In this guide, we will explain how Runes and Totems work in Soulframe.

Runes and Totems are a new weapon upgrade feature added in Soulframe’s Preludes 11 update. They replaced the previously used Motes, giving players more control over the upgrades applied to their weapons.

This system is separate from Joineries, another weapon upgrade feature in Soulframe. To fully maximise your character, you’ll need to utilise both systems.

This guide is up to date with Soulframe Preludes 15.

Table of Contents:

What Are Runes in Soulframe?

Runes give you a special attack or effect that can be manually activated by pressing the middle mouse button while Spirit Vision is active, after charging up the rune. Runes can be charged by performing a pull-smite (Spirit Vision + left-click an enemy after triggering a Smite. More Info: What is Smite in Soulframe?).

Runes typically can only be slotted on a particular weapon type.

Runes can drop when you defeat an Agari (world boss). They have a small chance to drop from treasure chests, too.

Here are a few examples of Runes:

  • Alca’s Breath (Bows) – Performs a charged shot imbued with additional Arcanic Damage.
  • Everflame (Long Blades) – Performs a charged strike imbued with additional Flame Damage.
  • Torcheternal (Polearms) – Performs a charged strike imbued with additional Flame Damage.

Runes also unlock an additional Totem slot for the weapon they are assigned to.

Cogah Runes

Half of the Runes in Soulframe can only be found when Cogah is activated. See also: Soulframe Cogah Guide.

These Runes have more powerful effects than standard Runes.

Here are a few examples of Cogah Runes:

  • The Torrent (Bows) – Summons a hail of arrows at the target’s location. The arrows bypass a portion of enemy armour.
  • The Mistgale (Long Blades) – Sends forth a wave of energy, damaging all foes in its path.
  • Splitbolt (Polearms) – Calls down a barrage of spears, damaging all foes in an area around the target.

What Are Totems in Soulframe?

Totems are another type of slottable upgrade. Totems are based on animal species found throughout Midrath. You can earn a Totem by releasing an animal from a cage or by taming a wild animal. Animals are tamed by using Spectral Sight and left-clicking when they are highlighted. You then play a tune to tame them. You also earn Harmony when you tame an animal, a special currency used to upgrade your Totems. You earn less Harmony if you make mistakes when playing the tune, but you will still get the totem unless you really mess it up.

There are currently six Totems available in Soulframe, and they will grant different effects depending on whether they are slotted in an Attack, Defense or Utility slot.

Soulframe Totems List

The table below shows all of the available Totems from each animal in Soulframe.

The strength of the effect depends on how many times you have upgraded the Totem, and some will also have secondary scaling based on how many Rune Charges you have when the Totem is activated.

Animal Possible Totems
Soulframe Beaver Totem

Beaver
  • Armour Coat – Increase Physical Armour, scaling with the number of Rune Charges.
  • Draft Dam – Reduces Rune Drain Speed.
  • Rivers Revive – Restore Life per Second after unleashing a Rune.
  • Stocky Lodge – Gain Armour after unleashing a Rune.
  • Thunder Tail – Unleashing a Rune deals Stagger Damage in an AoE around the target.
Soulframe Deer Totem

Deer
  • Cervid Ward – Increase Magick Armour, scaling with the number of Rune charges.
  • Hollowed Herd – Create a Decoy when you activate Pull Smite.
  • Moving Musk – On Pull Smite, drag the target towards you and deal damage.
  • Smiting Stag – Increases Smite Chance, scaling with the number of Rune charges.
  • Turn Tusk – On Pull Smite, temporarily turn the enemy into an ally.
Soulframe Duck Totem

Duck
  • Dabble Dredge – Restore Life on Pull Smite.
  • Diving Drake – Pull Smite deals additional damage.
  • Far Foul – Increase Pull Smite Range.
  • Heal Preens – On Pull Smite, heal nearby allies (including the player).
Soulframe Rabbit Totem

Rabbit
  • Binky Kick – On Pull Smite, deal damage in an AoE around the player.
  • Dewclawer – Runes deal additional damage.
  • Hare Harms – Pull Smite causes a damage explosion around the enemy.
  • Sprout Spring – Effects of Pull Smite have a chance to spread to all nearby allies.

Soulframe Rat Totem

Rat
  • Arcanic Gnaws – Increases Arcanic Damage on Smite.
  • Bandicota Blast – Smite creates a blast that staggers and damages nearby enemies.
  • Lingering Litter – Increases Smite Duration (maybe bugged as of Preludes 15).
  • Noble Nestling – On Pull Smite, buff the Virtue of the associated colour.
Soulframe Squirrel Totem

Squirrel
  • Blinding Bite – On Smite, create a bright flash that blinds nearby enemies.
  • Quick Drey – On Pull Smite, increase your attack speed.
  • Spreading Sploot – On Pull Smite, you have a chance to Smite other nearby enemies.
  • Voltaic Scurry – Increases your Voltaic Damage against Smitten enemies.

How to Equip Runes and Totems in Soulframe

When you’ve found some Runes or Totems, you’ll need to equip them before they have any effect. Follow these steps to do that:

  1. Go to the Nightfold (Hold TAB on PC)
  2. Interact with the bookcase at the back of your tent
  3. Right-click on the weapon you want to upgrade
  4. Use the large central slot to equip a Rune. The smaller slots are for Totems
  5. Click the empty slot, then click what you want to equip.
  6. When you are done, simply exit the menu, and your upgrades will be applied.

By default, each weapon has one Rune slot and three Totem slots. You will get an extra Totem slot when a Rune is equipped. The slot type will depend on the colour of the Rune.

How to Upgrade Totems in Soulframe

When a Totem is equipped to your weapon, you can select it and click the Upgrade button on the bottom-left of your screen. Each upgrade will increase the strength of the Totem’s active effects.

Upgrading a Totem consumes Harmony, a special currency used only for Totem upgrades. The amount consumed depends on how many times you have upgraded the Totem previously. The first upgrade costs 500 Harmony.

How to Earn Harmony

There are currently two ways to earn Harmony in Soulframe:

  • Charm animals by using Spectral Sight to play music to them. You’ll earn more Harmony if you play every note with perfect timing.
  • Right-click on any spare Totem in your Totem inventory to release it. This will convert the Totem to Harmony points.

Take the time to interact with animals you pass when exploring and questing in Soulframe, and you will soon have plenty of Harmony points to upgrade everything you need.

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