How Caryll Runes Work in Bloodborne (And Every Rune, Explained)

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Use Caryll Runes to survive the brutal world of Bloodborne

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: February 25, 2026 Fact Checked

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What are Caryll runes?

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All Bloodborne Runes

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How Caryll Runes Work

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If you’re new to the world of Bloodborne, you might need a formal introduction to Caryll runes: small yet vital upgrades that can empower your character over the course of the game. Of course, there are a lot of different runes to track down as you play—but don’t sweat it. We’ve put together a complete guide to Caryll runes in Bloodborne. In this article, we’ll show you what each rune does and where to find it (plus any prerequisites), so all you have to do is go forth and play!

An Introduction to Caryll Runes in Bloodborne

A compilation of all 27 Caryll rune types in Bloodborne.

In Bloodborne, Caryll runes come in many forms and variants. They grant bonuses and new abilities when equipped via the Memory Altar, and up to three can be used at a time. There are 27 rune types, with most runes having “tiers” as well. Those runes include Arcane Lake, Beast, Communion, Clawmark, Eye, Hunter, and beyond.

Section 1 of 3:

What are Caryll runes in Bloodborne?

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Caryll runes are upgrades that grant enhancements and new abilities. In Bloodborne, Caryll runes take the form of symbols (representing words) that can be memorized and imprinted onto a character’s mind. When a rune is equipped, the character can tap into the rune’s associated abilities or buffs. In-game, runes are inscribed by Runesmith Caryll—a student of Byrgenwerth.^{[1]
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- Generally, most runes in Bloodborne (apart from Covenant runes) come in three different versions, or tiers.
- The first version of a rune grants a lesser ability or buff, while subsequent versions are more powerful.

Section 2 of 3:

