How To Get (& Use) Runes In No Rest For The Wicked

Runes in No Rest For The Wicked are potent abilities that enhance gameplay by allowing players to unleash various unique offensive attacks with their weapons. Each Rune equips the player with a diverse moveset, enriching combat experience. Although Runes are introduced early, it isn't immediately apparent how to acquire and attach them to your weapons or effectively utilize them in battle to maximize their advantages.

Additionally, Runes operate using Focus points, which may confuse some players at first. However, understanding the mechanics of Runes is crucial, as they grant highly beneficial skills. They are essential during tough encounters and challenging boss fights, where the strategic use of Runes and their skills can make a substantial difference.

Related How To Get A Bow & Arrow In No Rest For The Wicked To find bows and arrows in No Rest For The Wicked, buy them from merchants located in Sacrament, loot them from chests, or win them from boss battles.

How To Get Runes

Purchase From Eleanor In Sacrament

Obtaining Runes involves heading to Sacrament Market Square and visiting Eleanor, a vendor in No Rest for the Wicked. Players have two options for acquiring Runes: they can extract a Rune from an existing weapon, which destroys the weapon, or purchase Runes directly from Eleanor.

Moreover, by upgrading Eleanor’s stand through the 'Sacrament Building Projects Menu,' players can increase the variety and number of Runes available for purchase. This enhancement provides greater strategic options for tailoring combat styles. Initially, Eleanor's shop offers five Runes for purchase, as outlined in the table below. However, the effects of these Runes are not visible until they are applied to gear.

Rune Ability Focus Points Pulse of Health Instantly heal a portion of your health 100 Channel Cast a charged spell that fortifies your next attacks 50 Heal Aura Summon an aura that will heal you over a portion of time 50 (full charge) Repair Repair a portion of durability back to your weapons and tools N/A Return Teleports you to a Cerim Whisper 25

Runes can also be found already equipped on weapons in chests scattered throughout the map. The loot in these chests is randomized, making it a matter of luck which Runes you might get.

How To Equip & Use Runes

Once you have purchased a Rune, you can infuse it onto a weapon by navigating to the 'Rune' tab in Eleanor's menu. Here, you select the weapon you desire and insert a Rune into one of the available slots. In this menu, you can also extract Runes from gear in No Rest For The Wicked. When you extract a Rune, it will be placed into your inventory, allowing you the option to infuse it into another weapon.

Extracting a Rune destroys the weapon it was originally attached to. This means you can only extract one Rune per weapon, so it's important to prioritize carefully.

To use Runes in No Rest for the Wicked, hold down the right trigger on your controller and select the Rune you wish to activate. If you're using a PC, the Runes can be activated by pressing the number keys from 1 to 4. You can only equip a maximum of four Runes at any given time.

When you select a Rune, players will notice a number indicating the amount of Focus required to activate that Rune. The orange bar above your health bar is your Focus meter, which shows how much Focus you have available.

You can view the total capacity of your Focus bar on your stats page. For every 100 points of Focus you accumulate, you earn an additional segment on your Focus bar. Due to these requirements, Focus is one of the best stats to upgrade first in No Rest For The Wicked.

Rune abilities do not have a cooldown period, allowing you to use them consecutively as long as you have sufficient Focus. You can use multiple Runes back-to-back, provided your Focus meter supports it.

Your Focus bar naturally replenishes as you deal damage to enemies. The Focus Gain percentage on your stats page indicates the rate at which you acquire Focus per attack. Additionally, you can restore Focus by consuming Focus potions. Equipping upgraded gear that enhances Focus Gain or grants a small, continuous Focus regeneration over time can also help increase your Focus levels more efficiently.

Related No Rest For The Wicked: How To Beat The Riven Twins (Boss Fight) To defeat the Riven Twins in No Rest For The Wicked, learn their moveset pattern and use your Stamina to dodge their powerful array of AOE attacks.

The Best Runes To Use

When choosing the best Runes to use in No Rest For The Wicked, it's important to opt for Runes that complement your weapon type or those that can be applied to various weapons for maximum efficiency. Avoid extracting default Runes that are limited to a specific type of weapon, as they cannot be applied to other weapon types.

The table below includes a list of Runes specific to certain types of weapons within the game. With around 130 Runes available, SpookyFairy provides some suggestions on a comprehensive player-build guide, while the recommendations below highlight some particularly powerful Runes to consider for enhancing your gameplay.

Rune Ability Weapon Crushing Flurry Performs a flurry of slash attacks One-handed Clubs Juggle Strike Performs a strong knock-up attack Two-handed Greatswords Fire Throw Throws your weapon forward imbued with Fire, then calls it back One-handed Hammers Dual Breaker Takes a step back and performs a powerful lunge attack duel-wielding Daggers

Spin

The Spin Rune is a dependable choice with its straightforward and offensive nature, making it a solid starting option for many players. Typically found pre-equipped on standard swords, it provides a robust foundation until you discover more specialized Runes that better suit your playstyle.

The Spin Rune's ability triggers a spin attack that lunges you toward your enemy. This move inflicts significant damage and stun-locks your opponent, allowing you extra time to land additional hits.

Damage Surge

In any soulslike game, preparing yourself before a challenging fight is crucial. Damage Surge excels in this role by significantly increasing your damage output for a specific period. Activating the Damage Surge Rune before a boss fight can provide a substantial early advantage.

This Rune is ideal for players who prefer strategic planning to maximize the effectiveness of their combat in No Rest For The Wicked. Additionally, it becomes readily available for purchase from Eleanor once her shop is upgraded to tier 2, making it easier to obtain than other Runes.

Thorns

The Thorns Rune is available for purchase from Eleanor once her shop is upgraded to tier 3. This Rune proves invaluable during challenging encounters, potentially providing the crucial damage needed to tip the scales in your favor. When activated, Thorns inflicts damage on enemies each time they hit you.

This means that if you happen to take damage, the enemy will also suffer. It's an excellent tool in No Rest For The Wicked for exploiting your enemy's aggression, using their strength against them, and turning your vulnerability into a tactical advantage.

Source: SpookyFairy/YouTube