⚔️ Balrond Runeforging
Balrond Runeforging adds a complete rarity and item progression system to Valheim.
Instead of adding random loot drops or replacing vanilla progression, the mod expands the existing crafting and upgrade systems with:
- Item rarity progression
- Runeforging upgrades
- Legendary equipment
- Equipment mastery
- Visual item identity
Items become valuable because players invest time and resources into improving them.
📖 Table of Contents
🔍 Overview
Balrond Runeforging enhances Valheim equipment progression without turning the game into a random loot RPG.
❌ This Mod Does NOT
- Add new weapons or armor
- Modify enemy loot tables
- Add random legendary drops
- Replace vanilla biome progression
The system focuses entirely on improving and mastering existing equipment.
❤️ Design Philosophy
Equipment should matter.
A weapon should become part of your journey.
A legendary item should feel earned.
Improvement should require investment.
The goal of Runeforging is to expand vanilla progression while preserving Valheim's original gameplay identity.
⚒️ Core Features
✨ Rarity System
Runeforging allows equipment to gain rarity and improve beyond vanilla limitations.
Rarity Tiers
| Rarity |
Color |
Symbol |
| Common |
White / Gray |
◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ |
| Uncommon |
Green |
◆ ◈ ◈ ◈ |
| Rare |
Blue |
◆ ◆ ◈ ◈ |
| Epic |
Purple |
◆ ◆ ◆ ◈ |
| Legendary |
Gold / Orange |
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ |
Higher Rarity Improves
- Armor
- Damage
- Durability
- Stamina efficiency
- Utility effects
- Defensive properties
- Visual identity
The system works with vanilla items and compatible modded equipment using vanilla object structure.
🔨 Runeforging Process
Runeforging is performed at the original crafting station of the item.
Examples
- Forge items → Forge
- Workbench items → Workbench
- Black Forge items → Black Forge
Progression Rules
- Upgrading costs a percentage of base crafting materials
- Players must progress through each rarity tier sequentially
- Newly crafted equipment has a chance to roll higher rarity
- Better rarity chances scale with Runeforging skill
Additional UI Slots
Slots 1–8 are used for Runeforging interactions and legendary renaming.
Runeforging expands normal upgrades instead of replacing them.
📈 Runeforging Skill
The Runeforging skill represents mastery of advanced item enhancement.
Experience Sources
Players gain Runeforging experience by:
- Crafting weapons and armor
- Crafting higher rarity equipment
- Improving items through the Improve tab
Higher rarity improvements grant additional experience.
The skill improves long-term progression and rarity acquisition chances.
🔨 Improve Tab
The Improve tab allows equipment to increase rarity after normal upgrades.
Features
- Available at all supported crafting stations
- Shows only compatible inventory items
- Previews next rarity tier and resulting stats
- Displays required materials and upgrade costs
Higher rarity upgrades become progressively more expensive.
Legendary equipment requires major long-term investment.
🧩 Legendary Specialization
Legendary equipment receives additional bonuses depending on item category and weapon type.
| Category |
Bonus |
| ALL |
Reduced movement penalty by 1% |
| Helmet |
Reduced dodge stamina usage by 2% |
| Chest |
Reduced attack stamina usage by 2% |
| Legs |
Reduced running stamina usage by 2% |
| Cape |
+1 armor |
| Shield |
Reduced block stamina usage by 5% |
| Tower Shield |
Gains minimal parry capability (1.1x) |
| Maces |
Increased durability (1H: +5% / 2H: +10%) |
| Swords |
Reduced block stamina usage (1H: 2% / 2H: 4%) |
| Axes |
Reduced dodge stamina usage (1H: 2% / 2H: 4%) |
| Spears |
Reduced running stamina usage by 2% |
| Polearms |
Reduced running stamina usage by 4% |
| Knives |
Reduced sneak stamina usage by 8% |
| Bows |
Reduced attack stamina usage by 2% |
| Crossbows |
Reduced attack stamina usage by 3% |
| Magic Weapons |
Increased Eitr regeneration (1H: 3% / 2H: 6%) |
The system encourages build diversity and gives each weapon class a unique legendary identity.
👑 Legendary Naming & Ownership
Legendary items can receive custom fantasy-style names.
