The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Guide (Steam) Walkthrough Items Compendium
Runes
Runes can be slotted into a steel or silver sword to permanently enhance its effects. You cannot remove a rune once it is slotted into a sword, so this is not a decision you should make lightly. Runes can be crafted from diagrams or purchased from merchants. Generally, it is much cheaper to craft runes than to buy them, but this can be difficult early in the game.
Keep your build in mind when slotting runes. A mage gets the most mileage out of moon runes, while alchemists can benefit from the extra vitality granted by earth runes. Fire runes and Ysgith runes are useful to virtually all builds.
| Runes | Type | Effect 1 | Effect 2 | Effect 3 | Orens | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earth Rune | Rare | Vitality +25 | Damage reduction on block +5% | 11 | 0.2 | |
| Fire Rune | Rare | Damage +5% | Resistance to incineration +20% | Incineration +10% | 21 | 0.2 |
| Moon Rune | Rare | Damage bonus on signs +4 | 16 | 0.2 | ||
| Sun Rune | Rare | Damage +5% | 16 | 0.2 | ||
| Ysgith Rune | Rare | Bleeding +8% | 21 | 0.2 |