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Rogue Legacy 2, like many roguelikes, has a wide variety of ways you can upgrade your character to make each subsequent run more manageable and less daunting. Runes are amongst the many upgrades you can tinker with to build your character out, offering excellent perks that will help you tremendously as you journey onward into the unknown.

RELATED: Rogue Legacy 2: Every Boss And How To Beat Them

Having the ability to pull currency to you, gaining some health back with every kill, or increasing your movement speed are some of the incredible benefits offered by Runes. While finding Runes is random, having to equip them in the hub area gives you some agency over a game designed around RNG systems and mechanics.

Overview

The Manor in Rogue Legacy 2

When exploring each distinct zone in Rogue Legacy 2's Kingdom, you will come across many Fairy Chests and secret chests hidden behind a breakable wall that can contain anything from currency to Runes. If you obtain a Rune from these chests, they will become available for purchase in the Enchantress' shop in the central hub for Gold and Red Aether. Due to Runes being tied to RNG, there is no telling when and where you will stumble upon them, but once you finally get your hands on one, it is permanently available for you to purchase and equip afterward.

You will need to unlock the Enchantress' Quarters Upgrade in the Manor to purchase Runes. Red Aether is also obtained via Fairy Chests, Boss Chests, Red Portals, and Gold Chests.

Rune Weight Limit

Furthermore, while you may have enough to purchase a Rune, you may not be able to equip it if it surpasses your Rune Weight Limit. However, there are a few ways to increase your Rune Weight Limit, allowing you to equip a healthy amount of Runes before hitting the weight cap.

Name

Upgrade Type

Effects

Etching Chambers

Manor Upgrade

Increases Rune Weight Limit up to +30.

Pillow Mill

Manor Upgrade

Increases Rune Weight Limit up to +30.

Bed Mill

Manor Upgrade

Increases Rune Weight Limit up to +30.

Master Smith

Soul Shop Upgrade

Increases Rune Weight Limit up to +75.

Additionally, you can also upgrade the potency of your Rune's effects, but we will cover that in another section later on in the guide. The following section will cover all 24 Runes available in Rogue Legacy 2 and their effects, weight, and cost.

Runes

The Enchantress in Rogue Legacy 2

Rogue Legacy 2 has 24 Runes to find throughout the procedurally generated world, all of which have their own unique traits that can help you overcome the challenging obstacles in your way. The table below contains every Rune in the game, how much they cost, and what benefit they provide to help aid you in your journey.

Rune

Tier

Cost

Effect

Weight

Lifesteal Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Gain health back every time you slay an enemy.


Lifesteal Rune scales with Strength stat. Each tier increases the effect by four percent.

30

Soulsteal Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Gain health back every time you slay an enemy.


Soulsteal Rune scales with Intelligence stat. Each tier increases the effect by four percent.

30

Sharpened Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Your weapon has a greater chance at proccing a Critical Chance.


Each tier increases your weapon's random Critical Chance by 2.5 percent.

30

Focal Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Your magic has a greater chance at proccing a Critical Chance.


Each tier increases your magic's random Critical Chance by 2.5 percent.

30

Might Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Your weapon's Critical Damage is increased.


Might Rune scales with the Dexterity stat. Each tier will also increase your weapon's Critical Damage by five percent.

30

Eldar Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Your magic's Critical Damage is increased.


Eldar Rune scales with the Focus stat. Each tier will also increase your magic's Critical Damage by five percent.

30

Lucky Roller Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

You gain a bonus chance of your Skill Criticals becoming Super Criticals.


Each tier increases the chances of proccing Super Criticals by 2.5 percent.

30

High Stakes Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Your Super Criticals' damage is increased substantially.


Each tier increases the Super Criticals' damage by five percent.

30

Siphon Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

You restore more of your Mana with each successful strike.


Each tier increases the amount of Mana restored by five percent.

30

Capacity Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

Increases your Mana Pool's maximum capacity.


Each tier increases your Mana's maximum capacity by 20.

20

Amplification Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

Status effects last for a more extended period of time.


