Complete Guide To Runes And Socketable Items In Path Of Exile 2

As you play through the campaign, you may find items called Runes that provide a variety of different effects. Below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about Runes and other Socketable items, including how to attach them to your gear, how to get more Sockets on your gear, and a list of currently available Runes and their effects.

What Are Runes And Socketables?

A socketed Lesser Storm Rune in a Spear in Path of Exile 2.

Runes are items that you can insert into gear with an open socket. Each Rune provides a different stat boost, depending on the type of the Rune and whether it’s being inserted into a Martial Weapon, Wand or Staff, or Armour.

You can get Runes randomly from any enemy in the game, and they come in three tiers of rarity: Lesser, Normal, and Greater. As you might expect, the stats provided by higher rarity Runes are greater than lower rarity ones.

In Trials of Chaos, you will find a type of Rune called a Soul Core. These function just like Runes, but have unique effects, and are much harder to obtain. We recommend only using these on extremely valuable gear.

Similarly, in Dawn of the Hunt, you may find Talismans that drop from Azmerian Wisp challenges. These function similarly to Runes, but each Talisman provides stats for only one type of gear each, so you’ll need to be a bit more selective with them.

You can’t remove Runes, Soul Cores, or Talismans from an item once they’re inserted, but you can overwrite them by placing another item in the Socket.

How To Add Sockets To Equipment

Before you can attach a Rune to your gear, it will need to have a Socket. Some gear will come with Sockets already, but for others you’ll need to add a Socket to the item. This can be done with Artificer’s Orbs, which you can craft with ten Artificer’s Shards. You can get these as drops or by salvaging items with Sockets.

Most items can only hold one or two Sockets, but you can bypass this limit by Corrupting the item with a Vaal Orb. However, this may present other risks, like giving you unfavorable rolls and ruining the item, so use with caution.

Every Rune And Its Effect

Selecting a Lesser Iron Rune as a quest reward in Path of Exile 2.

Here’s a list of every Rune, Soul Core, and Talisman, and what stats they provide.

Lesser Runes

Rune	Effect
Lesser Adept Rune	Weapon: +5 to Dexterity. Armour: +6 to Dexterity.
Lesser Body Rune	Weapon: Leeches 2% of Physical Damage as Life. Armour: +20 to maximum Life. Wand/Saff: +25 to maximum Energy Shield.
Lesser Desert Rune	Weapon: Adds 4 to 6 Fire Damage. Armour: +10% to Fire Resistance. Wand/Saff: Gain 8% of Damage as extra Fire Damage.
Lesser Glacial Rune	Weapon: Adds 3 to 5 Cold Damage. Armour: +10% Cold Resistance. Wand/Saff: Gain 8% of Damage as extra Cold Damage.
Lesser Inspiration Rune	Weapon: Gain 8 Mana per Enemy Killed. Armour: 12% increased Mana Regeneration Rate. Wand/Saff: 16% increased Mana Regeneration Rate.
Lesser Iron Rune	Weapon: 15% increased Physical Damage. Armour: 15% increased Armour, Evasion, and Energy Shield. Wand/Staff: 20% increased Spell Damage.
Lesser Mind Rune	Weapon: 1.5% Physical Damage as Mana. Armour: +15 to maximum Mana. Wand/Staff: +25 to maximum Mana.
Lesser Rebirth Rune	Weapon: Gain 10 Life per Enemy Killed. Armour: Regenerate 0.25% of maximum Life per second. Wand/Staff: 12% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate.
Lesser Resolve Rune	Weapon: +6 to Intelligence. Armour: +6 to Intelligence.
Lesser Robust Rune	Weapon: +6 to Strength. Armour: +6 to Strength.
Lesser Stone Rune	Weapon: Causes 20% increased Stun Buildup. Armour: +30 to Stun Threshold. Wand/Staff: Gain additional Stun Threshold equal to 10% of maximum Energy Shield.
Lesser Storm Rune	Weapon: Adds 1 to 10 Lightning Damage. Armour: +10% to Lightning Resistance. Wand/Staff: Gain 8% of Damage as extra Lightning Damage.
Lesser Tempered Rune	Weapon: Adds 3 to 4 Physical Damage. Armour: 6 to 9 Physical Thorns Damage.
Lesser Vision Rune	Weapon: +50 to Accuracy Rating. Armour: 8% increased Life and Mana Recovery from Flasks. Wand/Staff: 16% increased Critical Hit Chance for Spells.