Every Caryll Rune in Bloodborne

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Anti-Clockwise MetamorphosisAt tier 1, the Anti-Clockwise Metamorphosis 1 rune boosts the player’s maximum stamina by +10%; the second version grants a +15% maximum stamina boost, and the third rune grants a +20% maximum stamina boost.
- Location 1: In the Forbidden Woods, on a body near the Celestial Mob.
- Location 2: Talk to Patches the Spider in the Lecture Halls (found by climbing the second-floor ladder).
- Location 3: In the Lower Ailing Loran Root Chalice dungeon.
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Arcane LakeThe Arcane Lake rune grants a +5% (Arcane Lake 1), +7% (Arcane Lake 2), and +10% (Arcane Lake 3) increase to the player character’s arcane damage reduction.
- Location 1: On a body, not far from the skeleton slugs in Yahar’hul, Unseen Village.
- Location 2: In Byrgenwerth. Turn left from the Byrgenwerth Lamp and look for a Brainsucker beside a tree; you’ll find the rune there.
- Location 3: In the Isz Root Chalice dungeon.
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Beast The Beast rune, when activated, grants the user a temporary +20 (from Beast 1), +50 (from Beast 2), or +100 (from Beast 3) boost to transform.^{[2]
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- Location 1: Get it from the Beast-possessed Soul at the bottom of the Healing Church Workshop Tower.
- Location 2: In the Forbidden Woods. Kill the Suspicious Beggar there, or send him to Iosefka; he’ll turn into an alien found near the back of Iosefka’s clinic, and will drop the rune when killed.
- Location 3: In the Lower Ailing Loran Root Chalice.
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Beast’s EmbraceUnlike the runes above, Beast’s Embrace is a Covenant rune with only one version. When equipped, it’ll allow the user to transform into a ghastly Beast-type creature. In Bloodborne, Covenant (or Oath) runes are essentially a special type of rune that can only be placed in the fourth Caryll rune slot—meaning you can only use one at a time.
- Location: Defeat Laurence, the First Vicar (part of Bloodborne’s The Old Hunters DLC).
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Blood RaptureWith the Blood Rapture rune equipped, V.ATKS (visceral attacks) will restore the user’s hit points by +200 (Blood Rapture 1). Subsequent versions of the rune will restore +250 hit points (Blood Rapture 2) and +300 hit points (Blood Rapture 3).
- Location 1: Defeat the Shadow of Yharnam in the Forbidden Woods.
- Location 2: In the Cursed and Defiled Root Chalice dungeons.
- Location 3: Defeat the Bloody Crow of Cainhurst (which only becomes available while doing Eileen the Crow’s questline).
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ClawmarkUsing the Clawmark rune in Bloodborne will boost the user’s visceral attack damage by +10% (Clawmark 1); other versions of the rune will increase visceral attack damage by +20% (Clawmark 2) and +30% (Clawmark 3).
- Location 1: In the Hypogean Gaol Lamp room (after defeating Rom, the Vacuous Spider). One of the Hunters in the room will drop it when defeated.
- Location 2: Defeat the transformed Gilbert in the Central Yharnam Lamp (only after slaying Rom, the Vacuous Spider).
- Location 3: In the Lower Ailing Loran Root Chalice dungeon.
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Clear Deep SeaThe Clear Deep Sea rune can build your character’s poison resistance! The first instance of the rune will increase slow poison resistance by +100; meanwhile, the second instance will add +200 to slow poison resistance, and the third will add +300.^{[3]
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- Location 1: Behind the tombstone in the Forbidden Woods (not far from the Shadows of Yharnam boss).
- Location 2: Behind a Yeti (Giant Lost Child) in the Nightmare Frontier.
- Location 3: In the Lower Ailing Loran Root Chalice dungeon.
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Clockwise MetamorphosisThe Clockwise Metamorphosis rune is perfect for an increase to maximum hit points. It’ll grant +5% maximum HP at tier 1, +10% maximum HP at tier 2, and +15% maximum HP at tier 3.
- Location 1: Behind the locked gate in the Forbidden Woods.
- Location 2: In a Nightmare Frontier cave, just across the stone bridge.
- Location 3: In the Pthumeru Ihyll Root Chalice.
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CommunionThe Communion rune has more instances, or tiers, than the ones above—5 in total! The first “tier” of this rune will increase the maximum number of Blood vials you can hold by +1; each subsequent tier will increase that number by +1 again, up to +5 maximum Blood vials at the fifth tier.
- Location 1: Above the Cathedral Ward Lamp, up the elevator; look for a chest in the first room.
- Location 2: In the Lecture Building.
- Location 3: In Iosefka’s Clinic.
- Location 4: Defeat the Celestial Emissary; it’ll drop the rune.
- Location 5: In the Pthumeru Ihyll Root Chalice.
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Corruption Corruption is another Covenant rune, meaning there’s only one version of it in the game. When your character is near death, this rune will heal you over a limited period of time.
- Location: Join the Cainhurst Vilebloods Covenant to get this rune as a reward.
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Deep SeaDeep Sea is a rune that’ll grant +100 to your character’s frenzy resistance (in its first iteration). The second iteration offers a +200 bonus, and the third boosts your frenzy resistance by +300.
- Location 1: In the Lower Hintertomb Root Chalice dungeon.
- Location 2: In the Forbidden Woods, inside the pit that’s filled with Snak Ball enemies.
- Location 3: In the Isz Root Chalice Dungeon.
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Dissipating LakeThe Dissipating Lake rune reduced the amount of bold damage your character receives by +5% (Dissipating Lake 1), +7% (Dissipating Lake 2), and +10% (Dissipating Lake 3).
- Location 1: In the Forbidden Woods, near the large tree (and the Goliath Pig).
- Location 2: In the Ailing Loran Root Chalice dungeon.
- Location 3: In the Lower Ailing Loran Root Chalice dungeon.
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EyeThe Eye rune enables you to find more items from slain enemies! It’ll boost your character’s Item Discovery by +50 (Eye 1), +70 (Eye 2), or +100 (Eye 3).
- Location 1: In the Nightmare of Mensis. You’ll find it on a body next to the Mergo’s Loft lamp.
- Location 2: Kill Master Willem and find the rune on his body.
- Location 3: In the Isz Root Chalice.
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Fading LakeThe amount of fire damage your character takes will be reduced with the Fading Lake rune equipped. It offers +5% fire damage reduction (Fading Lake 1), +7% fire damage reduction (Fading Lake 2), or +10% fire damage reduction (Fading Lake 3).
- Location 1: In the Nightmare Frontier.^{[4]
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- Location 2: In the Ailing Loran Root Chalice.
