Runes are small, weightless stones that allow players to cast spells using the Magic skill. Runes can be either 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 times 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, or when charging a Polypore Staff.

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.

HistoryEdit

When the humans first came to the realm of Gielinor through the World Gate in the First Age, Guthix created Runestones, allowing the humans and other sentient races to practice the Magic arts. These runestones were created by Guthix using an ancient artefact called the Stone of Jas, which he found on Gielinor when he arrived.

In the Second Age, the humans continued and expanded the practice of magic. However, the runes that Guthix had provided began to dwindle and became a much sought after commodity. Many mages such as Dahmaroc had to fight each other for runestones. During one such fight, Dahmaroc was turned into stone himself, becoming what he once sought after so much.

By the time of the Fourth Age, the runestones that had been given by the gods had all but depleted due to the heavy use of Magic during the God Wars. The art of magic fades with the supply of runes, until essentially being lost to humans altogether.

At the start of the Fifth Age Humans rediscovered magic when a Fremennik Seer discovered the Stone of Jas in the frozen wastes to the north. Shortly after its discovery, the Moon Clan was formed and took possession of the stone after realizing that the rocks around it had formed the Rune Essence, which is a magical rock capable of absorbing the elements of Magic. Noticing this, the Moon Clan used the Stone of Jas to create the Runecrafting Altars in special areas most attuned to their respective element. By bringing Rune Essence to these altars, runestones could be created. In the early days Wizards had to trek to the Rune essence mines by foot or sea, with the exception of the Lunar Mages who had created their own mine on their Island. 

The Fremennik claimed that the magic belongs only to the gods, and that it was stolen from them by the Moon Clan and any whom dare to craft a rune, which they feel insults the gods. Runecrafting soon reached the kingdoms of Asgarnia and Misthalin, where it became widely used in many locations. The Wizards Tower was then formed, and became the greatest institution of magic in the land.

In year 70 of the Fifth Age the Wizards of the Wizards Tower discovered how to solve the teleportation problem by routing teleports through another plane: the Abyss. This would allow them to teleport directly to the Rune Essence mine from anywhere in the world, which would greatly increase rune production. However there was a disagreement over exactly who should get the credit for the discovery, and the source of the actual spell, a Zamorakian demon, was unacceptable to the Saradominist Blue Wizards. The Blue Order abandoned the ritual to create a teleport "anchor" mid-casting, which caused a fire which destroyed the original Wizards' Tower, a catastrophe blamed in later years on the Zamorakian Red Order. The only survivors of the fire were Perien the Blue and Kelavan the Red. Perien founded a new Wizards' Tower on the site of the old one, and became its Archmage. Due to what happened to the first tower, which was a collaboration between followers of many gods, Archmage Perien restricted access to the tower to Saradominists only, and started teaching the teleport spell to the Rune Essence to only a select few people so that the Essence didn't fall into the wrong hands.

In year 169 of the Fifth Age wizards from the Runecrafting Guild discovered how to access the Runespan, an area on the same plane as the Runecrafting Guild, where they could create Runes slightly different to those found in Gielinor. Rune essence here is obtained in floating rocks and in the local fauna, as opposed to that mined at the Rune essence mines. The essences are a different shape, thus cannot be used for traditional magic. They are charged to an element (the same as those in Gielinor) by siphoning the fauna or nodes of elemental energy that appear on the plane. These runes cannot be taken out of the Runespan. However, they can be converted into 'points' upon exiting the Runespan.

Non-members runesEdit

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, fire, water, and earth runes. Non-elemental include all others, which are: mind, body, chaos, death, blood, soul, cosmic, law, nature, astral and armadyl 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, gotten as drops or spawns, or bought on the Grand Exchange in Varrock.

Rune		GE Price	Use
	Air rune	14	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.
	Mind rune	4	Used to cast low level curse spells. Can be runecrafted.
	Water rune	13	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.
	Earth rune	10	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.
	Fire rune	10	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.
	Body rune	5	Used to cast low level curse spells. Is the best rune that can be runecrafted by non-members.
	Cosmic rune	149	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.
	Chaos rune	41	Used to cast low level curse spells. Can be runecrafted, but only by members.
	Nature rune	110	Used in transmutation spells. For example, low level and high level alchemy, superheat and binding. Can be runecrafted, but only by members.
	Law rune	176	Used to cast teleportation spells. Can be runecrafted, but only by members.
	Death rune	93	Used to cast low level Ancient Magicks (rush and burst spells). Can be runecrafted, but only by members after completing Mourning's Ends Part II. Also used in Magic Dart.

Minigame runesEdit

Elemental runes and catalytic runes are given to players who are participating in Fist of Guthix, Dominion Tower, Barbarian Assault, or Stealing Creation. 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 a messages saying You did not come here to do that!

Rune		Substitute for
	Elemental runes	Can be used instead of elemental runes (air, water, earth, and fire combined).
	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.

Members runesEdit

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		GE Price	Use
	Astral rune	135	Used to cast the Lunar Spells. Must complete the Lunar Diplomacy quest first. Can be made using the Runecrafting skill.
	Blood rune	163	Used to cast high level Ancient Magicks (blitz and barrage spells). Can be made using the Runecrafting skill after completion of the Legacy of Seergaze quest.
	Soul rune	122	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.
	Armadyl rune	248	The only rune used to cast the spell Storm of Armadyl and released with the Ritual of the Mahjarrat quest. The quest must be completed to use it. It has no other use than the spell. It is also only made with Dust of Armadyl.

