Runes & Enchanting Guide

Quick answer — Runes, enchanting & Nightfold

• Where do runes drop? Defeat named Agari and siege bosses across Midrath; some runes are Cogah-only. Boss-by-boss list: Rune farm locations.
• Where do you equip them? Nightfold → Arsenal (bookcase in your tent) → right-click a weapon → central Rune slot plus Totem slots (a fourth opens when a rune is equipped). Recruit Tuvalkane first — see Unlock Tuvalkane / The Steelsinger.
• Enchanting vs Reforging: Enchanting in Soulframe is the Runes + Totems system (Smite → Pull Smite activates rune charges). Reforging (Joinery) is separate: Tuvalkane's Reforge tab (Bond 2+) spends Joineries from Agari drops to add Virtue attunement pips — not rune sockets.
• Chordstone refining: Another Tuvalkane track — spend Chordstones on the Refine tab to uplift Craftwork and Tempers on keeper weapons. See Chordstone refining; parallel metal queue: Oden Tempering.
• Combat loop: Pull Smite (Spectral Sight + light attack) banks and triggers rune charges — assign Rune Activation in Controls & keybinds.

Endgame gear layers Runes/Totems, Joinery reforge, Chordstone Refine, and Oden Tempering at the Nightfold forge.

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Totems, talismans, and Virtue slots (Preludes 15)

The equipment UI now says Talisman, but patch notes describe a broader Totem rework:

• Equip on the Virtue trifecta — Courage / Spirit / Grace slots (not a single neck-only mental model).
• Totems strengthen how Runes and Smites behave in combat.
• Old inventory Totems convert to Harmony currency on migration — do not mass-delete before reading official patch notes.

Full P15 write-up: Totems & talismans · Pact passive renames: Pact Arts P15.

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Smite and Runes

Smite lights an enemy's soul; Pull Smite (Spectral Sight + light attack) bursts damage and refreshes your active Rune duration. That loop matters more when totems/talismans buff Smite or Regain.

Hub definitions: Boss mechanics · inputs: Controls & keybinds.

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Runes

• Socket in the Arsenal Enchanting screen at Nightfold (one rune per weapon type line).
• Primarily from Agari (incl. Cogah), siege bosses, and containers — see Rune farm locations; upgrade ranks with Harmony in Arsenal.

Enchanting (Runes + Totems)

• The in-game Enchanting menu = Runes (central slot) + Totems (Attack / Defense / Utility; fourth slot when a rune is equipped).
• Not the same as Reforging (Joinery) or Chordstone Refine.

Reforging (Joinery)

• Tuvalkane Reforge tab — adds Virtue attunement pips (1–3) using Blessed / Twice / Thrice Joineries from Agari.
• Interacts with Virtue investment — do not reforge your only DPS weapon before a boss gate.

Workflow order (suggested)

1. Pick up or craft a base weapon (Tuvalkane or world drop)
2. Refine with Chordstones if the drop is worth keeping (Chordstone guide)
3. Temper Oden metals if the piece is on that track (Oden Tempering)
4. Socket Runes and Totems in Nightfold Arsenal (Enchanting screen)
5. Reforge with Joinery last when you want extra Virtue pips on a keeper

Where to farm each rune: Rune farm locations (all 16 runes, Avakot drop sources).

Full material routes: Farming routes · Agari: World boss loop.

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Preludes 15 (live)

Loot rework, Virtue Lith removal, and Chordstone refinement are live. Rune drop sources on item pages reflect Preludes 15 — see Preludes 15 notes for sieges and Lampyrite routes.