- Location 3: In the Lower Ailing Loran Root Chalice.
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Formless OedonThe Formless Oedon rune is great for bullet storage, increasing the maximum number of quicksilver bullets you can hold at a time. There are actually five tiers (or versions) of this rune; the first grants +1 to the quicksilver bullet maximum, up to a +5 bullet maximum from the fifth-tier rune.
- Location 1: Get this rune by sending Gascoigne’s daughter to Iosefka’s Clinic.
- Location 2: In the Lower Pthumeru Root Chalice.
- Location 3: Kill the Oedon Chapel Dweller in Cathedral Ward.
- Location 4: In a secret passage. Take the left up to the Healing Church Workshop and look for an opening as you go. Roll through the opening to find the chest where the rune is stored!
- Location 5: In the Pthumeru Ihyll Root Chalice dungeon.
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Great Deep SeaThe Great Deep Sea rune offers an all-around buff for your character, increasing all resistances by +50 (Great Deep Sea 1), +100 (Great Deep Sea 2), or +150 (Great Deep Sea 3).
- Location 1: In the Lower Hintertomb Root Chalice dungeon.
- Location 2: In the Nightmare Frontier. Look for a cave not far past a Winter Lantern, and inside, follow a narrow pathway to the right to get the rune.
- Location 3: In the Isz Root Chalice dungeon.
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Great LakeLike the previous rune, Great Lake grants a bonus to your character’s defenses; this time, all damage reduction is increased by +3% (Great Lake 1), +4% (Great Lake 2), or +5% (Great Lake 3).
- Location 1: In the Lower Hintertomb Root Chalice.
- Location 2: In the Upper Cathedral Ward. Climb the stairs above the Lamp and take a right to find the rune.
- Location 3: In the Isz Root Chalice.
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GuidanceThe Guidance rune can increase your character’s Rally Potential when equipped. It offers a +10% increase for Guidance 1, or a 20% increase for Guidance 2. Technically, there is a third variant of the rune—but it doesn’t exist in-game, and can only be obtained by editing save files.
- Location 1: Slay the Carrion Crow on the Research Hall’s top floor.
- Location 2: Slay Ludwig, the Holy Blade, to get this rune.
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HeirUsing the Heir rune allows your character to earn more Blood Echoes while performing visceral attacks in combat. The first variant grants +20% to Blood Echoes gained, while the second grants +40%, and the third offers +60%.
- Location 1: Kill Henryk in the Tomb of Oedon (during Eileen the Crow’s questline).
- Location 2: Loot the body in Yahar’gul, Unseen Village (it’s in a room with a bell ringer that summons a werewolf).
- Location 3: In the Pthumeru Ihyll Root Chalice.
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HunterAnother Covenant rune, Hunter will increase your stamina’s maximum recovery speed when used.
- Location: Complete Eileen the Crow’s questline; she’ll give you the rune (and the Crow Hunter Badge) as a reward.
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ImpurityImpurity is a Covenant rune that can increase your character’s maximum health by 2% while you’re playing a co-op session of Bloodborne.
- Location: Simply join The League Covenant to get this rune.
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LakeThe Lake rune will buff your character’s physical damage reduction when equipped. The first version of the rune offers a +3% buff, while the second jumps to +5%, and the third grants a +7% buff to physical damage resistance.
- Location 1: A body located at Hemwick Charnel Lane.
- Location 2: In the Cursed and Defiled Root Chalice.
- Location 3: In the Pthumeru Ihyll Root Chalice.
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MilkweedThis Covenant rune has a couple of different properties! Milkweed will grant a small increase to your Item Discovery—and, more significantly, it can transform your character into a celestial Kin-type creature.^{[5]
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- Location: Complete Saint Adeline’s questline to get this rune as a reward.
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MoonThe Moon rune provides some extra advantages in battle, granting 10% more Blood Echoes while you’re slaying enemies (for Moon 1). The second iteration grants a 20% increase to Blood Echoes, and the third grants 30%.^{[6]
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- Location 1: Down the stairs from the Hypogean Gaol lamp post.
- Location 2: At the bottom of a spiral staircase in the Nightmare of Mensis (where the Micolash battle takes place).
- Location 3: In the Nightmare of Mensis. You must stand in front of the Brain of Mensis’ eye and use the “Make Contact” gesture to get it.
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Oedon WritheThe Oedon Writhe runes each allow you to get extra Quicksilver Bullets when performing visceral attacks. The first-tier rune grants +1 bullet; the second-tier rune grants +2 bullets; finally, the third-tier rune grants +3 bullets.
- Location 1: Kill Adella in the Hypogean Gael, Oedon Chapel, or Iosefka’s Clinic.
- Location 2: Kill Iosefka in Iosefka’s Clinic. Just be sure to do this before killing Rom, the Vacuous Spider.
- Location 3: In the Pthumeru Ihyll Root Chalice.
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RadianceAs the final Covenant rune on this list, Radiance will increase the potency (and the amount of healing you get) from Blood Vials.
- Location: On Alfred’s body, at the altar where you first met him. You’ll get the rune from completing Alfred’s questline; it isn’t obtainable if Alfred dies before killing Annalise.
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Stunning Deep SeaThe Stunning Deep Sea rune grants a different type of poison resistance (compared to the Clear Deep Sea above). Its first-tier rune grants +100 to rapid poison resistance; Stunning Deep Sea 2 offers +200, and Stunning Deep Sea 3 offers +300 rapid poison resistance.
- Location 1: In the Lower Hintertomb Root Chalice.
- Location 2: In the Nightmare Frontier.
- Location 3: In the Lower Ailing Loran Root Chalice.

Section 3 of 3:

How Caryll Runes Work in Bloodborne

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Assign Caryll runes to memory slots to use them in Bloodborne. Before equipping runes, you’ll need to obtain the Rune Workshop Tool (available after defeating the Witch of Hemwick). Then, you can use the Memory Altar in Hunter’s Dream to equip Caryll runes, adding up to three runes at a time. But, as stated above, runes of the same type aren’t stackable.^{[7]
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- Additionally, players can only use one rune of each type and strength (meaning you can’t use Moon 1 and Clawmark 1, but you can use Moon 1 and Clawmark 2.
- Runes of the same type (as in, different versions of the same rune) can’t stack.