When an item reaches Legendary rarity, the player can rename it.
Only:
- The original creator
- The player who upgraded the item to Legendary
can rename the item.
Items also track creator ownership.
If another player upgrades an item into Legendary rarity, ownership transfers to that player.
This makes legendary equipment feel personal and earned.
⚖️ Balance & Progression
Runeforging is designed to remain compatible with vanilla progression.
Rarity does not replace biome progression.
Example Progression
- A Legendary Bronze Chestpiece may become comparable to a Common Iron Chestpiece
- A highly improved Iron weapon may compete with lower-tier Silver equipment
This allows players to:
- Continue using favorite gear longer
- Invest into preferred builds
- Personalize progression paths
New biome materials still remain valuable and important.
🌟 Visual Systems
One of the main features of Runeforging is that improved equipment becomes visually recognizable.
Rare and Legendary items not only become stronger — they also look different while equipped, dropped on the ground and displayed in inventory.
⚔️ Equipped Item Glow
Equipped rare items emit dynamic magical effects while worn.
Effects automatically adapt to item type:
- Swords glow along blades
- Shields emit defensive aura effects
- Bows and staffs scale effects to weapon length
- Armor emits body-centered aura effects
- Capes use ambient back effects
This allows players to immediately recognize improved equipment on themselves and other players.
🌈 Ground Effects
Dropped items emit visual effects based on rarity.
Features
- Colored loot beams
- Ambient magical particles
- Rarity-scaled glow intensity
- Improved visibility on the ground
Higher rarity items become easier to identify from distance.
💠 Inventory & Tooltip Improvements
Rare items receive:
- Rarity-colored names
- Enhanced icon visuals
- Diamond rarity symbols
- Cleaner tooltip formatting
- Improved stat readability
Rarity Symbols
◈ ◈ ◈ ◈ Common
◆ ◈ ◈ ◈ Uncommon
◆ ◆ ◈ ◈ Rare
◆ ◆ ◆ ◈ Epic
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ Legendary
👨💻 Admin & Multiplayer Support
Admin / Debug Support
Runeforging fully supports:
devcommandsdebugmode- No-cost testing workflows
Admins and testers can freely test:
- Rarity progression
- Visual systems
- Improve scaling
- Legendary upgrades
without consuming materials.
Admin Console Commands
Balrond Runeforging includes admin commands for server owners, testers and event creators.
Spawn Runeforged Item
br_spawn <prefab> <rarity> <quality=1> <amount=1>
Spawns an existing Valheim item prefab with selected rarity.
Examples
br_spawn SwordIron Legendary 4 1
br_spawn ArmorIronChest Epic 4 1
br_spawn ShieldBlackmetal Rare 2 3
Argument Order
prefab = existing item prefab ID
rarity = Common, Uncommon, Rare, Epic, Legendary
quality = item upgrade level
amount = number of items to spawn
Only compatible Runeforging items can be spawned.
Set Rarity On Equipped Item
br_set_rarity <slot> <rarity>
Changes rarity of an equipped item.
Examples
br_set_rarity helmet Legendary
br_set_rarity chest Epic
br_set_rarity right Rare
br_set_rarity left Common
Supported Slots
right
left
helmet
chest
legs
shoulder
utility
trinket
Supported Aliases
weapon -> right
shield -> left
head -> helmet
body -> chest
pants -> legs
cape -> shoulder
The command can also lower rarity.
Item Debug Information
br_item_info <slot>
Prints debug information about an equipped item.
Displays
slot
item name
quality
rarity
creator
custom legendary name
Runeforging eligibility
Useful for:
- Server administration
- Debugging
- Testing progression
- Verifying ownership
⚙️ Multiplayer Support
All visual systems are multiplayer compatible.
Players can see:
- Loot beams
- World glow
- Equipped item glow
- Rarity visuals
- Legendary presentation
Rare equipment remains visually impressive for everyone on the server.
🌐 Localization Support
The mod supports localization and translation files.
If Localization Keys Appear Instead of Text
Possible causes:
- Missing translation file
- Failed translation loading
- Outdated server translation files
Translation files can be manually expanded or edited.
💬 Community & Support
Discord
https://discord.gg/Jfp8T5N7Pv
Ko-fi
https://ko-fi.com/balrond1020
