About this Tier List

This list ranks runes and engravings by how consistently strong they feel in real gameplay, assuming solo or small party play with reasonably forged gear. It focuses on overall value rather than niche memes.

Top tiers: impactful in almost any build or area Middle tiers: solid but more situational Lower tiers: usable yet usually outclassed

Tier Categories

Each row represents a rarity band. Higher tiers are rarer and more build-defining, while lower tiers are supportive or starter-oriented.

Mythic Engraving
Grand Sigil
Forged Glyph
Etched Mark
Common Rune

Mythic Engraving

Mythic Picks

Rarest options that reshape how your build plays.

MYTHIC

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Drain Edge

Tier: Mythic Engraving Role: Sustain DPS

Restores a portion of physical damage dealt on hit, letting you survive long boss fights and risky brawls.

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Blast Chip

Tier: Mythic Engraving Role: Burst AOE

Creates explosive blasts around struck enemies, shredding clustered mobs and clearing waves instantly.

Grand Sigil

Grand Picks

High-impact sigils that push farming, control, or burn damage.

GRAND

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Miner Shard

Tier: Grand Sigil Role: Economy / progression

Boosts ore yield, mining speed, and rock damage so every swing pushes your progression forward.

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Flaming Spark

Tier: Grand Sigil Role: Single-target burn

Applies a strong fire damage-over-time effect, melting bosses and tanky targets over a few seconds.

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Chill Dust

Tier: Grand Sigil Role: Crowd control

Slows enemy movement and attack speed, making mobs easier to kite and dodge.

Forged Glyph

Forged Picks

Reliable glyphs that add damage, control, or comeback power.

FORGED

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Venom Crumb

Tier: Forged Glyph Role: Poison DoT

Applies stacking poison that chips enemy HP while you reposition or kite.

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Frost Speck

Tier: Forged Glyph Role: Short freeze

Has a chance to briefly freeze enemies, opening them for follow-up attacks.

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Rage Mark

Tier: Forged Glyph Role: Berserker buff

Grants a huge damage and speed spike when low HP, rewarding aggressive play.

Etched Mark

Etched Picks

Defensive or conditional marks that keep you alive when things go wrong.

ETCHED

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Ward Patch

Tier: Etched Mark Role: Defensive shield

Grants a chance to reduce incoming damage on hit, making you much harder to burst down.

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Rot Stitch

Tier: Etched Mark Role: Low-HP AOE poison

When you are critically low, emits a toxic aura that poisons enemies around you.

Common Rune

Starter Picks

Easy finds that support early or budget builds.

COMMON

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Briar Notch

Tier: Common Rune Role: Thorns reflect

Reflects a portion of physical damage taken back to attackers, punishing reckless hits.

Notes & Disclaimers

  • This list is not an absolute truth. If a rune feels fun and strong in your build, keep using it.
  • Rankings assume you understand forging quality, stats, positioning, and enhancement breakpoints.
  • Some effects jump tiers when paired with specific weapons, classes, or party comps.
  • Values can change after patches. Check changelogs for balance tweaks.

Ranking Methodology

Runes are ranked by damage output, utility, synergy with builds, and ease of obtaining.

Damage & Uptime

Consistent DPS, AoE reach, and how often effects can trigger in boss or mob fights.

Safety & Control

Whether the rune adds slows, freezes, or sustain to help you survive unavoidable hits.

Synergy

How easily the rune fits common weapon types, stat spreads, and small-party roles.

Availability

Drop chance or cost, affecting how practical the rune is for most players.

Usage Tips

  • Do not ignore lower-tier runes. Some situational picks become S-tier in specific builds.
  • Pair sustain engravings with aggressive weapons to extend uptime without retreating.
  • Slot control-focused sigils before tackling dense caves or elite packs.
  • Swap to economy sigils like Miner Shard when farming ores, then revert for bosses.