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Welcome to the Runes page. Currently, there is information on the Soul Eater Rune, the Elemental Runes, Runic Unites, Attack Runes, Effect Runes, and Rune Fragments. Coming soon: the Ressurection Rune.

I would like to credit Chockboard for some of the info presented here, which can be found at Toran Castle.

Crystals become Runes once they are euipped on a character. Some Runes grant the bearer a new attack , special bonuses, or the ability to use magic. Characters have a certain number of uses for each level spell. Uses are replenished by staying at inns, and by no other method (except certain events in the story). The number of maximum number of uses usually increases with each character's level up. The spells available are determined by the Runes your characters carry. For example, a level four spell with the Fire Rune is only a third level spell with the Rage Rune.

Listed for the Elemental Runes (Fire, Lightning, Water, Wind, and Earth Runes) are five spells, as well as the name of its "upgraded" version. Runes can only hold four spells. Spells are referred to by their "level," with the first spell being a first level spell, and the last a forth level spell. With the normal crystals, you only have access to the first four spells listed. Once you find the "upgraded" or "super" crystals, you will access to the last four spells.

Spellcasting 101

Your character's stats will have a list of numbers, such as 8/5/3/1. In this example, the character can use the first level spell 8 times, the second level spell 5 times, etc. The numbers are increased as your levels go up.

Listed for the elemental Runes are five spells, although a Rune can only have four. The normal Rune is the first Rune name listed -- for "Fire/Rage" the normal rune would be the Fire Rune. In the case of a normal Rune, the first four spells listed are the spells you'll find.

The "super," or "upgraded" Rune, is the second name of the pair. Using the above example, the upgraded version would be called the Rage Rune. You cannot upgraded Runes yourself, and they cannot be bought -- you must either find them exploring or equipped on a character.

These super Runes hold the last four spells listed. What was the first level spell for the normal Rune is not found on the super Rune, the normal Rune's second level spell is the super Rune's first level spell, and so on. The actual spells themselves are the same, which means that, using the above sample stats, you can use a second level spell on a normal rune 5 times, but equip a super Rune and use the exact same spell 8 times...

Hopefully, this "Spellcasting 101" will help you better understand the central element of the game.

The Soul Eater Rune
		Deadly Fingertips Instant death to one enemy (excludes "boss" enemies) Black Shadow Damages all enemies Hell Instant death to all enemies (excludes "boss" enemies) Judgment Damages one enemy

Fire Rune / Rage Rune
		Flaming Arrows Damages one enemy Firestorm Damages all enemies Dancing Flames Damages all enemies Explosion Damages all enemies Final Flame Damages all enemies

Lightning Rune / Thunder Rune
		Angry Blow Damages one enemy Rainstorm Damages all enemies Raging Blow Damages one enemy Ball of Lightning Damages one enemy Thunder God Damages all enemies

Water Rune / Flowing Rune
		Drops of Kindness Heals one ally Fog of Deception Halves all enemies' successful attack rate Rain of Kindness Heals all allies Water of Kindness Heals all allies fully Mother Ocean Heals fully and revives all allies unable to fight

Wind Rune / Cyclone Rune
		Wind of Sleep Casts sleep on all enemies The Shredding Damages one enemy Healing Wind Heals one ally Storm Damages all enemies Shining Wind Damages all enemies and heals all allies

Earth Rune / Mother Earth Rune
		Clay Guardian Raises one ally's defense Voice of Earth Damages all enemies Copper Flesh Raises one ally's defense Earthquake Damages all enemies Guardian of Earth Raises all allies' defense

Note: Level 2 spell "Voice of Earth" will not affect flying or floating creatures.

Runic Unites

• Fire and Lightning
• Lightning and Water
• Water and Wind
• Wind and Earth
• Earth and Fire

Make sure you always use the highest level spell you have. While a fourth level spell for a normal Rune may be exactly the same as the third level spell on a super Rune, if you use a super Rune you must use the new fourth level spell.

		Fire and Lightning Damages all enemies Lightning and Water Damages one enemy and heals all allies Water and Wind Damages all enemies and heals all allies Wind and Earth Damages all enemies Earth and Fire Damages all enemies

Special Attack Runes

• Clone Rune Doubles normal damage, but leaves the bearer unbalanced
• Boar Rune Dishes out a 16-hit combo, doubling normal damage. Causes unbalance
• Falcon Rune "Rains punishing blows on the enemy"
• Hate Rune Emits a fireball
• Shrike Rune Allows a suplex to be performed on an enemy
• Trick Rune Attacks an enemy with...

Special Effect Runes

• Counter Rune Doubles abilty to deliver a counter-attack
• Killer Rune Doubles ability to deal a very potent, maximum damage attack
• Spark Rune "Changes order of attack" -- ???
• Phero Rune A character of the opposite sex protects you when low on health
• Turtle Rune Protects from all status abnormalities
• Prosperity Rune Doubles amount of money won from a battle
• Fortune Rune Doubles amount of experience points earned
• Hazy Rune Halve the enemies' successful attack rate
• Champion's Rune No random attacks by weak enemies
• Sunbeam Rune Restore hits points with each step
• Gale Rune Doubles speed in battle
• Holy Rune Hold the [CIRCLE] button to dash (only in towns/dungeons)
• True Holy Rune Doubles speed on world map; hold [CIRCLE] button to dash anywhere else
• Double-Beat Rune Normal attacks target two enemies

Rune Fragments

Rune Shards must be used at Blacksmiths' Shops, where they can be attached to a character's weapon. Once attached, they cannot be removed. New Rune Shards will dispose of previous ones, and multiple Shards of the same element may be accumulated.

• Power Rune Piece Increases Strength
• Skill Rune Piece Increases Skill
• Defense Rune Piece Increases Defense
• Magic Rune Piece Increases Magic Ability
• Speed Rune Piece Increases Speed
• Fortune Rune Piece Increases Luck

• Fire Rune Piece Attack with the power of fire
• Lightning Rune Piece Attack with the power of lightning
• Water Rune Piece Heals bearer a little each round
• Wind Rune piece Increases Defense by 3 (and thus, armor by 3 as well)
• Earth Rune Piece ???

Water Rune Pieces can be won from Slimes on Mt. Tigerwolf. Thunder Rune Pieces can be won from enemies on the Dwarf Trail (?). Earth Rune Pieces can be won from Black Wild Boars on Mt. Seifu.

Created: April 6, 1997
Updated: July 2, 1997

Contact the author of this site at suikoden@spores.net .