Runecraft (2024)

For a list of all requirements and unlockables within the Runecraft skill, see Runecraft/Level up table.

This article has a calculator here. Calculators determine experience and costs based on real-time prices from the Grand Exchange Market Watch.

This article has skill training guides: Members / Free-to-play Skill training guides document optimal XP/hour methods to train a skill, as well as alternate passive or less expensive methods.

Runecraft
Released		29 March 2004 (Update)
Also called		Runecrafting, RC
Members		No
Type		Production
Statistics
Players with 99		82,189 as of 1 July 2024 - update
Players with 200M XP		125 as of 17 March 2024 - update

Runecraft, also called Runecrafting, is a skill that allows players to craft their own runes for Magic spells. The experience earned from making runes is small, and due to the need for constant running and banking, it is fairly click and attention intensive. Because of constant demand for different types of runes, it can create a generous profit.

With the release of the Blood and Soul Altars on 7 January 2016, training Runecraft has become less time consuming for high-level runecrafters, with blood runes reaching experience rates of around 38,000 per hour and soul runes reaching up to around 47,000 experience per hour. Alternatively, if the player is willing to put in the effort, lava runes can be crafted for between 68,000 and 75,000 experience per hour from level 75 and up. The Guardians of the Rift minigame, unlocked after the Temple of the Eye quest, is a popular alternative to traditional runecrafting offering experience rates of up to 55,000 experience per hour.

	Runecraft level up - normal
The music that plays when levelling up.

	Runecraft level up - with unlocks
The music that plays when levelling up and unlocking new content.

Crafting runes[edit | edit source]

In the Runecraft skill, magical runes are crafted by binding the magical energy from runic altars into magical stones. These stones are called essence. There are various types of essence, with each of these types being able to be crafted in a selection of runes.

Level	Rune		Exp	Essence required	GE Price	Members?
						Use	Craft
1		Air	5	Normal/Pure	5
2		Mind	5.5	Normal/Pure	2
5		Water	6	Normal/Pure	4
9		Earth	6.5	Normal/Pure	4
14		Fire	7	Normal/Pure	5
20		Body	7.5	Normal/Pure	5
27		Cosmic	8	Pure	106
35		Chaos	8.5	Pure	109
40		Astral	8.7	Pure	116
44		Nature	9	Pure	115
54		Law	9.5	Pure	152
65		Death	10	Pure	196
77		Blood	10.5	Pure	243
77		Blood (Kourend)	23.8	Dark	243
90		Soul	29.7	Dark	195
95		Wrath	8	Pure	348

Essence[edit | edit source]

The types of essence are rune essence, pure essence, daeyalt essence, dark essence fragments and blood essence. Besides these types of essence, there are three types of cores that can be crafted into specific runes.

Rune essence[edit | edit source]

Rune essence can be used to craft air, mind, water, earth, fire, and body runes.

Obtaining[edit | edit source]

Rune essence can be acquired by mining and from monster drops.

Mining rune essence requires completion of the Rune Mysteries quest. After completing this quest, a selection of wizards can teleport the player to the rune essence mine, where the player can mine the Rune Essence to obtain rune essence for the Runecraft skill.

Rune essence can be obtained by mining by free-to-play players and by members that have a Mining level lower than 30.

Pure essence[edit | edit source]

Pure essence can be used to craft air, mind, water, earth, fire, and body runes as well as cosmic, chaos, astral, nature, law, death, blood, and wrath runes.

Pure essence can be obtained by mining and from monster drops.

Mining pure essence requires completion of the Rune Mysteries quest. After completing this quest, a selection of wizards can teleport the player to the rune essence mine, where the player can mine the Rune Essence to obtain pure essence for the Runecraft skill.

Pure essence can be obtained by mining only by members that are level 30 or higher in the Mining skill. However, free-to-play players can obtain via trading with other players.

