If you've started the Runes of Aldur league and run into a recipe message that says you haven't learned it yet, the answer is almost always tied to a Runestone you missed. Tracking these stones down across all four acts opens the door to the Verisium Anvil, runic crafting, and the full set of recipes Farrow has to offer. This guide covers what Runestones are, why they matter, and exactly where to find every single one across the campaign.
PoE 2 0.5 Runestones Locations & How To Use
Runestones are ancient carved markers scattered throughout the Path of Exile 2 0.5 campaign that fuel the new Runes of Aldur league mechanic. Each act contains a set of Runestones tied to Farrow's questline, and interacting with them unlocks new recipes, runeforging tiers, and access to special Runic Vaults. Skipping a Runestone in any act means a missing recipe later, which is why most players doing maps suddenly find themselves backtracking through old zones.
With that overview covered, here is a closer look at what these stones actually do and where to find them.
What Are Runestones in Path of Exile 2 0.5?
Runestones are interactive objects you'll come across as you push through each act of the campaign. They appear as large stones with rune carvings on their surface, and they tie directly into Farrow's quest chain known as The Runeseeker.
Core Function
Recipe progression: Each Runestone you interact with adds new Runeshape recipes to your collection, which can then be used at runic remnants for selectable rewards.
Quest gating: Finding all Runestones in a given act is required to advance Farrow's questline and proceed to that act's Runic Vault.
Runeforging access: Completing the Act 1 Runestones is the only path to getting the Verisium Anvil. Later acts open additional crafting tiers on top of that.
How They Work in Practice
When you enter a zone that contains a Runestone, Farrow gives you a hint that one is nearby. Interacting with the stone presents you with rune combinations that act as recipes. Once you select one, monsters spawn around the stone, and defeating them rewards you with the chosen items. The more runes you combine, the tougher the enemies and the better the loot.
A Word of Warning for New Players
The first Runestone event you trigger at level 2 can feature modifiers like Tempest Rune, which slows your character right out of the gate. With no gear and basic abilities, kiting becomes the only viable option until you push past the wall. Be ready to play cautiously on your first encounter.
Where To Find Runestones
The Runeseeker quest spreads Runestones across all four acts, plus a few extra steps in Act 4 that swap stones for treasure map pieces. Here is the full layout.
Act 1 Runestone Locations
Three Runestones are required in Act 1, and finishing this act is mandatory before the Verisium Anvil becomes available, even if you complete the steps in later acts.
Grim Tangle: Sweep the zone for the carved stone tied to Farrow's first hint.
Hunting Grounds: A second stone sits within this area.
Ogham Farmlands: The third stone for Act 1 lives here.
After all three are found, head back to the Grelwood and summon Farrow near the Tree of Souls. This opens the path to the Lost Catacombs.
Lost Catacombs Runic Vault
Run through the Lost Catacombs until you reach the fountain of Liquid Verisium at the end. Speak with Farrow, then return to Clearfell Encampment to gain the Verisium Anvil for armor runeforging.
Act 2 Runestone Locations
Act 2 follows the same pattern with three more Runestones to collect. The Keth stone in particular is shown on the map as a "giant's arm" point of interest, which trips up players who mistake it for part of the Valley of the Titans content.
The Bone Pits: First stone of Act 2 is hidden in this zone.
Keth: Look for the glowing hand statue marker, not the valley.
Deshar: The third stone rounds out the act.
Skull of the Titan Runic Vault
Once all three are gathered, head to the Skull of the Titan and search for the Cave Mouth. Push through to the end of the area to gain Runic Inscriptions.
Act 3 Runestone Locations
Act 3 again features three Runestones in jungle-themed zones. None of these locations are marked clearly, so pay attention to Farrow's audio cues when entering each map.
Jungle Ruins: First stone of the act.
Venom Crypts: Second stone hidden in the crypts.
The Azak Bog: Final stone before progressing.
Mystic Refuge Runic Vault
Return to the Infested Barrens and look for the entrance to Mystic Refuge, a hidden jungle area off the main story path. Reach the end and speak with Farrow to gain access to Runeforging Unique items at the Verisium Anvil. Skipping this area locks you out of Unique upgrading entirely, so make the detour.
Act 4 Treasure Map Piece Locations
Act 4 changes the formula. Instead of Runestones, you collect Treasure Map Pieces across four island zones. Many players have trained themselves to ignore the old expedition island, so this step often gets missed and forces a backtrack from maps.
Shrike Island: First map piece location.
Whakapanu Island: Second piece is here.
Isle of Kin: Third piece for the puzzle.
Kedge Bay: Final map piece.
Once all pieces are collected, hand them over to Makoru, the ship's captain, and travel to Plunderer's Point.
Deserted Post Final Step
Complete the Expedition encounter at Plunderer's Point to open the entrance to the Deserted Post. Move through the area and speak with Farrow at the end to add the Ancient Runes recipes (13 weapon-type-specific runes with real endgame value) to your collection.
Quick Reference Table
| Act | Locations | Final Vault / Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1 | Grim Tangle, Hunting Grounds, Ogham Farmlands | Lost Catacombs → Verisium Anvil |
| Act 2 | The Bone Pits, Keth, Deshar | Skull of the Titan → Runic Inscriptions |
| Act 3 | Jungle Ruins, Venom Crypts, The Azak Bog | Mystic Refuge → Unique Runeforging |
| Act 4 | Shrike Island, Whakapanu Island, Isle of Kin, Kedge Bay | Deserted Post → Ancient Runes |
Tips Before You Go Hunting
A few practical pointers will save you a lot of backtracking from maps:
Listen for Farrow's voice line: Whenever you enter a zone containing a Runestone, Farrow will speak. Treat that as your cue to sweep the area carefully.
Do not skip the vault dungeons: Each act's Runic Vault gates the next tier of crafting. Finishing later acts will not retroactively grant earlier rewards.
Watch for hand statue markers: In Act 2 especially, the icon on the map is misleading. Visit the location even if it looks like part of another quest.
Clear Act 1 before pushing into Act 2: Mythical Runes start dropping immediately once Farrow's first quest is done, and the Verisium Anvil becomes available right away.
Sticking to this Runestone trail across the four acts gives you the full set of recipes, every Runic Vault reward, and access to the deepest layers of Verisium runeforging. Take the time during the campaign rather than circling back later from maps, and Farrow's quest chain rewards will carry your build all the way into endgame content.
