The Striking rune in Pathfinder Second Edition is an enchantment that can be applied to weapons to enhance their striking capabilities. It is a common rune that can be found or crafted by characters throughout the game. When a weapon is imbued with the Striking rune, it gains additional damage dice on successful strikes. The number of additional dice depends on the level of the rune, with higher level runes granting more dice. For example, a +1 Striking rune adds one additional damage die, while a +2 Striking rune adds two additional damage dice. The damage dealt by the additional dice is determined by the weapon's damage type.

+1 weapon => +1 striking weapon

A 4th Level PC wants to upgrade their +1 weapon to a +1 striking weapon. They are Untrained in Crafting.

A +1 weapon is 35gp.
A striking rune is 65gp.
A +1 striking weapon is 100gp.

Is upgrading as simple as paying the difference (65gp, in this case), or are there other hidden costs to upgrading?

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I currently think its a bit ambiguous.

The strictest reading for when you already have a weapon and want to add a rune to it.
a) Buy a runestone with the desired rune (3gp + cost of the rune), so 68gp in your case.
b) Have a crafter transfer the rune from the runestone to the weapon. It takes 1 day, and costs no extra resources. So if no one in the party can do it, you're looking at paying a hireling a days wage. (5sp/day for a +8 on a craft check)

At higher levels, the DCs to transfer get high enough that the hireling in the CRB can't do it, at which point you need the party to have a crafter, or have a friendly npc master crafter around, etc.

The most permissive ruling is simply pay the difference.

Related question. Is there any way to craft a tune and if so does it require a feat. One of my players wants to do it, he's a ranger who has specled heavily into crafting, he does have the feats. or will when he levels up. But I can't find rules for crafting a rune, though the flavor text makes it sound like they are specially crafted stones intended to take runes.

you need the party to have a crafter

This is for Society.

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Here's the thread I started on this a few days ago over in the PFS forum area:

I read that. That's why I created this thread, in the Rules Forum.

I didn't see that the question of upgrading weapons had been asked before.

Page 582 of the CRB has tables for the costs of upgrading.

Page 582 of the CRB has tables for the costs of upgrading.

That table lists the "Price and Process" as being "65 gp to etch striking (4th level)".

The conflict I've read elsewhere is that some people believe the "Process" part costs an additional amount, and/or requires Crafting of some degree.

I'm looking to see if there is any support for that idea in the Book.

A 4th Level PC wants to upgrade their +1 weapon to a +1 striking weapon. They are Untrained in Crafting.

A +1 weapon is 35gp.
A striking rune is 65gp.
A +1 striking weapon is 100gp.

Is upgrading as simple as paying the difference (65gp, in this case), or are there other hidden costs to upgrading?

Based on Table 11-6 Weapon upgrade prices on page 582. The cost to upgrade a +1 Weapon to +1 Striking is 65gp. That's all.

Thank you. That is what I believe as well.

Regarding your question, crafting a rune doesn't seem like it requires any additional measure beyond any other magical item. You need a formula, a feat, the requisite amount of gold and you roll against the DC all the same.

Just my two cents.

To upgrade a +1 weapon to a striking weapon, you need 65 gp for the rune, and someone has to make a craft check to successfully apply the rune to the weapon.

Assuming no one in the party can do it (or wants to spend the time), then the party needs someone else to do it.

If the seller of the rune also has the necessary magical crafting skill, the GM could assume the seller applies it for free as part of the sale.

This does not have to be the case, though.

The seller could be just a merchant without any crafting skills. In which case, you have to find and pay someone to apply it.

The seller could be also have the magical crafting skills, but feel their time to apply the rune is not included in the cost of the rune itself. (Especially if the GM decides to allow a chance of failure on the craft check that the NPC would be responsible for making good at their cost.)

In either of these last two cases, there could be additional time to apply the rune if the magical crafter is busy, and they might charge extra to do it, etc.

Similarly, whether a particular seller has a desired rune already prepared or won't start it until it is ordered can be handled simply -- always available, or more complicated -- usually make on order because of the cost of making them and the risk of them being stolen if you keep a large amount on hand.