Daeyalt essence[edit | edit source]

Daeyalt essence can be used instead of pure essence, to craft the same runes as with pure essence. Doing so grants a 50% bonus in experience gained from creating these runes. This effect also applies to runes crafted at the Ourania Altar.

Daeyalt essence can only be obtained from the Daeyalt essence mine in Darkmeyer. Access to the essence mine requires completion of Sins of the Father. Shards can be converted to daeyalt essence by trading Noranna Tytanin located near the entrance of the mine at a 1:1 ratio. Any essence received is sent to the bank. To trade in the shards for daeyalt essence, a version of the vyre noble disguise needs to be worn.

Dark essence fragments[edit | edit source]

Dark essence fragments can be used to craft blood and soul runes.

Collecting dark essence fragments requires level 38 and 38 or higher. The ability to use the dark essence fragments to craft runes requires level 77 or higher.

Dark essence fragments require a few steps to obtain. In the dense essence mine mine the dense runestones to obtain dense essence blocks. This requires a pickaxe and a chisel. Bring these dense essence blocks to the Dark Altar to bind its energy into the blocks. This will turn the dense essence blocks into dark essence blocks. Use a chisel on the dark essence blocks to obtain dark essence fragments.

Blood essence[edit | edit source]

Blood essence cannot be used to craft runes; instead, it offers the chance to craft an extra blood rune per pure essence, daeyalt essence or dark essence fragment when activated.

Blood essence is an uncommon drop from both Nex and the Tombs of Amascut. It can also be obtained as a rare drop from certain monsters in the Ancient Prison, and may be found inside the Intricate pouch reward from the Guardians of the Rift minigame.

Cores[edit | edit source]

Cores can be used to craft mind runes (using Mind cores), body runes (using Body cores) and chaos runes (using Chaos cores). For each type of rune, the corresponding core needs to be used. A core acts as 10 pure or rune essence. For example, at level 2 runecraft, one mind core would give 10 mind runes and 55 experience, and at level 98 runecraft, one mind core would give 80 mind runes and still 55 experience.

Cores are dropped by the golems in the Ruins of Camdozaal. Each core is dropped by the corresponding golem.

• Mind cores are dropped by Mind Golems.
• Body cores are dropped by Body Golems.
• Chaos cores are dropped by Chaos Golems.

Talismans[edit | edit source]

Talismans are quite important in the runecrafting skill, as they are the keys used to access most altars. Each one is magically attuned to the Runic altar that shares its name. An air talisman, for example, is attuned to the Air Altar. A player may use the talisman only on its corresponding 'mysterious ruin', to repeatedly reach the altar inside. Talismans can be acquired from drops or by trading with other players.

A talisman exists for the air, mind, water, earth, fire, body, cosmic, chaos, nature, law, death, blood and Wrath Altar.

Talisman tiaras[edit | edit source]

A talisman can be fused with a tiara into a talisman tiara. This creates an equipable item that lets the player left-click on the corresponding mysterious ruins to enter, and saves an inventory space. The elemental and catalytic talismans are instead combined with a Gold tiara.

Altars[edit | edit source]

Runic altars are locations at which players can use the Runecraft skill to turn essence into runes. Each altar corresponds to a different type of rune.

Regular altars[edit | edit source]

Most altars are located in another dimension, accessible through Mysterious Ruins scattered across the surface of Gielinor. This includes the air, mind, water, earth, fire, body, cosmic, chaos, nature, law, death, blood and wrath altars. The Astral Altar is the only regular altar that is not accessed through Mysterious Ruins.

Mysterious Ruins are not labelled on the world map. Players can discover the ruins' location by clicking 'locate' on a talisman. A talisman, tiara, or runecraft cape is required to actually enter the ruins and use the altars.

When a player clicks on the altar, all essence in their inventory are converted to a type of rune (depending on the altar), and they gain Runecraft experience. They can also enchant a tiara if they have a normal tiara and talisman in their inventory. Use either the tiara or the talisman on the altar to combine them into an enchanted tiara.

