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Armor is very important in Assassin's Creed Valhalla as it is the one thing that stands between your enemy's blade and desynchronization. You will need to upgrade your armor with ingots and find various pieces around the map to take your gameplay to the next level. However, this isn't the only thing you can do to enhance your ability to stay alive during battle.

RELATED: The Best Armors In Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Ubisoft has implemented special upgrade items called runes, and they enhance your strength, survivability, and effectiveness in various ways. Between the loot chests, Wealth Points of Interest, and purchases from merchants, there will be many runes that you'll be obtaining during this expansive journey. These run the gamut in terms of abilities, usefulness, and rarity. While this guide will focus on the more common runes, rather than the far more scarce Diamond varieties, there were a few great ones that we couldn't resist mentioning.

It is worth your while to explore the map so you can collect as many of these as you can, and make Eivor the best assassin to ever roam Medieval Europe.

Updated August 30, 2021, by Stephen LaGioia: AC Valhalla's rune system remains a fairly simple and intuitive way to augment Eivor with various buffs. But with that said, there are plenty to find and to choose from throughout the vast reaches of England and Norway—and now with the Wrath of the Druids and Seige of Paris DLC, Ireland and Frankia as well. As such, it can be tough to pinpoint which runes are worth hanging onto and affixing to your best gear.

This is especially the case when factoring in the added content of the DLC packs, which brings extra gear and enemies into the mix. With this in mind, it seemed fitting to revisit and reinforce this guide with more of the best armor runes in AC Valhalla.

Melee Build Runes

Most players will choose to run a melee build for their combat style; a sensible choice as Assassin's Creed Valhalla typically puts a larger focus on this style of fighting. You can be ready to charge into battle with your bearded axes or greatsword, partly thanks to armor that's augmented with runes to enhance this playstyle.

Great Rune Of Life (+14.9 Health)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Great Rune of Life menu selection

The Great Rune of Life grants you +14.9 extra health, and even its "Minor" version offers players a respectable +11.0 health. This is great for both builds as ample health is always useful in surviving a skirmish, especially if you haven't upgraded your rations.

You will also find this comes in handy when battling tough bosses such as the Daughters of Lerion, legendary animals, or pesky Cavalry. The added health can be all you need to outlast your opponent in those grueling wars of attrition.

Bulwark Rune (+2.7 Heavy Resistance)

Great Bulwark Rune in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The Bulwark Rune is great for melee builds as it grants an extra +2.7 resistance against heavy attacks. You will surely need this as being up close and personal with an opponent you are all but guaranteed to be hit by one of more heavy swings by an angry foe.

These attacks cannot be parried or blocked which is why this rune can help you create an overpowered build. Not factoring in Diamond at least— this is really one of the best armor runes that can be had for melee builds.

Rune Of Protection (+2.7 Light Resistance)

Rune of Protection in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The Rune of Protection grants you +2.7 light damage resistance, and some even find this useful for their ranged builds. It not only helps against archers' arrows, but it will grant you some resistance when facing light attacks, and there will be plenty to deal with.

Those who have not yet mastered the art of parrying often find this useful as it gives them an edge against their attackers, especially smaller ones.

Aegis Rune (+1.8 Elite Damage Resistance)

Aegis Rune in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The often-brutal Elites can be found roaming just about everywhere, which is why the Aegis Rune is so useful as it grants you +1.8 Elite Damage Resistance.

RELATED: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Things To Know Before Traveling To Vinland

When these foes strike, they hit hard and fast which is why you will need all the help you can get. This rune can help you weather the deadly assaults from these tougher baddies, making it more likely to take them down and live to fight another day.

Shield Rune (+2.8 Melee Resistance)

Shield Rune in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The Shield Rune grants +2.8 melee resistance and makes for a nice universal augment that many players will find useful with their melee build. Sustaining all the melee hacks from opponents becomes at least a bit easier to deal with during the frequent close-quarter combat, and this rune can grant a bit of an edge in these fights.

The resistance might seem low, but over the course of long battles, it can make subtle differences in helping you overcome tougher enemies such as Zealots.

Warrior Rune (+1.5 Melee Damage)

Eivor fighting soldier wielding large swinging sword in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Marginal as it may seem, even the "Minor" version of this rune can be useful. Even if the default version does only bump up melee damage by +1.5, having additional attack power on hand through augmented armor can go a long way, and can stack onto the more offensively-oriented weapon runes. The "Great" variant of this rune amplifies this with a +2.0 increase in melee damage.

Again, You'll likely be doing quite a bit of melee in this action-oriented romp, even if you favor more of a ranged build, and over time, the Warrior Rune can make an impact. Lacing Eivor with solid armor equipped with this rune can help make for a well-rounded build offensively and defensively.

