About this Tier List
This page ranks runes & engravings by how consistently strong they feel in real gameplay, not just on paper stats. It assumes solo / small party play with reasonably forged gear and focuses on overall value, not niche memes.
  • Top tiers feel impactful in almost any build or area.
  • Middle tiers are solid but more situational or build-dependent.
  • Lower tiers still have uses, but are usually outclassed by the options above.
Tier Categories
Each row represents a different rarity band. Higher tiers are rarer and more build-defining, while lower tiers are more supportive or starter-oriented.
Mythic EngravingGrand SigilForged GlyphEtched MarkCommon Rune
Higher rows generally indicate rarer, more defining picks, while lower rows tend to be more common support pieces or niche options.
MYTHIC
ENGRAVING
tier-list in The Forge
Drain Edge
Drain Edge
Tier: Mythic Engraving Role: Sustain DPS

Restores a portion of physical damage dealt on hit, letting you survive long boss fights and risky brawls.
tier-list in The Forge
Blast Chip
Blast Chip
Tier: Mythic Engraving Role: Burst AOE

Creates explosive blasts around struck enemies, shredding clustered mobs and clearing waves in an instant.
GRAND
SIGIL
tier-list in The Forge
Miner Shard
Miner Shard
Tier: Grand Sigil Role: Economy / progression

Boosts ore yield, mining speed and rock damage so every swing pushes your progression forward.
tier-list in The Forge
Flaming Spark
Flaming Spark
Tier: Grand Sigil Role: Single-target burn

Applies a strong fire damage-over-time effect, melting bosses and tanky targets over a few seconds.
tier-list in The Forge
Chill Dust
Chill Dust
Tier: Grand Sigil Role: Crowd control

Slows enemy movement and attack speed, making mobs easier to kite and dodge.
FORGED
GLYPH
tier-list in The Forge
Venom Crumb
Venom Crumb
Tier: Forged Glyph Role: Poison DoT

Applies stacking poison that slowly chips away enemy HP while you reposition or kite.
tier-list in The Forge
Frost Speck
Frost Speck
Tier: Forged Glyph Role: Short freeze

Has a chance to briefly freeze enemies, opening them up for follow-up attacks.
tier-list in The Forge
Rage Mark
Rage Mark
Tier: Forged Glyph Role: Berserker buff

Grants a huge damage and speed spike when low HP, rewarding aggressive, risky playstyles.
ETCHED
MARK
tier-list in The Forge
Ward Patch
Ward Patch
Tier: Etched Mark Role: Defensive shield

Grants a chance to reduce incoming damage on hit, making you much harder to burst down.
tier-list in The Forge
Rot Stitch
Rot Stitch
Tier: Etched Mark Role: Low-HP AOE poison

When you're critically low, emits a toxic aura that poisons enemies around you.
COMMON
RUNE
tier-list in The Forge
Briar Notch
Briar Notch
Tier: Common Rune Role: Thorns reflect

Reflects a portion of physical damage taken back to attackers, punishing reckless hits.
Notes & Disclaimers
  • This list is not an absolute truth. If a rune feels fun and strong in your build, use it.
  • Rankings assume you understand basics like forging quality, stats and positioning.
  • Some effects jump tiers when paired with specific weapons, classes or party comps.
  • Values may change after balance patches check the changelog below for recent tweaks.

Overview

This tier list ranks all runes in The Forge based on their effectiveness and versatility. Understanding rune rankings helps you prioritize which runes to farm and equip.

Ranking Methodology

Runes are ranked based on their damage output, utility, synergy with builds, and ease of obtaining. S-tier runes are must-haves for optimal builds with weapons and pickaxes.

Usage Tips

Dont ignore lower-tier runes entirely. Some situational runes can be extremely powerful in specific scenarios or builds.