Path of Exile 2 introduces a system for customising items using runes, sockets and soul cores, replacing the crafting bank from Path of Exile 1. This guide will focus on how to farm runes, their strategic uses, and provide examples of specific runes to give you an idea of their potential.
How to Farm Runes
Enemy Drops: Runes are dropped by enemies throughout the game, with a higher chance of being dropped by rare mobs, bosses, or during certain events such as breaches or incursions.
Chests and Containers: Keep an eye out for chests, especially those found in more challenging areas or after defeating tough enemies.
Trials of Chaos: This is the end-game content where you can acquire the more powerful Soul Cores. It's similar to Path of Exile 1's Ultimatum mechanic and offers unique rewards including runes and Soul Cores.
Trade: Like many items in PoE, runes can be traded with other players. If you are missing certain runes, trading may be the quickest way to obtain them.
Using runes effectively
Socketing: Runes are placed in item sockets to add an extra modifier. Most equipment can have sockets, but the number varies:
Chest armour and two-handed weapons: Up to 2 sockets.
One-handed weapons, gloves, helmets, boots: Up to 1 socket.
Early game strategy
Use runes to fill in gaps in your resistances or attributes. They're a great way to compensate for a new piece of equipment that lacks a crucial stat.
Long-term strategy
Be selective with high-end items. Once a rune is socketed, it cannot be removed or replaced, so think carefully about which runes you want to include in your gear.
Socketing
Items will drop without sockets by default, but you can add them using Artificer's Orbs, which can be obtained by salvaging items with sockets from the Salvage Bank.
Examples of runes
Glacial rune
Effect: The
glacial rune can adds 12% cold resistance or a flat amount of cold damage to attacks.
Use: Ideal for builds that need to cap cold resistance or add elemental damage to your attacks.
Fiery Rune
Effect: The firey rune can increases fire resistance or adds fire damage to attacks.
Use: Perfect for fire-based builds or when your character lacks fire resistance.
Iron Rune
Effect: The
iron rune can increases physical damage for weapons or increases armour, evasion and energy shield for armour.
Use: A versatile rune that increases both offensive and defensive capabilities, especially in builds that rely on physical damage or require more survivability.
Tips for new players
Experiment early: In the early game, don't hesitate to use runes to solve immediate problems like low resistances or missing attributes. Better equipment will come along and you'll have more runes to work with.
Save for late game: Once you've found better gear, be more thoughtful with your rune choices, especially if you're aiming for the endgame content.
Understand your build: Know what your build lacks or could benefit from. Runes are all about filling gaps or amplifying strengths in your build.
Soul Cores: These are more powerful than runes and are reserved for the endgame. They offer unique modifiers that can significantly alter the way your character operates, so farm these through Trials of Chaos.
Thank you for reading
Runes in Path of Exile 2 offer a dynamic way to modify and enhance your equipment without the need for a traditional crafting bench. By understanding how to farm them and using them strategically, you can tailor your equipment to suit your playstyle, overcome challenges, and prepare for the challenging endgame content. Remember, while runes offer immediate benefits, their use should be balanced with long-term build planning.
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