Runesmith is a Dwarfs melee infantry unit in Total War: Warhammer. Forged Runes give the Runesmiths power to enhance allied weapons and armour, and nullify enemy magic to harmless lights.
Runesmiths work spells with their hammercraft, binding the Winds of Magic into mighty runes of power. They are a suspicious lot and jealously protect the secrets kept in their anvils and hammers, guarding the knowledge that allows them to make magic items - weapon, armour, rings and talismans - of greater potency than items wrought by any other mortal race. In battle, Runesmiths aid their side by dampening enemy magic - earthing spells harmlessly before they can wreak havoc amongst the Dwarfs. They do this in the same manner as they capture the Winds of Magic to forge magic items, and they often bring along rune-covered talismans to aid in this endeavour. Many Runesmiths bear weapons and armour of their own crafting, and they are eager to show their comrades exactly how effective they can be. Whether by some gift of Grugni, or perhaps as a side effect of centuries of beating white-hot metal, when a Runesmith feels the rage of battle, his weapons, and those of friendly foes around him, begin to glow and radiate heat as if remembering the forgefires from which they were created. This aura of power has proven effective in helping blades penetrate the armoured or toughened hides of any foe.
- ↑ Armoured: Armoured units can block damage from any source apart from Armour-Piercing damage.
- ↑ Runic Magic: This unit can bind the Winds of Magic into powerful runes which can be activated during deployment or battle.
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This Hero can perform the following actions on the campaign map:
- Awareness (Requires skill)
- Modifies the success chance of enemy Hero actions against the parent army by -25%
- Embed Hero
- Embeds the Hero into the army, joining it in battle
- Runic Seal
- Modifies the success chance of enemy Hero actions against settlements in the local province by -25%
- Block Magic
- Modifies the Winds of Magic power reserve for the target army by -10
- Positive outcome base chance: 45%
- Assassinate
- Kills the target character
- Positive outcome base chance: 25%
- Runic Protection
- Reduces the amount of
Chaos and 
Vampiric corruption in the local province by 12
- Damage Settlement
- Inflicts damage upon all buildings in the target settlement
- Positive outcome base chance: 45%
- Cleanse Corruption
- Reduces the amount of Chaos and Vampiric corruption in the local province by 2
- Constant passive effect
Some of these actions can be improved by putting points into the relevant skills in the character's campaign skill tree.
Weapon Strength: +3% when fighting against Greenskins- Weapon Strength: +8% when fighting against Greenskins
- Weapon Strength: +15% when fighting against Greenskins
Charge bonus: +2- Charge bonus: +5
- Charge bonus: +9
- Relentless (Requires rank 11)
Speed: +3%- Speed: +8%
- Speed: +15%
- Rune of Grimnir (Requires rank 8)
Missile resistance: 10%
Character Skills
| Rune of Hearth & Home
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| Character's aura leadership effect: +5
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| Rune of Oath & Steel
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Damping
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Strike the Runes
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Forgefire
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| Grants the ability Rune of Oath & Steel
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Enemy Winds of Magic power reserve: -2 (local region)
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Cooldown: -3% to Rune abilities (Hero's army)
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Grants the ability Forgefire
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-5
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-8%
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-9
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-15%
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| Rune of Wrath & Ruin
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| Grants the ability Rune of Wrath & Ruin
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| ↓
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| Rune of Striking
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Rune of Might
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Rune of Parrying
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Master Rune of Fury
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| Melee attack: +6
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Weapon strength: +6%
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Melee defence: +6
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Charge bonus: +5
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| Rune of Negation
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| Grants the ability Rune of Negation
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Cost (MP):
Turns:
Upkeep:
Health:
Speed:
Melee attack:
Melee defence:
Charge Bonus:
Damage Resist Magic:
Damage Resist Missiles:
Weapon Damage:
Armour-Piercing Damage:
Range:
Encourage: This unit provides a 
Hide (forest): This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Chaos and 
Vampiric corruption: +1 (local province)
