Rune-Keeper 'Cleansing Flame' Build
By Marenzo1 – Updated for Before The Shadows, U34
Table of Contents
Introduction
Welcome to LHQs Red Rune-Keeper ‘Cleaning Flame’ build!
Red Rune-Keepers are also able to debuff the enemy’s defenses whilst they attack their target. Making your enemy more vulnerable to your attacks and that of your group. Decreasing their armour rating by 15% for 8 seconds on every Fire skill hit (Molten Flame) and having 30% chance per attack to apply a +5% incoming damage debuff (Mystifying Flames) that lasts for 20 seconds.
Rune-Keepers have been a strong class for a very long time and while they do not always score the highest DPS during a raid or instance, they are enabling your group by dealing high amounts of damage, debuffing the enemy and being able to prevent key group member from being taken out of the fight.
Stat Goals
Critical Rating (25%) > Tactical Mastery (200%) > Finesse (30%+) > Vitality > Tactical Mitigation
The basic stat cap for Critical Rating is 25% and the cap for Tactical Mastery is 200%. But with the traits for Deliberate Address and Cutting Remarks the values go up to 30% for Critical Rating and up to 205% for Tactical Mastery. Keep this in mind when slotting your essences!
Keep in mind that you should try to get as close as possible to the stat cap for Critical Rating and Tactical Mastery without going over! You only have a limited amount of essence slots and being slightly below cap isn’t an issue, considering that your consumables (Trail Food , Battle Lore & Warding Lore) provide stat increases that should always be kept up during an instance/raid anyway. And when you have classes such as a Red Captain you can benefit from their buffs that further increase your stats during battle.
After that you should focus on getting your finesse up to at least 25% but it is recommended to get to 30% for higher tier instances, as otherwise a your attacks may be resisted in T3 and higher content.
Once your Finesse target has been met you should focus on slotting Vitality essences and then Tactical Mitigation essences.
Before you plan your essence or start slotting them make sure you have the right Virtues selected!
End-Game Build
Best in slot gear and jewelry for Red line Rune-Keepers.
Armour Pieces
Gundabad 12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T3+ drop from boss 3.
Alternatively you can use the incomparable gear obtained via the delving system from T7 to T10 chests. The delving gear matches or gets very close to the raid gear, but lacks the set bonuses. Making the Delving Gear a great first step towards getting raid ready!
Gundabad 12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)T3+ drop from boss 2.
T2 drop from boss 3.
Alternatively you can use the incomparable gear obtained via the delving system from T7 to T10 chests. The delving gear matches or gets very close to the raid gear, but lacks the set bonuses. Making the Delving Gear a great first step towards getting raid ready!
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T3+ drop from boss 2.
Gundabad 12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T3+ drop from boss 3.
Alternatively you can use the incomparable gear obtained via the delving system from T7 to T10 chests. The delving gear matches or gets very close to the raid gear, but lacks the set bonuses. Making the Delving Gear a great first step towards getting raid ready!
Leggings of Hiddenhoard Thunder
Gundabad 12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T3+ drop from boss 1.
T2 drop from boss 3.
Alternatively you can use the incomparable gear obtained via the delving system from T7 to T10 chests. The delving gear matches or gets very close to the raid gear, but lacks the set bonuses. Making the Delving Gear a great first step towards getting raid ready!
Boots of the Hiddenhoard Flame
Gundabad 12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T3+ drop from boss 1.
T2 drop from boss 2.
T1 drop from boss 3.
Alternatively you can use the incomparable gear obtained via the delving system from T7 to T10 chests. The delving gear matches or gets very close to the raid gear, but lacks the set bonuses. Making the Delving Gear a great first step towards getting raid ready!
Gundabad 12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T3+ drop from boss 3.
Alternatively you can use the incomparable gear obtained via the delving system from T7 to T10 chests. The delving gear matches or gets very close to the raid gear, but lacks the set bonuses. Making the Delving Gear a great first step towards getting raid ready!
Note: It is recommended to get a Crit-Craft of the Chisel. (Level 455 instead of 453). The ingredients to craft the Chisel are easy to get and the rating increase is worth it.
Jewelry Pieces
Gundabad
12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T1-T3 drop from boss 1.
T1-T2 drop from boss 2.
T1-T2 drop from boss 3.
Gundabad
12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T1-T3 drop from boss 1.
T1-T2 drop from boss 2.
T1-T2 drop from boss 3.
Relentless Bracer of the Bear in Winter
Obtained from the Bracers of the Bear in Winter – Selection Box after completing the Seasonal: Storvâgûn’s Riches quest during the Yuletide Festival.
Seasonal Instance: Boss from the Vaults: Storvâgûn
The best in slot Bracelet is only available for a limited amount of time during the Yuletide festival. If you haven’t been able to get it then this is your next best choice.
Refined Woven Silver Armlet of the Adventurer
Obtained from a Coffer of Adventurer’s Jewellery – Will bought from a Adventurer’s Quartermaster for 3500 Embers of Enchantment.
Gundabad
12-person raid
(The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra)
T2+ drop from boss 1 (Kvethár, Armód and Threkvegg).
