Mastering the island’s secrets requires acquiring all runes. This walkthrough details how to gather each one and amplify your capabilities.

Runes serve as permanent enhancements in Dead Cells, providing game-changing skills such as wall scaling and instant traversal. These persist across playthroughs and prove vital for accessing hidden zones and advancing progression.

Vine Rune

Starting with the Vine Rune, this essential upgrade generates ascent routes. Journey to Promenade of the Condemned and conquer the elite Undead Archer to claim it. New vertical paths become accessible immediately after acquisition.

Customization Rune

Progress to the Ramparts post-Vine acquisition to obtain the Customization Rune. This unlocks the highly versatile Custom Mode. Confront the Concierge at Black Bridge afterward to secure the Challenger’s Rune.

Challenger’s Rune

Winning the Concierge duel grants access to daily trials through this rune. New environmental conditions and enemy configurations refresh these trials regularly.

Teleportation Rune

Secure this mobility tool in Toxic Sewers after defeating an elite Caster. The Vine Rune is prerequisite for zone access. Instantaneous travel through marked structures becomes possible post-acquisition.

Ram Rune

Overpower an elite Slasher in Ossuary to gain destruction capabilities for fragile flooring. Teleportation Rune access is mandatory before attempting this acquisition.

Spider Rune

Face sanctuary guardians in Slumbering Sanctuary to earn vertical ascension powers. The path demands navigating multiple zones including Ancient Sewers after defeating Conjunctivius.

Explorer’s Rune

Eliminate twin Dark Trackers in Forgotten Sepulcher to reveal this map-unlocking rune. It exposes critical navigation markers but requires swift movement to avoid shadow hazards.

Homunculus Rune

Conquer High Peak Castle’s final trial to obtain this ultimate upgrade. Defeating the Hand of the King grants astral projection abilities, enabling experimental exploration methods.