Dishonored Runes Guide: Locations, Lore, and Power Upgrades

For players seeking to dominate the plague-ridden streets of Dunwall or the sun-drenched alleys of Karnaca, locating dishonored runes is the single most important key to unlocking game-changing supernatural powers. These mystical artifacts, carved from the bones of massive leviathans, serve as your currency to purchase and upgrade devastating abilities like Blink, Possession, and Devouring Swarm. If you want to customize your playstyle and maximize your deadly potential, mastering the locations and mechanics of dishonored runes is absolutely essential.

Whether you favor a ghost-like stealth approach or a high-chaos path of absolute destruction, this comprehensive guide will walk you through the lore, mechanics, and exact locations of these coveted items across the entire franchise, including the base games and DLCs.

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The Lore and Origin of Dishonored Runes

In the dark fantasy universe of Arkane Studios' acclaimed franchise, dishonored runes are steeped in ancient mysticism. Carved from the bones of great whales, these artifacts are inscribed with the Mark of the Outsider—a mysterious, god-like entity who dwells within the Void. According to the Outsider himself, the practice of creating these runes dates back over a thousand years to an ancient, long-forgotten civilization. Many of the runes found in the Empire of the Isles today were originally discovered washed up along the shores of the river in Gristol [1].

Over the centuries, the art of crafting these items has persisted through both natural and supernatural means [1]. In addition to standard whalebone runes, occultists have sometimes attempted to craft "corrupt" runes. These dark variants are constructed using human bones from individuals who died in absolute terror and regret, combined with dried kelp, algae, and floral pigments [1].

While corrupt runes grant spells and powers far exceeding ordinary limits, they are highly unstable [1]. According to in-game lore, they must always be balanced out by a normal rune; otherwise, the magic can fail with disastrous, often fatal consequences [1].

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Rune Mechanics Across the Dishonored Series

Mechanically, runes are the primary currency used to unlock and upgrade your supernatural powers. However, the developers at Arkane Studios intentionally designed the games so that you cannot unlock every single power in a single playthrough. This design choice encourages player agency, replayability, and strategic planning.

In the original game, you must carefully choose which path to take. If you want to experience the full suite of supernatural assassin tools, you can purchase the game on the official Dishonored Steam page and experiment with different builds.

The table below highlights the scarcity of these items across the main games and major expansions:

Table 1: Rune Availability vs. Upgrade Requirements

Note: In Dishonored 2, players who choose to refuse the Outsider's Mark (No Powers Mode) can still collect runes, but they are automatically exchanged at Black Market shops for 200 coins each [1].

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Comprehensive Rune Location Guide: Dishonored (Base Game)

Hunting for dishonored runes in the original game requires a keen eye and the use of the Heart—a supernatural organ that beats faster as you draw closer to a rune or bone charm.

The following table details the locations of all 39 runes available throughout Corvo Attano's campaign:

Table 2: Dishonored Base Game Rune Locations

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DLC Rune Locations: The Knife of Dunwall & The Brigmore Witches

In the expansions, players step into the shoes of Daud, the leader of the Whalers. Daud's supernatural powers require a different pool of resources.

The tables below outline where to find all the runes in Daud's two story-driven expansions:

Table 3: The Knife of Dunwall Rune Locations

Table 4: The Brigmore Witches Rune Locations

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Dishonored 2 Rune Locations and Crafting System

Finding dishonored runes in Karnaca introduces a brand-new layer of gameplay. In Dishonored 2, you can unlock the "Craft Runes" upgrade under the Bonecharm Crafting skill tree [1]. This allows you to collect Raw Whalebone from the environment and craft your own runes on the fly, offering unprecedented flexibility for customizing your build [1].

The following table highlights key rune locations throughout the sequel:

Table 5: Dishonored 2 Key Rune Locations

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many dishonored runes are needed to fully upgrade all powers in the first game?

In the original Dishonored, you need a total of 58 runes to fully upgrade every supernatural ability to Tier II [1]. However, because you can only collect a maximum of 39 runes in a single playthrough, player experience dictates that you must specialize your build and choose your upgrades carefully to match your playstyle [1].

Can you craft dishonored runes in Dishonored 2?

Yes! Dishonored 2 introduces a robust crafting system [1]. By unlocking the "Craft Runes" upgrade under the Bonecharm Crafting skill tree, you can spend accumulated Raw Whalebone to craft brand-new dishonored runes, giving you much more freedom to upgrade your supernatural powers [1].

What happens to runes if you play in No Powers Mode?

If you choose to refuse the Outsider's Mark at the beginning of Dishonored 2 (No Powers Mode), any runes you find in the world are automatically converted into 200 coins each upon pickup [1]. Additionally, Black Market shops will no longer stock runes for purchase in this mode [1].

Are there corrupt dishonored runes in the game?

According to the game's lore, corrupt runes exist and are crafted using dried kelp, floral pigments, and the bones of humans who died in terror and regret [1]. While they allow occultists to cast spells far beyond normal limits, they are highly volatile and must be balanced by a normal rune to prevent the magic from failing catastrophically [1].