Suikoden 1

How to Equip and Level Up Runes

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How to Equip and Level Up Runes
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Suikoden I - How to Equip and Level Up Runes

Runes enable the use of Magic Abilities and Special Attacks on equipped characters and can be leveled up by increasing your Magic stat in Suikoden 1 HD Remaster. Read on to learn how to use, unlock, and equip Runes, their effects, and more tips.

All Rune Guides
List of All Runes Runes Guide Best Runes

How to Equip Runes

Runes Can Be Equipped and Removed at the Rune Shop

How to Equip Runes

You can equip Runes at the Rune Shops located at Headquarters or in town. Moreover, you can use Orbs to equip Runes, which can also be done at the Rune Shop. Removed Runes will be stored as Orbs in your inventory.

Rune Shop Guide: How to Unlock and Use

Unlock HQ Rune Shop by Recruiting Jeane

The Rune Shop at Headquarters will be unlocked after recruiting Jeane. Jean can be found at the Rune Shop in Antei.

How to Recruit Jeane and Army Battle Team

Rune Pieces Can Be Attached at the Blacksmith

Attach Rune Pieces at Blacksmiths

Meanwhile at the Blacksmith, you can attach Rune Pieces on your characters' weapons. Be careful though, you won't be able to take the Rune Piece back once you attach it to a weapon. Attaching a different Rune Piece onto the same item will overwrite the existing one.

Blacksmith Guide: How to Unlock and Use

How to Level Up Runes

Levels Vary Based on Magic Stat

Fire Rune with Cleo

The level of the Rune depends on the character's Magic stat. If a character's Magic stat is low, the Rune will not level up.

And so it is recommended to either continuously level up your character or equip the Rune to a character with high Magic stat.

EXP Farming Guide: How to Level Up Fast

Only Certain Runes Can Be Levelled Up

Rune Type Description/Effect How to Get
Soul Eater Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Deadly Fingertips
Kills 1 enemy instantly (Not effective on bosses).
Lv. 2 Spell: Black Shadow
Deals about 300 damage to all enemies.
Lv. 3 Spell: Hell
Sucks all enemies into a black hole, killing them instantly (Not effective on bosses).
Lv. 4 Spell: Judgment
Deals about 1500 damage to 1 enemy.
Other
・Given to the Hero (○) in Chapter 1
Water Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Drops of Kindness
Restores 1 ally's HP to full.
Lv. 2 Spell: Fog of Deception
Reduces enemy accuracy by 20%.
Lv. 3 Spell: Rain of Kindness
Restores about 300 HP to all allies.
Lv. 4 Spell: Water of Kindness
Restores all allies' HP to full.
Shop
・Seika
・Sarady
Drop
Dagon
Other
・Recruit Sonya
Wind Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Wind of Sleep
Inflicts Sleep status on all enemies (Not effective on bosses).
Lv. 2 Spell: The Shredding
Deals around 400 Wind damage to 1 enemy.
Lv. 3 Spell: Healing Wind
Restores 1 ally's HP to full.
Lv. 4 Spell: Storm
Deals around 500 Wind damage to all
Shop
・Kobold Village
Treasure Chest
・Toran Lake Castle
Drop
Demon Sorcerer
Other
・Recruit Luc, Odessa (○) (temporarily)
Earth Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Clay Guardian
Raises 1 ally's Defense.
Lv. 2 Spell: Voice of Earth
Deals around 300 Earth damage to all enemies.
Lv. 3 Spell: Copper Flesh
Creates a barrier around 1 ally. Lasts 3 turns.
Lv. 4 Spell: Earthquake
Deals around 700 Earth damage to all enemies.
Shop
・Rikon
Drop
Creeper
Other
・Recruit Lotte or Eileen
Lightning Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Angry Blow
Deals around 150 Lightning damage to 1 enemy.
Lv. 2 Spell: Rainstorm
Deals around 100 Lightning damage to all enemies.
Lv. 3 Spell: Raging Blow
Deals around 600 Lightning damage to 1 enemy.
Lv. 4 Spell: Ball of Lightning
Deals around 1000 Lightning damage to 1 enemy.
Shop
・Warriors' Village
Drop
Zombie Dragon
Other
・Recruit Sheena (○) or Flik
Rage Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Firestorm
Deals about 150 Fire damage to all enemies.
Lv. 2 Spell: Dancing Flames
Deals about 400 Fire damage to all enemies.
Lv. 3 Spell: Explosion
Deals about 700 Fire damage to all enemies.
Lv. 4 Spell: Final Flame
Deals around 900 Fire damage to all enemies.
Drop
Elite Soldier
Other
・Recruit Alen (○)
Flowing Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Fog of Deception
Reduces enemy accuracy by 20%.
Lv. 2 Spell: Rain of Kindness
Restores about 300 HP to all allies.
Lv. 3 Spell: Water of Kindness
Restores all allies' HP to full.
Lv. 4 Spell: Mother Ocean
Restores all allies' HP to full, cures negative statuses, and revives KO'd allies.
Treasure Chest
・Cave of the Past
Drop
Siren
Cyclone Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: The Shredding
Deals around 400 Wind damage to 1 enemy.
Lv. 2 Spell: Healing Wind
Restores 1 ally's HP to full.
Lv. 3 Spell: Storm
Deals around 500 Wind damage to all
Lv. 4 Spell: Shining Wind
Restores about 500 HP to all allies, deals about 500 Wind damage to all enemies.
Treasure Chest
・Seek Valley
Drop
Sunshine King
Other
・Recruit Crowley
Mother Earth Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Voice of Earth
Deals around 300 Earth damage to all enemies.
Lv. 2 Spell: Copper Flesh
Creates a barrier around 1 ally. Lasts 3 turns.
Lv. 3 Spell: Earthquake
Deals around 700 Earth damage to all enemies.
Lv. 4 Spell: Guardian Earth
Raises all allies' Defense.
Treasure Chest
・Moravia
Drop
Colossus
Other
・Recruit Hellion (○)
Thunder Rune Magic Lv. 1 Spell: Rainstorm
Deals around 100 Lightning damage to all enemies.
Lv. 2 Spell: Raging Blow
Deals around 600 Lightning damage to 1 enemy.
Lv. 3 Spell: Ball of Lightning
Deals around 1000 Lightning damage to 1 enemy.
Lv. 4 Spell: Thunder God
Deals around 900 Lightning damage to all enemies.
Treasure Chest
・Floating Fortress of Shasarazade
Drop
Simurgh
Other
・Recruit Grenseal (○)

