Rune-keeper

Mystical linguists and masters of true names, Rune-keepers can heal in one battle and hurl destructive magic in the next using an innovative attunement system. Unleash the Fury of the Storm and call down lightning upon the enemy! Recite Words of Grace and heal your fellowship. The choice is yours...

Cost: 795 Turbine Points from the LOTRO Store. Included with Mines of Moria Expansion.

Available Races: Dwarf, Elf

Classes Bu Ca Ch Gu Hu Lm Mi Rk Wd Skills Bu Ca Ch Gu Hu Lm Mi Rk Wd Traits Bu Ca Ch Gu Hu Lm Mi Rk Wd

Role

In lore terms, the Rune-keeper marks the game's first true "magic user." The Lore-master class had his or her powers explained as the harnessing of the traditional powers of nature -- calling down lightning, using water to make foes stick in the mud, or throwing a fireball made from a chemical concoction. In short, the class is more of a combat chemist than a true magician. The Rune-keeper, on the other hand, actually taps into the primal physics-altering powers of creation through "true names." It's the same kind of power (though to a far, far lesser degree) as that tapped into by powerful elves like Galadriel and Celebrimbor (who serve as the model for the class).

In pure game dynamics, Steefel (former Executive Producer) said that the Rune-keeper is "...a third light armor class that offers viable healing or DPS alternatives." True to the game's "hybrid class" design philosophy, the Rune-keeper compares well to the primary healing class (Minstrel) by utilizing heals-over-time, and focuses its DPS capabilities by the application of powerful, stackable damage-over-time effects. Players choose their role via a new "Attunement Meter" that provides bonuses to healing skills while removing access to damage skills and vice-versa, depending on the current role the Rune-keeper is being asked to fulfill. Attunement resets while out-of-combat, and there are several skills/consumables available that make it easier to switch attunement (and temporarily open skills from the opposite attunement).

In addition to the attunement meter, there are 3 affinities: Fire, Cold, and Lightning. Each skill in the 3 skill groups (Wrath of Flame, Fury of Storm, and Chill of Winter) applies an affinity to the Rune-keeper, which then modifies the effects of certain skills. For example, Do Not Fall to Flame is a skill that protects a Rune-keeper and his allies from Fire damage. If the player uses a Fury of Storm skill, Do Not Fall to Flame changes to Do Not Fall to Storm, which protects from Lightning damage. Affinity (and the skills that depend on affinity) change each time one of these skills is used.

Skills

Active Skills

Chill of Winter

DPS + Debuff

	Skill	Category	Level	Attunes	Requires	Range	Description	Induct / Cool
	Chilling Rhetoric	Damage + Debuff	6	1	No	30	Frost damage + Slow (-50% speed)	0.5s / 30s
	Writ of Cold	Damage + Debuff	12	1		30	AoE Frost damage + Increase Target inductions + Increase Target Attack Duration	0.8s / 5s
	Essence of Winter	Damage + Debuff	24	1	6	30	AoE Frost damage + Increased Target Power cost + Reduced Target Incoming Healing	1.5s / 20s
	Frozen Epilogue	Damage + Debuff	32	1	9	15.2	AoE Frost damage + Effects of Writ of Cold and Essence of Winter	- / 5m
	Flurry of Words	Damage + Debuff	38	1	3		Frost DoT + Reduces Evade chances	2s / 60s

Fury of Storm

Damage Type: Lightning

	Skill	Category	Level	Attunes	Requires	Range	Description	Induct / Cool
	Scribe's Spark	Damage	1	1	-	20m	+2% damage per Battle attunement	- / 3s
	Shocking Words	Damage+Stun	2	1	3	20m	+7% (per attunement level) Chance to Stun	- / 20s
	Ceaseless Argument	Damage+Buff	4	1	No	20m	Increases effective Finesse	- / -
	Essence of Storm	Damage	16	1	3	20m	+3% Critical Chance per Battle attunement +100% damage on critical hits	- / 8s
	Epic Conclusion	Damage	20	1	9	20m	Increases effective Finesse	- / 90s
	Sustaining Bolt	Damage+Buff	30	1	6	20m	-10% power cost for 15 seconds	- / 15s
	Vivid Imagery	Damage	56	1	6	5m	AoE short range daze for 5s - 10s	- / 5m
	Improved Sustaining Bolt	Damage+Buff	70	1	6	20m	-10% power cost for 15 seconds + Restores power if at 9 Battle Attunement	- / 15s

