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Diablo 2: Resurrected’s Runewords are powerful items that can drastically improve a character’s viability. The remaster carries this feature over from the original Diablo 2, as Diablo 2: Resurrected’s improved visuals and small quality-of-life changes keep the core of its loot-based gameplay the same.
Runewords are special combinations of runes that, when placed into a piece of Diablo 2: Resurrected gear in the right order, grant the user additional bonuses. Attaching a Runeword to an item comes with a few caveats: For starters, Runewords can only be used on non-magic, grey-text (Normal, Exceptional, or Elite), socketed gear, and only chest, helms, shields, and (most) weapons can have sockets. The Runeword must match the exact number of sockets on the gear piece, so a three-part Runeword can only be placed into a three-socket item. Runewords must also be placed in a specific order to spell the desired word, or else the item will simply be a piece of gear with three individual runes.
While there are far too many Diablo 2: Resurrected Runewords to detail here, players leveling through the game for the first time will want to seek out a few standouts. Each of these Runewords can be obtained fairly easily before reaching level 30, and many of them are still effective in later levels of the game, depending on the gear being used.
Diablo 2: Resurrected Best Early-Game Chest Armor Runeword
Stealth (TalEth)
Stealth is a strong chest armor Runeword that is easy to get fairly early. Due to its 25% Faster Cast Rate bonus and 15% Regenerate Mana bonus, it’s a great choice for casting classes, and its +6 To Dexterity also makes it useful early-game for characters focused on Dexterity. The Runeword can be formed with the Tal and Eth runes, which can be farmed from The Countess boss in Act 1.
Diablo 2: Resurrected Best Early-Game Helm Runeword
Lore (OrtSol)
Lore is one of the most universally usefully early Runewords, thanks to it granting a +1 bonus to all skills, regardless of class. This helm Runeword is essential for characters just starting Diablo 2: Resurrected. Lore is formed using the Ort and Sol runes.
Diablo 2: Resurrected Best Early-Game Shield Runewords
Ancient’s Pledge (RalOrtTal)
Ancient’s Pledge is a bit of a no-brainer for shield users, as the runes used to create it are simply given out to players after completing the “Rescue on Mount Arreat” quest in Diablo 2: Resurrected Act V. The Runeword grants +50% Enhanced Defense, +43% Cold Resist, and and +48% to Fire, Lightning, and Poison. Ancient’s Pledge is formed with the Ral, Ort, and Tal runes.
Rhyme (ShaelEth)
Another useful shield Runeword, Rhyme grants some great defensive bonuses, including the fantastic “Cannot be frozen” effect and +25% to all resistances, plus 25% extra Magic Find. Rhyme is formed using the Shael Eth runes.
Spirit (TalThulOrtAmn)
Spirit is incredibly powerful, thanks to its Faster Cast Rate bonus, strong resistances, and +2 to all skills. It can only be used in swords and shields, which unfortunately makes it less versatile, especially as four-socket shields that aren’t exclusive to Diablo 2: Resurrected’s Paladin class are hard to come by. That said, it’s a Runeword that can take players all the way to the endgame, making it one of the best Runewords in Diablo 2: Resurrected. It’s formed with the Tal, Thul, Ort, and Amn runes.
Diablo 2: Resurrected Best Early-Game Weapon Runewords
Steel (TirEl)
Steel has the lowest level requirement of any Runeword, usable starting at level 1. It’s easy for Diablo 2: Resurrected players to put together, though it will likely be replaced before too long. It can be used on axes, maces, or swords, but its +50 to Attack Rating, 50% chance of Open Wounds, and 25% Increased Attack Speed make it work best with a faster weapon, like a sabre. Steel is formed with the Tir and El runes.
Strength (AmnTir)
Strength is great for melee-focused characters thanks to its Crushing Blow and Life Steal bonuses, and it’s useful just because of how many different weapon types in can be slotted into. Strength is formed with the Amn and Tir runes.
Insight (RalTirTalSol)
Insight, which can be equipped in staves and polearms, is among the best Runewords in the whole game. Its Meditation Aura effect, which grants fantastic mana regeneration, is amazing on its own, but Insight also grants Faster Cast Rate and Magic Find bonuses, making it an ideal pick for casters. Insight is formed with the Ral, Tir, Tal, and Sol runes.
Insight is also one of the best Runewords to equip on the mercenary acquired in Act 2; since the Act 2 mercenary is the one every Diablo 2: Resurrected class will use for the majority of the game, giving them Insight’s passive Meditation Aura is a great way to boost both the mercenary and the player’s power.
Zephyr (OrtEth)
This Runeword is for bow users, and it’s one of the most powerful early Runewords available. Zephyr brings strong damage bonuses to the table, with extra damage, Lightning damage, and improved Attack Rating and Speed. It can be used starting at level 21, and it’s not too hard to find a two-socket bow around that level, making Zephyr a perfect first weapon Runeword for Amazons. Zephyr is formed with the Ort and Eth runes.
Leaf (TirRal)
Leaf is a great weapon Runeword for casters wielding Fire Skills, though it is only usable on staves. This Runeword grants extra damage to Fire Skills, as well as +3 to all Fire Skills. It also grants extra skills to a number of fire-specific Diablo 2: Resurrected Sorceress abilities. If building a fire-caster, Leaf is definitely worth seeking out, and it can be used starting at level 19. The only downside is that, since it requires a two-handed staves, Leaf users will have to forego a shield and lose some survivability. Leaf is formed with the Tir and Ral runes.
Diablo 2: Resurrected is available now on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PlayStation and Xbox consoles.