Dragon Age: The Veilguard Best Runes Listed

Discover all the top ten best runes listed in Dragon Age: The Veilguard, including what runes are and how to get and use them.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard offers several new in-game items you can equip while progressing in the game, and Runes are one of these items. Let your character gain both Active and Passive bonuses by equipping it with the Lyrium Dagger enhancing its capabilities during the combat. This fourth major game takes place ten years after the Inquisition, and players create their own hero ‘Rook’ to face the coming dangers. Select the three standard classes: Warrior, Rogue, and Mage. Each class has three different specializations that you can unlock at level 20.

Picking the right Rune is crucial and complicated depending on your build and playstyle, so we came in to help you choose the best one in the game. In the following article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the top ten Runes, including their Active and Passive bonuses that you can gain.

What are Runes

Runes play an impactful role in your build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard. They are small gemstones that are marked with a symbol that shows us what kind of Rune is. Although, they come in a variety of colors, usually related to the Rune type. For example, the Glaciate Rune is blue in color and can affect Cold damage. You can equip up to three Runes on your character and each one grants bonuses. Find a Schematic for each Rune once it has been acquired. Generate the Runes of that quality/type at will, providing you have the materials required.

In the previous series, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Runes affect the weapon’s basic attack power for some amount depending on the type of Rune. Elemental Runes allow preying on elemental weaknesses and slayer Runes raise the attack power of a weapon. Now, things have changed as Runes play different roles in this new series of Dragon Age. Use a Scorch Rune to slot it into a weapon that enables a necrotic-focused build to deal fire damage along with the additional offensive power. This elasticity helps the players to tackle different combat situations.

The list below shows the Runes ranking from best to worst in the game.

1. Ravage
2. Escalate
3. Crush
4. Crystalize
5. Pierce
6. Electrify
7. Scourge
8. Shatter
9. Regroup
10. Overflow

How to Get Runes

The game has several different methods to acquire Runes and each one requires proper grinding.

• You can also find them by opening hidden chests scattered throughout the world.
• You can purchase them from Merchants. Merchants are the NPCs that are found in various locations and they offer the same price for Weapons and Armor.
• In order to purchase the Rune, you must have a combination of gold and specific materials that are required for that specific Rune.
• The other method to obtain them is by exploring diverse regions, hidden in various locations.

How to Use Rune Active Bonus

Pressing the referred button triggers the Active Bonus of Runes. If you’re playing on a PlayStation then L2 and Triangle. In case, you want to use any of them then hit the Arrow Buttons for Left, Right, Up, and Down to cycle through the four Runes. You cannot swap between runes while one is on cooldown. Enhance your Abilities and attack effectiveness by activating Runes manually and select only the one that excels in your build. For maximum combat effectiveness, use the Diminish, Refresh, Escalate, and Regroup Runes.

Best Runes in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Ravage is the best Rune that allows you to deal 50% extra damage upon activation for like 20 seconds against their actual health. This is especially effective against bosses that don’t have barriers and armor, and only have their raw health, so you can stun them and then utilize that Rune when you go to hit their weak spot as they are staggered dealing an amazing amount of damage. There’s a Rune that when you activate will freeze all the enemies around while also passively increasing your cold damage among a host of others. On top of everything else, you also get the Runes which can allow you to focus on things as well.

The Dagger can have Runes slotted into it. Each Rune can be activated individually. Among all the Runes that the game has to offer, you should look for the best one. The best one gives you a massive damage boost to enemy health. After you chew through an enemy’s barrier or armor, you get down to their raw health.

1) Ravage

Ravage enhances the damage against enemy health, making it the best one to take down enemies in no time. Enhance your build by slotting the Ravage Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Ravage Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: Deal 50% more damage vs health for 20 seconds
• Passive: +10% damage vs health

The best way to use the Ravage rune is to combine it with a detonation combo, specifically the weakened status effect which increases overall damage. Debuff with Weakened as a primer, then detonate and activate the rune as the explosions is about to go off.  Consider using Neve and Time Stop to regenerate resources and lock enemies in place. Icebreaker is the best skill of Neve that you combine with the rune to fire 6 projectiles at the enemies for cold damage and 50% additional damage.

