Runes in Divinity: Original Sin 2 can be found on this page.

Runes

You can enchant Weapons and Armor with Runes to imbue or amplify their current state for resistances, attribute points, combat points, stat buffs, or varying damage types. 

Tips

These are preliminary tips before you attempt to begin accumulating runes and craft higher tiers.

  • Runes may be freely slotted and removed as they are not destroyed upon extraction.
    • Why does this matter? It's efficient to accumulate a small quantity of higher tier runes.
  • Runes and Frames will appear periodically in a Trader's inventory.
    • Typically this is the same person.
  • Frames may not be reused.
    • Why does this matter? Placing frames on low tier runes may affect availability of frames when higher tier runes become available.
  • Masterwork Runes in Items increase the Physical/Magic Armor of that item.
    • This means using a Masterwork Runes on a Armor pieces with low physical armor is a waste of a runeslot (unless you just want 3 Strength). 

Relevant Items

Rune Variations

Final Product

Ingredient 1

Ingredient 2

Ingredient 3

Weapon Slot Effects

Armor Slot Effects

Amulet/Ring Slot Effects

Source_orb Source Orb -- Cannot -- -- be -- -- crafted -- Venomous Aura Mass Cleanse Wounds Evasive Aura
 Small Flame Rune shortStickAny Wood oilBarrelAny Oil Source Pixie DustPixie Dust +9% damage as Fire damage Fire Resistance: +5% Critical Chance: +3%
 Small Frost Rune waterBarrelAny Water Source sharpPieceOfMetalAny Metal Item Pixie DustPixie Dust +9% damage as Water damage Water Resistance: +5% Movement: +0.25
 Small Masterwork Rune Livewood LogLivewood Log mug_of_wineAny Wine Source

 Pixie Dust

+9% damage as Physical damage  Maximum Physical Armour: +9%  Maximum Magic Armour: +9%
 Small Rock Rune sharp_rockAny Rock mug_of_beerAny Beer Source Pixie DustPixie Dust +9% damage as Earth damage Earth Resistance: +5% Maximum Vitality: +9
 Small Thunder Rune waterBarrelAny Water Source gold_cupAny Gold Item Pixie DustPixie Dust +9% damage as Air damage Air Resistance +5%  Dodging: +3%
 Small Venom Rune skullboneAny Bone oozeBarrelAny Poison Source Pixie DustPixie Dust +9% damage as Poison damage Poison Resistance: +5% Accuracy: +5%
- - - - - - -
 Medium Flame Rune  Small Flame Rune  Small Flame Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +11% damage as Fire damage Fire Resistance: +7% Critical Chance: +4%
 Medium Frost Rune  Small Frost Rune  Small Frost Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +11% damage as Water damage Water Resistance: +7% Movement: +0.5
 Medium Masterwork Rune small_blood_rune Small Masterwork Rune  Small Masterwork Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +11% damage as Physical damage Maximum Physical Armour: +13% Maximum Magic Armour: +13%
 Medium Rock Rune  Small Rock Rune  Small Rock Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +11% damage as Earth damage Earth Resistance: +7% Maximum Vitality: +23
 Medium Thunder Rune  Small Thunder Rune  Small Thunder Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +11% damage as Air damage Air Resistance: +7% Dodging: +4%
 Medium Venom Rune  Small Venom Rune  Small Venom Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +11% damage as Poison damage Poison Resistance: +7% Accuracy: +8%
 -  - -  -  - -  -
 Large Flame Rune  Medium Flame Rune  Medium Flame Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust  +13% damage as Fire damage Fire Resistance: +9% Critical Chance: +5%
 Large Frost Rune  Medium Frost Rune  Medium Frost Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +13% damage as Water damage Water Resistance: +9% Movement: +0.75
 Large Masterwork Rune medium_blood_rune Medium Masterwork Rune  Medium Masterwork Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +13% damage as Physical damage  Maximum Physical Armour: +17%  Maximum Magic Armour: +17%
 Large Rock Rune  Medium Rock Rune  Medium Rock Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +13% damage as Earth damage Earth Resistance: +9% Maximum Vitality: +84
 Large Thunder Rune  Medium Thunder Rune  Medium Thunder Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust  +13% damage as Air damage Air Resistance: +9%  Dodging: +5%
 Large Venom Rune  Medium Venom Rune  Medium Venom Rune Pixie DustPixie Dust +13% damage as Poison damage Poison Resistance: +9% Accuracy: +12%
- - - - - - -
 Giant Flame Rune  Large Flame Rune  Large Flame Rune Pixie DustPouch Of Superior Pixie Dust  +15% damage as Fire damage Fire Resistance: +11% Critical Chance: +6%
 Giant Frost Rune  Large Frost Rune  Large Frost Rune Pixie DustPouch Of Superior Pixie Dust +15% damage as Water damage Water Resistance: +11% Movement: +1
 Giant Masterwork Rune  large_blood_runeLarge Masterwork Rune  Large Masterwork Rune Pixie DustPouch Of Superior Pixie Dust +15% damage as Physical damage Maximum Physical Armour: +21% Maximum Magic Armour: +21%
 Giant Rock Rune  Large Rock Rune  Large Rock Rune Pixie DustPouch Of Superior Pixie Dust +15% damage as Earth damage Earth Resistance: +11% Maximum vitality: +111
 Giant Thunder Rune  Large Thunder Rune  Large Thunder Rune Pixie DustPouch Of Superior Pixie Dust +15% damage as Air damage Air Resistance: +11% Dodging: +6%
 Giant Venom Rune  Large Venom Rune  Large Venom Rune Pixie DustPouch Of Superior Pixie Dust +15% damage as Poison damage Poison Resistance: +11% Accuracy: +16%
- - - - - - -
Small Flame Rune Of PowerSmall Flame Rune Of Power  Small Flame Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Intelligence: +1
+9% damage as Fire Damage 
Intelligence: +1
Fire Resistance: +5%
Intelligence: +1
Critical Chance: +3%
medium_flame_rune_of_powerMedium Flame Rune Of Power  Medium Flame Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power    Intelligence: +2
+11% damage as Fire Damage
 Intelligence: +2
Fire Resistance: +7%
 Intelligence: +2
Critical Chance: +4%
large_flame_rune_of_powerLarge Flame Rune Of Power  Large Flame Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Intelligence: +2
+13% damage as Fire Damage
Intelligence: +2
Fire Resistance: +9%
Intelligence: +2
Critical Chance: +5%
giant_flame_rune_of_powerGiant Flame Rune of Power  Giant Flame Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Intelligence: +3
+15% damage as Fire Damage
Intelligence: +3
Fire Resistance: +11%
Intelligence: +3
Critical Chance: +6%
- - - - - - -
small_frost_rune_of_powerSmall Frost Rune Of Power  Small Frost Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Intelligence: +1
+9% damage as Water damage
Intelligence: +1
Water Resistance: +5%