Combination runesEdit

These runes are members only, and act as one of each of their composite runes. To make them, you will need some elemental runes, a talisman of the same element, and an equal amount of pure essence. You must then take these items to the secondary elemental temple, and then use the elemental runes or talisman on that altar. For example, if you wanted to make dust runes, you would bring air runes, pure essence, and an air talisman to the earth altar; alternatively, you could bring earth runes, pure essence, and an earth talisman to the air altar. The talisman will be consumed as the combination runes are made.

Note:

• Crafting combination runes uses one of the talismans, so it is recommended that one only crafts combination runes of the talismans one has the most of. The Lunar Magicks spell Magic Imbue allows a player to craft combination runes without the use of the opposing talisman.
• Crafting combination runes has a 50% chance of success. A Binding necklace allows 100% success for crafting combination runes 15 times.

Rune		GE Price	Combination
	Dust rune	10	Earth + Air
	Lava rune	17	Earth + Fire
	Mist rune	342	Water + Air
	Mud rune	141	Water + Earth
	Smoke rune	262	Air + Fire
	Steam rune	8	Fire + Water

Obtaining runesEdit

Monster dropsEdit

Many monsters drop runes in RuneScape, but some drop more than others. These are some of the more notable monsters that drop runes:

• Level 7 and 20 Dark Wizards south of Varrock, north of the Black Knights' Fortress, and south of Taverley.
• Wizards in the Wizards' Tower south of Draynor Village.
• Infernal Mages in the Slayer Tower.
• Air wizard, Earth wizard, Water wizard, Fire wizard south of Falador.
• Chaos Druids in Taverley Dungeon.
• Flesh Crawlers in 2nd floor of the Stronghold of Security drop fire, body, nature and dust runes.
• Moss Giants on Crandor and the Moss Giant Island, west of Brimhaven drop Air, Earth, Nature, Law, Chaos, or Cosmic runes occasionally.
• Goblins just South-west of the Grand Exchange.
• Ghostly Warriors in the parallel dimension of the Axe Hut in level 55 Wilderness.
• Cockroaches drop many different kinds of runes, mainly air, water, fire, death and law.
• Hill Giants drop air runes, nature runes, cosmic runes, fire runes etc.
• Ankou drop law, death, or blood runes, 15 noted pure essence, or 15 rune essence.
• Barbarians drop Earth, Chaos, Law, Mind, or Fire runes occasionally.
• Stone statues in Bandos' throne room drop many dust and earth runes.
• Black Knights in the Black Knight's Fortress
• Lesser Demons drop 60 fire runes from time to time.
• Fire giants and Flesh crawlers occasionally drop fire runes.
• Elemental workshop's guardians (Air Elemental, Earth Elemental, Fire Elemental and Water elemental respectively) regularly drop runes.
• Nex will drop up to 6500 blood runes (rare), or 4800 pure essence (common).

RunecraftingEdit

Main article: Runecrafting

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, by completing Rune Mysteries

FiremakingEdit

Main article: Firemaking

You can get runes as a possible reward from Fire spirits. The runes obtained cannot be selected however.

Rogue TraderEdit

Main article: Rogue Trader

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.

Respawn locationsEdit

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, the Wilderness is nevertheless a player-killing zone. Its not usually crowded and can be a good place for low levelled players to gain a few magic levels on the Dark Warriors!

Rune	Location
	West of Lumbridge, behind Lutha's house on Karamja Island, Dark Warriors Fortress, and on the ground floor of Lumbridge Castle next to the northern staircase.
	Chasm Mines in Al Kharid, Dark Warriors Fortress.
	Chasm Mines in Al Kharid, inside Karamja Volcano, in Camelot Castle, and the Dark Warriors Fortress.
	North of Varrock, in Varrock Sewers, and Dark Warriors Fortress.
	Varrock Castle grounds, Varrock Sewers, in the Al Kharid Scimitar Shop, scattered in Level 6 - 8 Wilderness, Dark Warriors Fortress and Lava Maze.
	Southern stairway in Lumbridge Castle, Varrock Sewers, Wilderness, Dark Warriors Fortress.
	Levels 36-40 Wilderness, and Dark Warriors Fortress. Two spawns near the Trollweiss patch on the Trollweiss Mountain.
	South-west of Yanille in the Feldip Hills. Members only.
	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.
	Ice Plateau in Level 48 Wilderness.
	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.

ShopsEdit

There are several shops around RuneScape that sell runes. These are identified with the Magic shop icon () on the minimap.

Note: Only the shop in the Mage Training Arena stocks combination runes.

Infinite runesEdit

Worn Weapons (Outside Daemonheim)Edit

Worn Equipment (Outside Daemonheim)Edit

Worn Weapons (Inside Daemonheim)Edit

Photo item	Name	Element(s)
	Water staff (Dungeoneering)	Water rune
	Earth staff (Dungeoneering)	Earth rune
	Fire staff (Daemonheim)	Fire rune
	Air staff (Dungeoneering)	Air rune
	Empowered water staff	Water rune
	Empowered earth staff	Earth rune
	Empowered fire staff	Fire rune
	Empowered air staff	Air rune
	Doomcore staff	Air rune, Water rune, Earth rune and Fire rune
	Celestial catalytic staff	Air rune, Water rune, Earth rune and Fire rune

TriviaEdit

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Runes

• An update fixed a bug in which runes purchased from the Grand Exchange used the image of a pure essence in place of the actual rune in the Grand Exchange collection box.
• On 9 June 2010, the images of runes in the inventory and bank were given a graphical revamp which tilted them to an angle, to make them look more 3D. Rune and pure essence were not included in the update.
• The true size of Runes can been seen in the Runecrafting Guild, whilst a female wizard makes them float in the air. They can also be seen in true size in a Rune display case in a POH.
• Despite the fact that they could be used for combat, runes can be brought into Entrana.