Both the simple and complicated ways are within the rules of the game, and really depend on the type of game the group is playing. Want to gloss over the details of getting armor and weapon improvements, keep it simple. Want to have more engagement with the crafter and crafting process, make it more complicated.

Striking rune 2e

Crafter Level ; Crafting Proficiency Rank ; Crafting Feat

Formula Price

Tools You have an appropriate set of tools and, in many cases, a workshop; Crafting Materials You must supply raw materials worth

Extra Requirements

STEP 2: Setup Time

This setup time is the base number of days it takes to create the item. If you decide to take the slow and methodical approach (Core Rulebook 244), you spend that number of days of Regular Setup in Table 1, and then attempt the Crafting check to determine your success. You can instead rush the process (Treasure Vault 158), taking days off the time needed to setup the item while introducing a greater risk of failure.

Below, you may change your Crafting Proficiency Rank and your Crafter Level.

STEP 3: Crafting Skill Check

Take the DC from Table 1. When you take Rush Crafting, you have to decide on your approach to the job, from Trained to Legendary, which is limited by your proficiency. That choice sets the Setup Time and the Crafting DC.

Critical Success Your attempt is successful. Each additional day spent Crafting reduces the materials needed to complete the item by an amount based on your level + 1 and your proficiency rank in Crafting.

Success Your attempt is successful. Each additional day spent Crafting reduces the materials needed to complete the item by an amount based on your level and your proficiency rank.

Failure You fail to complete the item. You can salvage the raw materials you supplied for their full value. If you want to try again, you must start over.

Critical Failure You fail to complete the item. You ruin 10% of the raw materials you supplied, but you can salvage the rest ( 30 gp ). If you want to try again, you must start over.

STEP 4: Finishing the Project

If your Crafting check is a success, you expend the raw materials and can complete the item immediately by paying the remaining portion of the item’s Price in materials. Alternatively, you can spend additional downtime days working on the item. Above, you may change your Proficiency Rank and your Crafter Level. Below you can choose your Crafting Check Result from Step 3 and you may select the Additional Days of Work. This webtool calculates the Remaining Balance.

If you are at least an Expert in Crafting, you can rush the finishing process (toggle the Rush the Finish ), reducing the value of the materials you must expend to complete the item. Doing so comes at a risk; at the end of the creation process, once the item is finished, you must attempt a DC flat check.

Success the item is complete and works perfectly.

Failure the item is still completed, but it gains a quirk.

Critical Failure the item is ruined or might become a cursed item attached to you.

Change Ancestry NPC

To use one of the NPCs in this section to represent an NPC of a different ancestry, apply the adjustments below for the desired ancestry. These provide the basic features from that ancestry, like darkvision, altered Speed, and unique abilities like a halfling’s keen eyes. For other ancestries, you can create similar templates following the same format. In addition to these base changes, you can add the effects of a specific heritage: you might apply the snow goblin heritage if your NPC is a Frostfur goblin and you want them to have cold resistance. You can also give them an ancestry feat, or even adjust their ability scores and skills to reflect the new ancestry’s strengths and weaknesses. For a half-elf, half-orc, or any other heritage essential to the character, you should always apply the heritage effect.

Apply Adjustment to a Creature

To use one of the creature adjustments in this section, just click the adjustment and the changes will be present in the card.

Source Books

All data you can find in this website have been collected from official Paizo books. These are the source books used:

