Runes and Runewords Guide - Season 12 Diablo 4

By RenataKane Updated: 2026/03/11

What are Runes in Diablo 4?Runes of Ritual on top, Runes of Invocation on the bottom

Only players with the Vessel of Hatred expansion can collect and use Runes.

Single Runes do nothing alone. You must have 2 runes in a 2-slot item for them to have any effect.

You can only equip 2 Runewords at one time.

You cannot equip the same Rune twice. Runes act as Unique-Equipped. This is probably to avoid system confusion between what Gains and Offerings should apply to which. If you have two Runewords equipped, you can only use four different Runes.

Runes stack and can be traded.

You can find Runes and Gems in the Socketable tab on your character.

Like Gems, Runes can be unsocketed at the Jeweler. If you Salvage an item that contains Runes, the Runes will drop into your inventory. Don't sell an item with inserted Runes to a vendor if you want to keep the Runes -- if it falls off the Buyback screen, it's lost forever!

Farming RunesYou must complete the VoH campaign "Fundament of Faith" chapter before Runes will drop in game.

Campaign Bosses: You will get guaranteed Runes from your first kill of bosses in the VoH campaign. You cannot run the Campaign more than once to get more Rune drops, however.

World Bosses

Azmodan, Open World by opening Duriel's chest

Kurast Undercity District runs using the or - these both guarantee Runes if you complete the dungeon with at least Attunement Rank 1

- These will start appearing in the Bartering vendor in the Mercenary zone, The Den, after reaching Rapport VIII with Aldkin. These Caches contain Shattered Prisms and Gems, and can also contain Runes.

How to Create RunewordsOfferingOfferingOverflowMonitoring Runes and OfferingsThe first Rune is still filling; the second one never shows "progress" because it triggers from a larger OfferingAll Runes in Diablo 4Runes of RitualRunes of InvocationRunes and Crafting at the JewelerMythic Unique Target CraftingCreating Random Runes

Random Magic or Rare Runes

Random Legendary Runes

Random Rare or Legendary Runes

Be aware that some Runes can be used for multiple categories.

Comments

Comment by Jap731

Why did the have to remove the ONO Rune, I was looking forward to using it in a few builds. It be nice to bring it back.

Runes and Runewords Guide - Season 12 Diablo 4

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