The Halloween season is upon us, and with it comes one of the most anticipated events in Guts & Blackpowder! As a longtime player who’s been through every seasonal event since the game’s launch, I’m particularly excited about this year’s Halloween Spotlight Event and its exclusive Rune & Key Badge. This coveted item has been the talk of the community since its announcement, and after spending countless hours exploring the event content, I’m here to share everything you need to know to add this badge to your collection.
Guts & Blackpowder, the popular tactical shooter with supernatural elements, goes all out for its seasonal events, but the Halloween Spotlight Event is something special. Running from October 15 to November 5 this year, this limited-time event transforms the game’s maps with spooky decorations, introduces new enemy types, and offers exclusive rewards that you can’t get at any other time.
The centerpiece of this event is the Rune & Key Badge, a special cosmetic item that not only looks incredibly cool with its glowing occult symbols but also serves as a status symbol among players. What makes this badge particularly interesting is that it’s not just a simple participation reward – you need to complete a series of challenging tasks to unlock it.
The event introduces several new gameplay elements:
I’ve been playing Guts & Blackpowder since its beta days, and I have to say, the Halloween events are always my favorite time of year. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing the familiar maps transformed with eerie lighting, pumpkins, cobwebs, and other spooky decorations. The developers really go all out with the atmosphere, and it completely changes the feel of the game.
What I particularly love about this year’s event is how it builds on previous years while introducing fresh challenges. The Rune & Key Badge isn’t just another cosmetic – it represents mastery of the event’s content. As someone who enjoys a good challenge, I appreciate that the developers have created a reward that actually feels earned rather than just handed out.
The community aspect is another highlight. During the Halloween event, the player base seems more engaged and cooperative. There’s a real sense of camaraderie as we work together to figure out the most efficient ways to complete challenges and unlock the badge. I’ve made some great friends during these events, and the shared experience of tackling difficult content together is something I genuinely look forward to each year.
Now, let’s get to the meat of this guide – how to actually obtain the Rune & Key Badge. After extensive testing and collaboration with other players, I’ve broken down the process into manageable steps.
Before you can even start working toward the Rune & Key Badge, you need to access the Halloween event content. Here’s how:
This introductory mission is relatively straightforward and serves as a tutorial for the event mechanics. It shouldn’t take more than 15-20 minutes to complete.
Once you’ve unlocked the event content, you’ll need to complete daily challenges to earn “Spirit Shards,” the event currency. Here’s what you need to know:
I recommend checking the challenges each day and planning your gaming session around them. Some challenges are more efficiently completed in specific game modes or on certain maps.
In addition to daily challenges, there are weekly missions that offer larger chunks of Spirit Shards. These are more challenging but also more rewarding:
For the weekly missions, I highly recommend teaming up with friends or finding a dedicated group through the game’s community channels. These missions are designed to test your skills and coordination, making them much more difficult to complete with random players.
This is where things get interesting. To earn the Rune & Key Badge, you need to collect 13 specific runes scattered throughout the event maps. Here’s how to find them:
I’ve found that the best approach is to systematically search each map, focusing on areas that seem out of place or have unusual decorations. The runes often appear near Halloween-themed additions to the maps, so pay special attention to pumpkins, gravestones, and other spooky elements.
Once you’ve collected all 13 runes, you’ll need to assemble them into the Key. This process involves:
The ritual pattern changes for each player, so you’ll need to experiment to find the correct arrangement. The Guardian Spirit fight is challenging but manageable with a good team. Make sure to bring weapons with high elemental damage, as the spirit is vulnerable to fire and lightning attacks.
After defeating the Guardian Spirit, the Rune & Key Badge will be added to your inventory automatically. You can equip it from the cosmetics menu, and it will be visible to other players in matches.
Pro tip: The badge has different visual states that change based on your performance during the event. If you complete all challenges quickly and with high scores, your badge will have a more impressive glow and additional particle effects!
In addition to the Rune & Key Badge, there are plenty of other rewards to earn during the Halloween event. Here are some active codes you can redeem for extra goodies:
To redeem these codes:
The event also features a reward track that unlocks additional items as you earn Spirit Shards:
| Spirit Shards | Reward |
|---|---|
| 500 | Halloween-themed calling card |
| 1000 | Spooky weapon charm |
| 1500 | Ghostly player icon |
| 2000 | Haunted map background |
| 2500 | Exclusive Halloween emote |
| 3000 | Special event weapon blueprint |
| 3500 | Legendary character skin |
| 4000 | Rune & Key Badge (final reward) |
The developers have been actively updating the event based on player feedback. Here are the most recent changes:
October 28 Update:
November 1 Update:
These updates show that the developers are listening to the community and making adjustments to ensure the event is enjoyable for as many players as possible.
After completing all the event content myself, I’ve picked up several strategies that can help you earn the Rune & Key Badge more efficiently:
Certain weapons and equipment perform better against the event’s supernatural enemies:
If you’re tackling the weekly missions or the Guardian Spirit fight, having a balanced team is crucial:
Each haunted map has its own quirks and optimal strategies:
The Asylum:
The Graveyard:
The Haunted Forest:
With limited time to complete the event, efficient play is essential:
I’ve seen many players make the same mistakes when trying to earn the Rune & Key Badge. Here’s what to watch out for:
I’ve gathered the most common questions from the community about the Rune & Key Badge and the Halloween event:
No, the Rune & Key Badge is exclusive to the 2025 Halloween Spotlight Event and will not be available once the event concludes on November 5. This makes it a true collector’s item that will showcase your participation in this specific event.
Yes, you can complete challenges on any difficulty, but higher difficulties reward more Spirit Shards per challenge. If you’re short on time, playing on harder difficulties can help you earn the badge faster.
The November 1 update introduced catch-up mechanics that allow you to complete additional daily challenges if you’ve missed some. However, there’s still a limit to how many you can complete in a day, so it’s best not to fall too far behind.
Yes, the badge is a cosmetic item that doesn’t provide any gameplay advantages. However, it does have different visual states based on your performance during the event, making it a status symbol among dedicated players.
Yes, the event is available across all platforms that Guts & Blackpowder is released on, and you can earn the badge on each platform separately. However, progress does not transfer between platforms.
For an average player playing 1-2 hours per day, it should take about 2-3 weeks to complete all the challenges and earn the badge. More dedicated players can accomplish it in about a week, while casual players might need the full duration of the event.
The Halloween Spotlight Event in Guts & Blackpowder is one of the most engaging and rewarding events I’ve experienced in the game, and the Rune & Key Badge is a worthy prize for dedicated players. While the journey to unlock it requires time and effort, the sense of accomplishment when you finally equip that glowing badge is well worth it.
I hope this guide helps you on your quest to obtain the Rune & Key Badge. Remember to team up with friends, manage your time wisely, and most importantly, have fun with the event content. The Halloween season only comes once a year, and events like this are what make Guts & Blackpowder such a special game to be a part of.
If you have any additional tips or questions about the event, feel free to share them in the comments below. Good luck, and happy hunting.
