Earning Runes

Completed runs award Runes after victory or defeat, with a larger reward for winning, according to the official progression explanation.

In our demo run (v0.19.4e), the loss payout was Buildings built: 15 + Waves survived: 60 = Runes (x1): 75. The first two amounts are Rune rewards, not building or wave counts. This is one payout, not a reward formula.

Loss screen with Rune rewards of 15 and 60, totalling 75.
Screenshot from our demo run (v0.19.4e). A loss still awarded Runes.

How the Runestones tree works

The Runestones button on the main menu and loss screen opens the tree outside runs, where Runes are spent. Its three readable branches are Defenses, Civil and Warband.

Four node types appeared in our demo run (v0.19.4e):

  • Buff: buying levels gates which Tier I/II/III Runestones in that family can appear in-run. Some aura Buffs have one level.
  • Upgrade: a Runestone granting a tower's upgrade tier, such as Tier I or Tier II.
  • Unlock: I adds an Unlock Runestone to the in-run pool; II permanently unlocks the building or unit.
  • Perk: a permanent improvement that needs no in-run pick.
Runestones tree with Boltskot selected and 75 Runes.
Screenshot from our demo run (v0.19.4e). The tree outside runs.

The official Time-Lost Techniques example describes tiered Runestones increasing mine base production, rather than establishing an immediate production gain from selecting the node. Inspect the official tooltip.

Complete index: 80 captured nodes

Effects follow captured tooltip wording. I / II / III are displayed levels, not tested cumulative totals. Hidden effects remain “???”. Next-level costs are on the entity pages.

Defenses

Boltskot

Node Type Effect
BOLTSKOT BLUEPRINTS Unlock Unlocks Boltskot, a ballista piercing single targets with sharp bolts; II "Permanently unlocks the Boltskot"
ANCIENT POWER Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Boltskot Attack Damage
ENHANCED BLUEPRINTS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier I Boltskot Upgrades
PIERCING TIPS Perk Boltskots +6% / +7% / +7% Armor Pierce
ADVANCED BLUEPRINTS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier II Boltskot Upgrades
HISTORIC SIGHT Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Boltskot Range
STRONGER LIMBS Perk Boltskots +4 / +5 / +5 Attack Damage
REPEATED FIRE Perk Boltskots +10% / +10% / +15% Attack Speed
ANCESTRAL SWIFTNESS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Boltskot Attack Speed
EFFICIENT CONSTRUCTION Perk ??? / ??? / ??? (hidden in game)

Skullbrakkr

Node Type Effect
SKULLBRAKKR DESIGNS Unlock Unlocks Skullbrakkr, a catapult throwing rocks at enemies and inflicting area damage; I "Skullbrakkr Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Skullbrakkr"
ARCHAIC IMPACTS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Skullbrakkr Area Size
BYGONE BOULDERS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Skullbrakkr Attack Damage
TIMELESS VISIONS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Skullbrakkr Range
CLEVER DESIGNS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier I Skullbrakkr Upgrades
HEWN GRANITE Perk Skullbrakkrs +7 / +8 / +8 Attack Damage
CREATIVE DESIGNS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier II Skullbrakkr Upgrades
ENGRAVED STONES Perk Skullbrakkrs +20% / +25% / +30% Ward Break

Tarbarl

Node Type Effect
TARBARL SCHEMATICS Unlock Unlocks Tarbarl, a barrel launcher throwing barrels full of tar at enemies and slowing them down; I "Tarbarl Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Tarbarl"
ANCIENT MIXTURES Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Tarbarl Slow Strength
CAUSTIC SOLUTIONS Perk Tarbarls +2 / +2 / +3 Armor Shred
BARREL VOLUME Perk Tarbarls +10% / +10% / +10% Area Size
SOLID SCHEMATICS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier I Tarbarl Upgrades
REVERED CONCOCTIONS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Tarbarl Armor Shred
SUPERIOR SCHEMATICS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier II Tarbarl Upgrades
VENERABLE IMPACTS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Tarbarl Area Size

Eyodin

Node Type Effect
EYODIN INSCRIPTIONS Unlock Unlocks Eyodin, an idol of the Allfather marking enemies with a cold stare and making them more vulnerable to attacks; I "Eyodin Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Eyodin"
INTRIGUING INSCRIPTIONS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier I Eyodin Upgrades
PRIMORDIAL GLARE Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Eyodin Mark Damage Multiplier
INSPIRING INSCRIPTIONS Upgrade Runestone granting Tier II Eyodin Upgrades
ANCIENT ACUITY Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Eyodin Mark Speed
PIERCING GAZE Perk Eyodin +6% / +7% / +7% Mark Damage Multiplier
VISIONARY Perk Eyodin +10% / +15% / +15% Range
ELDER HEXES Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that add special Effects to Eyodin Marks

Civil

Spiridun

Node Type Effect
PERSEVERANCE Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Spiridun Max Health
SPIRITUAL WARD Perk Spiridun +10 / +15 / +20 Max Health
ANCESTRAL BOUNTIES Perk A permanent Starting Supplies improvement: I "+60 Wood, +60 Food"; II "+25 Wood, +80 Stone"; III "+25 Wood, +40 Iron"
ANCESTRAL MUSINGS Buff Runestone that grants the Spiridun an Aura which grants Healing to Allies in Range (single level)
SPIRITUAL AID Perk Spiridun +1 / +1 / +2 "Healing after every Wave"