The Middle Path

Buffs, Debuffs, and Utilities

	Skill	Category	Level	Attunes	Requires	Range	Description	Induct / Cooldown
	Shocking Touch	Daze	8	3		2.5m	Dazes target for 5-10s	- / 25s
	Armour of Storm*	Buff, Daze	10	3			Chance to Daze melee attackers for 5s	- / 3m
	Armour of Flame*	Buff, DoT	10	3			Applies a DoT to melee attackers	- / 3m
	Armour of Winter*	Buff, Debuff	10	3			+825 Frost Def + % to apply Slow + Incr Attack Speed to melee attackers	- / 3m
	Self-motivation	Buff	14	4			Restores caster's Power	1.5s / 2m
	Nothing Truly Ends	Rez	20			25m	Revives a defeated ally out of combat	5s / -
	Distracting Winds	Debuff	22	3		5.2m	AoE 50% Slow + Threat reduction (max 5 targets)	- / 3m
	Calming Verse	Buff	26	3			25% Threat Reduction and -10% Power Cost	- / 60s
	Final Word	Interrupt	30	1		25m	Interrupts a target's induction	- / 30s
	Improved Final Word	Interrupt	52	1		25m	Improved "Final Word"; also removes Corruptions	- / 30s
	Scribe a New Ending	Dread Removal	62	9		10.2m	Removes dread caused by defeat	15s / 10m

* - These three are in fact a single skill (Armour of XXXX) that is modified by the affinity of the skill that was used previously. When no skill has been used, the default is Storm.

Visions and Foretellings

Buffs and Debuffs

	Skill	Category	Level	Attunes	Requires	Range	Description	Induct / Cool
	Fall to Storm*	Debuff	8	1		30m	% Chance that Lightning damage triggers additional damage	- / 30s
	Fall to Flame*	Debuff	8	1		30m	% Chance that Fire damage triggers additional damage	- / 30s
	Fall to Winter*	Debuff	8	1		30m	% Chance that Frost damage triggers additional damage	- / 30s
	Their Weapons Shall Not Harm Us	Buff	44	3			Prevents the next incoming Wound or Poison debuff	1.5s / 30s
	Do Not Fall to Storm*	Buff	46	2			Absorbs the next incoming Lightning damage	1.5s / 30s
	Do Not Fall to Flame*	Buff	46	2			Absorbs the next incoming Fire damage	1.5s / 30s
	Do Not Fall to Winter*	Buff	46	2			Absorbs the next incoming Frost damage	1.5s / 30s
	Do Not Fall This Day	Buff, Rez	50	6		25m	If defeated, ally will immediately revive; duration is the longer of 60s or until the end of combat.**	- / 10m
	Improved Do Not Fall This Day	Buff, Rez	62	6		25m	If defeated, ally will revive with mitigation buff; will not suffer item wear; Duration is the longer of 60s or until the end of combat.**	- / 10m

* - These are merely 2 skills (Fall to XXXX and Do Not Fall to XXXX) that are modified by the affinity of the skill that was used previously. When no skill has been used, the default is Storm.

** - The ally revives where the Rune-Keeper is standing. If the Rune-Keeper is also defeated, the ally must wait until the Rune-Keeper revives (or reject the revive).

Words of Grace

Heals

	Skill	Category	Level	Attunes	Requires	Range	Description	Induct / Cool
	Prelude to Hope	HoT	1	1		25m	Single target heal-over-time	- / 3s
	Rune of Restoration	HoT	4	1	No		Places a healing stone on the ground; AoE HoT near the stone	1.5s / 15s
	Mending Verse	Heal + HoT	10	1	No	25m	Single target heal + heal-over-time	2s / -
	Writ of Health	HoT	12	1		25	Single target heal-over-time	0.8s / 5s
	Rousing Words	HoT	14	1	3		Channeled Fellowship heal; No increase in Threat	- / 20s
	Epic for the Ages	Heal	18	1	6	25m	Single target heal	2.5s / 15
	Word of Exaltation	Buff	28	1	6	25m	Single target damage mitigation	- / 1m 30s
	Rune-sign of Storm*	Heal + Buff	34	1	6	25m	Single target heal + Increased critical rating	- / 30s
20px	Rune-sign of Flame*	Heal + Buff	34	1	6	25m		- / 30s
20px	Rune-sign of Winter*	Heal + Buff	34	1	6	25m		- / 30s
	Essay of Exaltation	Buff + HoT	42	1	9	25m	Fellowship damage mitigation + Fellowship heal-over-time	- / 10m
	Our Fates Entwined	Buff	48	1	6		Fellowship damage reduction	- / 15s
	Improved Our Fates Entwined	Buff	54	1	6		Improved "Our Fates Entwined"; Fellowship damage reduction by 10% more	- / 5s
	Glorious Foreshadowing	Buff	58	1	6	25m	Single target incoming heal buff	- / 3m
	Improved Rune-sign of Storm*	Heal + Buff	64	1	6	25m	Improved Rune-sign of Storm; Heal + Increases critical chance	- / 30s
20px	Improved Rune-sign of Flame*	Heal + Buff	64	1	6	25m		- / 30s
20px	Improved Rune-sign of Winter*	Heal + Buff	64	1	6	25m		- / 30s
	Improved Prelude to Hope	HoT	68	1		25m	Single-target HoT; Recovers power if target has Writ of Health	- / 3s
	Improved Rousing Words	HoT	74	1	3		Channeled fellowship heal; After 5 seconds adds a tier of Writ of Health	- / 20s