Kourend blood and soul altars[edit | edit source]

The blood and soul altars can be found in Arceuus, near the dense essence mine. No talisman or tiara is needed to use these altars as they are in the regular dimension.

Ourania Altar[edit | edit source]

The Ourania Altar, also known as the ZMI Altar, converts pure essence into an assortment of random runes, with a chance of bonus runes being created if players have the medium Ardougne Diary completed. The altar, which requires no talisman or tiara to enter, gives roughly 1.7 times the normal experience for each pure essence used. Rune essence cannot be used. Players do not need a specific Runecraft level in order to craft at this altar, but the chance of crafting higher-levelled runes increases with a higher Runecraft level. Players can not craft a wrath rune through the Ourania Altar; this is the only rune uncraftable at the Altar outside of combination runes.

Abyss[edit | edit source]

The Abyss is a special region that provides access to most runic altars without the need for a talisman. Access to the Abyss requires completion of the Enter the Abyss miniquest. The Abyss consists of two rings: a dangerous outer ring in a multiway combat zone and a safe inner ring with rifts leading to the runic altars. Aside from the abyssal monsters inhabiting it, using the Abyss is also dangerous because players who enter the Abyss will have their Prayer points drained to 0, and players who enter without wearing an Abyssal bracelet will also be immediately given a skull.

Official worlds[edit | edit source]

The following official worlds are assigned to Runecraft training or minigames:

World	Location	Members	Activity
327	Germany		Ourania Altar
425	Australia		Guardians of the Rift
425	Australia		Guardians of the Rift
445	United States (west)		Guardians of the Rift
459	Germany		Guardians of the Rift
464	Germany		Guardians of the Rift
478	United States (east)		Guardians of the Rift
480	United States (east)		Ourania Altar
490	United States (east)		Guardians of the Rift
492	United States (east)		Guardians of the Rift
507	United Kingdom		Guardians of the Rift
513	United Kingdom		Zeah Runecrafting
522	United Kingdom		Guardians of the Rift
534	Australia		Guardians of the Rift

Multiple runes[edit | edit source]

As a player's Runecraft level increases, they can make more runes. However, they only earn experience based on the amount of essence they use. The number of runes made from the essence in a player's inventory in an action that gains a level is determined by the player's level before the runecrafting action, even if crafting the same amount of essence one piece at a time would yield more runes. For example, a player with a Runecraft level of 22 will craft 3 air runes for each pure essence used.

The Raiments of the Eye, obtainable from playing Guardians of the Rift, grant 10% more runes per piece, with a 20% set bonus for a total of 60% when the full outfit is worn.

Rune		Lvl for 1x	Lvl for 2x	Lvl for 3x	Lvl for 4x	Lvl for 5x	Lvl for 6x	Lvl for 7x	Lvl for 8x	Lvl for 9x	Lvl for 10x
	Air	1	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99
	Mind	2	14	28	42	56	70	84	98	-	-
	Water	5	19	38	57	76	95	-	-	-	-
	Earth	9	26	52	78	104[a]	-	-	-	-	-
	Fire	14	35	70	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Body	20	46	92	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Cosmic	27	59	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Chaos	35	74	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Astral	40	82	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Nature	44	91	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Law	54	95	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
	Death	65	99	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Runic extracts[edit | edit source]

Players can use runic extracts, a catalyst obtained from the Scar essence mine, to craft additional bonus runes when crafting runes.

