Definitive Guide to Rune Weapons and their Upgrades.

[Aldrahill]

Hi all,

Since I'm approaching the point in my Let's Play wherein I'll be getting some delicious Rune weapons using Qualis gems, I thought I'd make a guide of the stats of each of the Rune weapons. I knew the majority of this from my previous playthroughs, but to be sure I decided to load up a new save and get the gems, save scum it back and forth so I can get each of the weapons and compare stats.

I'll spoiler this for people that don't want to have the surprise ruined for them. Obviously mods, if this isn't kosher let me know and I'll get rid of it, just thought people would like to know!

隐藏

So, here's the key for this:

The weapons are listed in order, the first entry of each weapon being the Base Rune weapon, before you enchant it with the third Qualis Gem.

In order left to right is the Swing Damage, Thrust Damage, Weapon Speed, Weapon Reach, Main Damage Type and, finally, whether I consider it worth it. My personal preference is emboldened.

Bows have a special table, because they're a bit different. They have, from left to right, Damage, Accuracy, Speed and finally Power Draw Requirement.

B Rune Sword 45 C     24 P 98 93 15 Chopping S Rune Sword  45 C     24 P 138 93 15 Chopping No R Rune Sword 55 P     24 P 98 93 15 Piercing Yes E Rune Sword 55 C     29 P 108 93 15 Chopping Yes Ruby Rune Sword: Because the difference in speed between the Emerald and the Ruby isn't significant enough to make me ignore the Ruby's sweet, sweet higher damage and Piercing. B Rune Axe 55 C     20 P 95 98 15 Chopping S Rune Axe 55 C     20 P 130 98 15 Chopping No R Rune Axe        65 P     20 P 95 98 15 Piercing Yes E Rune Axe 55 C     30 P 98 105 15 Chopping Yes Ruby Rune Axe: Because it has a full 10 more damage than it's other counterparts, as well as being piercing. However, the Emerald Axe for some reason has 7 more weapon reach than Ruby, making it somewhat better as a choice for a Horseman's weapon. B Two-Hander 65 C     38 C 95 158 18 Chopping S Two-Hander        65 C     38 P 135 158 18 Chopping Maybe R Two-Hander 75 P     46 P 95 158 18 Piercing Yes E Two-Hander 75 C     42 P 105 158 18 Chopping Yes Emerald Two Hander: The additional speed is highly important I think, assuming that you're interested in using it as a Foot Soldier; the additional speed means that you can out match one-handed weapon users effectively. If you want to use it primarily as a weapon to utterly wreck enemy Siegers climbing over ladders however, the Ruby Two Hander is superior. B Rune Glaive 52 C     23 P 83 244 15 Chopping S Rune Glaive 52 C     23 P 123 244 15 Chopping Yes R Rune Glaive 62 P     43 P 83 244 15 Piercing No E Rune Glaive 62 C     33 P 103 244 15 Chopping Yes Emerald Rune Glaive: Simply because it has a full 20 speed over it's Ruby counterpart, as well as possessing the same damage, albeit not piercing. An effective Foot Soldier weapon, or perhaps a cavalry weapon if you like Kaverra. B Rune Bow 38 P                      88 94                 7 Piercing S Rune Bow 36 P                     95 124                 7 Piercing No R Rune Bow         50 P                     88 94                 8 Piercing Yes from sheer damage E Rune Bow 42 P                       91 100                 8 Piercing No, not enough wurf

Ruby Rune Bow: Because the added speed or slight accuracy you gain from the other versions simply doesn't beat the insane damage of the Ruby Rune Bow. You will be one-shotting enemies for days in a lovely castle with a Blacksmith!

 

[noosers]

You  mean like this and this?

 

[Aldrahill]

You  mean like this and this?

Kiiiiiinda, but I wanted the correct info labelled in an easy to see format. This way, people can see the numbers all together.

 

[Filou]

You might want to move out the suggestions then. They are subject to personal taste.

My take on bows:
Damage of the Ruby bow is overrated if you can't hit your target. Not shown in the ingame stats is the missile speed, which has a big impact on how flat the trajectory is, which in turn impacts accuracy.

The Ruby has the same accuracy and missile speed as the Strange version, and that bow is not good enough on siege offense where you need to hit targets at medium to long range which are elevated. Basically you're stuck to hitting close range targets because at longer range no 2 shots go to the same place and you need to factor in a bigger drop.
Hitting a target on the move is also a pain with those stats.
Although I'm sure that killing a Netherworld Charger with a single shot to the head must be fun in itself, it's overkill for the vast majority of targets.

