Runes

On your journey you will find runes: long-forgotten relics of the past. Many of these runes will improve your skills and those of your fellow combatants. You should also look out for altars and break their seals to release the runes of the gods.

Thorald has 5 belts for sword, bow, combatants, city and divine runes. Each one starts with 3 rune sockets, and the limit can be increased up to 6 by finding additional sockets. Divine runes can only be obtained by releasing altars, which will give a selection of 3 runes.

You will begin the game with one rune and one rune rocket.

Standard runes

If Thorald dies on any difficulty higher than Easy he must sacrifice a standard rune if you have any. You will never lose divine runes.

Rune	Type	Effects
Enchanted Cut	Sword	Damage +20% Not stackable
Refreshing Strike	Sword	Stamina +2 (8% Chance)
Strong Body	Sword	Max health +20
Empty Quiver	Bow	Arrows +1
Bull's Eye	Combatants	Accuracy +20 for ranged fighters
Hasty Steel	Combatants	Attack speed +10% for melee fighters
Healthy Troops	Combatants	Max health +5% for units
Holy Heart	Combatants	Max health for ranged fighters +10%
Home Sweet Home	Combatants	Heal +5% every 3 seconds if behind city gates
Bident	City	Food production +10% Not stackable
Full Bags	City	Rations +2
Two-Handed Saw	City	Wood production +10 Not stackable
Night Runner	Sword	Max stamina +40% (at night)
Blood Arrow	Bow	Damage +100% Max health -25% Not stackable
Air Resistance	Combatants	Accuracy +40% for catapults
Breathing World	Combatants	Stamina +15% every 2 seconds if behind city gates
Hurry	Combatants	Attack speed +10% for units
Lubricant	Combatants	Attack speed +20% for catapults
No Rest	Combatants	Max stamina +10% for units
Sturdy Gates	City	Damage -20% to city gates Not stackable
Empty Quiver	Bow	Arrows +2
Bloody Skin	Combatants	Bleed (25% chance)
Hasty Fingers	Combatants	Attack speed +30% for ranged fighters
Hasty Steel	Combatants	Attack speed +30% for melee fighters
Iron Heart	Combatants	Max health +30% for mercenaries
Lighter Chains	Combatants	+30% Attack speed for battering rams
Lightweight	Combatants	+25% Dodge chance for melee fighters
Fortified	City	+20% Max hit points for city gates

Divine runes

Divine runes are colored red and unlock additional attacks. Unlike standard runes they cannot be lost if Thorald dies.

Rune	Effects
Power Shot	Arrows can be charged twice
Quick Death	Can instantly kill enemies with low health
Roll Attack	Dodging deals damage
Shield Wave	Pressing block and attack at the same time will charge a Shield Wave attack
Whirlwind	Enables whirlwind attacks