This page provides a list of all the essential RuneWords in Diablo 2 and explains why they’re included in the first place. Each Rune Word on this list is designed for players at least level 30. If you’d like to look at some of my lists of Rune Words, then follow the hyperlinks below.
Steel
TirEl
The Runes that are Required: Tir El El
Level Requirement: 13
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots The Axes, Swords, and Maces
+25 Accuracy Speed Increased by 25 percent
+20 percent Increased Damage
+3 to Damage Minimum
+3 to maximum damage
50 to attack rating
50% chance of open Wounds
+2 to Mana following each kill
+2 to Light Radius
This Runeword is most effective when used with the hands of a swift weapon, such as one such as a Crystal Sword or Sabre.
Stealth
Tanith
The Runes that are required: Tal — Et
Level Requirement: 17
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots Chest Armor
+25% faster Run/Walk
+25% Speedier Casting Rate
+25% more quickly hit recovery
+6 to Dexterity
Regenerate Mana 15%
+15 Maximum Stamina
Poison Resists +30 percent
Magic Damage Reduction by 3
From all the earlier chest armor Rune Words you can create, Stealth is the best of the rest. It is possible to find Tal and an Eth Rune through farming the Countess in Normal (as well as other difficulties) from the very beginning of the game. You can also create this armor when you enter Act 2.
Malice
IthElEth
Required Runes: Ith — El — Eth
Level Requirement: 15
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots The Melee weapons of all kinds
+33% of Enhanced Damage
+9 to Damage Maximum
25 percent Target Defense
50 to attack rating
100% chance of opening Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
100 up to the monster Defense Per Hit
Drain Life 5
The most significant drawback of This Rune Word is the -5 Life Drain. It is possible to make up for the loss by using Replenish Life on any piece of equipment.
Strength
AmnTir
The Runes that are Required: Amn Tir Tir
Level Requirement: 25
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots The Melee weapons of all kinds
+35% Increased Damage
7% Life Stolen per hit
25% chance of crushing Blow
+20 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
+2 to Mana after every kill
Similar to Steel Rune Word before it, this is the best choice for any weapon with a fast speed, such as a Sabre or Crystal Sword. Assassin Claws are also effective or Scepters for Paladins.
Rhyme
ShaelEth
Essential Runes Shael — Eth
Level Requirement: 29
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots Shield
+40 40 % faster Block Rate
20% More Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +25
It is not able to be frozen.
50% extra Gold from Monsters
25% Higher Chance of obtaining Magic Items
Rhyme is second in importance as the best Rune Word for this range, with the word Spirit being the most effective. The downside to Spirit, however, is that it requires a four-open Socket Shield which you can’t discover until Monarch starts dropping the late Nightmare/Hell. The only Paladin Shields come with four open sockets, falling before in Early Nightmare or Normal Nightmare.
Leaf
TirRal
The Runes that are required: Tir Ral Ral
Level Requirements: 19
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots Stave Only
+3 to improve Fire Skills
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+3 for Inferno (Sorceress only)
+3 for +3 to (Sorceress only)
+3 to +3 to Bolt (Sorceress Use Only)
+(2*Clvl) +(2*Clvl) (Based on the Character Level)
Cold Resist +33 percent
+2 to Mana after every kill
The leaf is a great beginning Rune Word for Sorceress or Elemental Druids currently in the fire in spec. You’ll sacrifice a shield if you choose to use Leaf; however, it’s not significant until you reach level 30+ when you likely need to substitute Leaf with something more powerful.
Holy Thunder
EthRalOrtTal
The Runes that are required: Eth — Ral — Ort — Tal
Level Requirements: 23
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots Scepters Only
+60% +60%
+10 to maximum damage
25 percent Target Defense
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
Adds 21-110 Lightning Damage
+75 Poison Damage over 5 secs
+3 for Holy Shock (Paladin Only)
+5% to the maximum resistance to Lightning
Lightning Resist +60%
Level 7 Chain Lightning (60 charges)
Holy Thunder is one of the top Rune Words for low-level Paladins that play the game. As Spirit previously mentioned, it is impossible to use Holy Thunder Rune Word unless you have an incredibly hand-me-down weapon. It requires a Scepter with four open sockets, which are hard to obtain on Normal.
Lore
OrtSol
Runes that are required: Ort — Sol
Level Requirement: 27
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots: Helm
+2 to All Skills
+10 to Energy
Lightning Resist +30%
Damage Reduction by 7
+2 to Mana following each kill
+2 on Light Radius
One of the most effective and most accessible to create Helm Rune Words in the game is Lore. Lore is extremely useful for any character, not only because of the +2 to skills and Mana bonuses but due to the 30 percent Lightning Resist that is incredibly helpful during Acts four and 5 when confronted with massive Lightning-related enemies.
