Runes are a core part of The Forge gameplay, allowing players to enhance their equipment with extra stats, special effects, and even visual changes. Knowing how to obtain, attach, and choose the right runes can give you a big advantage whether you’re mining, fighting enemies, or exploring dungeons. This guide will break everything down for you. Also check out our Roblox The Forge Beginner Guide for those interested and the Race Tier List.
What Are Runes?
Runes are special items that can be slotted into equipment to boost their power. Most equipment requires you to enhance it to +3 to unlock the first Rune Slot. However, some pickaxes come with pre-unlocked Rune Slots. Adding runes to your gear can:
- Increase stats – Boost weapon damage, armor defense, mining yield, or luck.
- Add special effects – Freeze, poison, burn, life steal, or explosions on hit.
- Change visuals – Some runes give a flashy appearance, like the Flame Spark Rune giving your weapon a fiery look.
Unwanted runes can be sold to the Greedy Cey NPC near the cave entrance for extra gold.
How to Attach Runes
To attach a rune:
- Go to the Runemaker NPC in Stonewake’s Cross village.
- Interact with the NPC to open the Equipment Selection screen.
- Select the piece of gear you want to upgrade.
- Choose a rune and click Attach. Attaching runes requires in-game money, so make sure you have enough gold.
Tip: The higher the rune’s stage, the better the effect it provides. Always aim for higher-stage runes on your main equipment.
List of Runes & Their Effects
Here are the most notable runes in The Forge and what they do:
- Frost Speck – Freezes enemies briefly.
- Venom Crumb – Deals poison damage over time.
- Blast Chip – Small explosion on hit dealing AoE damage.
- Miner Shard – Chance to yield extra ore while mining.
- Flame Spark – Burns enemies on hit.
- Drain Edge – Life steal and increased physical damage.
- Briar Notch – Thorns effect reflects damage to attackers.
- Ward Patch – Reduces incoming damage and extends dash distance.
- Rot Stich – Poison aura activates below 35% health; extends dash distance.
- Chill Dust – Slows enemy movement and attack speed.
- Rage Mark – Activates below 35% health, boosting damage and attack speed.
Best Runes to Use
- For Combat: Drain Edge, Rage Mark, Flame Spark, and Blast Chip are excellent for aggressive builds.
- For Defense/Survivability: Ward Patch, Briar Notch, and Rot Stich provide protection and crowd control.
- For Mining/Progression: Miner Shard is ideal to increase ore yield and maximize resources.
- For Utility/Control: Frost Speck and Chill Dust are great for slowing down enemies during exploration or tough fights.
Slotting the right runes can make a huge difference in The Forge, whether you’re farming ores, crafting powerful weapons, or surviving in dungeons. Focus on combining runes that complement your playstyle and always keep upgrading your main gear for maximum efficiency.