PoE 2: Runes of Aldur Guide

Ben Author

Created - 08.06.2026 Updated - 08.06.2026

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Runes of Aldur for PoE 2 is now live! Some people might find this confusing, so a distinction has to be made. The “Runes of Aldur” is the official name for the current PoE 2 league, with a dedicated league mechanic that you can enjoy.

On the other hand, Path of Exile 2: Return of the Ancients is the name of the expansion itself, which launched with Patch 0.5.0 alongside tons of new content, including a revamped Breach mechanic, new pinnacle bosses, and new items, among others.

This PoE 2 Runes of Aldur guide focuses more on the actual league mechanic. It has something to do with the Kalguurans and Ezomyte Remnants. Engaging with the league mechanic unlocks a new crafting system that lets you add a new defensive layer, as well as improve unique weapons to deal so much more damage.

What is the Runes of Aldur League in PoE 2?

PoE 2 Runes of Aldur is the first-ever challenge league for the game. This means that if you complete eight sets of objectives, you are rewarded with a full set of cosmetic items. For this league, you will get the Knight of Aldur set.

Here’s a list of the challenges that you can complete in this league:

• The Runeseeker: Inscribe runes from your Tome at Runic Remnants using each of these lengths:
  • 2 Runes
  • 3 Runes
  • 4 Runes
  • 5 Runes
  • 6 Runes
  • 7 or more Runes
• The Hunter: Kill these optional bosses in the campaign:
  • The Crowbell (Act 1)
  • Kabala, Constrictor Queen (Act 2)
  • Blackjaw, the Remnant (Act 3)
  • Great White One (Act 4)
  • Akthi, the Final Sting (Interludes)
  • Anundr, the Sandworm (Interludes)
• The Ascendant: Earn all 8 ascendancy points by completing the Trials of Ascendancy:
  • First Trial
  • Second Trial
  • Third Trial
  • Final Trial
• The Master: Reach level 90 in PoE 2 Runes of Aldur
• The Reliquarian: Identify 50 unique items
• The Artisan: Craft an item using each of these Verisium Ingredients:
  • Verisium
  • Runic Alloy
  • Adaptive Alloy
  • Protective Alloy
  • Expansive Alloy
  • Swift Alloy
  • Exceptional Verisium
  • Cyclonic Alloy
  • Prismatic Alloy
  • Mystic Alloy
  • Sovereign Alloy
  • Celestial Alloy
  • Any Flux
  • Any Kalguuran Crest (Medved’s Crest of the Circle, Vorana’s Crest of the Scythe, Uhtred’s Crest of the Chalice, or Olroth’s Crest of the Sun)
• The Cartographer: Fully allocate the main Atlas Passive Tree
• The Vanquisher: Kill these endgame pinnacle bosses:
  • Vessel of Kulemak at full strength (Abyss)
  • The Bodach (Ritual)
  • Tangmazu (Delirium)

How to Start PoE 2 Runes of Aldur

What is the core loop of PoE 2 Runes of Aldur? In the first act of the campaign, you will meet an NPC named “Farrow.” He is a seeker of runes, and his quest has led him to Clearfell, where you will meet him for the first time.

Farrow is surrounded by monsters that attack him, so you must deal with them first. After that, he gives you a tome with knowledge about runes that he has already discovered. He tells you that he needs to learn more information about the runes, so he asks you to scour Wraeclast for Verisium Remnants (aka Ezomyte Remnants), which are tall, stone-like structures that you can interact with.

How Ezomyte Remnants Work in PoE 2

Each Verisium Remnant has up to 10 slots for runes, though the most common ones range anywhere between 2 and 8. Interacting with a remnant presents you with the possible Runeshape Combinations you can choose from.

Every combination has a specific item that you can get after defeating the monsters in the ensuing battle. That item can be something ordinary, like an Uncut Skill Gem, or one of the more coveted ones, such as the PoE 2 Divine Orb.

The combinations available to you will depend on the set of runes that are already inscribed on the remnants themselves. The rune slots of the remnants you interact with also influence the kind of recipes that you can select from the list.

Take note that each rune that is used in a particular Runeshape Combination influences the monsters that you’re going to face. For example, having the Sky Rune as part of the Runeshape Combination will have monsters conjure elemental tornadoes. The more runes that are used, the more challenging the battle becomes, so do keep that in mind.

Here is a list of the runes that can be used as part of the PoE 2 Runeshape Combinations:

PoE 2 Runic Ward and Verisium Explained

Completing a battle after choosing a Runeshape Combination gives you a chance to obtain Verisium. This is a new stackable PoE 2 currency that is used for Runeforging via the Verisium Anvil.

The Verisium Anvil is already unlocked as early as Act 1. All you have to do is complete “The Runeseeker” quests, which should be prominently displayed in your quest log. Once unlocked, you can find the Verisium Anvil in all major hubs, as well as in your hideout (when you’ve completed the campaign).

Interacting with the Verisium Anvil brings up the Runeforging UI. In Act 1, you can use the Verisium Anvil to add Runic Ward to your pieces of gear. Runic Ward is a new defensive layer in PoE 2 Runes of Aldur that acts as an extension of your life. If you suffer damage that would otherwise kill you, the Runic Ward activates, giving you some ample time to recuperate.

For example, if you have 2,000 HP and 500 Runic Ward, and you received damage that takes off 2,400 HP in total, you will be left with 100 Runic Ward after the hit. During this time, your HP is set to 1, but you can use a Life Flask to bring your life back to acceptable levels.

It is worth noting that pieces of rare gear (with names that are written in yellow text) that have an item level of 55+ will have their main defenses (armor, evasion, or energy shield) slightly reduced to accommodate some Runic Ward. This is possibly a balancing measure to prevent instances where you become immortal (at least, without a huge investment).

