The Runaway: Skills & Builds

The Runaway is a versatile damage dealer and support hero, excelling at applying Burn, repositioning enemies, and providing crucial healing and stress relief. Her unique mechanics revolve around her Fire tokens and the ability to manipulate enemy positions, making her a valuable asset in many team compositions. Mastering her requires understanding her skill synergies and how to best use her limited defensive capabilities.

Core Skills & Strategies

The Runaway's active skills offer a blend of offensive and supportive capabilities. Here's a breakdown of her most impactful abilities and how to use them effectively:

Searing Strike: Your bread-and-butter single target Burn application. Use this early in combat to start stacking Burn on high-priority targets. It also applies a Weak token if the target is already Burning, making it excellent for mitigating incoming damage.
Runic Bolt: A powerful ranged attack that deals direct damage and applies Burn. This is crucial for hitting backline enemies and can be upgraded to apply additional Burn or ignore some of the target's resistance. Prioritize upgrading this for increased damage output.
Controlled Burn: An area-of-effect (AoE) Burn skill that hits the two front-most enemies. Ideal for softening up multiple targets or finishing off low-health foes. Consider upgrading it to increase the Burn duration.
Smokescreen: A fantastic utility skill that applies Blind to an enemy and moves the Runaway back one rank. Use this to protect a vulnerable hero, reduce incoming damage from a dangerous foe, or reposition the Runaway if she's pulled too far forward.
Cauterize: A unique healing skill that removes Bleed and Blight from an ally and provides a small heal. While not a primary healer, this can be a lifesaver against DoT-heavy enemies. The heal scales with the number of DoTs removed, so time it wisely.
Hearthlight: A crucial support skill that removes Stealth from all enemies and applies a small amount of Stress heal to the party. Essential for dealing with stealthy foes and managing party stress. Its upgrade provides a stronger Stress heal.
Backdraft: A powerful skill that pulls an enemy forward one rank and applies Burn. Excellent for disrupting enemy formations, pulling dangerous backline enemies into range for your melee heroes, or setting up further Burn applications.

Recommended Builds & Synergies

1. Burn Specialist (Damage Focus)

This build maximizes the Runaway's Burn output, turning her into a consistent damage dealer that can melt through enemy health bars over time.

Active Skills: Searing Strike, Runic Bolt, Controlled Burn, Backdraft, Hearthlight. (Flex slot for Smokescreen if more utility is needed).
Strategy:
1. Start combat with Controlled Burn to apply AoE Burn.
2. Follow up with Searing Strike on a high-priority target to stack Burn and apply Weak.
3. Use Runic Bolt to hit backline enemies and maintain Burn stacks.
4. use Backdraft to pull dangerous enemies forward, disrupting their plans and applying more Burn.
5. Keep Hearthlight ready for stealthy enemies and stress management.
Trinkets:
- Igniting Cinder: Increases Burn duration, making your DoTs more potent.
- Charred Locket: Boosts Burn damage and can provide a small speed bonus.
- Smoldering Hymnal: Enhances Burn chance and damage, especially useful for ensuring your Burn sticks.
Companions: Pairs well with heroes who can apply Vulnerable (e.g., Highwayman's Point Blank Shot) or benefit from enemies being in specific ranks (e.g., Leper's Chop).

2. Support & Disruption (Utility Focus)

This build emphasizes the Runaway's ability to control the battlefield, protect allies, and manage stress, while still contributing some Burn damage.

Active Skills: Searing Strike, Smokescreen, Cauterize, Hearthlight, Backdraft. (Flex slot for Runic Bolt for ranged damage).
Strategy:
1. Open with Smokescreen on a dangerous enemy to Blind them and reposition the Runaway.
2. Use Backdraft to pull high-threat enemies into range for your melee heroes or to disrupt their attacks.
3. Prioritize Cauterize to remove Bleed/Blight from allies and provide crucial spot healing.
4. Regularly use Hearthlight to manage party stress and reveal stealthed enemies.
5. Searing Strike can be used for opportunistic Burn application when other utility isn't immediately needed.
Trinkets:
- Whispering Wisp: Increases Stress resistance and provides a small Speed bonus, allowing her to act earlier for crucial support.
- Mended Mask: Boosts healing received and can provide a small resistance bonus, making her more durable.
- Flickering Flame: Enhances her utility skills, potentially increasing Blind chance or Stress heal.
Companions: Excellent alongside heroes who need protection (e.g., Man-at-Arms' Defender, Flagellant's Suffer) or those who can capitalize on enemy repositioning (e.g., Hellion's Iron Swan).

General Tips for the Runaway

Positioning is Key: The Runaway is relatively squishy. use Smokescreen and her inherent movement to keep her out of harm's way, ideally in ranks 3 or 4.
Burn Stacking: Don't be afraid to stack Burn on a single target. Multiple instances of Burn will tick simultaneously, leading to rapid health depletion.
Token Management: Pay attention to her Fire tokens. Some skills consume them for bonus effects, while others generate them. Understanding this flow is crucial for maximizing her output.
Synergy with DoTs: The Runaway pairs exceptionally well with other heroes who apply Bleed or Blight, as she can remove these with Cauterize, making her a valuable counter to DoT-heavy enemies.
Road Combat: Her AoE Burn and repositioning skills are incredibly useful in road encounters where enemies often start in tight formations.