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Runes: Equipment
Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Runes: Equipment

Unlock and equip runes in dragon age the veilguard. Learn about passive and active effects, including Crystallize freezing enemies.

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Unlock and equip runes in dragon age the veilguard. Learn about passive and active effects, including Crystallize freezing enemies.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    After obtaining Solas’s Lyrium Dagger during the quest "The Singing Blade", you can equip runes. The dagger is displayed in the right side of the Character menu and has three sockets for runes.
  2. 2
    Runes will not appear until you progress the main questline further; you will likely find your first rune during the main quest "Sea of Blood" or "The Smuggled Relic".
  3. 3
    Runes can be found in chests, looted off enemies, purchased from merchants, or obtained as quest rewards.
  4. 4
    To equip a rune, enter the “Character” menu, select a socket on the Lyrium Dagger, and choose a rune from your acquired list.
  5. 5
    Equipped runes provide passive effects that apply constantly, and active effects that can be used during combat.
  6. 6
    Active rune abilities are powerful, timed effects that often mirror their passive counterparts but with greater potency. For example, the Crystallize rune’s active effect is “All enemies within 10 meters are Frozen” while its passive effect is “+10% Frozen duration”.
  7. 7
    Up to three runes can be equipped simultaneously. All equipped runes share a cooldown.
  8. 8
    You can cycle between equipped runes by pressing a button, and hold another button to use the currently selected rune. Alternatively, you can hold a button to cycle between and use equipped runes.
  9. 9
    You cannot swap between runes while one is on cooldown.
Tips
  • Even if you don’t care for a rune’s active effect, its passive effect may still be useful enough to warrant equipping it.
  • Active rune abilities can be game-changing, providing potent effects that can turn the tide of battle.
  • Passive rune effects offer smaller but more enduring boosts.
  • Making good use of runes will certainly help in the game’s harder battles.

List of Runes:

Below is a list of runes found in dragon age the veilguard, including their active and passive effects:

  • Besiege: Active: Light and Heavy attacks are no longer penalized vs. Barrier for 20 seconds. Passive: +10% damage vs Barrier.
  • Crystallize: Active: All enemies within 10 meters are Frozen. Passive: +10% Frozen duration.
  • Defy: Active: Take no damage from current target for 10 seconds. Passive: Take 10% less damage while at Low Health.
  • Diminish: Active: All enemies within 6 meters are Weakened. Passive: +10% Primer duration.
  • Divert: Active: Enemies disengage and attack your enemies for 10 seconds instead, doesn’t work against bosses. Passive: Health +10%.
  • Dominate: Active: All generated Rage is converted to Ultimate for 10 seconds. Passive: +10% Ultimate generation.
  • Electrify: Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Electric damage for 20 seconds. Passive: +10% Electricity damage.
  • Escalate: Active: Your next ability is greatly enhanced. Passive: +10% Ability Damage.
  • Fortify: Active: You gain Invulnerable. Passive: +25% Invulnerable duration.
  • Glaciate: Active: All your weapon attacks deal Cold damage for 20 seconds. Passive: +10% Cold damage.
  • Hemorrhage: Active: All weapon attacks apply Bleeding for 10 seconds. Passive: +10% Bleeding Duration.
  • Hunger: Active: Your weapon attacks leech 25% of their damage for 10 seconds. Passive: 10% Leech Effectiveness.
  • Overflow: Active: Your current Potion’s additional effects are applied. Passive: +1 maximum Potions.
  • Pierce: Active: Your damage gains +100% Penetration for 10 seconds. Passive: +10% Penetration.
  • Ravage: Active: Deal 50% more damage vs health for 20 seconds. Passive: +10% damage vs health.
  • Refresh: Active: Duration of all applied Advantages are reset. Passive: +10% Advantage duration.
  • Regroup: Active: Refreshes all your companions active abilities. Passive: +10% companion ability damage.
  • Scorch: Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Fire damage for 20 seconds. Passive: +10% Fire damage.
  • Scourge: Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Necrotic damage for 20 seconds. Passive: +10% Necrotic damage.
  • Shatter: Active: Ranged attacks break through enemies’ guard for 10 seconds. Passive: +10% Ranged attack damage.
  • Upend: Active: All of your defensive Resistances become offensive damage bonuses of the same type for 10 seconds. Passive: +5% all Resistances.
  • Vivify: Active: Your Ability cooldowns are refreshed, and your next ability is free. Passive: +10% Momentum Generation.
  • Withstand: Active: Gain Immovable. Passive: +25% Immovable duration.

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