Aside from being an added layer of defense, Runic Ward is utilized for casting Kalguuran Skills as well. These are a new set of skills introduced in Patch 0.5.0 that require some Runic Ward to cast. Besides that, Kalguuran Skills have no attribute requirements, which means that they can be utilized by any PoE 2 build if there are still some open skill slots left.

What is Runeforging in PoE 2?

Runeforging, or the ability to add Runic Ward or improve a unique item in some way, is possible through the Verisium Anvil. Now, there are two versions of the anvil that you need to know.

The barebones version can be unlocked when you finish “The Runeseeker” quests in Act 1. This lets you put Runic Ward on your gear, provided that you have the necessary materials to do so (Verisium and/or other specialized ores).

The upgraded version of the Verisium Anvil enables you to improve PoE 2 unique items, like weapons and armor, by significantly increasing their base stats (damage or defense). Complete “The Runeseeker” quests in Act 3 to unlock the upgrade.

What Are Ancient Runes?

PoE 2 Ancient Runes are a type of rune that provides a more useful, beneficial effect than regular runes. They can be obtained through various Runeshape Combinations by interacting with the Verisium Remnant. However, you do have to unlock it first by completing Plunder’s Point in Act 4.

Having said that, here is a table that shows you the 13 Ancient Runes in PoE 2 Runes of Aldur League:

What Are Alloys in PoE 2?

Alloys are a new type of crafting item in PoE 2 Runes of Aldur League. They act similarly to Essences in that you can use them on rare items to guarantee a modifier, depending on the type of item and alloy used in the process.

There is one major difference between the Alloy and Essence, though. More specifically, Alloys remove a random mod on a rare item when used. That mod is then replaced with whatever modifier the Alloy promises to give. For example, using the Swift Alloy on gloves guarantees an “Increased Cast Speed” mod that ranges from 9% to 12%.

These new crafting materials can be obtained through Verisium Remnants. Before you can get Alloys to show up as possible Runeshape Combinations, you have to complete “The Runeseeker” quests in Act 2.

Here is a list of all the 13 Alloys you can get from remnants in PoE 2 Runes of Aldur:

• Adaptive Alloy
• Celestial Alloy
• Cyclonic Alloy
• Expansive Alloy
• Mystic Alloy
• Prismatic Alloy
• Protective Alloy
• Runic Alloy
• Sovereign Alloy
• Swift Alloy
• The Runebinder’s Alloy
• The Runefather’s Alloy
• Transcendent Alloy

PoE 2 Runes of Aldur Farming Tips

Choose Runeshape Combinations You Can Safely Clear

Remember that a Verisium Remnant can possibly have 10 runes in total, allowing for more complex Runeshape Combinations. While it is tempting to take recipes that require eight or more runes, only choose them if your PoE 2 build can handle it. This is because each rune that’s used in the recipe can influence the monsters that you’ll have to fight in the ensuing battle.

Now, if you really want to take on even the most challenging encounters, you can refer to our PoE 2 best class tier list for some build inspirations.

Ignoring Defensive Layers

Having good amounts of defense can significantly improve your survivability in PoE 2 Runes of Aldur League, especially in the endgame. That said, before attempting an 8- or 10-rune recipe on Verisium Remnants, make sure to have your defenses and resistances in check. Don’t forget to add Runic Ward to your gear as well. It might even save you in tough situations!

Prioritize Recipes That Improve Your Gear

There are plenty of possible Runeshape Combinations for PoE 2 Runes of Aldur League. Hence, you must focus on choosing those recipes that improve your gear in some way.

For instance, if you’re not capped on resistances, you might choose Runeshape Combinations that reward you with a crafting item to sort out your resistance mods. Have a mindset of continuously improving your gear when it comes to interacting with the PoE 2 Runes of Aldur league mechanic.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in PoE 2 Runes of Aldur

• Choosing battles that are too tough to handle. When selecting a Runeshape Combination, don’t go directly to the one that promises the most lucrative reward. At least, do not do this without checking the runes that recipe uses and taking into account the modifiers the monsters will have in the upcoming fight.
• Ignoring defensive layers: Having good defenses in PoE 2 can go a long way. Don’t just add Runic Ward to your gear, but also increase your base defenses (armor, evasion, and energy shield) and resistances (by about 75% or so).
• Treating every Verisium Remnant as mandatory: It’s okay to skip remnants you encounter along the way, especially if your current build cannot handle the rune-empowered monsters.

FAQ

What is Runes of Aldur in PoE 2?

Runes of Aldur is the name of Path of Exile 2’s first-ever challenge league. Complete all objectives in this league to get a free cosmetic item set!

How Do Verisium Remnants Work?

After talking to Farrow in Act 1, Verisium Remnants will start to appear throughout the campaign and in maps. Interacting with a remnant presents you with a list of possible Runeshape Combinations, each promising a particular reward.

Before you choose the most rewarding item on the list, weigh the pros and cons first. If not, you risk losing the fight altogether.

What is Verisium?

Verisium is a new stackable PoE 2 currency that is used for Runeforging. It drops after completing a Verisium Remnant encounter.

What is Runic Ward?

Runic Ward is a new defensive layer in PoE 2 that acts as an extension of your life. Its main purpose is to help save you from devastating blows. If you receive damage that would otherwise kill you, Runic Ward activates, giving you enough time to pop a Life Flask or two to recover from your injuries.

What Rewards Should I Choose First?

That depends on whether your build is capable of handling tougher enemies or not. Bear in mind that each rune adds a modifier to the enemies that you’ll fight, so choosing Runeshape Combinations that require seven runes or more could be challenging to complete.

Start with more modest rewards that only need about three to five runes each. If you can dispatch enemies quickly without much of a hassle, then progressively choose bigger recipes later down the line.