Runemaster Runemasters are monk - like arcane spellcaster and melee fighters who empower themselves with magical energies by inscribing runes onto their bodies . The runemaster is a free spirit , more at home in the wild than in the city . The runemaster is a mystic who sees the power of ley lines . Moreover , those who study runes understand that these are not simply symbols of power - they are the power . The runemaster seeks to become one with the land , but not in the fashion of druids . Rather , the runemaster desires to become a microcosm of the land , seeking to overlay his body with runes in the same fashion that the land itself is overlaid with patterns of ley lines . He merges brute strength with arcane magic , covering his body with mystic tattoos and often imbuing them with magical energies to increase his skill in hand - to - hand combat . While a runemaster shuns armor , this is more to prevent hindrances to inscribing his runes than to demonstrate his subtlety and finesse with unarmed strikes . Quite to the contrary , a runemaster prefers to get in the face of his enemies . Using little trickery or subterfuge , the runemaster takes down foes with toe - to - toe , all - out assaults , hammering them with tattooed fists and feet brimming with arcane power . Runic magic is considered primitive yet complex by most other races . The dwarves have taken to it with deft skill , while the tauren study it more slowly . Most runemasters are heavily tattooed with runic patterns - not simply the unique ones that form the basis for rune families , but the so - called " simple runes " as well . Simple runes mimic patterns of ley energy that appear , again and again , in the environment . These patterns occur in nature and are responsible for things such as the strength of a given type of stone , the ferocity of a given windstorm and the coolness of a given stream ; when a runemaster uses these patterns , he learns to channel his power into them at all times , attaining similar traits . Runemasters are proficient with simple weapons , but not with any type of armor or shield . Armor of any type interferes with a runemaster ’ s movements , which can cause his empowerments with somatic components to fail . A runemaster has the ability to scribe and empower runes . A runemaster does not prepare spells the way other arcane spellcasters do . Rather , a runemaster has a certain number of rune patterns that he simply knows , and he may empower any rune within those patterns . To scribe and empower a rune , the runemaster must have a high Spirit . A runemaster can create any rune he knows at any time . He does not have to decide ahead of time which runes he will create , nor does he need to prepare anything in advance . To inscribe a rune , a runemaster must have a high intelligence . The runemaster can sense the presence of runes in his vicinity , a runemaster gains an intuitive sense that alerts him to danger from runes . A runemaster ' s marks can be made permanent . A creature can have only few magic tattoos . To replace a magic tattoo , the creature must first have an old one erased . The runemaster bears simple runes ( see below ) on his knuckles . The runes that make up the runic patterns are powerful and unique , based upon patterns of ley - line energy found nowhere else in all of Azeroth . These are not the only such patterns in nature , however . There are patterns that are not unique , but are found over and over in certain dynamic situations in nature . These repeating patterns are the basis for simple runes : sets of runes that only runemasters may use . Simple runes are tattooed to the skin of the runemaster . It isn ’ t enough that the pattern be there — rather , the runemaster must understand how his own energy is like that of the ley line energy of the world around him , so that he can empower the pattern instinctively . Simple runes flicker with suppressed energy until the runemaster needs their power , then they blaze with brilliant potency . Simple runes radiate faint magic of no specific school . A runemaster begins with a single simple rune . As his understanding of the runes grows , he can add others . Runemasters fill many roles . They are adept melee combatants . They possess runes to enhance themselves and their allies , as well as to ward certain areas and otherwise make life difficult for their opponents . The most experienced runemasters become epic runemaster s . Others may be lone wolf runemaster s . History . The traditions of the runemasters date back to the ancient time of the titan s , creators of runic magic . Their creation , the dwarves , quickly mastered the mysteries of the runes taught to them . However , as generations passed , the dwarves forgot their heritage and lost all knowledge of runes and their hereditary powers . Tauren in Kalimdor rediscovered the power of runes . An ancient race as well , the tauren remembered the myths of runecasting and revived interest in this nearly lost art . The dwarves that came to Kalimdor with Jaina Proudmoore ' s Alliance Expedition learned tauren runecasting techniques . Tauren and dwarves do not share good relations , but they were eager to share knowledge of runes and titan myths . Affiliation . Runemasters may be found in either the Horde or the Alliance . Thought the arts of the runemaster originated among the ancient tauren , these techniques have been adopted by many races . After the tauren , dwarves are the most likely to practice the runemaster ' s art , with night elves , orcs and trolls making up a small population as well . Rare is the human runemaster , and dwarven mentors teach almost all of them . Many runemasters , particularly those whose studies of natural runic patterns take them away from the centers of civilization , end up taking a neutral stance .