Age of Ashes - Player’s Guide Age of Ashes - 01 - Hellknight Hill Age of Ashes - 02 - Cult of Cinders Age of Ashes - 03 - Tomorrow Must Burn Age of Ashes - 04 - Fires of the Haunted City Age of Ashes - 05 - Against the Scarlet Triad Age of Ashes - 06 - Broken Promises Extinction Curse - Player’s Guide Extinction Curse - 01 - The Show Must Go On Extinction Curse - 02 - Legacy of the Lost God Extinction Curse - 03 - Life’s Long Shadows Extinction Curse - 04 - Siege of the Dinosaurs Extinction Curse - 05 - Lord of the Black Sands Extinction Curse - 06 - The Apocalypse Prophet Agents of Edgewatch - player’s guide Agents of Edgewatch - 01 - Devil at the Dreaming Palace Agents of Edgewatch - 02 - Sixty Feet Under Agents of Edgewatch - 03 - All or Nothing Agents of Edgewatch - 04 - Assault on Hunting Lodge Seven Agents of Edgewatch - 05 - Belly of the Black Whale Agents of Edgewatch - 06 - Ruins of the Radiant Siege Abomination Vaults - player’s guide Abomination Vaults - 01 - Ruins of Gauntlight Abomination Vaults - 02 - Hands of the Devil Abomination Vaults - 03 - Eyes of Empty Death Fists of the Ruby Phoenix - player’s guide Fists of the Ruby Phoenix - 01 - Despair on Danger Island Fists of the Ruby Phoenix - 02 - Ready? Fight! Fists of the Ruby Phoenix - 03 - King of the Mountain Strength of Thousands - player’s guide Strength of Thousands - 01 - Kindled Magic Strength of Thousands - 02 - Spoken on the Song Wind Strength of Thousands - 03 - Hurricane’s Howl Strength of Thousands - 04 - Secrets of the Temple-City Strength of Thousands - 05 - Doorway to the Red Star Quest for the Frozen Flame - player’s guide Quest for the Frozen Flame - 01 - Broken Tusk Moon Quest for the Frozen Flame - 02 - Lost Mammoth Valley Outlaws of Alkenstar - player’s guide Quest for the Frozen Flame - 03 - Burning Tundra Strength of Thousands - 06 - Shadows of the Ancients Outlaws of Alkenstar - 01 - Punks in a Powder Keg Outlaws of Alkenstar - 02 - Cradle of Quartz Blood Lords - player’s guide Outlaws of Alkenstar - 03 - The Smoking Gun Blood Lords - 01 - Zombie Feast Blood Lords - 02 - Graveclaw Blood Lords - 03 - Field of Maidens Blood Lords - 04 - The Ghouls Hunger Pathfinder Kingmaker Adventure Path Blood Lords - 05 - A Taste of Ashes Gatewalkers - player’s guide Blood Lords - 06 - Ghost King’s Rage Gatewalkers - 01 - The Seventh Arch Gatewalkers - 02 - They Watched the Stars Gatewalkers - 03 - Dreamers of the Nameless Spires Stolen Fate - 01 - The Choosing Stolen Fate - player’s guide Stolen Fate - 02 - The Destiny War Stolen Fate - 03 - Worst of All Possible Worlds Sky’s King Tomb - player’s guide Sky’s King Tomb - 01 - Mantle of Gold Sky’s King Tomb - 02 - Cult of the Cave Worm Sky’s King Tomb - 03 - Heavy is the Crown Season of Ghosts - player’s guide Season of Ghosts - 01 - The Summer that Never Was Season of Ghosts - 02 - Let the Leaves Fall Season of Ghosts - 03 - No Breath to Cry

Lost Omens World Guide Lost Omens Character Guide Lost Omens Gods & Magic Lost Omens Legends Lost Omens Pathfinder Society Guide Lost Omens Ancestry Guide Lost Omens Azarketi Ancestry Web Supplement Lost Omens The Mwangi Expanse Lost Omens The Grand Bazaar Lost Omens Absalom, City of Lost Omens Lost Omens Monster of Myth Lost Omens Knights of Lastwall Lost Omens Travel Guide Lost Omens Impossible Lands Lost Omens Firebrands Lost Omens Highhelm

Battlezoo Bestiary BattleZoo Ancestries: Dragons BattleZoo Ancestries: Dungeons BattleZoo Ancestries: Slimes BattleZoo Ancestries: Doppelgangers BattleZoo Ancestries: Sthenos BattleZoo Ancestries: Mimics

Striking Rune & Property Runes

Striking Says:
A striking rune stores destructive magic in the weapon,
increasing the weapon damage dice it deals to two instead of
one. For instance, a +1 striking dagger would deal 2d4 damage
instead of 1d4 damage.

