Meet both the slot and drop conditions
Rune slots unlock one at a time at character levels 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 65. A level-60 character has five slots, so a six-piece recommendation is not yet available.
The release data lists rune drops from boss encounters of enemy level 40 or higher. Set Runes only drop on Inferno. Character level 40 by itself does not make a lower-level boss an eligible rune source. Drop-table weights are not a guarantee for one run, and this guide does not promise an Online drop rate.
Equip for the attack you use
Open Character & Inventory with I, inspect the rune’s class and effect, and equip it in an unlocked rune slot. Use a rune that supports the current basic or strong attack rather than one for a locked or unequipped skill.
Uncommon runes supply a general attribute. Rare runes support class skills and add an attribute. The reference listings allow multiple copies of the same Rare rune to be equipped at once. Those copies do not make a complete rune set.
Before equipping a Set Rune, read the binding confirmation: equipping makes it permanently untradable. Decide whether to use or trade it first. A set rune appearing in the inventory is not already an active set bonus.
Count the matching set, not every rune slot
Set bonuses unlock at two, four and six equipped runes of that same set. The tooltip shows the set name, equipped count out of six and the required count beside each effect. Runes from another set do not complete that counter. Use the displayed count rather than assuming a duplicate or any six runes gives the six-piece bonus.
| Route | Set to inspect | What changes as the set grows |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Monk basic attacks | Hundred Hands | Basic damage; Furious Fist stack support; later free Golden Palms without knockback |
| Warrior Whirlwind | Eye of the Storm | Physical damage; channel improvements; later special-skill use during the channel |
| Sorcerer lightning | Stormcaller | Lightning damage; Lightning Storm splash; later lightning-ball effects |
| Hunter Rapid Fire | Deadeye’s Resolve | Physical damage; channel damage reduction; later piercing |
Choose a set that supports your attacks. The examples have not been ranked in equal-gear tests, so keep useful ordinary skill and recovery runes until you have enough matching set pieces.
Rune levels are a separate progression
Rune levels go up to six. The rune-level documentation describes equipped runes gaining experience with player XP events; they are not leveled by merging spare copies. Skill-level and attribute values should be checked on the current tooltip as the rune levels up.
Confirm the unlocked slot count, class restriction, active set count and binding prompt before assuming a build is complete.