Runes are small, weightless stones that allow users to cast spells using the Magic skill. Runes can either be bought from the various Rune shops found across RuneScape, traded with other players, purchased on the Grand Exchange, created from rune essence or pure essence through the Runecrafting skill, obtained from the Runecrafting Guild, procured from drops by killing monsters, or picked up from spawns on the ground.
The elemental runes (air, water, earth and fire, named after the Greek classical elements) can be substituted for by wielding a respective elemental staff, battlestaff or mystic staff. The only time an elemental staff cannot be used to substitute for runes is when setting up a portal in the Portal Chamber of a player-owned house.
Runes come in a number of different types, but they can be categorised according to themes based on their names. For example, mind, body, blood and soul are all constituent parts of a human; cosmic and astral pertain to outer space; nature is in Guthix, law is in Saradomin, and chaos is in Zamorak; and life and death occur in time. The six combinations runes (mud, mist, lava, smoke, steam and dust) cover all possible pairs of the four elemental runes.
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Guthix created runes when he first visited Gielinor. For awhile, the knowledge of how to create them remained a secret, until a few mages learned how to craft runes. By creating the runes, they angered the Fremenniks, who went on Runecrafting Crusades in an attempt to stop Mages from creating runes. It wasn't until year 169 that an adventurer helped the wizards of the Wizard's tower uncover the secrets of Runecrafting. There are very few people who know of the ancient art today.
All players can use the runes listed below. There are two categories of runes referenced in the game: elemental runes and non-elemental runes. Elemental runes include air rune, fire rune, water rune, and earth runes. Non-elemental include all others, which are: mind rune, body rune, chaos rune, death rune, blood rune, soul rune, cosmic rune, law rune, nature runes, and astral runes.
However, free players can only craft runes up to body runes (using the Runecrafting skill). Also free players are limited in the runes they can find in stores and that can be bought on the Grand Exchange. The two magic stores (in Varrock and Port Sarim) only sell the basic elemental runes, chaos runes, and death runes. The other types of runes can be traded with other players or bought on the Grand Exchange in Varrock.
| Rune | Use | |
|---|---|---|
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Fire rune | One of the four elemental runes. Used to cast fire missiles and one of the four basic elemental runes. Also used in Ancient Magicks. Can be runecrafted. |
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Water rune | One of the four elemental runes. Used to cast water missiles and one of the four basic elemental runes. Also used in Ancient Magicks. Can be runecrafted. |
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Air rune | One of the four elemental runes. Used to cast air missiles and one of the four basic elemental runes. Also used in Ancient Magicks. Can be runecrafted. |
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Earth rune | One of the four elemental runes. Used to cast earth missiles and one of the four basic elemental runes. Also used in Ancient Magicks. Can be runecrafted. |
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Mind rune | Used to cast basic missile spells (Wind, Water, Earth and Fire Strike). Can be runecrafted. Also used in magic dart. |
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Body rune | Used to cast low level curse spells. Can be runecrafted. |
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Chaos rune | Used to cast low level missile spells (Wind, Water, Earth and Fire Bolt) as well as Crumble Undead. Can be runecrafted, but only by members. Also used in Ancient Magicks. |
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Death rune | Used to cast medium level missile spells (Wind, Water, Earth and Fire Blast). Can be runecrafted, but only by members after completing Mourning's Ends Part II. Also used in Ancient Magicks and in magic dart |
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Cosmic rune | Used for item enchanting spells (jewellery, crossbow bolts, and orbs). Can be runecrafted, but only after completing the Lost City quest, which is members only. |
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Law rune | Used to cast teleportation spells. Can be runecrafted, but only by members. |
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Nature rune | Used in transmutation spells. For example, low level and high level alchemy, superheat and binding. Can be runecrafted, but only by members. |
The following runes, Elemental Runes and Catalytic Runes are given to players who are participating in the Fist of Guthix minigame or Stealing Creation Minigame. They are substitute for other runes. However they can only be used in combat spells. If a player tries to cast a non-combat spell, he or she will receive one of the messages:
You did not come here to do that!
| Rune | Substitute for | |
|---|---|---|
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Elemental runes | Can be used instead of elemental runes (air, water, earth, and fire) |
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Catalytic runes | Can be used instead of non-elemental runes (mind, chaos, death, blood, body, nature) |
The members-only Lunar spell Stat Spy can be cast in Fist of Guthix, despite not directly affecting combat. These runes cannot be dropped. If they are dropped in the Fist of Guthix waiting room, they will be lost immediately. You will have to exit the waiting room and enter again to get them back.
The Wizards' Guild in Yanille has the cheapest rune shop available to members. Located on the guild's upper floor, it sells every rune in the game except for astral, cosmic, and combination runes.
Only members can use the runes listed below.
| Rune | Use | |
|---|---|---|
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Astral rune | Used to cast the Lunar Spells. Must complete the Lunar Diplomacy quest first. Can be made using the Runecrafting skill. |
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Blood rune | Used to cast high level missile spells (Wind, Water, Earth and Fire Wave). Can be made using the Runecrafting skill after completion of the Legacy of Seergaze quest. |
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Soul rune | Used to cast high level curse spells and in teleother spells. Can only be player made at the ZMI Ouranian altar but only randomly. The image of Soul talisman and Soul tiara were discovered in the Knowledge Base at one time, but these images have been removed by Jagex. |
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Life rune | Never released. It was designed for the never released 'summoning spells' in RuneScape Classic. Years later, Summoning was introduced as a separate skill. |
These runes are members only, and act as one of each of their composite runes. To make them, take the appropriate talisman to the respective altar. For example, if one wanted to make dust runes: one would bring air runes, and earth runes, and the earth and air talismans to either the air altar or earth altar.