2) Escalate

Enhance your next ability by boosting either its effectiveness or damage. Enhance your build by slotting the Escalate Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Escalate Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: Your next Ability is greatly enhanced, dealing much higher damage or increasing efficacy
• Passive: +10% Ability damage

This is particularly useful against certain enemy types and you use it multiple times in combat. Combine it with the best Ultimate to become a winner on the battlefield. In addition to the Ultimate Ability, you can also use it for a detonation ability, like Groundbreaker (Warrior).

Utilize Neve to apply the Weakened effect on a target with her Glacial Pace ability, then use the Groundbreaker ability to detonate the Weakened effect. On the impact of your ability, it will do more damage to the target and have a chance of landing a critical hit due to enhanced ability damage. After landing the hit, the enemy will detonate with the Weakened effect, dealing additional thousands of damage.l against certain enemy types and you use it multiple times in combat. Combine it with the best Ultimate to become a winner on the battlefield.

3) Crush

For a short time, this one allows unpenalized attacks on armored enemies and enhances damage against Armor. Enhance your build by slotting the Crush Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Crush Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: Light and Ranged attacks are no longer penalized vs. Armor for 20 seconds
• Passive: +10% damage vs. Armor

Use the Crush Rune effectively by combining it with the Explosive Daggers (Saboteur). This combo can applies Sundered by unleashing a barrage of three explosive daggers that stick to the target and then explode for physical damage. You can also go for Fortune’s Turret because it allows you to ace down a mechanized turret that targets the closest enemy and stuns them with projectiles for physical damage.

Emmrich is the best Companion to use while equipping Crush Rune as this companion fills the role of range DPS with a powerful healing ability called Replenish. You can snare, stagger, slow time, and apply weakened while detonating sundered as revolves around dealing damage to enemies from a distance.

4) Crystallize

Upon activation, it freezes enemies within range extending freeze duration and proving to be a powerful control Rune that is perfect for locking down a group of enemies on a battlefield. Enhance your build by slotting the Crystalize Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Crystalize Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: All enemies within 10 meters are Frozen
• Passive: +10% Frozen duration

Combine the Crystalize with the Davrin Primer Ability (Heroic Strike) for Overwhelm and Detonator Ability (Death From Above) for the Weakened effect. Pair it with the Void Blade (Spellblade Ability) for dealing detonating Sundered along with freezing the enemies for a short time. This allows you to deal massive damage and drain enemies’ health in no time making a perfect combo while fighting a boss.

The alternative to Void Blade is Frost Nova which can inflict any enemy standing inside of it with Frozen and will freeze them in place so you can use your companions to get in some easy DPS. Simply Combine the Crystalize with the Davrin and Void Blade or Frost Nova to make it the nightmare combo for the enemies.

5) Pierce

Armor and weaponry are enhanced with penetration boosts upon activation and allow the players to break enemy defenses through a tactical advantage. Enhance your build by slotting the Pierce Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Pierce Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: Your damage gains +100% Penetration for 10 seconds
• Passive: +10% Penetration

Pierce alone can easily destroy the enemy defense but you can pair it with the Lightning Quiver (Veil Ranger). Once the enemy has no defense left then you can use the Lightning Quiver to unleash a storm of seven electric bolts that spread across the battlefield. Randomly hitting enemies in a large area for electric damage. This will massively drain out the enemy’s health bar in no time.

Enhance the effectiveness of Pierce Rune damage by choosing the correct Companion. Davrin is the best companion to pair with as it keeps the enemies taunted and stunned. Davrin’s In War, Victory is best in this case as Davrin gains an invulnerability state for a short period of time preventing him from taking any incoming damage. Use this combo to break the enemy defense without taking any damage.

6) Electrify

All of your weapon attacks have Electric damage temporarily and also enhance the Electricity damage. Enhance your build by slotting the Electrify Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Electrify Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Electric damage for 20 seconds
• Passive: +10% Electricity damage

Dealing additional electric damage by pairing it with the Thunderous End (Spellblade). This combo deals electric damage and applies two stacks of Shocked to enemies by summoning an avatar of the storm to fly out and explode in a large area. The alternative to Thunderous End is the Void Blade which helps you to dash forward and slash enemies dealing electric damage and detonating Sundered.

