*'''Skill [[Runes]]''' can be socketed into skills to improve them uniquely based on the rune socketed.** [[Hydra Rune]]: Increases skill quantity The new rune system was announced at Blizzcon 2010.[[Image There are 5 runes:HydraCrimson, Indigo, Obsidian, Gold, and Alabaster.png]]** [[Viper Rune]]: Increases Each type of rune has a different effect, but it's not clear just yet how each rune impacts each skill lethalityas they've designed them to loosely fit around a type of concept which varies by class and ability.[[Image:Viper Runes also have ranks.png]]** [[Force Rune]]: Increases power There are 7 ranks - each rank amplifies the original effect of skill.[[Image:Forcethe base rune.png]]** [[Energy Rune]] Here are a few examples: Reduces [[Resource Pool|resource]] cost of skill.

as it impacts the [Witch Doctor] spell [Poison Dart] ** [[Crimson Rune]]: extra damage/fire** [[Indigo Rune]]: rapid fire** [[Obsidian Rune]]: slows monsters** [[Gold Rune]]: mana recovery** [[Alabaster Rune]]: snakes attack the monster's face! as it impacts the [Barbarian] skill [Weapon Throw]: ** [[Crimson Rune]]: extra damage** [[Indigo Rune]]: ricochets (AOE)** [[Obsidian Rune]]: stuns targets** [[Gold Rune]]: throws a CORPSE instead of a weapon!** [[Alabaster Rune]]: confuses target as it impacts the [Wizard] spell [Hydra]: ** [[Crimson Rune]]: changes from fire to frost** [[Indigo Rune]]: lightning (lightning hydras never miss!)** [[Obsidian Rune]]: hydra spits acid** [[Gold Rune]]: one big hydra head, which spits out walls of fire** [[Alabaster Rune]]: hydra spits arcane orbs  Runes have undergone a tortuous evolution, with a whole new system revealed in August, 2010 and fleshed out at Blizzcon in October 2010. See the [[runestones]] page for all the updates.