If I put say flaming property rune on the dagger:
This weapon is empowered by flickering flame. The weapon
deals an additional 1d6 fire damage on a successful Strike,
plus 1d10 persistent fire damage on a critical hit.

So does the dagger do:
2d4 piercing & 1d6 Fire
OR
2d4 piercing & 2d6 fire?

I would think first one as Striking says: "..increasing the WEAPON damage"

2d4+STR +1d6 is the answer.

Striking runes effect the "weapon" damage die as you noted. The fire damage die, or any die from a weapon trait like Fatal/deadly etc.. or other ability are not enhanced.

A Dagger 1d4 piecing

Striking Says:
A striking rune stores destructive magic in the weapon,
increasing the weapon damage dice it deals to two instead of
one. For instance, a +1 striking dagger would deal 2d4 damage
instead of 1d4 damage.

If I put say flaming property rune on the dagger:
This weapon is empowered by flickering flame. The weapon
deals an additional 1d6 fire damage on a successful Strike,
plus 1d10 persistent fire damage on a critical hit.

So does the dagger do:
2d4 piercing & 1d6 Fire
OR
2d4 piercing & 2d6 fire?

I would think first one as Striking says: "..increasing the WEAPON damage"

2d4 piercing & 1d6 Fire

Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook, Starfinder Adventure Path, Starfinder Roleplaying Game, Starfinder Society Subscriber

Hi!
How do I resolve a striking rune critical weapon damage? should I roll 4 dices? Thanks!

Critical multiplies total normal damage (including Striking dice) by 2 and then adds damage that only occurs on a critical (such as Deadly).

Hi!

How do I resolve a striking rune critical weapon damage? should I roll 4 dices? Thanks!

Also please just make a new thread if you have questions like this, instead of necroing years old threads that are unrelated.

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Pathfinder 2e Character Building Tomfoolery (3 Viewers)

I'm a huge fan of weapon masters, the idea of a warrior who can and does use just about every weapon. It's very impractical in most d20 games; how well does that work with Pathfinder's martial characters?

Pathbuilder 2e

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I've added armour, shield and primary + improvised weapon. Note that with Improvised Pummel, she gets +1 attack and two damage dice when using a bludgeoning improvised weapon. I've modelled this by giving it potency and striking runes.

I gave her improvised tool as a skill feat to continue the theme of 'pick up anything and make it work' into the non-combat sphere. Everything else about her should be pretty self-explanatory, but if you have questions, please ask.

Kedra Ironblood, Fighter 6​

Medium Dwarf Strong-Blooded Dwarf Humanoid
Perception +12; Darkvision
Languages None selected
Skills Acrobatics +0, Athletics +14, Crafting +12, Intimidation +9, Lore: Mining +10, Medicine +10, Society +10, Survival +10, Thievery +8
Str +4, Dex +0, Con +3, Int +2, Wis +2, Cha +1
Items +1 Full Plate, Sturdy Shield (Minor) (Hardness 8, HP 64, BT 32)
AC 25 (+27 with shield raised); Fort +13, Ref +10, Will +12; Bravery
HP 94
Shield Block

Speed 20 feet
Melee +1 Striking Shifting Warhammer +17 (Shove, Magical, Transmutation), Damage 2d8+4 B
Melee +1 Striking Improvised Pummel +17, Damage 2d8+4 B
Battle Medicine

Capellan

Member

Is there any way to do magus+dual weapon? The action economy and feats to do spell strike kind of stuff didn't seem to mix well with two weapons from what I saw, but charging up two magic swords and going to town sounds cool.

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The reality is that the magus has little synergy with dual-wielding. This is one attempt to make the pieces fight together. There's no way to get arcane cascade if you're not magus as your main class, so little little blighter lacks that, but he's pretty good at stabbing people or setting them on fire.