Each tier increases the duration of status effects by 7.5 percent.

20

Trick Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

Performing a Spin Kick on an enemy will refill some of your Mana.


Each tier increases Mana gained from Spin Kicks by one.

20

Reinforced Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1,000 Gold/Aether
  • 4,000 Gold/Aether
  • 10,000 Gold/Aether
  • 18,000 Gold/Aether

Your Armor limit is increased.


Increases Armor by eight percent with each tier.

40

Folded Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

The maximum Block Cap of your Armor is increased.


Each tier increases your Armor's Block Cap by four percent.

20

Quenching Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Dropped Mana Potions restore a percentage of your maximum Armor and Health upon consumption.


Quenching Rune scales with the Vitality stat. Each tier also increases restorative properties by 2.5 percent.

30

Retaliation Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Whenever an enemy strikes you, they receive damage as well. The damage traded is equal to 75 percent of your Vitality.


Retaliation Rune scales with the Vitality stat. Each tier increases your counter damage by 75 percent.

30

Magnetism Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 300 Gold/Aether
  • 1,200 Gold/Aether
  • 3,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,400 Gold/Aether

Gold, Ore, and Red Aether attract to you from a distance.


Each tier increases the magnetic range of currency by five.

10

Bounty Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

Increases the amount of Gold collected.


Every tier increases the amount of Gold collected by ten percent.

20

Stone Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

Increases the amount of Ore collected.


Every tier increases the amount of Ore collected by ten percent.

20

Red Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

Increases the amount of Red Aether collected.


Every tier increases the amount of Red Aether collected by ten percent.

20

Resolve Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 800 Gold/Aether
  • 3,200 Gold/Aether
  • 8,000 Gold/Aether
  • 14,400 Gold/Aether

Grants you additional Resolve.


Each tier increases your additional Resolve by ten percent.

30

Haste Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 500 Gold/Aether
  • 2,000 Gold/Aether
  • 5,000 Gold/Aether
  • 9,000 Gold/Aether

Your movement speed is enhanced.


Every tier increases your movement speed by an additional ten percent.

20

Dash Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1,300 Gold/Aether
  • 5,200 Gold/Aether
  • 13,000 Gold/Aether
  • 23,400 Gold/Aether

You can Air Dash an additional time.


Every tier grants you another Air Dash.

50

Vault Rune

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 1,500 Gold/Aether
  • 6,000 Gold/Aether
  • 15,000 Gold/Aether
  • 27,000 Gold/Aether

You can perform another jump after your double jump.


Every tier grants you another jump you can perform after your double jump.

60

How To Upgrade Runes

The Keres Twins in The Soul Shop in Rogue Legacy 2

When it comes to upgrading your Runes in Rogue Legacy 2, you will need to meet a few prerequisites beforehand. First, at least one boss will have to be slain to access the Drift House in the central hub area. Once that stipulation is met, you can head to the top of the Drift House and speak with the Keres Twins to browse their Soul Shop. Here, you will find the Runic Horizons upgrade for 50 Souls.

Souls are a currency earned via completing Scar Challenges and defeating bosses.

From here, you will need to accumulate more Souls to keep upgrading the Runic Horizons tiers, which will, in turn, allow you to upgrade your Runes. However, there is a small catch: You will have to find duplicate Runes out in the world to upgrade them, and you won't really have the opportunity to do that until subsequent playthroughs (New Game Plus). So, while the Runic Horizons is cheap, it is almost entirely useless until NG+.

Furthermore, once the region you are in stops providing Runes via Fairy Chests, that's the game signaling that you can no longer obtain new Runes in that biome, making you go to new areas to tackle their Fairy Chest Challenges. Once all Fairy Chest rewards are exhausted in every region, you cannot earn more runes until you start NG+.

While upgrading your Runes is worth it, please note that it will take lots of time, effort, and many playthroughs before fully upgrading one Rune, let alone many of them. So, don't expect to find any upgrades your first time through, and don't rely on finding an upgrade for a rune you like, as you can very well never get it until much, much later.

NEXT: Rogue Legacy 2: Best Relics