Normal Runes

Rune	Effect
Adept Rune	Weapon: +8 to Dexterity. Armour: +8 to Dexterity.
Body Rune	Weapon: Leeches 2.5% of Physical Damage as Life. Armour: +30 to maximum Life. Wand/Saff: +30 to maximum Energy Shield.
Desert Rune	Weapon: Adds 7 to 11 Fire Damage. Armour: +12% to Fire Resistance. Wand/Saff: Gain 10% of Damage as extra Fire Damage.
Glacial Rune	Weapon: Adds 6 to 10 Cold Damage. Armour: +12% Cold Resistance. Wand/Saff: Gain 10% of Damage as extra Cold Damage.
Inspiration Rune	Weapon: Gain 16 Mana per Enemy Killed. Armour: 15% increased Mana Regeneration Rate. Wand/Saff: 20% increased Mana Regeneration Rate.
Iron Rune	Weapon: 20% increased Physical Damage. Armour: 20% increased Armour, Evasion, and Energy Shield. Wand/Staff: 25% increased Spell Damage.
Mind Rune	Weapon: Leeches 2% Physical Damage as Mana. Armour: +25 to maximum Mana. Wand/Staff: +30 to maximum Mana.
Rebirth Rune	Weapon: Gain 20 Life per Enemy Killed. Armour: Regenerate 0.3% of maximum Life per second. Wand/Staff: 15% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate.
Resolve Rune	Weapon: +8 to Intelligence. Armour: +8 to Intelligence.
Robust Rune	Weapon: +8 to Strength. Armour: +8 to Strength.
Stone Rune	Weapon: Causes 25% increased Stun Buildup. Armour: +40 to Stun Threshold. Wand/Staff: Gain additional Stun Threshold equal to 12% of maximum Energy Shield.
Storm Rune	Weapon: Adds 1 to 20 Lightning Damage. Armour: +12% to Lightning Resistance. Wand/Staff: Gain 10% of Damage as extra Lightning Damage.
Tempered Rune	Weapon: Adds 6 to 9 Physical Damage. Armour: 14 to 21 Physical Thorns Damage.
Vision Rune	Weapon: +80 to Accuracy Rating. Armour: 10% increased Life and Mana Recovery from Flasks. Wand/Staff: 20% increased Critical Hit Chance for Spells.

Greater Runes

Rune	Effect
Greater Adept Rune	Weapon: +10 to Dexterity. Armour: +10 to Dexterity.
Greater Body Rune	Weapon: Leeches 3% of Physical Damage as Life. Armour: +40 to maximum Life. Wand/Saff: +35 to maximum Energy Shield.
Greater Desert Rune	Weapon: Adds 13 to 16 Fire Damage. Armour: +14% to Fire Resistance. Wand/Saff: Gain 12% of Damage as extra Fire Damage.
Greater Glacial Rune	Weapon: Adds 9 to 15 Cold Damage. Armour: +14% Cold Resistance. Wand/Saff: Gain 12% of Damage as extra Cold Damage.
Greater Inspiration Rune	Weapon: Gain 24 Mana per Enemy Killed. Armour: 18% increased Mana Regeneration Rate. Wand/Saff: 24% increased Mana Regeneration Rate.
Greater Iron Rune	Weapon: 25% increased Physical Damage. Armour: 25% increased Armour, Evasion, and Energy Shield. Wand/Staff: 30% increased Spell Damage.
Greater Mind Rune	Weapon: Leeches 2.5% Physical Damage as Mana. Armour: +35 to maximum Mana. Wand/Staff: +35 to maximum Mana.
Greater Rebirth Rune	Weapon: Gain 30 Life per Enemy Killed. Armour: Regenerate 0.35% of maximum Life per second. Wand/Staff: 18% increased Energy Shield Recharge Rate.
Greater Resolve Rune	Weapon: +10 to Intelligence. Armour: +10 to Intelligence.
Greater Robust Rune	Weapon: +10 to Strength. Armour: +10 to Strength.
Greater Rune of Alacrity	Weapon: 8% increased Skill Speed. Armour: Debuffs on you expire 8% faster.
Greater Rune of Leadership	Weapon: Minions gain 10% of their Physical Damage as extra Lightning Damage. Armour: Minions take 10% of Physical Damage as Lightning Damage.
Greater Rune of Nobility	Weapon: Attacks with this weapon have 10% chance to inflicting Lightning Exposure. Armour: 10% reduced effect of Shock on you.
Greater Rune of Tithing	Weapon: Meta Skills gain 10% increased Energy. Armour: 1 to 10 Lightning Thorns Damage.
Greater Stone Rune	Weapon: Causes 30% increased Stun Buildup. Armour: +50 to Stun Threshold. Wand/Staff: Gain additional Stun Threshold equal to 14% of maximum Energy Shield.
Greater Storm Rune	Weapon: Adds 1 to 30 Lightning Damage. Armour: +14% to Lightning Resistance. Wand/Staff: Gain 12% of Damage as extra Lightning Damage.
Greater Tempered Rune	Weapon: Adds 9 to 12 Physical Damage. Armour: 31 to 52 Physical Thorns Damage.
Greater Vision Rune	Weapon: +110 to Accuracy Rating. Armour: 12% increased Life and Mana Recovery from Flasks. Wand/Staff: 24% increased Critical Hit Chance for Spells.