Frungbok Gank, Ranger 10​

Small Goblin Unbreakable Goblin Humanoid
Perception +16 (+1 initiative); Darkvision
Languages None selected
Skills Acrobatics +13, Arcana +18, Athletics +17, Crafting +20, Deception +17, Intimidation +15, Lore: Underworld +16, Medicine +12, Nature +12, Society +16, Stealth +13, Survival +12, Thievery +13
Str +5, Dex +1, Con +3, Int +4, Wis +0, Cha +3
Items +1 Resilient Breastplate
AC 28; Fort +18, Ref +18, Will +15; Evasion
HP 150
Speed 30 feet
Melee +2 Striking Dogslicer +21 (Agile, Backstabber, Finesse, Goblin, Uncommon, Magical), Damage 2d6+7 S
Twin Takedown

Arcane Prepared Spells DC 26, attack +16; 3rd Scorching Ray (H+1); 2nd Acid Arrow; 1st ; Cantrips Produce Flame, Shield
Arcane Innate Spells DC 25, attack +15; Cantrips Detect Magic
Focus Spells (1 points) Shielding Strike

Lafing Cat

Amused Feline

The Tiger Rider from Tiger Rider vs the Time Sprinkler. (To save you the effort of listening to the song if'n ya don't want to, relevant lyrics below)

Deep in the mountains
Beyond the jungle
Lies a secret cave
Where the tigers roam
There is a rider
The thunder-bringer
He waits upon his throne
Until he's ready to ride

His name is Mik Lik
That is translated
To mean the champion of hope and glory
He will bring justice
Destroy the evil
Pull down the lightning bolt
From the sky as he rides

Woah
He rides
Ride the tiger

Grab ahold of the lightning bolt and ya
Pull down the lightning
(Ride the lightning)
Slash all those who do oppose

Capellan

Member

I am open to alternatives to Monk class, through I would probably prefer avoiding anything that is outright magical and would want to keep the character fighting unarmed.

Sakura Ashe, 10th level Investigator with fists of steel
Raised by a secret order dedicated to the Reaper, who intended she become their pet assassin. Sakura rebelled and escaped, swearing never to use lethal means against her foes. She's an expert in unarmed techniques and also pretty nifty with snares to catch and incapacitate her adversaries. Her brilliant mind allows her to predict her opponents moves and capitalise on their mistakes.

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Sakura Ashe, Investigator 10​

Medium Human Skilled Heritage Humanoid
Perception +16;
Languages None selected
Skills Acrobatics +14, Arcana +17, Athletics +20, Crafting +17, Deception +18, Diplomacy +18, Intimidation +14, Lore: Underworld +17, Lore: Warfare +17, Medicine +12, Nature +12, Occultism +17, Religion +14, Society +21, Stealth +14, Survival +12, Thievery +16
Str +4, Dex +2, Con +3, Int +5, Wis +0, Cha +2
Items +1 Resilient Padded Armor
AC 26; Fort +18, Ref +17, Will +15
HP 128
Clue In

Speed 30 feet
Melee +2 Striking Special Unarmed (1d6) +20 (Agile, Finesse, Nonlethal, Unarmed, Magical), Damage 2d6+6 B, P or S
(handwraps of mighty blows)
Follow-Up Strike

Regular unarmed attacks aren't nerfed in PF2; they do low damage (1d4 by default) and are nonlethal, but they don't provoke attacks of opportunity or anything like that. Sakura has to accept the low damage at 1st level, but bumps it to 1d6 at 2nd. It could be bumped to a 1d8 or 1d10 base damage by replacing brawling focus with a stance of some kind. I gave her Assurance (Athletics) for those 3rd attack grapple/trip shenanigans.

Capellan

Member

If you're familiar with the Witcher franchise, how would you build a witcher or someone reasonably close?

I played the first game a long time ago, hated the second, have never read the books or played the third game. I remember him having two swords (but I think only one was used at a time?) and a side-line in alchemy. I'm sure there's pertinent stuff I'm missing there, though.

First and Forsaken Brian

Validated User

My understanding is that thaumaturges are the Witcher analog in a lot of ways; they specialize in weird creature lore and finding weaknesses with a martial bent.

ShanG

青铜时代中国王朝

Mutagenist Alchemist seems half made to replicate a Witcher, but the list of mutagens is pretty short.

Evil Midnight Lurker

what Lurks at Midnight

Mutagenist Alchemist seems half made to replicate a Witcher, but the list of mutagens is pretty short.