Honor
AmnElIthTirSol
Required Runes: Amn — El — Ith — Tir — Sol
Level Requirement: 27
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots Every Melee Weapon
+2 to all Skills
+160% Increased Damage
+9 to the Minimum Damage
+9 to Damage Maximum
+250 Attack Rating
7% Life Stolen per Hit
25 Deadly Strike
+10 to Strength
Restore Life +10
+2 to Mana after every kill
+2 to Light Radius
This is an excellent Rune Word for fast attacking melee weapons. Nagas, Knouts, War Scepters, and Divine Scepters are all great options in these Rune Word. Since this weapon isn’t equipped to improve attack speed (IAS), it is recommended to look for IAS on your weapon to compensate.
Peace
ShaelThulAmn
The Runes that are required: Shael — Thul -Amnon – Amn
Level Requirement: 29
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots Chest Armor
4% Chance to Cast level 5. Low Missiles After being hit
A 2% Chance to Get 2% Chance to Cast 15 Level Valkyrie While Striking
+2 to Amazon Skill Levels
+20% Speedier Hit Recovery
2 To Critical Strike
Cold Resists +30 percent
Attacker Inflicts Damage to 14
Fantastic Rune Word for Amazons that are of low level. This is the lowest class-specific Rune Word armor in the game.
Insight
RalTirTalSol
The Runes that are required: Ral — Tir — Tal -Sol – Sol
Level Requirement: 27
Other Requirements: Ladder Only
Slots Polearms & Staves
Niveau 12–17 The Aura of Meditation When equipped (varies)
+35 percent Faster Cast Rate
+200-260% Increased Damage (varies)
+9 To Minimum Damage
180-250 Bonus for attack rating (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
+1-6 to Critical Strike (varies)
+5 to all attributes
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
23% More Chance of Being able to get Magic Items
It is a weapon that can be found on each Rune Word list, whether novice, intermediate, or the most potent Rune Words in the game. The reason is that Insight includes Meditation Aura, which grants an incredible mana regeneration. When you put it into the Polearm and attach it to the Act II Mercenary, you’ll share your Meditation Aura with the Mercenary. Another tip: Use an Ethereal Polearm since it won’t be broken when your Mercenary uses it. You’ll be able boost the damage that he suffers!
Spirit
TalThulOrtAmn
Needed Runes Tal — Thul -” Ort -Amnon – Amn
Level Requirements: 25
Other Requirements: Ladder Only
Slots Shields, and Swords
Both
+2 to All Skills
+25-35% faster casting rate (varies)
+55% faster hit recovery
+250 Defense vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)
Shields
Cold Resist +35 percent
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resists +35 percent
Attacker Inflicts Damage to 14
Swords
Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage
The addition of 3-14 Cold Damage (3 Sec, Normal)
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
It is a weapon or shield Rune Word that is popular with players. There is the Crystal Sword in late Normal/Nightmare with four open sockets in case you want to turn it into a weapon. The first shield to use to use this Rune Word is a Monarch that requires level 54.
Edge
TirTalAmn
The Runes that are required: Tir”Tal” — Tal — Amn
Level Requirement: 23
Other Requirements: Ladder Only
Slots Missile weapons (Bows & Crossbows)
15. Level Thorns Aura when equipped
+35% Faster Attack Speed
+320-380% Damage to Demons (varies)
+280% Damage to Undead
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
Prevent Monster Heal
+5-10 to all attributes (varies)
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
Reduces All Vendor Prices 15%
This bow is usually employed as a mule weapon as it cuts the total Vendor prices by 15%. However, it’s also useful for lower-level Necromancers with a Summon in spec. Its Thorns Aura will be very effective for low-level minions. The bow can help the Necromancer to stay afar from his foes.
Although this weapon doesn’t have Raw Enhanced Damage, it does have lots of damage to Demons which can be beneficial in specific game zones such as Chaos Sanctuary Farming in Act 4.
Zephyr
OrtEth
Needed Runes: Ort Eth
Level Requirement: 21
Other Requirements: N/A
Slots Missile-only Weapons (Bows & Crossbows)
77% chance to cast the Level 1. Twister After Hit
+25% faster Run/Walk
+25 percent Increased Attack Speed
+33% of Enhanced Damage
25 percent Target Defense
+66 to attack rating
Adds 1-50 Lightning damage
+25 Defense
Leave a Reply