In Lords of the Fallen, mastering the intricacies of combat requires more than just powerful weapons and armor. A key feature that often goes unnoticed by many players is the effective use of offhand runes. These specialized runes, which can be slotted into shields or secondary weapons, offer unique enhancements and passive effects that can greatly influence the outcome of battles. Whether you prefer a tanky playstyle, a nimble parrying build, or a magic-enhanced strategy, understanding offhand runes and how to utilize them can provide a significant advantage as you face the many brutal challenges in Mournstead.
What Are Offhand Runes?
Secondary Weapon Enhancements
Offhand runes are magical symbols embedded into shields or secondary weapons such as catalysts and offhand blades. Unlike mainhand runes, which focus on boosting raw damage or ability effects, offhand runes serve more utility-based or defensive purposes. Their role is to amplify the strengths of your build by adding passives, buffs, or resistances, making your offhand gear more than just a secondary tool.
Types of Offhand Equipment That Support Runes
The most common offhand items that support rune insertion include:
- Shields Ideal for tank builds or block-based strategies.
- Catalysts Used by magic-focused characters for spellcasting buffs.
- Daggers or Light Weapons Often slotted into quick-swap builds that rely on speed and agility.
Each item has a different number of rune slots, and some legendary gear may come pre-equipped with special rune bonuses, making rune selection even more critical.
How to Acquire and Use Offhand Runes
Where to Find Offhand Runes
Offhand runes can be obtained in several ways throughout the game:
- Loot Drops Many enemies, especially elite ones or rune cultists, drop these runes.
- Treasure Chests Hidden in dungeons, behind locked doors, or in side areas.
- Merchants Some runes are sold by specific vendors in exchange for Vigor or Umbral Scourings.
- Crafting and Upgrading Certain runes are only available after you upgrade a rune to a higher tier at a rune master or forge.
After obtaining a rune, players can go to a rune craftsman such as Gerlinde or an Umbral artisan to insert the rune into an offhand slot. Some items require specific affinity matches, like fire, holy, or frost, to accept certain runes.
Slotting and Removing Runes
Slotting a rune is permanent unless you choose to remove it using special tools or by paying a cost. Some rare runes cannot be removed without destroying them. Always check your item’s affinity before committing a powerful rune.
Notable Offhand Runes and Their Effects
Top Offhand Runes to Look Out For
Here are some of the most sought-after offhand runes in Lords of the Fallen and what they offer:
- Thryr Rune Increases stamina regeneration while blocking with a shield. Ideal for tank builds that rely on stamina to hold a defensive line.
- Hedrun Rune Adds elemental resistance when the offhand weapon is drawn. Very useful in late-game areas with high elemental threats.
- Morwen Rune Reduces spell cast time when slotted into catalysts. This is essential for mages who need to cast quickly in high-pressure battles.
- Eidolon Rune Grants a passive aura that boosts nearby allies’ defense. A strong option for co-op play or summoner builds.
- Svorn Rune Causes enemies that strike your shield to take minor holy damage. Great for aggression-inviting tank styles.
Each rune adds a unique twist to combat. Depending on your strategy, combining two or more complementary runes in your offhand can lead to highly effective synergies.
Synergies with Builds and Playstyles
Runes for Tank Builds
If you play a build focused on defense and high poise, runes likeThryrandSvornoffer a way to convert your defense into offense. Combining them with heavy armor and a greatshield makes you extremely hard to stagger while dealing passive chip damage to aggressive enemies.
Runes for Spellcasters
Magic users benefit from runes likeMorwenandSolvi, which reduce casting delay or enhance spell potency. Slotting runes into your catalyst ensures you don’t just deal damage but also gain an edge in casting tempo.
Runes for Agile and Rogue Builds
Dexterity-based players may use lightweight offhands that allow quick rune activation. Runes likeYlva, which increases dodge recovery speed, orFenrir, which enhances backstab damage, fit well with stealth and mobility tactics.
Support and Co-op Builds
If you’re playing as a support character or healer in multiplayer, consider offhand runes that provide auras or buff allies.EidolonandHymiroffer passive group benefits without requiring active input, allowing you to focus on positioning and survival.
Advanced Strategies and Tips
Maximizing Rune Effectiveness
- Match Runes to Affinities: Always use runes that align with the weapon’s elemental or status affinity for full effect.
- Upgrade Rune Slots: Some weapons and offhands can be enhanced to add rune slots plan your upgrades accordingly.
- Use Situational Loadouts: Keep spare offhand weapons with different rune setups for specific areas or bosses.
- Stack Passive Effects: Runes like stamina regen or aura boosts can be stacked across gear for powerful passive builds.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Neglecting Rune Removal: Don’t forget to check the removal cost; some runes are too valuable to waste early on.
- Overloading Equipment: Adding runes can increase weight; make sure your equip load doesn’t compromise mobility.
- Ignoring Shield Effects: Even if you’re not using a shield actively, runes in it can still grant passive bonuses while equipped.
Mastering the use of offhand runes in Lords of the Fallen can significantly deepen your combat strategy and build variety. Whether you choose to focus on powerful defensive runes, quick-casting enhancements, or aura-based support tools, there’s a rune combination out there that can complement and elevate your playstyle. Don’t underestimate the value of a well-slotted shield or catalyst. With the right runes in place, even your secondary equipment becomes a crucial element of survival and success in the unforgiving lands of Mournstead.