Runes (Origins)

Runes are items with magical properties that can be used to enchant weapons in Dragon Age: Origins. Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening introduces runes that can be used to enchant armor and the ability to craft runes. 
There are two types of runes: weapon runes and armor runes. Weapon runes are available in Origins and Awakening, while Armor runes are only available in Awakening and the DLC Golems of Amgarrak. 
Runes can be added or removed from equipment by Bodahn Feddic's son, Sandal, at the Party Camp in Origins; by Ambassador Cera at Vigil's Keep in Awakening; and using the rune anvil in The Golems of Amgarrak.
Runes provide bonuses to the weapons or armor they enchant. Adding and removing runes is free, and runes can be reused after removal. This makes it easy to customize equipment. Runes come in five tiers of power in Origins, from Novice to Grandmaster; and seven tiers of power in Awakening, from Novice to Paragon. 
* Novice, Tier 1
* Journeyman, Tier 2
* Expert, Tier 3
* Master, Tier 4
* Grandmaster, Tier 5
* Masterpiece, Tier 6, Awakening only
* Paragon, Tier 7, Awakening only
Runecrafting is a new skill introduced in Awakening that gives Wardens the knowledge to make their own weapon and armor runes.
== Weapon runes ==
There are nine types of Weapon Runes. Most grant offensive bonuses, like fire damage or slowing or paralysis enemies; though some grant bonuses to physical or spell resistances.
The bonuses provided by runes are additive. For example, a weapon with two runes of paralysis has twice the chance of paralysing its target.
Some runes paralyze their target and others slow them. While the effect of one of this runes is active, the same kind of effect (slowing or paralyzing) cannot be triggered again in the target, and the duration of the effect is not extended.
Some weapons have one or more rune slots. The number depends on the material they're made of. For example, iron weapons have no slots while most dragonbone items have three.
== Armor runes ==
Awakening introduces armor runes, which grant bonuses to chest armor pieces. Some chest armor pieces comes with rune slots: tier 6 armor pieces have two slots, while tier 7 pieces have three. There are five types of armor runes. Most grant defensive bonuses like increases to armor, elemental resistances, or chance to avoid missile attacks; but some increase constitution or willpower.
These runes are:
* Stout – increases Constitution.
* Barrier – increases Armor.
* Reservoir – increases Willpower.
* Tempest – increases Missile Evasion.
* Immunity – increases Elemental Resistances (Fire, Ice, and Lightning).
* Evasion - increases chance to dodge attacks by 5%.
* Endurance - reduces fatigue by 5%.
* Amplification - increases Fire, Cold, Electricity, Nature, and Spirit damage by 5%.
* Diligence - eliminates extra damage from flank attacks.
=== Pseudo-armor runes bug ===
Weapon runes with effects vs. creature type (Cold Iron, Silverite) and passive resistance (Dweomer, Hale) from Masterpiece and Paragon tiers are erroneously flagged as armor runes in Awakening. Cold Iron and Silverite do not trigger either with melee or ranged weapons when inserted into armor slots. However, both Dweomer and Hale grant the resistance bonuses normally.
== Hybrid runes ==
Some runes can be made by combining different types of runes. See the "Hybrid" heading for Weapon runes and Armor runes.
== Exploits ==
Runecrafting can be used to generate gold as described in Runecrafting - Exploits.
== Gallery ==
Runes_weapon.jpg|Weapon Rune Selection (Enchantment)
Runes_armor.jpg|Armor Rune Selection (Enchantment)
Rune_crafting.jpg|Crafting a Journeyman Dweomer Rune
== External links ==
* Unofficial Awakening Runes Fix
Category:Dragon Age: Origins runes