Pair Electrify with the Neve (Companion) for inflicting various status effects on enemies, such as Weakened and detonating the Sundered. Neve’s Time Slow ability slows down time and affects enemies and allies’ movement speed, this gives you the perfect opportunity to deal massive electricity damage with the combo of Electrify and Thunderous End.

7) Scourge

A short-time boost to Necrotic damage output along with a consistent passive increase, making it the best option for weakening enemies over time. Enhance your build by slotting the Scourge Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Scourge Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Necrotic damage for 20 seconds
• Passive: +10% Necrotic damage

Use the Scourge Rune effectively by pairing it with the Toxic Dash (Duelist). This combo can deal additional necrotic damage and applies Sundered to weaken the target’s defense. Use Toxic Dash on your enemies to make your other attacks effective as it dashes towards your target and applies the Necrosis status. The alternative to Toxic Dash is A Thousand Cuts which deals high Necrotic damage with the final strike dealing more damage.

Use the Harding (Companion) with the Scourge Rune for debuffing enemy armor and stagger them at range. Harding’s abilities is Shred which deals physical damage on a moderate cooldown and high stagger which is like a stun. It simply stops enemies for a short time rather than stopping them outright.

8) Shatter

The ranged combat enhances by allowing attacks to break through the enemy guard. You gain a temporary effect that boosts to ranged damage and breaks defenses. Enhance your build by slotting the Shatter Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Shatter Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: Ranged attacks break through enemies’ guard for 10 seconds
• Passive: +10% Ranged attack damage

Use the Shatter rune by combing it with the Spirit Bomb (Death Caller Ability) for applying siphon to an enemy dealing Necrotic damage along with the Ranged attack damage. The alternative to Spirit Bomb is Mortal Concentration as it enhances the player’s Ranged attack if sustained, for a maximum of 3 seconds. Enhance the damage effectiveness by pairing it with the Davrin’s Heavy Draw (Detonator Ability) and Primer Ability for applying Sundered and detonating Overwhelmed.

9) Regroup

It increases combat abilities with fire-based damage. You deal fire damage that allows you to drain the enemy’s health quickly. Enhance your build by slotting the Regroup Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Regroup Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: All of your weapon attacks deal Fire damage for 20 seconds
• Passive: +10% Fire damage

Regroup allows you to use your companions’ attacks in quick succession. Use them, activate them, and then use them again. This allows you to either heal or produce multiple combos and detonations quickly. Pair the Regroup with the Driving Kick to deal physical damage, cost one Rage, and detonate the weakened status effect.

With both companions constantly debuffing enemies, you can frequently trigger a detonation and stun. The Companion that works well with the Regroup is Emmrich because it lets you stagger, slow time, and apply weakened while detonating sundered along with the fire damage.ain.

10) Overflow

The potion capabilities are enhanced and apply extra effects from your current potion that provide an extra potion slot. Enhance your build by slotting the Overflow Rune into Weapons and Armor to achieve Passive and Active bonuses.

Here are the Active and Passive bonuses for the Overflow Rune in Dragon Age: The Veilguard:

• Active: Your current Potion’s additional effects are applied
• Passive: +1 maximum Potions

Overflow is the best rune for an Evoker Mage build in Dragon Age: The Veilguard because you can make a combo of Overflow and Entropic Sphere. This combo launches a sphere of energy that damages all enemies for cold damage in a path and then explodes at its end and Increases potions by +1.

The alternative of Entropic Sphere with the Overflow can be Dark Squall because it detonates the Sundered effect. Harding is the perfect Companion that works perfectly because this pair can apply Sundered with her Shred ability and Potion’s additional effects are applied. Heavy Draw (Detonator Ability) can Overwhelm and deal a lot of stagger with her other abilities.

FAQs About Runes in Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Q1: Which is the best Rune to use in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

Ravage is the best Rune to utilize because it enhances the damage against enemy health and deals 50% extra damage upon activation.

Q2: Tips for Rune Farming

• Keep an eye out for glowing gold chests, jars, and other boxes while exploring the world in Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
• Make sure to pick up any loot dropped by enemies.
• Keep checking with any new merchants to see if any Rune stock is available to them.

Q3: How to upgrade Runes in Dragon Age: The Veilguard?

The players themselves cannot upgrade the Runes by any means. However, you can interact with the Caretaker NPC at the Lighthouse to upgrade your armor and weapons. Currently, there’s no way that you can upgrade your Runes.

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