The following table outlines the cost and bonus runes per extract:

Extract		Cost (coins)	Cost per rune	Bonus runes (per essence)	Craftable runes
	Warped	1,250	5	250	Air, Mind, Water, Earth, Fire, Body
	Twisted	6,000	100	60	Mist, Dust, Mud, Smoke, Steam, Lava, Cosmic, Chaos, Sunfire
	Mangled	12,000	200	60	Nature, Law, Astral, Death
	Scarred	24,000	400	60	Blood, Soul, Wrath

The follow table outlines the cost per rune when using extracts:

Rune		Extract		Extract Cost/Rune	GE Price	Shop Price	GE Profit	Shop Profit
	Air		Warped	5	5	4	0	−1
	Mind		Warped	5	2	3	−3	−2
	Water		Warped	5	4	4	−1	−1
	Earth		Warped	5	4	4	−1	−1
	Fire		Warped	5	5	4	0	−1
	Body		Warped	5	5	3	0	−2
	Cosmic		Twisted	100	106	50	6	−50
	Chaos		Twisted	100	109	90	9	−10
	Sunfire		Twisted	100	113	Not Sold	13	N/A
	Astral		Mangled	200	116	50	−84	−150
	Nature		Mangled	200	115	180	−85	−20
	Law		Mangled	200	152	240	−48	40
	Death		Mangled	200	196	180	−4	−20
	Blood		Scarred	400	243	400	−157	0
	Soul		Scarred	400	195	300	−205	−100
	Wrath		Scarred	400	348	Not Sold	−52	N/A

Combination runes[edit | edit source]

Members can combine two elemental runes into a combination rune. To craft combination runes, a player needs to take existing runes that are one half of the combination, with a matching talisman (not a tiara), along with an equal amount of pure essence to the altar which comprises the other half of the combination. Use the existing runes or the talisman for the existing runes on the altar. This has a 50% chance of success per rune, and any failed runes are simply destroyed. The talisman will be consumed regardless of how many runes are made. Wearing a binding necklace grants a 100% chance of successfully creating combination runes.

The player may use the Lunar spell Magic Imbue to make combination runes without needing the opposing talisman. Using binding necklaces and Magic Imbue to craft lava runes offers the highest Runecraft experience per hour.

Level	Rune		Combination	Exp (Low)	Exp (High)	GE Price
6		Mist rune	+	8	8.5	112
10		Dust rune	+	8.3	9	10
13		Mud rune	+	9.3	9.5	114
15		Smoke rune	+	8.5	9.5	46
19		Steam rune	+	9.3	10	88
23		Lava rune	+	10	10.5	12

Players receive less experience at the lower-levelled altars. For example, making mist runes at the Air Altar will give 8 experience for each rune made, while making them at the Water Altar will give 8.5 experience for each rune made.

Essence pouches[edit | edit source]

Essence pouches hold varying amounts of rune, pure, daeyalt or guardian essence. Essence pouches can be used to take larger loads when crafting runes or mining essence.

Essence pouches decay with use, and must be repaired by visiting the Dark mage in the centre of the Abyss (or by contacting him with the NPC Contact Lunar spell) or they will disappear. The pouches do not have to be brought directly to the Dark Mage in order to be repaired; any and all pouches that are stored in the bank will also be repaired.

Essence pouches are dropped by monsters in the Abyss and the Abyssal Area after completion of the Enter the Abyss miniquest.

Type		Runecraft Level	Capacity	Cumulative capacity	Uses before decay (approx.)	Dropped or Obtained by
	Small pouch	1	3	3	No decay	Abyssal guardian, leech, walker, or Dark mage
	Medium pouch	25	6	9	45	Abyssal guardian, leech, walker
	Large pouch	50	9	18	29	Abyssal guardian, leech, walker
	Giant pouch	75	12	30	10	Abyssal guardian, leech, walker
	Colossal pouch	85	40	40	8	Created using all previous pouches and an abyssal needle

Infusing[edit | edit source]

The three crystals dropped by Cerberus, being the primordial, pegasian and eternal crystal, can be infused to the dragon boots, ranger boots and infinity boots respectively to create the primordial boots, pegasian boots and eternal boots. This process requires level 60 in the Runecraft and Magic and grants 200 experience in both skills.

Splitbark armour can also be infused into Swampbark armour at the Nature Altar after reading the Runescroll of swampbark or into Bloodbark armour at the true Blood Altar or false Blood Altar after reading the Runescroll of bloodbark.

