Runesword

Runesword
Concept artwork of the Runesword from Path of Radiance.
First Seen	Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade
Weapon Type	Sword
Most Common Rank	A
Uses	15
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“Imbued with dark magic.”
—In-game description, The Sacred Stones

The Runesword (ルーンソード, Rūn sōdo) is a Magic Sword that concurrently appears in multiple titles across the Fire Emblem Series, starting from Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade. A moderately powerful weapon that allows its wielder to attack foes from afar, this sword also comes with a Nosferatu effect, allowing for the ready absorption of HP with each successful strike of the blade. These strengths are, however, offset by the sword's low Accuracy, a fact that may render its unique HP sapping capabilities useless when it is wielded by a character with low Skill.

In the GBA titles, the Runesword's ranged damage output is determined by not just half of its wielder's Strength, but also the Trinity of Magic. When employed as a melee weapon, however, the physical Weapon Triangle is instead taken into consideration. The sword's incarnation in The Sacred Stones sees it factoring the selected enemy target's Resistance into the damage calculation, as opposed to it originally taking Defense into account.

In Sacred Stones, the only way to attack an opponent critically with the Runesword, is by using Tana, Vanessa and Syrene together, while letting them perform a triangle attack.

In Path of Radiance, the Runesword's status as a magical weapon is finalized, as its damage output is completely determined by its wielder's Magic, instead of his/her Strength.

Weapon Stats

Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade

Name					Type
Runesword					Sword
Rank	Uses	Mt	Hit	Crt	Rng	Wt	WEx	Worth
A	15	12	65%	0%	1-2	11	1	3,300
Effect
Drains opponent's HP to user.

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade and Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Name					Type
Runesword					Sword
Rank	Uses	Mt	Hit	Crt	Rng	Wt	WEx	Worth
A	15	12	65%	0%	1-2	11	1	3,300
Effect
Drains opponent's HP to user, is a magic sword in both melee and ranged combat. Cannot inflict critical hits.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Name					Type
Runesword					Sword
Rank	Uses	Mt	Hit	Crt	Rng	Wt	WEx	Worth
A	15	15	65%	0%	1-2	19	2	7,200
Effect
Drains HP from an enemy. Does light-based magical damage.

Item Locations

Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade

Method	Location
Inventory	Narcian

Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

Method	Location
Dropped	Hector's Story: Enemy Swordmaster (Ch. 32x)
Treasure	Hector's Story: Ch. 32x - Chest

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Method	Location
Dropped (random)	Enemy Bonewalkers or Wights encountered in Skirmish, Tower of Valni, and Lagdou Ruins
Treasure	Ch. 19 - Chest
Inventory	Orson (Creature Campaign)

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Method	Location
Dropped	Bertram (Ch. 26)

Gallery

Animation of Narcian using the Runesword in Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade.

Mia raising the Runesword in Path of Radiance.

Animation still of the Runesword's draining effect being activated in Path of Radiance.