How to Remove Runes and Glyphs in The Witcher Games: A Comprehensive Guide

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So, you’ve found yourself in a predicament: you’ve slotted a rune or glyph into your prized gear in The Witcher, and now you want it gone. Maybe you found a better rune, or perhaps you regret your initial choice. Whatever the reason, understanding how to remove these enchantments is crucial for optimizing your gameplay. Here’s the lowdown on how to remove runes, glyphs, and enchantments across the Witcher series, with a focus on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, where the system is most fleshed out.

The short answer is this: in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, you can remove runes and glyphs from your equipment, but doing so always comes at a cost. You will either destroy the rune/glyph or destroy the equipment it’s socketed into. In The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, runes are permanently attached to the swords and cannot be removed.

Removing Runes and Glyphs in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 offers two primary methods for dealing with unwanted runes and glyphs, each with its own trade-off:

1. Remove Upgrades (Keep the Gear, Destroy the Rune/Glyph): This is the most common method.
   • How to do it: Visit a blacksmith or armorer. Initiate a conversation and select an option that leads you to their crafting menu (often “make something for me” or similar). Within the crafting menu, there should be an option called “Remove Upgrades”. Select the item with the rune/glyph you wish to remove. This will cost you some crowns, and the rune/glyph will be destroyed in the process. Your weapon or armor will be returned to you, ready for a new enchantment.
   • Important Note: Depending on the artisan’s level or the questline you have advanced with them, you may need to progress further in the game to unlock the “Remove Upgrades” functionality.
2. Dismantle (Keep the Rune/Glyph, Destroy the Gear): This method is useful if the rune or glyph is more valuable to you than the item it’s currently socketed in.
   • How to do it: Again, visit a blacksmith or armorer. Access the crafting menu and look for the “Dismantle” option. Select the item containing the rune/glyph you want to retrieve. The item will be destroyed, and you will receive the rune/glyph in your inventory. You might also get some additional crafting components from dismantling the item.
   • Consider this: Before dismantling, consider if the item itself is rare or difficult to replace. Sometimes, the cost of replacing the gear outweighs the value of the rune/glyph, especially if it’s a common one.

Removing Runes in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

Unfortunately, The Witcher 2 has a much less forgiving system. Once a rune is applied to a sword, it is permanently affixed. There is no way to remove a rune without losing both the rune and the sword. So, choose wisely!

Runes and Glyphs in The Witcher 1

In the original The Witcher, permanent runes (Sun, Moon, Earth) are used to create a new silver sword. Collect at least 3 permanent runes and then talk with a blacksmith. The blacksmith will present a trading UI, where you can see the sword(s) that can be created with the runes you are carrying. You cannot remove the runes from the swords.

FAQs: Removing Runes and Glyphs in the Witcher Series

1. Can I remove runes from a Runeword in The Witcher 3? No, you cannot. If you ‘Dismantle’ the item, you get your rune stones back. You can destroy the item but keep the glyph (dismantle), or you can destroy the glyph but keep an item (remove upgrade).

2. Is there a way to reset my skill points so I can use the Potion of Clearance to remove runes? No, Potion of Clearance refund all the points you have invested in your skill tree so you can respec yourself with the knowledge of what you actually want, the potion cannot remove the runes from your gear.

3. Is it possible to transfer runes from one weapon to another without destroying anything? Sadly, no. The game mechanics force you to make a choice: item or rune/glyph?

4. Does upgrading Witcher gear automatically remove existing runes/glyphs? No, upgrading equipment does not destroy runes/glyphs. The rune/glyph stays in place during the upgrade process. You still need to use the “Remove Upgrades” or “Dismantle” options.

5. Are runestones reusable after I remove them using the dismantle method in The Witcher 3? Yes! That’s the beauty of dismantling. You get to keep and reuse the runestone or glyph in another piece of equipment.

6. Can I remove a rune from my armor in The Witcher 3 the same way I remove it from a sword? Absolutely. The process is identical for both armor and weapons. Find a blacksmith or armorer, use either the “Remove Upgrades” or “Dismantle” option.

7. What happens if I accidentally dismantle my best weapon trying to remove a rune? Unfortunately, it’s gone. Save often to avoid situations like this. You might be able to reload an earlier save if it just happened.

8. Is it better to dismantle or sell unwanted gear with runes in it? It depends. If the gear is truly “junk” and the rune is common, selling is usually more profitable. However, if the rune is rare or valuable, dismantling to retrieve the rune is the better choice.

9. How do I find a blacksmith or armorer who can remove upgrades in The Witcher 3? Look for the anvil icon on your map. Larger towns and cities generally have more skilled artisans capable of removing upgrades.

10. If I remove upgrades from a crafted item, can I then craft that item again? Yes, absolutely! The “Remove Upgrades” option simply clears the rune/glyph slots. You can craft the item again as long as you have the necessary materials.

11. Does the level of the blacksmith or armorer affect the cost of removing upgrades? In general, more skilled artisans may charge a higher fee for their services, including rune/glyph removal.

12. Can I use console commands or mods to bypass the rune removal restrictions? Yes, it’s possible. However, using console commands or mods can sometimes lead to unintended consequences or glitches in your game. Use them at your own risk, and back up your save files beforehand.

13. If I have multiple runes slotted into a weapon in The Witcher 3, does “Remove Upgrades” remove them all at once? Yes, the “Remove Upgrades” option will remove all runes and glyphs slotted into the item simultaneously.

14. Are there any perks or abilities that make rune/glyph removal easier or cheaper? No, there are no specific perks or abilities that directly impact the rune/glyph removal process.

15. What is the max level in The Witcher 3? When playing the base game on its own or with the Hearts of Stone expansion, Geralt’s max level is 70. However, the large Blood and Wine expansion increases this cap up to level 100. This is an extremely generous cap because players will most likely end the game with a level of around 50.

Navigating the rune and glyph system in the Witcher games requires careful consideration. Weigh the value of your equipment against the value of the runes and glyphs they contain, and choose the removal method that best suits your needs. With a little planning, you can keep your gear optimized and your pockets (relatively) full. For more insights into gaming and learning, check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.