Essences
You should be using these essences whenever possible!
Make sure to read the Stat Goals section to find more information regarding the essences.
Lively Delver’s Essence of Tactical Mastery
This item can be selected when opening a Delver’s Lively Essence Box (Drop from The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra T2 and above) or a Delving Adventurer’s Lively Essence Box bought from a Adventurer’s Quartermaster for 4,500 Embers of Enchantment.
This is the ideal essence to aim for. But it is fine if you use a rare (purple) essence that can be crafted with a Solvent and a Sunstone shard by any T14 profession. Or as a drop for instances.
Lively Delver’s Essence of Critical Rating
This item can be selected when opening a Delver’s Lively Essence Box (Drop from The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra T2 and above) or a Delving Adventurer’s Lively Essence Box bought from a Adventurer’s Quartermaster for 4,500 Embers of Enchantment.
This is the ideal essence to aim for. But it is fine if you use a rare (purple) essence that can be crafted with a Solvent and a Sunstone shard by any T14 profession. Or as a drop for instances.
Lively Delver’s Essence of Finesse
This item can be selected when opening a Delver’s Lively Essence Box (Drop from The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra T2 and above) or a Delving Adventurer’s Lively Essence Box bought from a Adventurer’s Quartermaster for 4,500 Embers of Enchantment.
This is the ideal essence to aim for. But it is fine if you use a rare (purple) essence that can be crafted with a Solvent and a Sunstone shard by any T14 profession. Or as a drop for instances.
Lively Delver’s Essence of Vitality
This item can be selected when opening a Delver’s Lively Essence Box (Drop from The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra T2 and above) or a Delving Adventurer’s Lively Essence Box bought from a Adventurer’s Quartermaster for 4,500 Embers of Enchantment.
This is the ideal essence to aim for. But it is fine if you use a rare (purple) essence that can be crafted with a Solvent and a Sunstone shard by any T14 profession. Or as a drop for instances.
Lively Delver’s Essence of Tactical Mitigation
This item can be selected when opening a Delver’s Lively Essence Box (Drop from The Hiddenhoard of Abnankâra T2 and above) or a Delving Adventurer’s Lively Essence Box bought from a Adventurer’s Quartermaster for 4,500 Embers of Enchantment.
This is the ideal essence to aim for. But it is fine if you use a rare (purple) essence that can be crafted with a Solvent and a Sunstone shard by any T14 profession. Or as a drop for instances.
Trait Trees
Rune-Keepers are made to be quite adaptable, and as a result their trait trees are as well.
In the picture below are the trait that are required at minimum for a Red Line Rune-Keeper.
Depending on your class points and your personal preference you’ll want to select the traits that fits your intentions best.
Traits that are recommended to trait in order of priority on top of the base-line:
Determination: Tier 1 provides you with 15,000 Will and goes up by 3,000 Will per tier. Maxing out at 30,000 Will at tier 5.
This provides you with 45,000 to 90,000 Tactical Mastery. Alongside with Finesse and Tactical Mitigation at a 1 Will to 1 Stat ratio.
Fortune Smiles: Tier 1 provides you with 15,000 Fate and goes up by 3,000 Fate per tier. Maxing out at 30,000 Fate at tier 5.
This provides you with 37,500 to 75,000 Critical Rating. Alongside with Tactical Mitigation at a 1 Will to 1 Stat ratio.
Going forward you may choose what to select next.
Consider what instances or raids you’ll be doing and consider the impact your choices may have.
Rune of Restoration: The Rune of Restoration provides your fellowship with a 7,000 to 10,000 heal every 3 seconds. The rune is placed instantly and lasts for 30 seconds. Making the Rune of Restoration a very helpful choice when running 3-man or 6-man instances.
Prelude of Power: 1 level to unlock the power regeneration effect to Prelude to Hope. The power regeneration is very strong, supplying yourself or friendly players with a instant burst of 850 – 1250 power and then giving them 550 – 800 power every second for 12 seconds. This is very useful for instances (and raids) where power drain effects are present or when there are no Lore-Masters.
Fulgurite Runestone / Volcanic Runestone: These Runestones are capable of helping in situations where a lot of mobs are present. Maxing out the trait allows you to select where the Runestone are placed and both last for 11 seconds. The Fulgurite Runestone is generally the best, providing utility (Stun and Slow) while still dealing a considerable amount of damage over a much longer range compared to it’s counter part.
The Fulgurite Runestone is a Lightning Runestone capable of dealing damage but most importantly is able to briefly stun enemies for 3 seconds (50% Chance) when struck with 1 of it’s 4 thunder blasts that also deals 20,000-40,000 damage per blast to target within 10 meters of the Runestone. Leveling up the Statically Charged trait increase the damage done (Up to 30% at max rank) and adds a Slow effect (Up to 40% at max rank) to targets within range of the Runestone.
The Volcanic Runestone is a Fire Runestone that focuses on doing more damage but doesn’t provide any utility and covers a lesser range. The Volcanic Runestone deals around 40,000 to 50,000 damage per fire blast (Total of 6 fire blasts per Runestone) to targets within 3,5 meter range. Leveling up the Molten Rock trait increases the damage done (up to 30% at max rank).
