Dead Cells Guide | All Runes Locations

To truly explore every corner of the island and unlock its mysteries, you’ll need to collect all the runes. This guide will walk you through the steps to easily collect every Rune and enhance your abilities along the way.

In Dead Cells, runes are permanent upgrades that grant you powerful abilities like climbing walls, teleporting, and breaking obstacles. They stay with you even after death and are crucial for unlocking new areas and progressing further in the game.

Vine Rune

This is the easiest Rune to obtain and will be your first step to unlocking more secrets. The Vine Rune lets you create climbable vines. 

To get it, head to the Promenade of the Condemned and defeat the elite Undead Archer. Once you have the Vine Rune, you’ll be able to scale walls and reach areas that were previously inaccessible.

Customization Rune

After obtaining the Vine Rune, head towards the Ramparts. Along the way, you’ll pick up the Customization Rune, which unlocks the awesome Custom Mode. This feature is a lot of fun, so don’t miss it. 

As you continue through the Ramparts, you’ll eventually face off with the boss, the Concierge, in the Black Bridge. Defeat him, and you’ll be rewarded with the Challenger’s Rune.

Challenger’s Rune

This Rune is essential if you want to take on the daily challenge mode. Once you’ve defeated the Concierge to earn the Challenger’s Rune, you’ll unlock a new way to test your skills each day, with different modifiers and challenges to keep things fresh.

Teleportation Rune

The Teleportation Rune allows you to teleport through remarkable sarcophagi. You can get it in the Toxic Sewers, but first, make sure you have the Vine Rune to unlock the entrance to this area. 

After entering the Toxic Sewers, defeat the elite Caster, and you’ll acquire the Teleportation Rune in no time. With this ability, you can instantly transport yourself between specific points, making navigation much faster.

Ram Rune

Want to smash through weak floors? The Ram Rune is your answer. To obtain it, defeat the elite Slasher in the Ossuary. 

You’ll need the Teleportation Rune to access this area from the Promenade of the Condemned. Once you have the Ram Rune, you’ll be able to break through hidden floors and uncover new paths, opening up shortcuts and secret areas throughout the game.

Spider Rune

The Spider Rune lets you climb walls. To find the Spider Rune, head to the Slumbering Sanctuary, where you’ll face off against the elite Caster. Getting there isn’t a walk in the park—you’ll need to travel through the Toxic Sewers, use the Ram Rune to open the entrance to the Ancient Sewers, and then defeat the boss Conjunctivius to finally reach the Slumbering Sanctuary. 

It’s a bit of a journey, but it’s totally worth it. With the Spider Rune, you’ll gain vertical mobility that makes exploration much more fluid and fun.

Explorer’s Rune

Keep going from the Slumbering Sanctuary and use the Teleportation Rune to reach the Forgotten Sepulcher. Once there, take down the two Dark Trackers to earn the Explorer’s Rune. 

This permanent Rune reveals the entire map and its points of interest, such as scrolls and merchants. After you’ve explored most of the area, it’s super helpful for those looking to uncover every little detail. Just be careful of the darkness—hurry to the light!

Homunculus Rune

Continue your adventure through the Forgotten Sepulcher, then head into the Clock Room. Defeat the Time Keeper and tear through the High Peak Castle. Once you reach the end, you’ll meet the King and face the ultimate challenge, the Hand of the King. 

If you’re lucky enough to defeat him, you’ll complete the game for the first time and unlock the final Rune, the Homunculus Rune. This permanent Rune allows you to leave your body, offering even more ways to explore the island and bypass obstacles in creative ways.

Also, check our Dead Cells Review and other guides below:

• Dead Cells Guide | How To Get All Keys and Door Locations
• Dead Cells Guide | How To Unlock All Crossover Outfits
• Dead Cells Guide | Best Blueprint and Locations
• Dead Cells Guide | Top 10 Builds