Runes are used to summon various magical spells in the Suikoden series. Some runes are common such as fire and water runes. Other runes are very rare and can only be found on one character per game such as Wrath Rune or Charm Rune. Though the exact nature of where all runes come from is never explained in the series, most runes are said to be derived from the 27 True Runes and are simply minor emanations from them. So far in the series, there are four known types of runes: True Runes, Unique Runes, Common Runes, and then a fourth class that doesn't quite fit anywhere.
Once a rune is attach to a person's body, the strength of that person will slowly grow.
True Runes[]
- See also: The 27 True Runes
True Runes are the 27 Runes that were born when Sword and Shield clashed in the creation myth. These runes are extremely powerful and possess wills of their own. They govern the powers and emotions of the world and grant their bearers agelessness and immortality. Many of the great wars in the series are due to the influence of a True Rune.
Unique Runes[]
Are one of a kind runes that are directly created from one of the 27 True Runes. These runes also seem to possess a will of their own, but this will can be subjugated if need be by a powerful runemaster like Jeane. These runes possess awesome powers of their own that rival that of the True Runes, but these runes do not give the power of agelessness like their parent runes. So far, there are only three known runes in this class.
Common Runes[]
These type of runes make up the bulk of the known runes in the series and they can be purchased in shops, scavenged from monsters, or even be the focal point based around schools of martial training or special villages. These runes do not appear to have any will of their own but their powers can only be fully realized by those who have proper affinities or training with the rune. Many of these runes are derived from the True Runes, while others appear to be man made. These runes have their magic sealed inside an orb until a Rune Master attach them to a person, then, they became a rune and their magic can be used.
They are often categorized as three types:
- Melee - Skill runes that perform attacks or enhance physical ability.
- Magic - Allows the use of spells or enhance magical ability.
- Support - Passive skills that give the user a variety of bonuses.
Five of the most Common Runes are the Elemental Runes such as Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth and Wind. Aside from their four different spells, these runes can also be used for other benefits. For example, a person who bears a Fire Rune can use it to lite a campfire or a torch. In some games they can be attached to weapons.
Other Runes[]
There is only one set of runes that fall in this category, and that is the Bright Shield Rune and the Black Sword Rune. These two runes are each one half of the True Rune of Beginning, but in their separated state, they do not garner the benefits of a True Rune. Jowy states that the runes actually drain the life force of their wielder when they are used, and the runes are never referred to as True Runes throughout the course of Suikoden II, despite the popular belief in the game.
Rune Pieces[]
- Main page: Rune Pieces
In various games, it is possible to obtain pieces of elemental runes which can be forged into weapons or assembled together to make a whole rune. Some rune pieces can also be utilized as items to enhance ships and summon allies on the field.
Trivia[]
- In Suikoden V, runes are the powers of the world competing and co-existing (such as fire and water).
- While gameplay mechanics show that runes can only be equipped on three parts of the body and weapons, the story has suggested it is possible to equip multiple runes on the body as Crowley is said to have done, or how Sarah can use Pale Gate Magic in the story despite having a Flowing Rune permanently embedded in her head in gameplay.