For the more dedicated DPS players around it may be better for you to spend your points on to the yellow line, getting Thunderous Words, Harsh Debate and Closing Remarks traits instead of the above to trigger the damage buffs they provide. This may work better in raids where the trade-off might be more beneficial. However, this may have not always be the best course of action.
Virtues
These virtues are the best choice for Red Line Rune-Keepers. Taking the best offensive virtues and adding the best defensive virtues for more survivability.
You’ll want to do your best to max out your virtues as soon as possible, as the stat boosts they provide are high and easily replace multiple essences.
Honesty: An excellent virtue providing the most Tactical Mastery out of all the virtues. It provides a high amount of Tactical Mastery Rating. A medium amount of Will (which further contributes to your Tactical Mastery) and a low amount of Critical Rating.
Wisdom: Another excellent virtue providing a large amount of Will, a medium amount of Tactical Mastery and a low amount of Finesse.
Confidence: A great virtue providing the most Critical Rating out of all virtues. A high amount of Critical Rating, a medium amount of Finesse and a low amount of Evade Rating.
Wit: Another great virtue that provides us with a high amount of Finesse, a medium amount of Critical Rating and a low amount of Tactical and Physical Mastery.
Loyalty: A great defensive Virtue that provides us with a high amount of Vitality, a medium amount of Loyalty and a low amount of incoming healing.
Legendary Items
Legendary Item Traceries
Wrath of Flame Damage over Time
Distracting Flame Cooldown & Damage
Self Motivation Cooldown & Power Restore
Target Wrath of Fire Resist Chance
Chill of Winter Duration & Critical Vulnerability
Rotations
There are a few different rotations depending on the circumstances of the fight, whether its a Boss pull, AoE situation or a Dummy parse.
This rotation is an example, Red RK rotation is very proc dependant and cannot be scripted but I will do my best to incorporate the Skill prioritisation for different situations, in summary for a beginner point of view, you want to use:
Single-target
Essay of Fire -> Scathing Mockery -> Writ of Fire -> Smouldering Wrath -> Fiery Ridicule or Distracting Flame –> repeat.
Essay of Fire -> Essay of Flame -> Ceaseless Argument -> Writ of Fire -> Smouldering Wrath (important you use this off of CD for maximum DPS)
Fiery ridicule -> Scribe’s Spark -> Distracting Flame (track this skill and don’t use again until its about to expire) at this point your DoT’s are up, you now need to tier Writ of fire and Fiery Ridicule up to Tier 3 (assuming Closing Remarks has proc’d)
You can fit in another Essay of fire -> Essence of Flame -> Smouldering Wrath -> go back into Writ of Fire -> Fiery Ridicule -> Ceaseless spam.
Essay of Fire -> Scathing Mockery (Closing Remarks has 2 seconds left) -> use Epic Conclusion (gain Aftershock and EC DoT). Attunement is now neutral, so now use Attunement builders.
After builders -> Smouldering Wrath (if off CD), if not refresh tier 3 Dots -> weaving through Ceaseless Argument and Scribe spark as Closing remarks can be proc’d and applied again as soon as Aftershock has ended -> Smouldering Wrath -> refresh Distracting flame -> weave through Writ of Fire -> Fiery Ridicule -> (no Closing remarks proc) -> Essay of Fire -> simultaneous Scathing mockery and Combustion- (Attunement now neutral)- Vivid imagery -> Final word animation interrupt -> Attunement builders or re-apply Tier 3 DoTs.
AoE
In an AoE situation, I prioritize getting Writ of Fire to Tier 3, and alternating with Fiery Ridicule and Distracting Flame.
Then use Essay of Fire -> Scathing Mockery combined with Combustion to spread the Writ of Fire dot to multiple enemies
Slam down Runestones for full Attunement -> Essence of storm and then use Smouldering Wrath.
Consumables
Information regarding consumables, why, which types, differences, etc.
Due to the high cost and supply & demand of the Freshwater Fish Plates it might be tricky to obtain enough of this Cooked Food.
As an alternative you can use the Nine Star Pies instead.
Gundabad Dagor Infused Parchment are useful when fighting against groups of adds. Using the parchment gives you 120,000 finesse and increase the max targets of Scathing Mockery 5.
Orange Enamel are useful when fighting a boss that is currently being debuffed by your group. For example when a Captain uses Oathbreaker’s Shame on a boss.
Note: It is fine to use any hope token that gives at least +6 hope! (Westemnet and Above!)
Note: Buy these from Healers or Tavern Keeps for silver! Do not craft them or buy crafted versions, as they require expensive scholar materials.
Note2: You can buy either a Salve or Draught. They are the same price but you can also cure an ally with a Salve, whilst you can only cure yourself using a draught.
Thanks for reading the guide!
We hope this guide has been helpful!
A lot of time is spend researching and writing these guides to ensure they are as useful and informative as possible.
If you have any other questions or are looking for a place to chat, feel free to join our discord server!