Instead I prefer the perfect accuracy of the Saphire due to it's combined accuracy stat and its very high missile speed.
This is with a PD of 10 where you will 1shot pretty much anything anyways. I guess with lower PD it might make sense to have higher base damage, but then I would still favor the Emerald over the Ruby.

The one situation where I can see the usefulness of the Ruby is in sieges defense. Enemies are stuck on a ladder and you can be fairly close to them so accuracy is less critical. But again, the extra damage is only needed on a very few targets, which can be headshot when you have perfect accuracy of the Saphire.


Runed 2h:
I much prefer speed over damage for the 2h mostly because I'm pretty bad at melee combat. I take anything that helps me get my hit in before the enemy. 135 speed is just insane for a 2h weapon. With some good PS you rarely need a 2nd hit, and when you do you can get it in before the enemy recovers from the first one.

On horseback you will get extra damage due to the speed bonus so the base damage is less needed. Instead I prefer the extra speed to alleviate the speed penalty.

 

[Aldrahill]

snip

I wanted to put suggestions in just to provide my opinion, but if people don't like it I can remove it

Interesting take; I do agree that the Ruby Bow is rather inaccurate for it's needs. I mainly use it for Siege defence though! Being able to instantly wipe people out never gets old

What do you think about Horse weapon choices? I'm always tempted to go for a Ruby 2H, but the damage loss factors in, plus the fact that I don't have a shield! It's just so damn important

Sadly, there's no good Cavarly weapon among the Rune choices, as all of the 1H weapons have quite sub-par reach.

 

[azxcvbnm321]

Ever since the accuracy of the Ruby Runed bow was nerfed a while back, I no longer use it.  I go between the Emerald and Sapphire bows, currently I like the Emerald bow slightly, and I mean slightly better than the Sapphire.  The Sapphire has insane reload and firing speed. 

For siege defenses and attacks, I prefer the Sapphire 2-H sword.  Weapon speed is critical and a huge factor.  I can mow down enemies at the top of the ladder in 1 sec or less.  The Sapphire already has plenty of damage potential.

I've never found a good runed weapon for horseback sadly.  That's the one thing PoP is missing, nothing is better than my balanced light lance.  The glaives are ok, but lack the couched lance damage potential.  The 1-H swords have too short of a range for my tastes.  And of course I have to have a shield above all else on horseback so pure 2-H are out of the question.

 

[Aldrahill]

Ever since the accuracy of the Ruby Runed bow was nerfed a while back, I no longer use it.  I go between the Emerald and Sapphire bows, currently I like the Emerald bow slightly, and I mean slightly better than the Sapphire.  The Sapphire has insane reload and firing speed. 

For siege defenses and attacks, I prefer the Sapphire 2-H sword.  Weapon speed is critical and a huge factor.  I can mow down enemies at the top of the ladder in 1 sec or less.  The Sapphire already has plenty of damage potential.

I've never found a good runed weapon for horseback sadly.  That's the one thing PoP is missing, nothing is better than my balanced light lance.  The glaives are ok, but lack the couched lance damage potential.  The 1-H swords have too short of a range for my tastes.  And of course I have to have a shield above all else on horseback so pure 2-H are out of the question.

Is that 30 Weapon Speed on the Sapphire 2-H worth losing the 10 damage, though? Doubly so from it not being piercing if you don't go Ruby, but then it's a FORTY speed loss.

 

[azxcvbnm321]

Yes the weapon speed is worth it for me.  The damage is still high enough that it kills most enemies in one shot.  Being able to swing downward at a rate faster than once a second is incredible if you're at the ladder defending a siege.  The weapon speed is also very useful if you're ever 1 vs. 2 or 1 vs. 3  in combat, you can get in your swing even against 1-H weapons and high level enemies that use good 1-H weapons.  I had both a ruby and sapphire 2-H runed sword in my last game and I liked the sapphire much more.

 

[mniezo]

Uuuu this would make for a great suggestion for the 3.7, a 1h with nice reach. Actually, i would even count the crossbow in for upgraded weaponry, although a fast charging crossbow would be op when you can go full Gauntlet on Valdis .

