Rune Combiner & T1/T2 Runes

Riot·12/16/2014, 12:20:12 AM·5 votes·169,073 views

Tl;dr – In Patch 5.1 we’ll be simplifying the new player rune experience by removing all scaling and most secondary Tier 1 & Tier 2 runes from the store, reducing and standardizing prices on the remainder, and removing the Rune Combiner from the client. The price changes won’t be retroactive, and no runes will be removed from accounts.

We’d like to give you a heads up regarding some changes coming in patch 5.1 that are aimed at streamlining the rune experience for new players. To clarify, these changes aren’t part of our long-term plans for the overall rune system (still working on those!) and generally won’t affect most level 30s – they’re a quick fix specifically focused on making things smoother for new players.

First of all, we’re slimming down the number of purchasable Tier 1 and Tier 2 runes. These runes are intended to be an introduction to the level 30 rune experience, but duplicating the entire Tier 3 rune roster is overkill given that players will pretty quickly move on to T3 runes. In particular, more advanced decisions like the appropriate use of scaling or secondary (AP marks, Armor glyphs, Crit EVERYTHING, etc) runes are something we think can wait until players have mastered the basics of League. With that in mind, we’re pulling all scaling and most secondary T1/T2 runes from the store and thereby reducing the number of purchasable T1/T2 runes from 88 to just 23. This will be a store-only change so no runes will be removed from accounts.

To complement these changes, we’re also adjusting the remaining T1/T2 runes with lower, standardized pricing that will reduce individual T1/T2 rune prices by anywhere from 55% to 90+% depending on current cost. These prices changes are also store-only and won’t be retroactive.

Finally, we’re removing the Rune Combiner. For the unfamiliar, the Rune Combiner is a tool accessible through the Runes profile tab that lets players combine runes in order to receive a new one. It was initially conceived as a progression tool and a way for players to recycle lower-tier runes, but has ended up being a bit of a trap for low-level players as well as a tool for mischief in the case of shared or compromised accounts. So, we’re retiring it – pretty simple. Make sure to use it before Patch 5.1 if you’re the gambling type or simply want to get rid of some unused runes.


You can see the full change list below (subject to change):

  • Rune Combiner removed
    • Players occasionally used the Rune Combiner to delete excess runes upon reaching the rune cap (700). In the future, please contact Player Support for assistance.
  • Price reduction / standardization on remaining T1 / T2 runes (not retroactive)
    • Tier 1
      • New prices: 15 IP per quint, 5 IP per mark / seal / glyph
      • Previous prices: 80 - 165 IP per quint, 15 - 65 IP per mark / seal / glyph
    • Tier 2
      • New prices: 100 IP per quint, 35 IP per mark /seal / glyph
      • Previous prices: 410 - 820 IP per quint, 80 - 330 IP per mark / seal / glyph
  • Remaining T1 / T2 runes (all flat)
    • Marks - Attack Damage, Attack Speed, Armor Penetration, Magic Penetration
    • Seals - Armor, Magic Resist, Health, Health Regeneration
    • Glyphs - Ability Power, Cooldown Reduction, Mana Regeneration, Magic Resist
    • Quints - Ability Power, Cooldown Reduction, Magic Penetration, Armor, Magic Resist, Health, Attack Damage, Attack Speed, Armor Penetration, Life Steal, Movement Speed
  • Following T1 / T2 runes removed from store (existing owners retain them)
    • All scaling runes
    • Marks – Ability power, Armor, Cooldown Reduction, Critical Chance, Critical Damage, Health, Hybrid Penetration, Magic Resist, Mana, Mana Regeneration
    • Seals – Ability Power, Attack Damage, Attack Speed, Cooldown Reduction, Critical Chance, Critical Damage, Mana, Mana Regeneration, Percent Health
    • Glyphs – Armor, Attack Damage, Attack Speed, Critical Chance, Critical Damage, Health, Health Regeneration, Manacreat
    • Quints – Critical Chance, Critical Damage, Health Regeneration, Hybrid Penetration, Mana, Mana Regeneration, Percent Health

492 Comments

Tacit12/17/2014, 7:30:47 PM1087 votes

Why don't they make it so that when you buy a lower tier rune you can upgrade it to the next tier by paying the difference?

InsaneSamurai12/17/2014, 7:27:02 PM81 votes

So they're still useless and a waste of IP once you hit lvl 20? Nice.

Boner of Command12/17/2014, 7:13:24 PM58 votes

But will there be a rune sale to complement these changes?

abdulaziz12/17/2014, 7:24:55 PM50 votes

will there ever be a change in cost in rune pages because i'm constantly faced with the trivial decision to either expand my champion pool or get my 3rd rune page because to be totally honest is quite high and i do understand there is some logical reason behind their price but for someone in their 1st season they are very expensive and yes they are quite affordable rp wise but most people spend rp on skins and champs

ButterHotDog12/17/2014, 8:35:02 PM33 votes

All T1/T2 scaling runes have now become legacy runes

oddeyeoval12/17/2014, 9:22:15 PM29 votes

But I was Diamond in Rune Combiner last season...

Kürama12/17/2014, 7:43:20 PM28 votes

"Removing all scaling runes" made me think ALL scaling runes, instead of Tier 1 and Tier2 scaling runes at first. >.>

Sub103012/17/2014, 9:16:52 PM13 votes

I feel like there should be an option to sell and/or summoner 11 unused runes that you have sitting in your inventory. I have a bunch of tier 1s, 2s and even later runes I do not use.

HashSwagGG12/17/2014, 8:00:54 PM7 votes

I just spent 5k IP on runes last night. I'm literally crying.

WingSpear12/17/2014, 8:02:36 PM7 votes

Why can't you make it so that we sell our runes back at 1/3 the price instead of having to combine them... I kinda don't like runes that I don't use sit there. And it's not like you are losing anything, you have to play the game to be able to buy runes, so why not just sell them back.

Also, sometimes when I save up enough ip, I like to go on a shopping spree for runes. If possible, can you add a counter to for runes in the store, I'm kinda stupid and forget which runes I am buying for and how many to get. So for Marks, Seals, Glyphs when looking to buy, in the corner of it or when you go to buy it, it says "X/9 runes owned" since you can only buy 9, and for Quints, it would say "X/3 Quits owned". Anyways just my 2 cents.

Fishmaster900012/17/2014, 8:08:33 PM6 votes

What is the rune combiner?

Nairwick12/17/2014, 7:46:55 PM5 votes

Aatrox approves of this massage!

loutlinesl12/17/2014, 8:23:42 PM2 votes

This price drop amount is ridiculous. All the people buying, or already own full tier 3 rune sheets had to pay full price. This is complete and utter BS. 15 IP FOR A QUINT?!?!?!?!

IceJunSlowly12/17/2014, 8:03:26 PM2 votes

Hey riot .. why u remove my gift skin ... 12/16/17 , i just found out my skin are all missing .... -0- can u gave me back . pls .