Runes and their benefits

[F4TES]

Does anyone know if the benefits of Runes applied to swords only count when you're using that sword? I'm thinking of the Moon Rune affording Sign benefits. I've got the Jagged Blade sword that has 2 Rune slots to fill, but I'm mostly fighting monsters at present, so using my Witchers Silver sword, which doesn't have any Rune slots. If I use a Moon Rune, will I still get the Sign benefit on the Jagged Blade, tho I'm using the Silver sword?

[ᴠᴀʀ]

No, runes applies just to that sword. And there are silver swords around that have runeslots. Apply runes based on the stats of the sword, then improve those stats by using runes. It makes a standard sword even more powerfull.

If you have a runed steel sword, but you have the silver one equipped and in use to fight monsters, you won't experience the stats on a sword you're not using. I've seen plenty of silver swords with runeslots, so it's just a matter of looking around.

Btw, if your witcher is choosing most perks from the magic tree, then apply + sign damage runes, Swordmaster needs fire damage, and hybrid specced witchers who have a bit of everything could mix up runes. Try to focus runes based on the skill you've chosen.

Best advice is to keep a hold of runes until you find a sword that's powerfull enough to upgrade and you feel too weak to win any fight.. Some swords in Act 2 /3 have just 1 runeslot, but are really powerfull. Once you apply it to a sword, you can't remove it. It's forever bound.

[Grimminski]

Applying runes to your swords is like improving your gear in Skyrim or adding attachments in New Vegas. They only apply to that weapon, and you cannot remove them.

[F4TES]

Thanx guys. It's good to know for definite.

[TazmanianD]

I've been having trouble finding an answer to this so I thought I'd add another note. I'm primarily a magic user and was interested in using the Moon rune on a sword. If you look at the character attributes on the character screen, there's a "Bonus damage on Signs" number. If you apply a Moon rune to a sword, you can see that number increase only if you've taken the sword out of the scabbard and are currently using it. It seems that if the sword is sheathed, you don't get the benefit.

[dwarfpcfan]

rune bonuses only apply if sword is drawn