Brigandine Rune

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Brigandine Rune stat sheet

This one may be tough to obtain due to it being a rare Diamond variety, but it's worth seeking out, as it'll make those skirmishes with multiple foes a little easier to manage. The Brigandine Rune bumps up Eivor's speed when they're surrounded by more than two baddies.

This is a useful perk to have at your disposal as the majority of fights in AC Valhalla will involve at least two foes, if not several.

Mentor Rune

Lunden fight in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

Having buffs or perks that continue to stockpile the more you perform an action can be very beneficial in the war of attrition that is AC Valhalla. That's why one of the best runes for armor comes in the form of this unique Diamond rune.

The Mentor Rune increases evasion after each ensuing hit, making it optimal for those free-swinging brawlers. This can be quite useful against beefier enemies, as Eivor can build their evasion to an insane level as they strike their target over and over. This rune can make you efficient and deadly, as you'll simultaneously be harder to hit while being more aggressive in a fight.

Ranged Build Runes

Arc of Elan in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

If you prefer stealth to all-out combat and more old-school AC gameplay—this is the build you probably use the most. Picking off foes from afar with a bow and arrow might be your preference, and luckily there are a handful of runes that can assist you when using this weapon.

They can take your gameplay from subpar to something that could compete with the pros as you gain a new appreciation for Viking assassins.

Assassin Rune (+3.3 Assassination Damage)

Great Assassin Rune in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

A lot of people who use ranged builds often like to hide in the shadows, which is why the Great Assassin Rune is a perfect fit. And while Valhalla stresses action more than many AC games, there are still plenty of opportunities for stealth and places to hide.

This rune grants you +3.3 assassination damage, which can help you take down tougher enemies from a distance. One useful tip to keep in mind is that stressing stealth kills and assassinations can aid in your offense and survivability, so it's a good idea to exploit this. Add this rune to your armor, and you'll be able to defeat many foes swiftly and efficiently, without having to rely too much on your armor in the first place.

Hunter Rune (+2.0 Ranged Damage)

Hunter Rune in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

It probably goes without saying, but when using a bow and arrow you'll be relying on ranged damage first and foremost. The Hunter Rune increases this vital statistic by +2.0, making it a no-brainer when choosing this type of build.

Eivor can truly become a deadly assassin at a range when augmenting their gear with this nifty rune. It can especially be useful for thinning the enemy ranks during those tough raids and assaults, which are usually crawling with targets.

Safeguard Rune (+2.5 Ranged Resistance)

Safeguard Rune in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The Safeguard Rune is another one created specifically for ranged builds as it provides +2.5 Ranged Resistance. If you use a bow then you will love this as it protects you from other archers and projectiles that may be headed your way.

RELATED: Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Skills You Should Acquire First

It will give you more time to hit your shots and mitigate some damage while being targeted by numerous ranged foes at once. It's handy for those who prefer to go in bows blazing, as enemies will often spot you and return fire. With this rune, you can focus more on aiming at those weak points while still playing a bit more aggressively.

Shadow Rune (+1.5 Stealth Damage)

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Shadow Rune menu selection

This is another rune that's great for sneaking around fortresses, encampments, and other restricted areas with your bow as it grants +1.5 stealth damage. It might not seem like a lot, but it can certainly make a difference for those silent assassins. It'll also help coax you to stay hidden, which is always useful as being spotted by a dozen or more tough opponents at once isn't fun to deal with.

This rune can help you take out more enemies more safely and efficiently, especially those with a higher power level, as you seek to deplete their health before heading into a full-scale attack.

Shell Rune (+4.0 Armor)

Great Shell Rune in Assassin's Creed Valhalla

The Great Shell Rune is pretty ideal for both builds as it grants a solid +4.0 armor. Considering ranged builds tend to be a bit more vulnerable, though, having more armor is a good failsafe if you happen to get sniffed out while aiming at foes from the shadows. This rune will give you a bit more peace of mind when tangling with an enemy close range who refuses to be put down.

This additional armor adds another layer of protection and by stacking these runes so that you can even more effectively outlast stronger opponents.

Huntsman Rune

Assassin's Creed Valhalla Holmegaard Bow first person firing at foe

Players who favor bows—especially the precise Predator Bows that allow you to zoom in—tend to pick off their targets from a fairly long range. That's why this Diamond rune is so coveted and so useful for range-oriented Vikings.

The rune offers the subtly useful perk of increasing range resistance when striking foes further than 20 meters away; which is a common occurrence for most heavy bow users. It allows you to be a sharpshooter while minimizing the return fire, making you a dangerous assassin from a distance.

Next: Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The Best Abilities You Can Equip