Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred - How to Obtain Runes

Runes make a powerful return in Diablo 4, bringing back a much-loved mechanic from Diablo 2. These Runes can be inserted into gear to form Runewords, which are unique Trigger and Effect enchantments that can be customized based on the Ritual and Invocation Runes you use.

To begin collecting Runes in Diablo 4, you must first complete the "Fundament of Faith" quest in the main campaign of the Vessel of Hatred DLC. Once this mission is finished, the Rune system becomes accessible, opening up endless possibilities for creating Runewords. Expanding your Rune collection requires participating in various activities throughout the game to unlock even more options.

Unlocking Runes with the Vessel of Hatred DLC

Keep in mind that you need to have the Vessel of Hatred DLC installed to access Runes in Diablo 4. This feature is tied to the DLC's storyline and is not available with just the base game. As you progress through the Vessel of Hatred campaign, you'll reach the Kurast Bazaar, where completing the "Fundament of Faith" quest will unlock the Rune system and provide you with your first batch of Runes.

Defeating Major Campaign Bosses for Runes

During the Vessel of Hatred campaign, you’ll encounter several mandatory bosses that are guaranteed to drop Runes upon defeat. Each time you defeat these story bosses, you'll secure at least one Rune. However, since the campaign can only be completed once per character, this method isn’t suited for farming Runes repeatedly. You can, however, share Runes between your characters by completing the campaign on alternate ones, increasing your Rune inventory across your account.

Exploring the Kurast Undercity with the Tribute of Harmony

The Kurast Undercity is a new, repeatable feature in Vessel of Hatred that serves as an excellent way to earn rewards in the endgame. This feature allows players to control their loot by meeting specific objectives within a set time limit. Runes are among the rewards you can earn for completing these runs successfully.

By using Tributes—items that can be found throughout the game—you can target specific rewards before starting your Kurast Undercity run. The Tribute of Harmony, in particular, ensures that Runes will drop at the end of your run, increasing your chances of obtaining higher-tier Runes.

World Bosses and the Hatred Rising Event

Another effective method for farming Runes in Diablo 4 is by taking on World Bosses or engaging in the Hatred Rising event in Season 6. World Bosses appear weekly and provide a guaranteed opportunity for valuable loot, including Runes. Additionally, the new S6 bosses, known as Realmwalkers, can be repeatedly defeated, making them a prime target for Rune farming.

Realmwalkers emerge randomly throughout the Sanctuary after the previous one has been defeated. They follow a specific path, summoning waves of enemies and elite monsters as they move. Defeating these bosses in the Seething Realm or eliminating Hollows and Elites during their event offers a great chance to collect Runes and advance your Season 6 progression.

Clearing Strongholds for Rune Rewards

Clearing Strongholds in Diablo 4 for the first time not only gives a significant XP boost but now also provides a high chance of Runes dropping as part of the rewards. Each Season 6 character can clear Strongholds as if it's their first time, even if you've completed them in previous seasons, making it a lucrative way to gather Runes for new characters.

Finding Runes in Whisper Caches

While traveling through Sanctuary, you'll come across Whispers—special objectives that allow you to collect Grim Favors. Once you’ve gathered ten Grim Favors, you can exchange them at the Tree of Whispers in Hawezar for a Reward Cache, which has a chance of containing Runes.

Some players have had luck finding Runes in these Whisper Caches, while others have not been as fortunate. Because of the random nature of this method, it's best to complete Whispers passively during other in-game activities like Helltides or World Events.

Elite Enemies as a Source of Runes

Finally, one of the most consistent ways to obtain Runes in Diablo 4 is by defeating Elite enemies. After you’ve unlocked the Rune system, all Elites in the game have a small chance to drop Runes when defeated. Engaging in activities that feature a high concentration of Elites, such as Nightmare Dungeons, The Pit, Dark Citadel, or Helltide events, increases your odds of finding Runes more quickly than simply exploring the open world.

By focusing on these methods, you can steadily expand your Rune collection in Diablo 4 and create powerful Runewords to enhance your gameplay experience.