Best Runes in No Rest for the Wicked

Weapon Runes are equipped to your weapons to activate special abilities in No Rest for the Wicked, allowing you to further customize your build. This guide covers the best Runes in No Rest for the Wicked that offer the most benefits against the game’s most challenging enemies.

No Rest for the Wicked: Which runes are the best?

Early access for No Rest for the Wicked has provided the player base with tons of runes to customize their build. Not all of them are created equal, though. Here are our picks for the best runes 

Thorns

The Thorns rune can come in handy during a challenging fight, as it can be the last inch of damage you need to defeat the enemy. When applied, Thorns inflict damage every time the enemy lands a hit on you. So, if you make a mistake and take damage, the enemy will also get punished for it.

How to get: Can be purchased from Eleanor after upgrading her shop to tier 3.

Scream

Scream is a fantastic rune that helps with crowd control, stunning enemies, and giving you an advantage on offense. Activating Scream will send a shockwave all around the player, knocking back any enemy that is too close. Even better, if you hold down the corresponding button, the shockwave will be even larger and knock the enemy further back. I can’t tell you enough how much Scream helped me in closed spaces such as The Black Trench.

How to get: Can be purchased from Eleanor after upgrading her shop to tier 3.

Spin

Spin has been my absolute favorite rune in No Rest for the Wicked, and I have arguably used it the most compared to other options. It’s a simple offensive rune, usually found on standard swords, that activates a spin attack and lunges you toward the enemy. Not only does it do a lot of damage, but it also stun locks your opponent.

How to get: Usually found on swords already equipped.

Damage Surge

Just like any soulslike game, it’s important to buff yourself before entering a challenging fight. That’s where the Damage Surge rune comes in, allowing you to increase your damage output for a specific amount of time. Using the Damage Surge rune before entering a boss fight can give you a massive advantage at the beginning of the fight.

How to get: Can be purchased from Eleanor after upgrading her shop to tier 2.

Repair

There is no worse feeling than farming for materials just to have your shovel, pickaxe, or axe to break. This is where the Repair rune comes in, instantly repairing all of your tools and gear. Considering repair powders are incredibly rare, having the Repair rune equipped can be a massive lifesaver and save you from having to backtrack all the way to Sacrament.

How to get: Can be purchased from Eleanor after upgrading her shop to tier 2.

Heat enchantment

The Heat Enchantment rune is straightforward — it applies heat to your weapon. There are many elements in No Rest for the Wicked, but heat is arguably the strongest and provides the most passive damage. Using the Heat Enchantment can be a great way to set your enemies on fire, deal passive damage, and even increase your base damage.

How to get: Can be purchased from Eleanor after upgrading her shop to tier 2.

Those are the best runes currently in No Rest for the Wicked. As the game continues through early access, it is expected that more will be added to the game. With that out of the way, head over to our guide on the best cooking recipes in No Rest for the Wicked.