Intelligence: +1
Movement: +0.25

medium_frost_rune_of_powerMedium Frost Rune Of Power  Medium Frost Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Intelligence: +2
+11% damage as Water damage
Intelligence: +2
Water Resistance: +7%
Intelligence: +2
Movement: +0.5
large_frost_rune_of_powerLarge Frost Rune Of Power  Large Frost Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Intelligence: +2
+13% damage as Water damage
Intelligence: +2
Water Resistance: +9%
Intelligence: +2
Movement: +0.75
giant_frost_rune_of_powerGiant Frost Rune of Power  Giant Frost Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Intelligence: +3
+15% damage as Water damage
Intelligence: +3
Water Resistance: +11%
Intelligence: +3
Movement: +1
- - - - - - -
small_thunder_rune_of_powerSmall Thunder Rune Of Power

 Small Thunder Rune

rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Finesse: +1
+9% damage as Air damage
Finesse: +1
Air Resistance: +5%
Finesse: +1
Dodging: +3%
medium_thunder_rune_of_powerMedium Thunder Rune Of Power

 Medium Thunder Rune

rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Finesse: +2
+11% damage as Air damage
Finesse: +2
Air Resistance: +7%
Finesse: +2
Dodging: +4%
large_thunder_rune_of_powerLarge Thunder Rune Of Power

 Large Thunder Rune

rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Finesse: +2
+13% damage as Air damage
Finesse: +2
Air Resistance: +9%
Finesse: +2
Dodging: +5%
giant_thunder_rune_of_powerGiant Thunder Rune of Power  Giant Thunder Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Finesse: +3
+15% damage as Air damage
Finesse: +3
Air Resistance: +11%
Finesse: +3
Dodging: +6%
- - - - - - -
small_rock_rune_of_powerSmall Rock Rune Of Power

