Runes in Broken Blade are passive combat items from two sources. The Greedy Shop inside the Colosseum at Nidavellir Island sells five runes for Boss Coins earned from summoned bosses. The Shadow Clone Rune at 1,800 Boss Coins is the only must-buy. The Crit Rune is a rare drop exclusive to the Sky Spire Dungeon boss on Layers 80 to 90 and cannot be purchased anywhere.
Runes in Broken Blade are passive items that trigger during combat without any input from you. They either deal extra damage automatically or provide permanent stat boosts depending on the type. There are only two ways to get them, so to help you with that, this guide covers both methods, all the currently available runes, and how to farm Boss Keys to get runes.
How Do You Get Runes in Broken Blade?
There are two ways to get runes in Broken Blade. The Greedy Shop inside the Colosseum at Nidavellir Island sells five runes directly for Boss Coins, making it the best way to get specific runes. The Sky Spire Dungeon in Jotunheim drops runes as rare loot from its bosses, and is the only source for the Crit Rune.
TIP: If you don't know the boss locations and drops, check out our guide to know more.
How Do You Buy Runes from the Greedy Shop in Broken Blade?
The Greedy Shop is inside the Colosseum at Nidavellir Island. To reach there, teleport to Nidavellir Island and enter the Colosseum to find it. Every rune in the shop costs Boss Coins, which you earn by defeating summoned bosses. If you want to summon bosses, you will need Boss Keys. The amount needed varies depending on the boss and the difficulty you select.
All five shop runes and their prices are listed below:
| Rune | Cost |
|---|---|
| Souls Bomb Rune | 1,000 Boss Coins |
| Hell Fire Rune | 1,200 Boss Coins |
| Thunder Rune | 1,400 Boss Coins |
| Blizzard Rune | 1,600 Boss Coins |
| Shadow Clone Rune | 1,800 Boss Coins |
TIP: Of the five, the Shadow Clone Rune is the only purchase worth prioritizing. The other four are functional, but get outclassed. Save your Boss Coins and go straight for it.
How Do You Get Runes from the Sky Spire Dungeon in Broken Blade?
The Sky Spire Dungeon is located in Jotunheim. Bosses inside the dungeon have a chance to drop runes as loot, but the drop rate is low. Do note that this method depends heavily on luck and grinding. The dungeon is also the only place in the game where the Crit Rune drops, specifically from the boss found on Layers 80 to 90.
NOTE: The Crit Rune is not available in the Greedy Shop and cannot be traded or bought from other players. If you want it, Sky Spire Layers 80 to 90 is the only route.
What Are All the Runes & Their Effects in Broken Blade?
Five runes are available through the Greedy Shop, and one drops exclusively from the Sky Spire Dungeon. Here's all of them, and their effects in Broken Blade:
| Rune | Effect | Damage Output |
|---|---|---|
| Souls Bomb Rune | Chance to summon 3 Soul Bombs on hit | 50% M1 damage per bomb |
| Hell Fire Rune | Chance to trigger a fiery AoE explosion on hit | 1.8x M1 damage, hits multiple enemies |
| Thunder Rune | Occasionally summons a lightning strike | 2x M1 damage |
| Blizzard Rune | Creates an icy aura around enemies on hit | M1 damage per second for 5 seconds |
| Shadow Clone Rune | Chance to summon 2 clones that fight alongside you | 3x M1 damage per clone |
| Crit Rune | Permanent passive boost to Crit Damage and Crit Chance | No attack trigger. Stat boost only |
How Do You Farm Boss Keys in Broken Blade?
Boss Keys drop from bosses across the different islands throughout Broken Blade. Regular boss farming gradually builds up your supply, which can then be spent on summoning tougher encounters that reward more Boss Coins per run.
There is no single dedicated boss for key farming. Any boss across the islands has a chance to drop them. If you need keys faster than your farming rate, player trading is the other option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Shadow Clone Rune is the strongest rune for most players. The two clones it summons each deal 3x your M1 damage, and since they trigger automatically during farming and boss fights, the extra DPS output compounds significantly over longer fights without any effort on your part.
Boss Coins are earned by defeating summoned bosses. To summon a boss, you need Boss Keys, which drop from bosses across the game's islands. The number of Boss Keys required per summon depends on the boss and the difficulty level you select.
For more on Broken Blade, check out How to Unlock All Broken Blade Titles or All Broken Blade Accessories on Pro Game Guides!
