All you need to know about runes and runewords in Diablo 2: Resurrected

Runes and the runewords they create when combined properly are an integral part of Diablo 2: Resurrected. Here’s what you need to know.

Runes and runewords were introduced in Diablo 2’s expansion Lord of Destruction. Whereas in the base Diablo 2 game you had to rely on unique weapons and armor for end-game gear, this new ranked system gave the game an entirely new feel. Now you could find runes anywhere in the game, to be traded or hoarded to create powerful runewords. Since Diablo 2: Resurrected folds in the base game and the expansion, runes will play a huge role in the online economy and in the power ranking of your characters. Let’s take a look at how runes work, what runes afford what abilities, and how to create runewords. This guide also includes a full list of the runewords available in Diablo 2: Resurrected.

Diablo 2: Resurrected runes and abilities

A Ral rune and its effects when socketed into an item.

Single runes can drop anywhere in Diablo 2: Resurrected, starting in Normal difficulty through to Hell difficulty. Runes are socketable items, just like gems, meaning you can put them into socketed gear to receive their effects. However, the real magic of runes comes when you combine them in a specific order in a specific item. Runewords, as they’re called, are some of the most powerful items in the game, right up there with set items and uniques. A full list of runewords can be found in the next section.

Mid and high runes should not be parted with easily. They are incredibly rare and can fetch a lot of loot in the game’s online economy.

Runes can also be used in certain Horadric Cube recipes. For example, you can combine a Ral rune with a damaged piece of gear to repair it. This is a great trick when you’re low on gold and can’t afford repairs at a vendor. Runes can also be combined together in the Horadric Cube; this is colloquially called “cubing up” and it is a common way to get to the next level rune without having to find it in the wild. For example, if you have three El runes and need an Eld rune, you can place the three El runes in the Cube and hit the transmute button. Out will pop an Eld rune. This upgrade recipe is included in the rune chart below.

The Hellforge quest in Act 4 will always drop some runes, and it is often used as payment for a rush through the acts. The Countess, found at the bottom of the Forgotten Tower in Act 1’s Black Marsh, is another great source of runes.

Notice how the Ist rune socketed into this unique Harlequin Crest boost my magic find stat considerably.

Because runes have a set rarity moving from the most common (El) up to the rarest (Zod), they’re often used as the economy in Diablo 2. El through Lem are generally considered low runes, Pul through Gul are generally considered mid runes, and Vex through Zod are generally considered high runes. If you find mid or high runes in your travels, be sure to not part with them easily!

Following is a chart with all of Diablo 2: Resurrected runes and their effects.

Rune	Name	Min. level	Weapon effect	Armor effect	Upgrade recipe
	El	11	+50 attack rating +1 light radius	+15 defense +1 light radius	—
	Eld	11	+75% damage to undead +50 attack rating against undead	15% slower stamina drain +7% chance to block (shield)	3 El
	Tir	13	+2 mana after each kill	+2 mana after each kill	3 Eld
	Nef	13	Knockback	+30 missile defense	3 Tir
	Eth	15	-25% target defense	+15% mana regeneration	3 Nef
	Ith	15	+9 maximum damage	15% damage taken goes to mana	3 Eth
	Tal	17	+75 poison damage over 5 seconds	+30% poison resist +35% poison resist (shield)	3 Ith
	Ral	19	Add 5-30 fire damage	+30% fire resist +35% fire resist (shield)	3 Tal
	Ort	21	Add 1-50 lightning damage	+30% lightning resist +35% lightning resist (shield)	3 Ral
	Thul	23	Add 3-14 cold damage (3 seconds)	+30% cold resist +35% cold resist (shield)	3 Ort
	Amn	25	7% life stolen per hit	Attacker takes damage of 14	3 Thul Chipped topaz
	Sol	27	+9 minimum damage	Damage reduced by 7	3 Amn Chipped amethyst
	Shael	29	20% increased attack speed	20% faster hit recovery 20% faster block rate (shield)	3 Sol Chipped sapphire
	Dol	31	Hit causes monster to flee (25%)	+7 replenish life	3 Shael Chipped ruby
	Hel	—	-20% requirements	-15% requirements	3 Dol Chipped emerald
	Io	35	+10 vitality	+10 vitality	3 Hel Chipped diamond
	Lum	37	+10 energy	+10 energy	3 Io Flawed topaz
	Ko	39	+10 dexterity	+10 dexterity	3 Lum Flawed amethyst
	Fal	41	+10 strength	+10 strength	3 Ko Flawed sapphire
	Lem	43	75% extra gold from monsters	50% extra gold from monsters	3 Fal Flawed ruby
	Pul	45	+75% damage to demons +100 attack rating against demons	+30% enhanced defense	3 Lem Flawed emerald
	Um	47	25% chance of open wounds	+15 all resistances +22 all resistances (shield)	2 Pul Flawed diamond
	Mal	49	Prevent monster heal	Magic damage reduced by 7	2 Um Topaz
	Ist	51	+30% better magic find	+25% better magic find	2 Mal Amethyst
	Gul	53	+20% bonus to attack rating	+5% to maximum poison resist	2 Ist Sapphire
	Vex	55	7% mana stolen per hit	+5% to maximum fire resist	2 Gul Ruby
	Ohm	57	+50% enhanced damage	+5% to maximum cold resist	2 Vex Emerald
	Lo	59	+20% deadly strike	+5% to maximum lightning resist	2 Ohm Diamond
	Sur	61	Hit blinds target	+5% maximum mana +50 mana (shields)	2 Lo Flawless topaz
	Ber	63	+20% chance of crushing blow	Damage reduced by 8%	2 Sur Flawless amethyst
	Jah	65	Ignore target’s defense	+5% maximum life +50 life (shield)	2 Ber Flawless sapphire
	Cham	67	Freeze target +3	Cannot be frozen	2 Jah Flawless ruby
	Zod	69	Indestructible	Indestructible	2 Cham Flawless emerald