 

[zykox]

Rune Boomerang!!

 

[Aldrahill]

Yes the weapon speed is worth it for me.  The damage is still high enough that it kills most enemies in one shot.  Being able to swing downward at a rate faster than once a second is incredible if you're at the ladder defending a siege.  The weapon speed is also very useful if you're ever 1 vs. 2 or 1 vs. 3  in combat, you can get in your swing even against 1-H weapons and high level enemies that use good 1-H weapons.  I had both a ruby and sapphire 2-H runed sword in my last game and I liked the sapphire much more.

Intersesting stuff; I'm very much considering the Sapphire 2-H after hearing your opinions!

I usually get the Rune Axe, partly because it's JUST long enough to use on horseback, it's great against shields (though players can time their attacks a lot better than the AI, thus avoiding enemy shields, ideally) and it has re-donk-ulous damage. However... I've got a Heavy D'shar sabre as my horseback weapon, and it's plenty longer than the Axe would be, plus I have my lance... Being able to wreck enemy siegers would be pretty great!

 

[matu90rk]

Hey guys, since we're on a topic about weapons, what would you consider to be the best polearm for cavalry? I really like my skirmisher build but I noticed that there isn't a Rune Lance

 

[zykox]

Hey guys, since we're on a topic about weapons, what would you consider to be the best polearm for cavalry? I really like my skirmisher build but I noticed that there isn't a Rune Lance

If you like lances...then you'll love the Jatu Honor Lance.

If you're a skilled player, you'll want to use a light lance/warspear with a high PS character over a lance.

If you expect to get dehorsed or don't use a shield, you can always use the rune glaive (but it can't couch). The Glaive has enough dmg even with piercing, and the swings are of course powerful.

 

[Aldrahill]

Hey guys, since we're on a topic about weapons, what would you consider to be the best polearm for cavalry? I really like my skirmisher build but I noticed that there isn't a Rune Lance

I personally am using a Long Cavalry Lance, but the Jatu Lance as zykox recommended is awesome too!

 

[zykox]

Hey guys, since we're on a topic about weapons, what would you consider to be the best polearm for cavalry? I really like my skirmisher build but I noticed that there isn't a Rune Lance

I personally am using a Long Cavalry Lance, but the Jatu Lance as zykox recommended is awesome too!

Compare for yourself. Excerpt from the PoP wikia: http://pop3.wikia.com/wiki/Weapons

Best unique lance is the Sarleon Banner, that you can get if Sarleon is cornered, you're a sovereign, you capture King Ulric and exchange the weapon for his freedom by talking to him as prisoner in your party.

 

[Alavaria]

That reminds me I've been using this Balanced Black Iron Spear for so long.

Surprisingly even with just 7 Power Strike, it one-shots just about anyone hit in the head. However I'm not so good at aiming the thrust so I often just hit the body instead.

 

[zykox]

That reminds me I've been using this Balanced Black Iron Spear for so long.

Surprisingly even with just 7 Power Strike, it one-shots just about anyone hit in the head. However I'm not so good at aiming the thrust so I often just hit the body instead.

Well, with some speed bonus, not so bad PS and a piercing hit to the head...it's no wonder.

Try the Jatu Honor Lance...you'll be surprised how many'll go down even from body hits, even without couching.

 

[noosers]

I hate that thing - I´ve been killed so many times by that fugly lance I can´t tell you how much I hate it.
Apart from that, it´s too slow for me. Every non-noble companion will finally get one, though. The Sir´s use a knightish lance and Sir Roland usually gets the Sarleon Banner if I can acquire it.

I usually stick with the Heavy Lance - decent length, decent thrusting speed once you got a good proficiency with it. Perfect and it outreaches the vast majority of weapons around. I like that weapon. It´s part of my regular standard kit - Heavy Lance, Knights War Axe, Shield, Pendor Great Sword - all you need. And a Siege Crossbow for additonal thump.

 

[shoshuro]

...and Heraldic Plate Armor?

Morning star fits better in your setup and more badass.

 

[Flingit]

I gotta go with balanced light lance, that thing is awesome. But regarding runed weapons, I find the sapphire 2H the ultimate weapon, as it has high speed and reach for horseback, damage is more than adequate to one hit most people and the speed is unreal for getting into fights with multiple opponents. Although it is pretty funny to use a ruby 2H on horseback and hit people for 500 damage.