Val runic gives you 5 max intensity properties. You can't do this with imbuing. An example would be these arms I made stam 7 lmc 8 phys 24 fire 19 cold 19 poison 9 energy 8. They are hiro sode so also Mage armor. These would be like 800 intensity or higher.
Due to the weighting effect of imbuing properties, you most likely will never see an imbued item with 5 properties at max intensity. With high end runics (val/heartwood) there is that possiblity but the odds of getting all 5 mods that you want is the super rare part, so it is a trade-off, do you imbue a weapon that will have fewer mods but the ones you want or use a runic and take your chances.