* - These are merely two skills (Rune-sign of XXXX and Improved Rune-sign of XXXX), which are modified by the affinity of the skill that was used previously. When no skill has been used, the default is Storm.

Wrath of Flame

DPS + DoT

	Skill	Category	Level	Attunes	Requires	Range	Description	Induct / Cool	Duration
	Fiery Ridicule	Damage + DoT	1	1	No	30m	Fire Damage + DoT	1.5s / -	6s
	Writ of Fire	DoT	22	1		30m	Fire DoT	0.8s / 5s	20s
	Scathing Mockery	Damage + DoT	28	1	6	30m	AoE Fire Damage + DoT	3s / 20s	30s
	Essence of Flame	Damage	36	1	6	30m	Fire Damage	2s / 15s
	Smouldering Wrath	DoT	40	1	9	30m	Uninterruptable Channeled Fire DoT	- / 60s	6.5s
	Essay of Fire	DoT	50	1	No	30m	Applies tier-3 Writ of Fire	6s / 1m	20s
	Distracting Flame	DoT	60	1	3	30m	Fire DoT, Reduces threat	1s / 30s	15s
	Improved Essay of Fire	DoT	66	1	No	30m	Applies tier-3 Writ of Fire; Eliminates induction of next fire skill	6s / 1m	20s
	Improved Scathing Mockery	DoT	72	1	6	30m	Applies Writ of Fire to 5 targets	3s / 20s	20s

Passive Skills

Armour Proficiencies

	Type	Category	Level	Description
	Light Armour	Armour	1	Allows the use of Light Armour.

Base Passive Skills

See Dwarf or Elf

Instrument Proficiencies

	Name	Level	Description
	Specialized Equipment	1	Starting proficiency
	Clarinet Use	1	Allows the use of Clarinets
	Lute Use	1	Allows the use of Lutes

Weapon Proficiencies

	Weapon	Level	Description
	Rune-stones	1	Grants the ability to wield 2-handed Rune-stones.

Trait Sets

All Rune-keeper Traits cost 11  25   to slot.

Solitary Thunder

	Name	Description	Level	Deed/Quest
	Thunderous Words	Scribe's Spark has a 15% chance to put the Thunderous Words buff on yourself, which allows you to pierce a large amount of tactical resistance. Lasts 20 seconds. -[Level x 30] Tactical Resist Rating	1	Complete An Eye in the Storm and strike with Scribe's Spark 125 times (25/day)
	Harsh Debate	Ceaseless Argument has a 15% chance to put the Harsh Debate buff on yourself, which increases tactical damage by 15%. Lasts 20 seconds.	20	Strike with Ceaseless Argument 750 times (150/day)
	Closing Remarks	Epic Conclusion now increases Crit Chance by 15% and deals +15% extra damage for each of the Thunderous Words and/or Harsh Debate buffs currently active. Cooldown is also decreased. -60s Epic Conclusion Cooldown	40	Strike with Epic Conclusion 150 times (15/day)
	Tale of the Storm	Fury of Storm skills will apply the Charged Runes buff 20% of the time. This will increase the critical hit chance of Fury of Storm skills by 10% for 15s.	15	Complete the class quest An Eye in the Storm
	Winter-storm	Fury of Storm skills have a 5% chance of stunning enemies under the effects Writ of Cold for 5 seconds.	1	Strike with Fury of the Storm or Chill of Winter skills 500 times (150/day)
	Icy Discourse	Chilling Rhetoric applies the Charged buff to you. The Charged buff is consumed to make your next Sustaining Bolt free, or Essence of Storm deal +50% on a critical hit.	30	Strike with Chilling Rhetoric 500 times (50/day)
	Confounding Principles	Shocking Touch dazes for 5 more seconds and bypasses some tactical resistance. -[Level x 14] Target Shocking Touch Resist Rating	10	Strike with Shocking Touch 125 times (25/day)
	Master of Tragedy	Your study of the works of tragedy allows you to focus on such linguistic elements when using your skills. This increases the likelihood of critical hits. +[Level x 8] Base Tactical Critical Rating	50	Land Critical hits with Fury of the Storm skills 500 times (50/day)