 Small Rock Rune

rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Strength: +1
11% damage as Earth damage
Strength: +1
Earth Resistance: +5%
Strength: +1
Maximum vitality: +11
medium_rock_rune_of_powerMedium Rock Rune Of Power  Medium Rock Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Strength: +2
11% damage as Earth damage
Strength: +2
Earth Resistance: +7%
Strength: +2
Maximum vitality: +28
large_rock_rune_of_powerLarge Rock Rune Of Power  Large Rock Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Strength: +2
13% damage as Earth damage
Strength: +2
Earth Resistance: +9%
Strength: +2
Maximum vitality: +84
giant_rock_rune_of_powerGiant Rock Rune of Power  Giant Rock Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Strength: +3
15% damage as Earth damage
Strength: +3
Earth Resistance: +11%
Strength: +3
Maximum vitality: +111
- - - - - - -
small_venom_rune_of_powerSmall Venom Rune Of Power  Small Venom Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Finesse: +1
+9% damage as Poison damage
Finesse: +1
Poison Resistance: +5%
Finesse: +1
Accuracy: +5%
medium_venom_rune_of_powerMedium Venom Rune Of Power  Medium Venom Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Finesse: +2
+11% damage as Poison damage
Finesse: +2
Poison Resistance: +7%
Finesse: +2
Accuracy: +8%
large_venom_rune_of_powerLarge Venom Rune Of Power  Large Venom Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame Of Power   Finesse: +2
+13% damage as Poison damage
Finesse: +2
Poison Resistance: +9%
Finesse: +2
Accuracy: +8%
giant_venom_rune_of_powerGiant Venom Rune of Power  Giant Venom Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Finesse: +3
+15% damage as Poison damage
Finesse: +3
Poison Resistance: +11%
Finesse: +3
Accuracy: +15%
- - - - - - -
giant_masterwork_rune_of_powerSmall Masterwork Rune of Power small_blood_runeSmall Masterwork Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Strength: +1
+9% damage as Physical damage
Strength: +1
Maximum Physical Armour: +9%
Strength: +1
Maximum Magic Armour: +9%
giant_masterwork_rune_of_powerMedium Masterwork Rune of Power medium_blood_runeMedium Masterwork Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Strength: +2
+11% damage as Physical damage
Strength: +2
Maximum Physical Armour: +13%
Strength: +2
Maximum Magic Armour: +13%
giant_masterwork_rune_of_powerLarge Masterwork Rune of Power large_blood_runeLarge Masterwork Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Strength: +2
+13% damage as Physical damage
Strength: +2
Maximum Physical Armour: +17%
Strength: +2
Maximum Magic Armour: +17%
giant_masterwork_rune_of_powerGiant Masterwork Rune of Power Giant Masterwork Rune rune_frame_of_powerRune Frame of Power   Strength: +3
+15% damage as Physical damage
Strength: +3
Maximum Physical Armour: +21%
Strength: +3
Maximum Magic Armour: +21%
- - - - - - -
Mystical Giant Flame Rune  Giant Flame Rune mystical_rune_frameMystical Rune Frame   Ranged: +1
+15% damage as Fire damage
Huntsman: +1
Fire Resistance +11%
Pyrokinetic: +1
Critical Chance: +6%
Mystical Giant Thunder Rune  Giant Thunder Rune mystical_rune_frameMystical Rune Frame   Dual Wielding: +1
+15% damage as Air damage
Scoundrel: +1
Air Resistance: +11%
Aerothurge: +1
Dodging: +6%
Mystical Giant Venom Rune  Giant Venom Rune mystical_rune_frameMystical Rune Frame   Perserverance: +1
+15% damage as Poison damage
Summoning: +1
Poison Resistance: +11%
Necromancer: +1
Accuracy: +16%
Mystical Giant Frost Rune  Giant Frost Rune mystical_rune_frameMystical Rune Frame   Single-Handed: +1
+15% damage as Water damage
Leadership: +1
Water Resistance: +11%
Hydrosophist: +1
Movement: +1
Mystical Giant Masterwork Rune Giant Masterwork Rune mystical_rune_frameMystical Rune Frame   Wits: +3
+15% damage as Physical damage
Constitution: +3
Maximum Physical Armour +21%
Memory: +3
Maximum Magic Armour: +21%
Mystical Giant Rock Rune  Giant Rock Rune mystical_rune_frameMystical Rune Frame   Two-Handed: +1
+15% damage as Earth damage
Warfare: +1
Earth Resistance: +11%
Geomancer: +1
Maximum Vitality: +111

