A returning fan-favorite mechanic fromDiablo 2, Runes inDiablo 4can be socketed into gear to create Runewords.Runewords inDiablo 4are essentially highly customizable Trigger and Effect enchantments that change depending on which Ritual and Invocation Rune is currently slotted.
Once you have completed theVessel of Hatredmain campaign quest “Fundament of Faith”, you will unlock the ability to get Runes inDiablo 4. There area lot of Runes inDiablo 4, and a lot of ways to mix and match them to create countless Runewords. But to expand your Rune collection and open up more options,Diablo 4players must participate in specific activities throughout the game.
Youcan only get Runes if you have theVessel of HatredDLCinstalled. The system is unlocked during the main DLC story, which you cannot complete with only the base version ofDiablo 4.
The Best D4 Rune Sources & D4 Rune Farms
All Major D4: VoH Campaign Bosses Drop Runes
When youprogress theVessel of Hatredcampaignuntil you get to the Kurast Bazaar, andcomplete the “Fundament of Faith” main quest, you willunlock the Rune system and get a bounty of your first Runesat the same time.From this point onward, you are able to get Runes using any of the methods listed here.
After this point in theVessel of Hatredcampaign, you will face a number ofmandatory story bosses. Each of these bosses isguaranteed to drop at least one Rune on defeat, but you can only complete theVoHcampaign once on each character.
Though this is a guaranteed source of Runes,Diablo 4players can’t exactly farm it – not on one character, at least. Every character can only complete the campaign once, but you’re able to trade Runes between characters. So if you complete the campaign on an alt you can potentially earn new Runes to share amongst your characters.
Complete Kurast Undercity Activities (With A Tribute of Harmony)
The Kurast Undercity is a repeatablenew feature inVessel of Hatredthat’s amazing for endgame progression because it gives players a lot of control over their rewards for successful runs. The Kurast Undercity is timed, and if you beat the timer you will earn the rewards you are targeting. In theKurast Undercity, Runes are one of the many additional rewardsyou can expect to receive for a successful run.
UsingTributesbefore a run (which can be found during runsand randomly throughout Sanctuary), you cantarget specific rewards. One of these Tributes is theTribute of Harmony, which specificallyguarantees Runesat the end of your Kurast Undercity run.
You will have a chance to get Runes during every Kurast Undercity run, but with the Tribute of Harmony you will both be guaranteed Runes and have a high chance for high-tier Runes to drop.
Kill World Bosses & Participate In The Hatred Rising Event
Two other great ways to farm Runes inDiablo 4: Vessel of Hatredand Season 6: Hatred Rising are tokill World Bosses and hunt down the S6 bosses, the Realmwalkers. The classic World Bosses still spawn and grant rewards once each week, but in Season 6, the Realmwalkers can be farmed over and over again.
Realmwalkers will spawn a few minutes after the last was defeated in a randomzone throughout all of Sanctuary. Initially, you can’t damage it, and have to follow the Realmwalker as it wanders on a pre-determined path across the zone, spawning waves of enemies and elites along the way.
Completing each Realmwalker event has a chance to yield Runes, both from bosses in the Seething Realm at the end, and by killing Hollows and Elites along the way. Because these RunesDiablo 4players can farm from the Realmwalkers are repeatable, this is one of the best ways to level up, get some Season 6 progression, and earn Runes at the same time.
Clear Strongholds For The First Time
When youclear a Stronghold inDiablo 4for the first time, your character will get a huge XP boost and a bunch of items. With the introduction of Runes,Strongholds are even more rewardingthan ever as there is a high chance for Runes to be among your first clear rewards.
Because of the game’s seasonal structure, your Season 6 character should be able to clear every Stronghold for the first time, even if you have completed them on other characters in previous seasons. This works for every character, but you can’t repeat the same Stronghold on one character to farm Runes inDiablo 4.
Whisper Caches Can Contain Runes, Too
Throughout Sanctuary you will see icons representingWhispers, special objectives you’re able to take on to earn Grim Favors. Once you earn10x Grim Favors, head tothe Tree of Whispers in Hawezar to get a choice of Reward Cache. There are a lot ofTree of Whispers choices, but no matter which Cache you choose as your Whisper reward, there is a chance for Runes to drop.
Some players have found that Whisper Caches are a reliable source of Runes while others haven’t received a single Rune among their rewards. It’s a bit more RNG-based than other options to get Runes inDiablo 4, so instead of focusing on completing Whispers as a priority, complete Whispers passively during Helltides and other World Events.
All Elites Have A Chance To Drop Runes
In addition to all of these other Rune-farming methods inDiablo 4, there is another way to get Runes that spans all content in the game. No matter what activity you are engaged in,Elite enemies have a small chance to drop Runesupon defeatafter unlocking the system.
The chance is very small, but ensure to keep a keep eye out on the ground when taking part in activities that have lots of Elites. If you are consistently killing Elites in Nightmare Dungeons,farming The Pit, trying out the Dark Citadel, or Helltide events, you are more likely to find Runes faster thank just farming the open world as there are more Elites to kill.
