Collecting Runes and crafting Runewords are some of the most interesting parts of the loot system in Diablo 2. With options for every class, mercenary, and level range, Runewords are not only fun to make, but they are vital. As soon as you start finding runes, you should look to make some of these Runewords.
Rather than the most powerful Runewords, the entries below consist of the most valuable options. These items vary in rarity and may be good for early, mid, or late-game. Although Last Wish and Phoenix are great Runewords, their rarity outweighs their usefulness for this list.
10 Duress
Physical damage dealers around the Nightmare Difficulty would be wise to make to a Duress. This 3-socket Runeword gives you Faster Hit Recovery, Enhanced Damage, and Cold Damage. In addition to that, you get Crushing Blow, Open Wounds, massive Defense, and All Res.
Amazons and Barbarians are particularly strong with a Duress and all mercs outside of Act 3 can use it as a hand-me-down. Duress is considered a mid-to-low-tier Runeword, using Shael, Um, & Thul. The Shael and Thul you should be able to find easily enough, the Um will have to come from your Hell Hellforge or through pure luck.
9 Rhyme
Rhyme is an early game Runeword that can be useful for a significant part of the game. In a 2-open-socket shield, putting in a Shael & Eth will grant you strong benefits. Some of the highlights include +25 to All Resistances, Regenerate Mana 15%, 25% Magic Find, and Cannot Be Frozen.
While the other stats are welcomed and make the item stronger, the resistances and thawing are very powerful. Rhyme is well worth making as it requires low runes and can be equipped on a Level 29 character.
8 Smoke
As you progress into Nightmare and Hell, your Resistances will keep taking hits. While you’re leveling up and searching for better gear, Smoke is a convenient way to keep your Resistances high. With +50 to All Res and 20% Faster Hit Recovery, Smoke can keep you sturdy until the late game.
If you’re having resistance issues heading into the final stages of the game, a Smoke could really help out. If it only had +1 or 2 to Skills, this would be one of the best armors in the game.
7 Lore
With +1 Skills, +10 Energy, and +2 Mana After Kill, Lore is fantastic on casters. Sorceresses, Elemental Druids, and Hammerdins are among the classes who make one as soon as they can. Lore also comes equipped with Lightning Res, Damage Reduction, and a very accessible Level 27 requirement.
Runewords are very rarely strong on all characters, but Lore is the exception that defies the norm. While Lore is especially good on casters, it can still be better than any other helm you’ll be able to find in the early game.
6 Stealth
In 2-socket body armor, the low runes Tal & Eth can make one of the best pieces for the early game. Easily found from Normal Countess or just throughout your journey, Tal & Eth is basically free. If you can pick up a 2-os Breastplate as a base, your Stealth armor can last all the way through Nightmare.
By the time you find a better armor than Stealth, you’ll have already forgotten that it’s still equipped. The 25% Faster Run/Walk and Faster Hit Recovery will be missed once they’re gone and the 25% Faster Cast Rate is amazing for casters.
5 Insight
Every class needs mana and some builds are reliant on a steady incoming stream of it. With the Meditation Aura from Insight, you can regenerate mana passively and quickly. Best crafted in a Polearm or Bow, Insight is one of the best weapons you can give your Act 1 or Act 2 mercenary.
Insight uses the low runes Ral, Tir, Tal, & Sol, all of which are easily farmable from the Normal Countess. Not only is it accessible, but Insight is also strong enough to be any class’ merc weapon for the entire game.
4 Spirit
Spirit is a caster’s dream come true, an item that you can make early in the game, and it will last until the very end. Spirit grants +2 to All Skills, +25-35% Faster Cast Rate, and +89-112 mana, which are all very valuable to the caster classes.
Many caster classes will use a Crystal Sword in the early game and add a 2nd Spirit once they can meet the high requirements of a Monarch Shield. Paladins can use their class-specific shields to make their 2nd Spirit much quicker.
3 Fortitude
One of the best body armor in the game is the Runeword – Fortitude. By adding +300% Enhanced Damage, +200% Defense, and +25-30 All Res, Fortitude is both beefy and powerful. Along with many other beneficial stats, Fortitude is strong because of how well-rounded it is.
Some class builds like Frenzy Barb and Smiter Pali are excellent candidates to wear a Fortitude. But, it shines the brightest on an Act 2 mercenary. With Fortitude on your merc, not only will it die far less often, but it will help you more with the damage too.
2 Call To Arms
Call to Arms is one of the strongest items in the game because of its versatility. Able to hide away on your 2nd set of weapons – CTA can be swapped to and used, then swapped away. It allows the user to cast Battle Orders and Battle Command, both of which are powerful spells that are normally only seen on a Barbarian.
Although it takes expensive runes to build, no character is at its peak until they have one. Particularly if you plan to play a few different classes, Call To Arms is a perfect use of your runes to make an item that is so versatile.
1 Enigma
Enigma, like Call to Arms, is expensive but worth every penny. With +2 to All Skills, +45% Faster Run/Walk, and massive increases to your survivability, Enigma is an incredibly strong body armor. Its true power, however, lies in its ability to grant any class +1 To Teleport.
With an Enigma, any class can Teleport around the battlefield, becoming as mobile as a Sorceress. Hammerdins, Amazons, and Barbarians are no longer burdened with the mundane task of walking. If you get an Enigma, you can farm back whatever resources it cost you with ease.