Resources

Node Type Effect
TIMELESS TIMBER Buff Tier I/II/III Runestone that increases the Production Efficiency of Sawmills
HONED SCYTHES Perk Windmills +1 / +1 / +2 Base Production
STONE HEWING Unlock Unlocks Quarry, a stoneworking site breaking Stone out of nearby Stone Deposits; I "Quarry Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Quarry"
HISTORIC HARVESTS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestone that increases the Production Efficiency of Windmills
ANCIENT SLATE Buff Tier I/II/III Runestone that increases the Production Efficiency of Quarries
ORE PROCESSING Unlock Unlocks Mine, a deep shaft hauling Iron out of the Iron Veins beside it; I "Mine Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Mine"
DELICATE CHISELWORK Perk Quarries +6 / +7 / +7 Base Production
WARM HEARTHS Unlock Unlocks Meadhall, a drinking hall boosting the production of nearby resource buildings by 50%; I "Meadhall Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Meadhall"

Isles

Node Type Effect
NORSEFOLK Buff Tier I/II/III Runestone that increases the Isle Tax of Isles
STABLE FOUNDATIONS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestone that increases the Plot Limit of Isles
FRUITFUL GROVES Perk A permanent Sawmill improvement: Sawmills +1 / +1 / +2 Food Base Production
PRISTINE GRASSLANDS Perk ??? (hidden in game)
ORE NUGGETS Perk A permanent Quarry improvement: Quarries +1 / +1 / +2 Iron Base Production

Treasures

Node Type Effect
IMPERIAL SPAWNING PITS Buff Buffs that affect Elites: Tier I/II/III Runestones that modify Elite Spawn Chance
AVARICIOUS ASSAILANTS Buff Buffs that affect Treasures: Tier I/II/III Runestones that modify Treasure Drop Chance
LOADED LEGIONS Perk A permanent Treasure improvement: Elites +10% / +10% / +15% Treasure Drop Chance

Warband

Hero

Node Type Effect
SMITE THE WICKED Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Hero Offensive Stats
BLOOD OF THE IMMORTAL Perk Hero +30 / +35 / +40 Max Health
WITHSTAND THE VICIOUS Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Hero Defensive Stats
HASTE OF THE PARAGON Perk Hero +0.15 / +0.15 / +0.2 Attack Speed
STRENGTH OF THE CHOSEN Perk Hero +7 / +8 / +9 Attack Damage
INSPIRE THE MANY Buff Runestone that grants the Hero an Aura which grants Offensive Stats to Allies in Range (single level)
PROTECT THE MEEK Buff Runestone that grants the Hero an Aura which grants Defensive Stats to Allies in Range (single level)

Axeman

Node Type Effect
BATTLE TRANCE Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Axeman Offensive Stats
BROADHEAD AXES Perk Axemen +10% / +15% / +20% Area Size
TENACITY Perk Axemen +15 / +20 / +25 Max Health
CONSTITUTION Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Axeman Defensive Stats
BRUTAL BLADES Perk Axemen +2 / +3 / +3 Attack Damage

Spearman

Node Type Effect
SPEARMAN Unlock Unlocks Spearman, a swift guardian attacking single targets with a sharp spear; I "Spearman Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Spearman"
BANISHING LANCES Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Spearman Offensive Stats
FORGED STEEL Perk Spearmen +4 / +5 / +5 Attack Damage
REINFORCED ARMOR Perk Spearmen +6 / +7 / +7 Armor
BRAVERY Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Spearman Defensive Stats
ANTIMAGIC TIPS Perk Spearmen +15% / +20% / +25% Ward Break

Pikeman

Node Type Effect
BOVINE CAVALRY Unlock Unlocks Pikeman, a hogriding cavalryman impaling foes in a dash; I "Pikeman Unlock Runestone"; II "Permanently unlocks the Pikeman"
ETHEREAL PIKES Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Pikeman Offensive Stats
FORCEFUL SKEWERING Perk Pikemen +6 / +8 / +8 Attack Damage
THRASHING PIKE Perk Pikemen +10% / +10% / +15% Attack Speed
EXTENDED REACH Perk Pikemen +0.1 / +0.15 / +0.2 Range
THICK SKIN Buff Tier I/II/III Runestones that empower Pikeman Defensive Stats
SWIFT MOUNTS Perk Pikemen +0.15 / +0.15 / +0.2 Movement Speed

The unreadable “…MAN” Warband sub-tree was not captured; its full name and nodes remain unknown.

In-run: Choose One, Reroll and Decline

The tutorial says that after every defended Wave you choose one of three Runestones. The screen also offers View Map, Reroll and Decline. Captured effects are listed on the reference pages above; unhovered cards do not establish their effects.

Our choice screens showed “Remaining: 5” in our run. The official selection screenshot also shows five rerolls remaining in that pictured situation; neither proves every new run starts with five.

Related: Resources guide · Beginner guide.