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Swift and Violent runes are two of the most important sets in Summoners War. Swift runes are often used in the early game, and later replaced with Violent runes.
This is because Violent sets are much harder to acquire. And you need a LOT of them.
Swift runes still have their place, though. They’re used in cleave teams to make sure that your attack bar buffer goes first.
What Should You Use Swift Runes For?
1 : Attack Bar Buffers
In general, Swift runes should be used in the early game, but they still play an important role in the late game, too.
In cleave teams (meant to completely wipe out an opponent on the first turn), your attack bar buffer will almost always have Swift runes equipped, because it’s important that you take the first turn.
For example, Bernard (the Wind Griffon) is an important monster in the early, mid, and endgame.
My own, very slow Bernard
And Bernard will never use anything but Swift runes.
Why?
Because of his third skill.
A 30% ATB increase and an Attack Speed buff in the same skill is very good
Bernard’s third skill, Tailwind, is one of the strongest buffing skills in the game. It increases your team’s attack bar by 30%, and also increases their attack speed for 2 turns.
If your Bernard goes first, it pretty much guarantees that your entire team will go before your opponent gets to move.
In cleave teams, that’s all you need to wipe your opponent.
2 : Attack Bar Debuffers
The opposite can also be true.
For Example, Spectra (Fire Griffon) doesn’t increase your own attack bar, but will always use Swift runes.
My own, completely unbuilt Spectra.
Spectra’s third skill, Backlash, decreases the attack bar of opponents by 30%, and decreases their Attack Speed for 2 turns. It’s the opposite of Bernard’s.
The faster your Spectra, the more he messes with opponents
Note: Bernard is sometimes used in PvP, but not often. Bernard and Spectra are both intended to be used in PvE. They are still important monsters.
3 : Damage Dealers
Some attacks also deal more damage the higher the monster’s attack speed.
Poseidon is a “Nat 5*”, making him hard to obtain
For example, Poseidon’s (Water Sea Emperor) third skill, Maelstrom, deals damage based on his Attack Speed. The faster he is, the more damage it does.
Note: Poseidon sees a lot of use in both PvP and PvE, but he is not a replacement for Bernard or Spectra.
Bernard and Spectra’s first skill, Snatch, also deals more damage the higher their attack speed. This allows them to deal out good damage while supporting their teams.
Snatch does more damage according to attack speed
What Should You Use Violent Runes For?
Violent runes should be used on pretty much everything else.
It’s a broad answer, I know, but it’s true.
Violent runes are the most important thing in the game. Getting an extra turn with a 22% chance doesn’t seem too good, but it is.
4 Violent runes = 22% chance to gain another turn
Getting an extra turn might let you use a skill that just came off of cooldown. That can mean a lot of things.
You might be able to kill an opposing monster.
You might be able to heal, or even revive one of your own monsters.
Or you might be able to mess with your opponent more. For example, Loren (Light Cow Girl) is one of the best units in the game.
Her third skill, Chaser, decreases the attack bar of any monster that she attacks.
Chaser is a very powerful ability
Both of her skills hit twice, meaning that she reduces the target’s attack bar by 40% each time.
If she Violent procs, she can reduce their attack bar by 80%.
At the end of the day, Summoners War is all about RNG. Violent runes are peak RNG. You might as well embrace it.
Robert has been playing games since he was a teen, and has been building and selling computers as a hobby for a little over 3 years now. When he's not busy following internet trends and game news, he spends his time reading, writing, and duking it out with others in a wide variety of multiplayer games.