Soul Cores

Soul Core	Effect
Soul Core of Atmohua	Weapon: Convert 20% of Requirements to Strength. Armour: Convert 20% of Requirements to Strength.
Soul Core of Azcapa	Weapon: +15 to Spirit. Armour: 5% Increased Quality of Gold Dropped by Slain Enemies.
Soul Core of Cholotl	Weapon: Convert 20% of Requirements to Dexterity. Armour: Convert 20% of Requirements to Dexterity.
Soul Core of Citaqualotl	Weapon: 30% increased Elemental Damage with Attacks. Armour: +5% to all Elemental Resistances.
Soul Core of Jiquani	Weapon: Recover 2% of maximum Life on Kill. Armour: 2% Increased maximum Life.
Soul Core of Opiloti	Weapon: 15% chance to cause Bleeding on Hit. Armour: 10% increased Charm Charges gained.
Soul Core of Puhuarte	Weapon: 30% increased chance to Ignite. Armour: +1% to Maximum Fire Resistance.
Soul Core of Quipolatl	Weapon: 5% increased Attack Speed. Armour: 10% reduced Slowing potency of Debuffs on you.
Soul Core of Tacati	Weapon: 15% chance to Poison on Hit with this weapon. Armour: +7% to Chaos Resistance.
Soul Core of Ticaba	Weapon: +12% to Critical Damage Bonus. Armour: Hits against you have 10% reduced Critical Damage Bonus.
Soul Core of Tizamoto	Weapon: 20% increased Freeze Buildup. Armour: +1% to Maximum Cold Resistance.
Soul Core of Toppotante	Weapon: Attacks with this weapon penetrate 15% Elemental Resistances. Armour: 15% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold.
Soul Core of Xopec	Weapon: 30% increased chance to Shock. Armour: +1% to Maximum Lightning Resistance.
Soul Core of Zalatl	Weapon: Recover 2% of maximum Mana on Kill. Armour: 2% increased maximum Mana.
Soul Core of Zantipi	Weapon: Convert 20% of Requirements to Intelligence. Armour: Convert 20% of Requirements to Intelligence.

Talismans

Talisman	Effect
Bear Talisman	Helmet: 8% increased Area of Effect.
Boar Talisman	Gloves: Gain 1 Rage on Melee Hit.
Cat Talisman	Boots: Hits against you have 15% reduced Critical Damage Bonus.
Fox Talisman	Body Armour: +2% to Quality of all Skills.
Owl Talisman	Boots: 5% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate.
Ox Talisman	Boots: 20% increased Presence Area of Effect.
Primate Talisman	Helmet: Minions have 12% increased maximum Life.
Rabbit Talisman	Body Armour: 8% increased Rarity of Items found.
Serpent Talisman	Gloves: 5% increased Curse Magnitudes.
Stag Talisman	Helmet: 8% increased Exposure Effect.
Wolf Talisman	Gloves: 10% increased Magnitude of Bleeding you inflict.

An image of act three map in Path of Exile with a circle PNG showing a player talking to Risu in Path of Exile 2.

Path Of Exile 2: Currency Exchange, Explained

Trading currency is a big part of Path of Exile 2. Here, you can learn how to do so on the Currency Exchange.