Only the Five Elements Runes, Resurrection Rune, and Soul Eater can be levelled up. As the Rune's level increases, the more magic abilities you can unlock and use.

How to Equip and Level Up Runes

Soul Eater Levels Up as the Story Progresses

Obtaining Soul Eater Rune

Only the Hero's exclusive Soul Eater Rune will level up as the story progresses, and can reach a maximum of level 4.

Effects of Equipping Runes

Enables Magic and Special Attacks

Runes Grant Special Attacks

Equipping Runes to your characters enables the use of magic abilities and character-specific special attacks. The number of times you can use magic abilities can be replensished by staying at an Inn. Other special attacks don't have a limit so you can use them freely.

Rune Pieces, on the other hand, are attached to weapons to grant them bonus attributes. These are different from Runes and do not grant any special abilities for characters.

List of All Runes and Effects

Attacks Using Runes Ignore Attack Range Rules

In the game, characters' positioning in the team on the battlefield depends on their range. Range is determined by a character's weapon, but using Runes to attack will bypass the set rules for Attack Range.

For example, Characters with S Range (close range) cannot attack from the backline position, however using a Rune can enable the S Range Character to attack from the backline.

How Does Range Work

Runes Have Special Effects

Rune Effects & Abilities
Turtle Rune Prevents all negative statuses.
Gale Rune Speed x2

Some Runes have special effects, like the Gale Rune which increases Speed by two-fold, Turtle Rune which prevents all negative statuses, and more.

Best Runes

Some Runes are Exclusive to Certain Characters

Boar Rune Godspeed Rune Falcon Rune
Hate Rune Shrike Rune

There are certain Runes that are exclusive to each character, with some Runes permanently equipped to certain characters.

Runes vs. Rune Pieces

Rune Pieces are Attached to Weapons

Rune Piece Example

Rune Pieces are different from Runes in that they are attached to weapons instead of being equipped to a character, granting bonus attributes associated with the Rune Piece. These items have the word "Rune Piece" in their name to differentiate them.

All Rune Pieces and Where to Get Them

Suikoden 1 HD Remaster Related Guides

Suikoden 1 HD Remaster TNT Partials

Beginner's Tips and Tricks

All Tips and Tricks Guides

Tips and Tricks
Best Party and Team Composition Best Runes
Early Game Guide What Happens When You Die?
How to Win Duels and Dialogue Patterns Does the Hero Have a Canon Name?
Advanced Tips Trophy Guide: How to Get Platinum
How to Change Difficulty Settings What is the Canon Castle Name?
Hard Mode Guide How to Return to the Great Forest
Should You Spare Kraze or Not? -
Farming Guides
EXP Farming Guide Money Farming Guide
Gameplay Mechanics
How to Equip and Level Up Runes How to Use the Stone Tablet of Promise
How to Escape From Battles How to Change Party and Formation
How to Use Unite Magic How to Protect Characters
Character Stats Guide List of Status Ailments and Cures
How to Save Fast Travel Guide
How to Dash How to Change Equipment
How to Use the Binoculars How to Equip Orbs
Bath Events Guide How to Unlock and Use the Elevator
Glossary List and All Terms
Headquarters and Facility Guides
Headquarters Upgrades and List of Facilities What Can You Do at the Inn?
How to Unlock the Armor Shop How to Unlock the Rune Shop
How to Unlock the Warehouse How to Unlock the Item Shop
How to Unlock the Blacksmith How to Unlock the Appraisal Shop
Minigame Guides
Matching Cards Minigame Guide Chinchirorin Dice Minigame Guide
Marco's Coin Minigame Guide
Post-Game Guides
All Missables and Points of No Return How to Get All Endings

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