Cleansing Fires

	Name	Description	Level	Deed/Quest
	Conflagration of Runes	The after burn of Fiery Ridicule deals 40% additional damage if your foe has any other Wrath of Fire effects burning on them, and 10% more for each unique Wrath of Fire effect past the first.	10	Strike with Fiery Ridicule 375 times (75/day)
	Writ of Blazing Fire	Writ of Fire will now tier down instead of dispelling when its duration ends. Cooldown is also decreased. -2 Writ of Fire Cooldown	20	Strike with Writ of Fire 250 times (50/day)
	Scathing Retort	Smouldering Wrath greatly reduces your foe's Fire Mitigation while active.	40	Strike with Smouldering Wrath 200 times (20/day)
	Tale of Rage	Wrath of Fire skills will put the Enflamed Runes buff on you, which can stack up to five times. Each buff increases fire damage by 3%.	1	Strike with Wrath of Flame skills 500 times (100/day)
	Frost-burn	Enemies struck by Writ of Cold will have the duration of your Writ of Fire effects refreshed. This will not increase the tier, but will make maintenance easier. Cooldown of Writ of Cold is also decreased. -2 Writ of Cold Cooldown	20	Strike with Writ of Fire or Writ of Cold 200 times (50/day)
	Overflowing Confidence	Self-motivation now puts the Motivated buff on you for 30s, reducing all skill costs by 20%.	30	Use Self-motivation 350 times (35/day)
	Linnod of Flame	Calming Verse has its duration increased by 30s, reduces threat generation from damage by a greater amount and increases your ability to deal damage. +30s Calming Verse Duration -10% Calming Verse Threat +10% Rune-keeper skill damage	30	Use Calming Verse 350 times (35/day)
	Master of Connotation	Your study of connotation in literature allows you to clarify the doom you intend for your foes. Their chances of resisting all of your skills is reduced. -[Level x 8] Target All Skills Resist Rating	50	Have your Battle Skills resisted 500 times (50/day)

Benedictions of Peace

	Name	Description	Level	Deed/Quest
	Memorable Prose	Mending Verse will increase the max morale of its target for 15 seconds and has reduced Power Cost. -15% Mending Verse Power Cost	10	Use Mending Verse 125 times (25/day)
	Writ of Well-being	Writ of Health will now tier down instead of dispelling when its duration ends. Cooldown is also decreased. -2 Writ of Health Cooldown	30	Complete the class quest The Word of a Healer
	Author of Exaltation	Word of Exaltation protects against 10% more damage than before and lasts for 5 more seconds. +10% Word of Exaltation Mitigation +5 Word of Exaltation Duration	50	Use Word of Exaltation 50 times (5/day)
	Fellowships Narrative	Epic for the Ages will apply Prelude to Hope, takes less time to use and has its recovery time removed. -3s Epic for the Ages Cooldown -.5s Epic for the Ages Induction	40	Use Epic for the Ages 100 times (10/day)
	Rune of Endurance	Allies being healed by Rune of Restoration gain 30% more healing from your Rousing Words. Rune of Restoration also gains 30% more health.	10	Use Rune of Restoration 125 times (25/day)
	The Prophetic Word	All Visions and Foretelling skills recover 20% faster.	20	Use Visions and Foretelling skills 250 times (50/day)
	Linnod of Peace	Calming Verse is instant to use, reduces threat generation from healing by a greater amount and increases your ability to heal. Calming Verse is Instant -10% Calming Verse Threat +10% Healing	30	Complete Linnod of Subtlety and Use Calming Verse 250 times (50/day)
	Master of Allusion	Your foes do not grasp what you are doing until it is too late. Threat generation and power cost is decreased for all skills by 5%. -5% Power Cost -5% Threat	1	Use Words of Grace skills 200 times (50/day)