 Version History:

v3.0.XXX.XXX:

  • Corrected masterwork runes armor and amulet slot effects

v3.0.158.595:

  • Fixed Rune screen not updating correctly when switching characters in controller mode

v3.0.150.188:

  • Framed Frost runes and Framed Thunder runes now have the correct bonuses
  • Improved tooltips for runes

v3.0.146.559:

  • In the rune screen, you can now see all runes in all your party members’ inventories

v3.0.143.324:

  • Reverted a runeslot change that was released too soon. [Undo 3.0.143.148]

v3.0.143.148:

  • Rune slots are now limited to one slot per item



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    • Anonymous

      Guys I'm only missing ingredient 1 to craft the source orb, I do have the other two. Anybody know where to get "-- Cannot --" igredient?

      • Anonymous

        have some issues, i have read some issues added runes to empty slots, i made sure the item and rune is on the persons bag and the person was highlighted but i still can't add the rune to the item (weapon or amulet) i have 5 runes and tryed each one on each of the items but nothing happens. what am i doing wrong?

        • Anonymous

          The resistances for runes in armor are wrong. It's listed with 6/9/12/15, but it got reduced (?) to 5/7/9/11.

          • Anonymous

            Incorrect Giant Rock Rune value for vitality. My game says +111 vitality instead of +203. Did the value get changed?

            • Anonymous

              Why do the giant mystical masterwork runes give a bonus +3 when all others just give +1? As of now, there is absolutely no reason a 2h melee fighter would use a giant mystical rock rune (+1 2h, +15% earth dmg) over a giant masterwork rune of power (+3 str, +15% physical dmg), right? The +3 strength will boost your dmg way more than the +1 2h I would think, plus the other added damage stacks onto the physical dmg the sword is already dealing, instead of spreading it out over the 2 armor types.

              • Anonymous

                The listed resistance values for all the runes seem high (playing definitive edition). Giant runes give +11% resistance (on armor).

                • Anonymous

                  Were the medium runes split so your slots in the c4afting table were 1 med, 1 med and 1 pixie dust? Also were can the list of what item types can have a rune slot, I have been looking everywhere and all that comes up is the old 3 runes to 1 forumns.

                  • Anonymous

                    Does one need to find the book for crafting a specific (size) rune or can one 'learn' the recipe by trying different combinations of items and discovering it? I'm asking because, e.g. I don't have the recipe for large flame rune among the recipes learned, so I looked it up in the table here and then tried to combine 2 medium flame runes + pixie dust and it didn't work (invalid combination).

                    • Anonymous

                      FIrst frame can be found in a basement in Driftwood, where there's a lmprisioned lich (can't recall its name). From then on, just check vendors.

                      • Anonymous

                        Obviously something does not work in your gameplay, at level 16 I have my 4 pg party full rune/mystic/power (16 runes in total). I confirm the nerf to the crit% of the flame runes.

                        • Anonymous

                          In the definitive edition the flame runes have been nerfed greatly, they only give 3/4/5/6% crit chance now

                          • Anonymous

                            hi I think I found a couple mistakes, I just crafted those runes and below are only the differences from the above:
                            - "Mystical Giant Flame Rune" => (W) 9% as fire dmg
                            - "Mystical Giant Thunder Rune" => (Ar) 15% Air res(Am) 6% Dodge
                            - "Mystical Giant Frost Rune" => (W) 11% as water dmg (Ar) 15% Water res (Am) 1 mov
                            - "Mystical Giant Rock Rune" => (W) 13% as Earth dmg

                            - "Giant Flame Rune of Power" => (W) 9% as Fire dmg
                            - "Giant Thunder Rune of Power" => (Ar) 15% Air res
                            - "Giant Frost Rune of Power" => (Ar) 15% Water res (Am) 1 mov
                            - "Giant Master Rune of Power" => (W) 2 str (Ar) 2 str and 30% phys armour (Am) 2 str and 30% mag armour
                            - "Giant Rock Rune of Power" => (W) 13% as Earth dmg

                            I am not sure if the reduction in some of the effects is intentional as a balance for the added attribute by the mystical/power runes or not but I hope that if some of these were nor intended someone notice this. Thanks

                            • Anonymous

                              hi I think I found a mistake, I just crafted the "Mystical Giant Flame Rune" and the description says it adds Ranger 1 and 9% as fire damage not 15%.

                              • Anonymous

                                Does the +crit from Flame Runes give spells the ability to crit, or does one still need to pick up the talent?