Runecraft pet[edit | edit source]

The Rift guardian is a skilling pet that can be obtained while training Runecraft. The chances of getting it are dependent on the player's Runecraft level, the rune the player is crafting, and the number of essence used.

Temporary boosts[edit | edit source]

Boost		Level increase	Visibility	Other info
	Runecraft cape	1	Visible	When equipped, the Runecraft cape acts as a substitute to all Runecraft talismans and tiaras, and essence pouches will not degrade while filling them.
	Oldak	±2	Visible	Requires completion of Death to the Dorgeshuun.
	Spicy stew (orange spice)	±0-5	Visible	Depending on type of stew, any skill except Hitpoints can be boosted or reduced by 0 to 5 levels randomly.

Temporary boosts do not allow players to use higher tier essence pouches.

Quests[edit | edit source]

Quests requiring Runecraft[edit | edit source]

Quest	Runecraft requirement	Other requirements
Temple of the Eye	10	-
Perilous Moons	20	10 , 20 , 20 , 48
The Slug Menace	30	30 , 30 , 30
What Lies Below	35	42 (unless you have access to the Abyss)
Devious Minds	50	65 , 50
The Fremennik Exiles	55	65 , 60 , 60 , 60
Desert Treasure II - The Fallen Empire	60	75 , 75 , 70 , 62 , 60

Quests rewarding Runecraft experience[edit | edit source]

Quest	Experience reward	Runecraft requirement	Other requirements
The Ascent of Arceuus	500	-	12
Enter the Abyss (miniquest)	1,000	-	-
The Slug Menace	3,500	30	30 , 30 , 30
Perilous Moons	5,000	20	10 , 20 , 20 , 48
Temple of the Eye	5,000[a]	10	-
Devious Minds	5,000	50	65 , 50
Lunar Diplomacy	5,000	-	61 , 40 , 49 , 5 , 65 , 60 , 55
The Eyes of Glouphrie	6,000	-	5 , 46
What Lies Below	8,000	35	42 (unless you have access to the Abyss)
The Fremennik Exiles	30,000	55	65 , 60 , 60 , 60
Total	64,000

Skill choice[edit | edit source]

Upon completing any of the following quests, players may choose to allocate experience to Runecraft. These rewards usually come in the form of items, such as lamps or books, and are independent of any experience rewards directly received for completing the quest.

Quest	Experience reward	Skills available	Skill requirements
X Marks the Spot	300	Any	None
Client of Kourend	500 twice	Any	None
Fairytale II - Cure a Queen	2,500	Any skill above 30	49 , 57
A Tail of Two Cats	2,500 twice	Any skill above 30	None
The Great Brain Robbery	5,000	Any skill above 30	16 , 30 , 50
King's Ransom	5,000	Any skill above 50	65
Darkness of Hallowvale	2,000 three times	Any skill above 30	5 , 20 , 22 , 32 , 33 , 40
A Taste of Hope	2,500 three times	Any skill above 35	48 , 40 , 40 , 45 , 38
A Kingdom Divided	10,000 twice	Any skill above 40	54 , 52 , 52 , 50 , 42 , 38 , 35
In Search of Knowledge (miniquest)	10,000	Any skill above 40	None
Curse of the Empty Lord (miniquest)	10,000	Any skill above 50	Some players will need 31
One Small Favour	10,000 twice	Any skill above 30	36 , 25 , 18 , 30
Recipe for Disaster (The final battle)	20,000	Any skill above 50	175 , 70 , 48 , 50 , 53 , 53 , 25 , 59 , 40 , 50 , 40 , 40 , 10 , 10 , 36
Sins of the Father	15,000 six times	Any skill above 60	62 , 60 , 56 , 52 , 50 , 50 , 49
Total	202,300

Changes[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

• Runecraft/Experience table, a list of all Runecraft experience sources
• Runecraft/Level up table, a list of all requirements and unlockables within the Runecraft skill