Blades of Fire is an adventure full of areas that you’ll need to return to later once you have the means, this is usually (but not limited to) through the Runes system that will open up new paths to treasure and difficult enemies. This page will tell you how to get your hands on the Time, Light, and Soul Runes along with what happens when you use them.

Table of Contents¶

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Where to Get the Time Rune¶

As you finish up your exploration of the first area, Besacarr Hamlet, you may attempt to leave via the western exit with the crank, only to be stopped by a broken bridge and what the map refers to as the Time Rune. This halts your progress in that direction for the time being and points you along the way to Kar-Lethel Swamp instead.

Once you reach the old lady in the southwest of the area, near the Angel’s Cliff anvil, you’ll trigger some scenes and formally meet Glinda, a Master Forger. During the process, she’ll hand over the Blue Lady’s Medallion and tell you that the Blue Lady will be more receptive to you now. You’ll find her marked on your map whenever she’s close (and she’ll tend to spawn often so you can make use of her services). When you approach her, you’ll be able to imbue a weapon with the Time Rune, allowing you to make use of it.

Using the Time Rune¶

So now that you have the Time Rune, what does it do and where can you use it? To put it simply, the Time Rune will restore broken bridges (like the one leading to the Crimson Fort west of Besacaar Hamlet) or reassemble staircases, for example. On top of this, the Time Rune is needed to deal damage to specific enemies, such as the Shadow Blades you’ll start encountering from The Crimson Fort or the Phantom Gladiators in Doyen Graves. As such, make sure you have a selection of weapons imbued with the Time Rune at all times.

Where to Get the Light Rune¶

As you explore Aceides’ Domain, you’ll come across plenty of areas that require the Light Rune and you’ll also discover there are many areas you can’t access, leaving more of those pesky clouds obscuring your map. Unfortunately, you won’t get access to the Light Rune during the first chapter (Aceides’ Domain), you’ll have to push on until you reach Chapter 2 (Tok’s Kingdom).

Around the halfway point of this Chapter, you’ll make your way out to the northwest of the area to the Roggs Mountains. This is a large and confusing area, but eventually, you’ll reach the Morlock’s Place anvil to the west and you’ll hear that the Blue Lady is once again singing, find her nearby and you’ll finally be able to imbue a weapon with the Light Rune.

Using the Light Rune¶

Fortunately, you can put this to use right away, as the cave just beyond here is pitch black and full of Morlocks, an enemy that will kill you instantly if you don’t have any light on you. Equip a weapon with the Light Rune, approach the sign on the wall, and you’ll cause a bug to appear that will light the surrounding area so long as your weapon is drawn. Just remember that this won’t last forever so make sure you make use of any Light Mushrooms to renew it!

There’s another use of the Light Rune too, such as the Light Rune spot found near Aran & Adso’s Camp at the at start of the Chapter. When used, it will reveal runes on the wall that you can have Aran read out, this will cause the wall to disappear and open up a new path, often leading to new areas. There are also areas where the Light Rune can open up a bridge of light, such as the one found in the Northern Hiss City to the southeast.

Where to Get the Soul Rune¶

You may be getting the idea by now, but once again, you’ll have to wait until you reach Blades of Fire’s third Chapter and region, The Niveous Realm. Fortunately, you won’t have to go too deep into the region and it’s a lot smaller than both Aceides’ Domain and Tok’s Kingdom too. It’s also probably the most complicated Rune to locate, requiring you to visit multiple places before you can get your hands on it.

It can be found in a fort called King’s Bastion, which you’ll visit as part of the main story. Early in the chapter, after offering the Bronze Bell to a Pilgrim statue, you’ll be transported to a cell in King’s Bastion. After locating the Golden Bell, you’ll need to use the anvil in the West Tower Cells to escape. From there, you’ll need to travel to the fort on foot to find the Soul Rune.

Before you head out, make sure you have a Roggs’ Skull in your inventory. If you don’t already have one, the easiest way to get it is by traveling to the Dyrias’ Forge anvil in Tok’s Kingdom. Head to the top of the zipline in the area where you first fought Koko in Chapter 2. Stick around and defeat Roggs until one appears carrying a skull. Once you have the Roggs’ Skull and the Golden Bell, you’re ready to return to the Bastion. The fort can be found at the end of the Veilspan Bridge after journeying through the Dryad Forest. Use the Golden bell to unseal the entrance.

Inside, the Rune is required to progress the story, so it can’t be missed, but it’s extremely well hidden. Just inside the main entrance, look to the left for a ladder leading up to a sloped roof. Climb up and head east across the rooftop, sticking close to the wall. You’ll find an open doorway in a tower at the southeastern tip of the fort. Go inside and descend the spiral staircase. At the bottom, take a left and look for another doorway across the room. There, you’ll find a circular lift platform. If you ride the lift all the way to the top, you’ll find a Mark of the Thaumaturgists and an encounter with King Ashkhanar. But to reach the Soul Rune, face north as the lift ascends and watch for a wooden walkway about three-quarters of the way up. Drop onto it while the lift is moving, and you’ll find a zipline that leads down to a room above the cells you were in earlier. Zip down to find The Blue Lady waiting just inside. Interact with her to receive the Soul Rune.

Using the Soul Rune¶

This rune works a little differently than the Time and Light Runes and requires charging before use. You can charge it by defeating enemies, and your weapon’s rune icon will gradually fill with color as you collect souls. Tougher enemies drop more, but it only takes about ten small enemies to fully charge the rune.

Once charged, you can use it just like the other runes: approach a Soul Rune symbol with your charged weapon equipped, and it will activate automatically. Soul Rune symbols typically reward you with quest items like keys or lever handles, unlocking new areas to explore.

There you have it; you now know how to get your hands on all three of the Runes in Blades of Fire and how to put them to use.