Skill Runes
From Diablo Wiki
Skill Runes are items in Diablo III that are used to change the effect of player skills in unique ways. Functioning much differently than Diablo II's Runes, Skill Runes are placed alongside specific skills, changing their functionality. It is yet unknown if every skill will be able to use skill runes. Blizzard has stated that they would like to include every skill but that it may just not be possible.
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Rune Effects
Rune 1
The Viper Rune adds a lethality component to the skill.
For the Wizard's Electrocute, Rune 1 caused the bolt of lightning to charge the enemy with electricity. Upon their death, they would explode and do additional damage to the monsters around them.
Rune 2
Rune 2 adds a multi-strike component to the skill. There have been a few shown examples of its actual effect on skills.
The Wizard's Teleport skill gains the ability to create mirror images of the Wizard after teleporting. The mirror images would then attack the enemies near them.
With the Wizard's Electrocute skill, the Rune 2 would cause the lightning jump form one enemy to the next, creating a chain lightning.
With the Witch Doctor's Skull of Flames, Rune 2 would cause the Skull to bounce multiple times hitting multiple enemies.
Rune 3
Rune 3 adds additional damage to the skill it is applied to.
With the Witch Doctor's Skull of Flame, the Skull of Flames would leave a splash of fire to continue damaging enemies that walked through it.
Rune 4
Rune 4 adds a damage component to a spell that would normally not do any damage.
An example was shown where the Wizard's Teleport damaged nearby enemies.
General Information
Rune Names
As of now, the current Rune names that are being used are Crimson, Indigo, Obsidian, Golden, and Alabaster. As to what each of these runes do is still unknown. The names were changed from Viper, Hydra, Striking, and Power to reflect a more Diablo sounding name system and to open up the abilities of each type of rune.
Equipping
The runes will be equipped by inserting the rune into the skill's socket. It is possible to change the Runes in each skill with other Runes. However, it is unknown whether or not replacing the Runes destroys it or allows you to retain the Rune. Runes when hovered over potential skills will also allow you to see what effect the rune will have on the skill before attaching it to it.
Development
Skill runes were introduced at the very beginning in 2008. One of the game's leading new components, developers were excited to show off just how versatile these skill runes would be. However, thanks to Blizzard's constant reworking of material, skills runes have been temporarily removed from the game. They have said that it was too much work re-working every skill rune as they re-worked every skill. So instead, they decided to remove them completely until they felt that their skills for each class were closer to being completed. Once this is done, then the team will go back and add the skill runes to the skills and tweak them around to match each skill. Bashiok has commented that they have changes the names of the runes to more Diablo-esque type names. They have said that the change was to expand the limits of each rune instead of calling the rune directly what it does.
Rarity
Skill runes will be added as part of the random loot that monsters drop. It is unknown just how rare the skill runes will be but Blizzard has mentioned that they plan on implementing a wide range of skill runes from common to very rare.
Media
Gallery
 Effect of Mulitstrike Rune on Teleport |
 Effect of Striking Rune on Teleport |
 Effect of Power Rune on Skull of Flame |
 Effect of Multistrike Rune on Skull of Flame |
 Effect of Multisrike Rune on Electrocute |
 Effect of Viper Rune on Electrocute |