Capellan

Member

With this in mind, I decided to make someone who was really good at punching, and pretty good at trap stuff, but not a monk. As long as you understand how stances work, you should be good to go.

There are many ways to build a two-fisted archaeologist, it seems. Monk + archaeologist or monk + rogue would also work well (either gives access to trap finder, which this option lacks right now), as would rogue + martial artist or investigator + martial artist (but I already did that last one for Sakura).

Hopefully the "they wear full plate" aspect of the build is not too disappointing

I stopped at 7th level on this build because at 8th the option comes up to start a new archetype, and the big question would be "start archaeologist? Y/N"

Kir von Jager; 7th level fighter
Kir's pronouns are they/them. The younger child of a noble family of proud heritage but limited, they were endlessly regaled with tales of their illustrious forebears as they grew up. They also often went to bed hungry and cold because of the lack of money.
A proud family history doesn't provide silver to put food on the table and blankets on the bed, but it turns out that sticking your nose in dusty old tombs does.

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Kir von Jager, Fighter 7​

Medium Human Skilled Heritage Humanoid
Perception +15 (+2 initiative);
Languages None selected
Skills Acrobatics +9, Arcana +13, Athletics +15, Crafting +13, Diplomacy +11, Lore: Genealogy +13, Medicine +11, Nature +11, Occultism +13, Religion +11, Society +13, Survival +11, Thievery +13
Str +4, Dex +0, Con +2, Int +4, Wis +2, Cha +0
Items +1 Full Plate
AC 26; Fort +13, Ref +11, Will +13; Bravery
HP 99
Shield Block

Speed 25 feet
Melee +1 Striking Special Unarmed Gorilla Slam +18 (Backswing, Forceful, Grapple, Nonlethal, Unarmed, Magical), Damage 2d8+7 B
Sudden Charge

Gorilla slam is the only unarmed stance that doesn't care if you are in armour, it seems, so that's the one I took for Kir.

Diplomacy could easily be switched out for Intimidation or Deception, if a different social approach was preferred.

The damage dealt by the additional dice is determined by the weapon's damage type. For example, a sword with a slashing damage type would roll additional dice of slashing damage when the Striking rune is active. This makes the Striking rune a versatile choice for characters who use different types of weapons.

In addition to increased damage, the Striking rune also increases a weapon's potency, which affects the accuracy of attacks. A weapon with a Striking rune is considered to be more accurate than a weapon without the rune, making it easier for characters to hit their targets. The Striking rune can be applied to weapons using the Craft Magic Arms and Armor activity, as long as the crafter has the required proficiency and the necessary materials. It can also be found as loot throughout the game, making it a valuable enchantment for characters to seek out. Overall, the Striking rune is a powerful enchantment that enhances a weapon's damage and accuracy. It is a valuable addition to any character's arsenal and can make a significant difference in combat encounters..

Reviews for "Maximizing Damage with the Striking Rune in Pathfinder 2e: A Comprehensive Guide"

1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to dive into "Striking Rune 2e" after hearing so many positive reviews, but I must say I was left disappointed. The gameplay felt repetitive and the graphics were lackluster. The story also lacked depth and I found it hard to connect with the characters. Overall, I found the experience unengaging and I wouldn't recommend it to others.

2. Mike - 3/5 stars - "Striking Rune 2e" had its moments, but ultimately fell short for me. The combat mechanics were clunky and difficult to grasp, which resulted in frustrating gameplay. The world-building was also weak, with little explanation of the lore behind the game. While the art style was visually appealing, it wasn't enough to salvage the overall experience. I appreciate the effort put into the game, but it just didn't live up to my expectations.

3. Samantha - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Striking Rune 2e", but unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The controls were cumbersome and I often struggled to navigate through the game. Additionally, the dialogue was poorly written, with cheesy one-liners and cliched character interactions. The lack of a compelling storyline made it difficult for me to stay invested. Overall, I found the game to be mediocre at best and wouldn't recommend it to others.

The Striking Rune: A Game-Changing Upgrade for Weapons in Pathfinder Second Edition