Diablo 2: Resurrected runewords explained

The Enigma runeword is one of the most powerful in the game due to its +1 to Teleport stat. It’s not, however, easy to create.

Runewords are some of the most powerful items you can craft in Diablo 2: Resurrected, though they do take quite a bit of work to accomplish. You must first find the proper runes to create the runeword, then you must find the corresponding weapon, shield, or armor that can accept the runeword. The item must have the exact number of open sockets for the runeword to work, and the runes must be placed into the socketed item in the correct order. The item must also be plain (white); magic (blue), rare (yellow), unique (gold), and set (green) items with the right amount of sockets will not work for runewords.

For this reason, you need to take great care when creating a runeword. Double- and triple-check the item type is proper — for example, the Insight runeword can be created in polearms and staves but not spears — and lay out the runes in the proper order before socketing them into the item.

There are a few intricacies when it comes to weapon and armor types that you should make note of. “Body armor” only includes items worn on your torso. General “armor” includes shields, boots, gloves, helms, etc. Hammers will not work with runewords meant for maces. “Melee weapons” do not include ranged weapons, like bows and crossbows. Orbs are also not considered melee weapons.

This Infinity runeword is made for a mercenary so I used an Ethereal base to get a nice boost to base damage.

When creating runewords, many have variable stats that determine how good of a roll you’ve created. A perfect runeword roll is always worth a lot more than an imperfect roll. In the same sense, using the best runeword base (an item with sockets) possible is always recommended. For example, if you’re creating a runeword to equip on a mercenary, always use an Ethereal base. Mercenary weapons and armor don’t lose durability, so you can get the stat boost from the Ethereal property and not worry about it ever breaking. Every little boost to stats counts in Diablo 2: Resurrected.

Runewords can be equipped on any type of character. They will receive the runeword’s bonuses unless otherwise stated. That means you can equip, say, a Beast runeword on a Sorceress and give her the ability to turn into a Werebear. This diversifies builds and gives players plenty of options when it comes to fun playstyles.

Following is a list of runewords that are available in Diablo 2: Resurrected, as well as which items work and which runes are required.

There are also a number of runewords only available to those who choose to participate in the online ladder system. These runewords won’t be available to players who are playing offline singleplayer.

Whether you’re completely new to the game or are coming back after an extended hiatus, I’ve also put together this collection of 15 beginner tips and tricks for Diablo 2: Resurrected. And if you’re worried you won’t be able to run the game to its full potential, have a look at the best laptops for playing Diablo 2: Resurrected.

It’s finally here

Diablo 2: Resurrected

More than a fresh coat of paint

Preorder Diablo 2: Resurrected now and get the original Diablo 2 and its Lord of Destruction expansion included. Preorder now on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch.

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