Set Bonuses

• Benedictions of Peace
• Memorable Prose
  Writ of Well-being
  Author of Exaltation
  Fellowships Narrative
  Rune of Endurance
  The Prophetic Word
  Linnod of Peace
  Master of Allusion
• 2 Equipped:
    Rune of Restoration useable at all Attunements and heals 20% more
• 3 Equipped:
    -10% Threat Generation
    +2 Mending Verse Pulse Count
  
• 4 Equipped:
    Their Weapons Shall Not Harm Us protects from Fear and Disease as well
     Calming Verse makes Mending Verse instant
    +3% healing and frost damage for each Benedictions of Peace trait equipped

• Cleansing Fires
• Conflagration of Runes
  Writ of Blazing Fire
  Scathing Retort
  Tale of Rage
  Frost-burn
  Overflowing Confidence
  Linnod of Flame
  Master of Connotation
• 2 Equipped:
    Fiery Ridicule useable at all Attunements and its induction is not knocked back by damage
• 3 Equipped:
    +[Level x 12] Finesse Rating
    Self-motivation is now instant
• 4 Equipped:
    -4.5s Essay of Fire Induction
    Calming Verse makes Inductions no longer knocked back from damage
    +3% fire and frost damage for each Cleansing Fires trait equipped

• Solitary Thunder
• Thunderous Words
  Harsh Debate
  Closing Remarks
  Tale of the Storm
  Winter-storm
  Icy Discourse
  Confounding Principles
  Master of Tragedy
• 2 Equipped:
    Chilling Rhetoric useable at all Attunements and leaves a -30% slow on foe after taking damage
• 3 Equipped:
    +25% Fury of Storm Critical Multiplier
    +(Level × 8) Critical Rating
• 4 Equipped:
    Occasionally become Charged, which makes Sustaining Bolt free and Essence of Storm deal 50% more damage on critical
    Calming Verse grants +20% movespeed
    +3% lightning and frost damage for each Solitary Thunder trait equipped

Legendary Traits

All Legendary Traits cost 101  25   to slot.

	Name	Description	Level	Deed/Quest
	Martial Training	Though it is rare, some Rune-keepers hone their martial talents far beyond the skills of their peers. +20% Melee Damage +[Level x 20] Base Melee Critical Rating +300 Maximum Morale +10% Maximum Power +[Level x 1.8] in-Combat Power Regen	39	Find pages of the book Golu o Maeth
	You Shall Fall to our Wrath	Your abilities at foretelling how your foes shall meet their ends have moved beyond the elements alone. Skills Earned: Fall to our Wrath	39	Find pages of the book Thunder and Flame
	Steady Hands	A careful Rune-keeper can quickly steady himself in even the more troubled of times. Skills Earned: Steady Hands	39	Find pages of the book Whispers in the Dark
	That Which Does Not Kill Us	That which does not kill, strengthens. How can one fall when they see their foes assault turned aside? Skills Earned: That Which Does Not Kill Us	45/50	Complete the class quest chain Meaning upon Meaning A Worthy Garment / Hewing a New Stone Deep Secrets of Rune-craft
	Perfect Imagery	Your descriptive runes have been honed to perfection. Vivid Imagery now increases your critical hit chance of all Fury of Storm skills by 30% for 15 seconds. It also dazes 5 seconds longer, deals more damage and recovers 2 minutes faster. Your lightning damage also increases. +5% Lightning Skill Damage Requires: 5 traits in the Solitary Thunder line slotted.	58	Get the book On the Patterns of Wind and Rain Requires: Kindred Standing with Iron Garrison Guards
	Mystifying Flame	Your Distracting Flame now mystifies your foes, drawing their attention almost fully from you. Damage is increased, cooldown is reduced by 15 seconds and foes suffer from reduced Tactical resistance. Your fire damage also increases. +5% Fire Skill Damage Requires: 5 traits in Cleansing Fires line slotted.	None	Complete The Mines of Moria epic books
	Wondrous Foreshadowing	Your foresight is greater then ever. Glorious Foreshadowing becomes Wondrous Foreshadowing. Its cooldown is reduced to a minute, increases healing by 50% and reduces the damage your ally takes by 40%. Your healing ability also increases. +5% Healing Requires: 5 traits in Benedictions of Peace line slotted.	58	Complete the final class quest Secrets Long Forgotten from The Path of the Restoring Rune series.

See Also

• Class Guides
• Rune-keeper Legendary Item Legacies