Massively in Moria: Hands on with the Rune-keeper Traits

By Dan O'Halloran
Rune-keeper Traits

The trait system in the game has received a big overhaul. Each class trait will now fall into one of three categories. In the Rune-keeper's case those categories are Solitary Thunder (instant damage for soloing), Cleansing Fires (efficient but longer-casting damage for groups and raids) and Benedictions of Peace (healing). You will unlock special bonuses for your class if you chose 2, 3 or 4 traits in one category. And if you choose 5 traits in one category, you will unlock a special legendary. There is a quest to obtain that Legendary, but you'll need 5 traits in the right category to use it.

A LotRO-EU dev diary has gone in depth into all the trait trees, so I'll just post screens of them here. I also want to mention that you are not bound to pick all the traits in only one tree. You can hybridize by picking two or three in different trees, cherry picking the best bonuses. Those "improved" skills you can get with picking to traits in the tree essentially remove the Attunement requirement of those spells making them castable no matter where you're at in your Attunement. If you are going to focus on damage, it wouldn't hurt to pick up the healing one for extra help when Battle Attuned and the fight suddenly goes badly.

Also, at level 57 you will have 7 class trait slots, so you can drop 5 in one tree to unlock the Legendary ability (with one caveat, see below) and still have two more to get the "Improved" bonus in another tree. And at level 60 you get a third Legendary slot.

Also note that the Legendary skill isn't granted to you just by selecting 5 traits in one tree. You still have to do a quest for each one and there is a level requirement for each quest. It can also be upgraded. Check the Dev Diary for comprehensive details.


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