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Element
The Fire Rune is the child of the Rage Rune in the lineage of the True Fire Rune. Being one of the five basic elemental runes, it is next to the Lightning Rune one of the most used types of offensive magic. Having an elemental nature it is usually quickly accesible to learn and widely available, thus being a typical first choice of mages to use in random battles or against fire susceptible bosses. Contrary to the Lightning Rune the Fire Rune specialises mostly in group attack spells, so it is highly useful in eradicating large groups of weaker enemies as long as one has the MP to spare. Its popular spells like the Flaming Arrows or the Dancing Flames appear in every Suikoden game and are well renowned.
The fire element is not only the basis for many subrunes like the Fire Breath Rune or the Fire Dragon Rune, but is generally considered the offensive element due to its aggressive nature. So it is only natural that Fire Rune Pieces, which augment physical attack when embedded to a weapon, are derived from this Rune.
The Sorceress Leknaat once gave Tir McDohl his first Fire Crystal, which proved to be very effective in the hands of the magician Cleo. In later Suikoden games magically adept characters often have a Fire Rune as their initial equipment.
Suikoden III further focused on the aggressive nature of the fire element and introduced the danger of also hurting allies who were in the spells target area, which was not so easy to avoid in the heat of battle. Because of this, the Fire Rune was used less in this game. However this aspect was exclusive to the third game only. - Celes