Note:
| Rune | Combination | |
|---|---|---|
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Dust rune | Earth + Air |
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Lava rune | Earth + Fire |
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Mist rune | Water + Air |
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Mud rune | Water + Earth |
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Smoke rune | Air + Fire |
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Steam rune | Fire + Water |
Many monsters drop runes in RuneScape, but some more than others. These are some of the more notable and relatively easy monsters that drop runes:
Runecrafting is the skill of crafting runes from rune essence or pure essence. Through this skill, players can create their own runes for use in Magic.
Runes can be obtained by completing Ali Morrisane's Rogue Trader minigame, which players may complete after finishing The Feud quest.
After completing the minigame, players are able to obtain runes for a cheaper price.
| Rune | Cost per rune | |
|---|---|---|
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Fire rune | 9 coins |
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Water rune | 37 coins |
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Air rune | 13 coins |
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Earth rune | 16 coins |
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Mind rune | 9 coins |
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Body rune | 8 coins |
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Chaos rune | 88 coins |
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Death rune | 285 coins |
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Cosmic rune | 154 coins |
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Law rune | 306 coins |
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Nature rune | 233 coins |
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Blood rune | 275 coins |
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Soul rune | 357 coins |
Here is a short list of respawn locations of runes throughout RuneScape.
Note- the best place to get rune respawns in f2p is in the Dark Warriors Fortress. The northernmost room contains respawns of 5 Earth, Water, Air and Fire runes. The room directly west of this contains 5 Chaos, Mind and Body runes. Players should be wary when approaching this area: Although this a good place for a rune spawn, revenants have a patrol route in this castle, and will attack and very possibly kill players who are within their combat level. Its not usually crowded and can be a good place for low leveled players to gain a few magic levels on the Dark Warriors!
| Rune | Location |
|---|---|
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West Of Lumbridge and behind Luthas' house on Karamja Island, Dark Warriors Fortress. |
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Chasm Mines in Al Kharid, Dark Warriors Fortress. |
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Chasm Mines in Al Kharid, inside Karamja Volcano, in Camelot Castle, and the Dark Warriors Fortress. |
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North of Varrock, in Varrock Sewers, and Dark Warriors Fortress. |
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Varrock Castle grounds, Varrock Sewers, in the Al Kharid Scimitar Shop, scattered in Level 6 - 8 Wilderness, Dark Warriors Fortress and Lava Maze. |
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Southern Stairway in Lumbridge Castle, Varrock Sewers, Wilderness, Dark Warriors Fortress. |
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Levels 36-40 Wilderness, and Dark Warriors Fortress. Two spawns near the Trollweiss patch on the Trollweiss Mountain. |
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South-west of Yanille in the Feldip Hills. Members only. |
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Treasure chest in the Chaos Druid Tower and next to Demonic Ruins in the Wilderness. Members only. A thieving level of 59 is required to open the chest. |
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Ice Plateau in Level 48 Wilderness. |
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Level 45 Wilderness, Treasure Chest in East Ardougne and an island north of Rellekka. A thieving level of 28 is required to open the chest. |
There are several shops around RuneScape that sell runes. These are identified with the Magic shop icon (
) on the minimap.
| Shop | Location | Runes Sold | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ali Morrisane | Al Kharid | All except Astral | Requires The Feud and Rogue Trader Minigame |
| Betty's Magic Emporium | Port Sarim | Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Mind, Chaos, Death | Non-members |
| Aubury's Rune Shop | South-east Varrock | Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Mind, Chaos, Death | Non-members |
| Wizards' Guild | Yanille | All except Astral and Cosmic | 66+ Magic required, or 62+ with a magic potion |
| Baba Yaga's Magic Shop | Lunar Isle | All except Cosmic | Must have started the Lunar Diplomacy quest. It also is the only shop in-game that sells Astral runes. |
| Mage Training Arena | North of Duel Arena | All except Astral, including all Combination runes | Uses Pizazz points instead of coins as currency. |
| Mage Arena | Level 50-55 Wilderness | All except Astral and Soul | Located in the mage bank, a non-wilderness area. |
| Mage of Zamorak | Level 5 Wilderness, north of Edgeville | Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Mind, Chaos, Death, Blood | |
| Tutab's Magical Market | Marim (Ape Atoll) | Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Law | Don't forget to be wearing a monkey greegree and a M'speak amulet. |
| Void Knight Magic Store | Void Knights' Outpost | Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Mind, Chaos, Death | It is not recommended to buy from here because it is usually 10 coins higher than market price. |
| TzHaar-Mej-Roh | TzHaar City | Air, Water, Earth, Fire, Mind, Chaos, Death | South east from the entrance to Tzhaar |
Note: Only the shops in Mage Training Arena and Magic Guild stock combination runes.
The Barrows minigame provides large numbers of combat runes (mind, chaos, death and blood) from the chest, though very high combat skills are required in order to be successful at the Barrows.
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| Elemental runes | |
| Combat runes | |
| Non-elemental and Non-combat runes | |
| Combination runes | |
| Minigame runes | |
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