28 January 2023 |date = 2 February 2023}}.

Drop trading was used even more before [[bank]]s that could hold items were introduced to the game. Many players would have "mule" [[character]]s, which would serve as an item bank, and transfers would be done through drop trading. This was against the rules, and many players have been permanently banned for it although this was hard to catch due to the player not saying anything during the drop trade transfer. However, drop trading is also risky because there is a chance that the items could be intercepted by another player.

In the very early days, this rule was rarely enforced. Well known players often asked for "coal mules" in return for expensive items. It is reported that [[Jagex]] started deleting mule accounts some time in early 2001 but stopped due to the chance of an innocent player being deleted.

In [[RuneScape 2]], while the [[rsw:Trade_limit|trade limit]] was in place, only items of small value could be seen by other players.

==Changes==
{{Subject changes header}}
{{Subject changes
|date = 23 April 2015
|update = Crystal Halberd Special & More
|poll = Old School Content Poll 32: Resizable Mode
|change = Warnings when trying to use high alchemy on valuable items will now appear based on the Grand Exchange value of items rather than the alchemy value.
}}
{{Subject changes
|date = 10 July 2014
|update = The Game Filter is Here!
|change = The warning prompted when dropping high value items now has option to disable it permanently.
}}
{{Subject changes
|date = 3 July 2014
|update = Halos, God Books & Stamina
|change = Dropping an item with an alchemy value of 30,000 coins or more will now prompt a confirmation message.
}}
{{Subject changes footer}}

==See also==
*[[Drop trick]]
[[Category:Mechanics]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}