                                • Anonymous

                                  The latest patch has fixed the framed runes of power amulet traits between frost and thunder (they were swapped), but has not fixed the weapon damage bonuses. In addition the flame rune of power is +9% fire damage.

                                  • Anonymous

                                    Giant Flame Rune while Mystical/Rune of Power seems to be bugged to only provide +9% flame damage instead of the +15% the actual rune should provide. Don't use it if you want the fire damage, Fire Resistance is correct at 15% and Critical is correct at 12% (check the stats when equipped so it's not just the text).

                                    • Anonymous

                                      I finally realized that Runes/Source Orbs can be extracted from gears when I am lvl18, don't be a silly like me. :(

                                      • Anonymous

                                        Mystical Giant Venom Rune gives 15% accuracy, not 16%. It gives 1% less than its previous state, namely the simple Giant Venom Rune.

                                        • Anonymous

                                          There was a mistake with 2 runes (at least), changed it.

                                          Giant Frost Rune of Power - 15% Air resistance
                                          Giant Thunder Rune of Power - 15% Water Resistance

                                          • Anonymous

                                            mystical rune plus giant frost rune for some reason gives +6% dodging instead of its own property +1movement at least in recent patch ,fixed it on the table

                                            • Anonymous

                                              Bought 2x Superior Pixie Dust Pouch from potion vendor at Driftwood Market Place, each for 1800 gold. 44% discount from bartering 7 and 100% attitude (just gift some 100s gold to the trader).

                                              • Anonymous

                                                Can anyone tell me what Metal items work for where it says Metal + Water + Pixie dust. I have tried a bunch of different items and no luck, but i dont want to use something valuable if something cheap will do the trick.

                                                • Anonymous

                                                  there are some mistakes, regarding the last columns, some stats are switched : mystical/power of giant frost runes / giant thunder runes
                                                  Frost runes give movement and thunder give dodging.

                                                  • Anonymous

                                                    when upgrading a rune to a rune one of power some of the armor and amulet stats change, ie thunder resistance becomes water resistance, not sure if its a bug atm

                                                    • Anonymous

                                                      I'm at like 40 hours of gameplay and still have yet to find a single bone so that I could make bone dust > pixie dust I even double checked the skull cave again and every single "pile of bones" has no bones like wtf? Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

                                                      • Anonymous

                                                        Once I got to a higher level, the "Dwarf Worker" at the Paladin Checkpoint in Reaper's Coast sold some Pouches Superior Pixie Dust, quite expensive though like 2k gold a piece.

                                                        2x Large Rune + 1x Superior Pixie Dust = 1x Giant Rune

                                                        • Anonymous

                                                          First of all - 3Xrune doesn't work. Don't know if since now, or always.
                                                          Second of all, Superior pixie dust is made from superior stardust, which is made from superior stardust herb. I bought it on bloodmoon island.

                                                          Anyone knows what to do with ALIEN LIFE ESSENCE?

                                                          • Anonymous

                                                            2 small/medium/ # pixie dust= rune of the 1 higher tier. 2 large runes #pouch of superior pixie dust= giant rune

                                                            • Anonymous

                                                              im right at the end of the game at 60 hours and i still have no idea how the crafting system works.. about the only thing ive figured out (by guessing) is the runes are all 2 runes 1 dust and that frames are extremely rare... im sure theres some way to craft them out of scraps.... but who knows because ive only gotten a handful of recipes and ive picked up almost every book ive come across.

                                                              • Anonymous

                                                                cannot seem to get the giant rune crafting to work, using 2 large runes of same types in different slots + pixie dust. example would look like large fire +large fire+ pixie dust

                                                                • Anonymous

                                                                  You need three ingredients it clearly states. To make just put 1 each in different slot and then press combine.
                                                                  2 small runes AND pixie dust.to get medium rune
                                                                  OR 3 small runes to make a large rune
                                                                  OR 3 medium runes to make a Giant rune.

                                                                  • Anonymous

                                                                    When i try to combine 2 runes (same type) to make a medium it doesnt work. What am i doing wrong? please help

                                                                    • Anonymous

                                                                      .... idk why, but the runes you want to put into things have to be the that character's item bag otherwise they wont be available in the list

                                                                      • Anonymous

                                                                        HOW do I enchant???????????? Also the combination info is bullshit, at least the way it is explained. Plz deliver some useful information sometimes!!!

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