Rune Word

Rune Words

Rune Word Basics

Rune Words can be a very important and useful part of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction. There are many different varieties of runewords to choose from that can benefit your character, depending upon the class and play style. Some runewords are very easy to create, while others use runes that are extremely rare. Some also require very specific item types, or even class-specific items. It is important to note that the bonuses from the runes themselves are always included in the final runeword, as well as several other modifiers, some of which can be very powerful indeed.

The level requirement of the highest rune used in the runeword is usually the level requirement which your character must meet in order to use the item, but if the level requirement of the base item used is higher than the level requirement of the highest rune, then that level is used instead. This means that the level requirement of a runeword is dynamic, possibly changing with the base item used, and is therefore usually not listed in any runeword listing. Use caution in creating lower end runewords in elite items, as the base item's level will be pretty high.

In order to create a Rune Word, you must have an appropriate non-magical weapon with the correct number of sockets, and insert all the required runes in the correct order. This is needed in order to "spell" the runeword correctly in the item. You cannot use an item with the incorrect number of sockets, nor can magical, rare, set, or unique items be used.

In many cases, the use of an ethereal base item for a runeword is not encouraged, as it's use on your character will usually lead to the item permanently breaking, but since items equipped to mercenaries do not experience durability loss, those such items can be very useful and highly sought after. For example, elite ethereal torso armors with 3 or 4 sockets, and elite ethereal polearms with3, 4, or 5 sockets. Elite ethereal bone helms and diadems are also sometimes desired, for certain mercinary setups.

It should also be mentioned that the costs for repairing the base item will generally skyrocket the moment you insert the full runeword into the item, therefore you WILL want to ensure that the base item is repaired prior to creating the runeword (ethereal items being exempt from this rule, of course). An ethereal runeword cannot be repaired, nor can any spell charges on an ethereal item be recharged.

The creation of "bugged" ethereal elite armors is considered to be bad manners by some players, and ok by others. The Amazon Basin is split on this particular game glitch, though it seems that the game creators do not intend to fix this issue. You will have to decide for yourself on whether you want to take advantage of this issue or not. This glitch takes place when a non-superior ethereal armor (any type of armor, including shields, gloves, boots, helms, belts, and chest) is cubed with the horadric cube recipe that adds sockets to the item. This recipe is only usable on non-superior items. When cubed, the item will gain 1 to 6 sockets randomly (depending on internal item level, which will be equal to the monster's level that dropped the base item). The number of sockets is also limited by the max possible sockets the item type can attain, so for a 4-socket max armor, you have a 1 in 6 chance of a 1, 2, or 3-socket armor as a result, and a 1 in 2 chance of a 4-socket armor as a result.

The glitch that takes place for ethereal armors is that the ethereal +50% armor bonus ends up being applied twice, before whatever runeword bonus you wish to apply. As you may expect, the possible armor bonuses available from using this glitch are phenomenal. Again, it is up to the player to decide for themselves concerning whether to use this glitch or not, and if not, this information can assist you in NOT replicating this game bug accidentally. Items of this nature are commonly referred to as "bugged" or "eth glitched" armors.

Rune Word Listings

Original Rune Words

1.10 Rune Words

1.10 Ladder Only Runewords

1.11 Rune Words

Rune Word Resources

Lists / tables to help decide what rune words to make

Runes.txt (modified)

Rune Name	server	itype			Rune						Mod1				Mod2				Mod3				Mod4				Mod5				Mod6				Mod7
		1	2	3	1	2	3	4	5	6	Code	Param	Min	Max	Code	Param	Min	Max	Code	Param	Min	Max	Code	Param	Min	Max	Code	Param	Min	Max	Code	Param	Min	Max	Code	Param	Min	Max
Ancient's Pledge		shld			Ral	Ort	Tal				res-cold		30	30	res-all		13	13	ac%		50	50	dmg-to-mana		10	10
Black		club	hamm	mace	Thul	Io	Nef				crush		40	40	dmg%		120	120	swing2		15	15	red-mag		2	2	att		200	200	charged	74	12	4
Fury		mele			Jah	Gul	Eth				dmg%		209	209	swing2		40	40	noheal		1	1	openwounds		66	66	lifesteal		6	6	deadly		33	33	skill	147	5	5
Holy Thunder		scep			Eth	Ral	Ort	Tal			dmg%		60	60	dmg-ltng		20	60	dmg-max		10	10	res-ltng		60	60	res-ltng-max		5	5	skill	118	3	3	charged	53	60	7
Honor		mele			Amn	El	Ith	Tir	Sol		dmg%		160	160	regen		10	10	allskills		1	1	att		200	200	deadly		25	25	str		10	10
King's Grace		swor	scep		Amn	Ral	Thul				dmg%		100	100	att		150	150	dmg-demon		100	100	dmg-undead		50	50	att-demon		100	100	att-undead		100	100
Leaf		staf			Tir	Ral					fireskill		3	3	ac/lvl		16	16	res-cold		33	33	skill	41	3	3	skill	36	3	3	skill	37	3	3
Lionheart		tors			Hel	Lum	Fal				str		15	15	vit		20	20	dex		15	15	dmg%		20	20	hp		50	50	res-all		30	30
Lore		helm			Ort	Sol					enr		10	10	allskills		1	1	light		2	2	mana-kill		2	2
Malice		mele			Ith	El	Eth				openwounds		100	100	dmg-ac		-100	-100	noheal		1	1	dmg%		33	33	light		-1	-1	regen		-5	-5
Melody		miss			Shael	Ko	Nef				dmg%		50	50	skilltab	0	3	3	skill	9	3	3	skill	13	3	3	skill	17	3	3	dmg-undead		300	300
Memory		staf			Lum	Io	Sol	Eth			mana%		20	20	red-mag		7	7	ac%		50	50	cast2		33	33	sor		3	3	skill	58	3	3	skill	42	2	2
Nadir		helm			Nef	Tir					ac%		50	50	ac		10	10	light		-3	-3	charged	264	9	13	gold%		-33	-33	str		5	5
Radiance		helm			Nef	Sol	Ith				light		5	5	enr		10	10	vit		10	10	red-mag		3	3	mana		33	33	ac%		75	75
Rhyme		shld			Shael	Eth					block2		20	20	block		20	20	res-all		25	25	nofreeze		1	1	gold%		50	50	mag%		25	25
Silence		weap			Dol	Eld	Hel	Ist	Tir	Vex	manasteal		4	4	stupidity		33	33	dmg%		200	200	swing2		20	20	res-all		75	75	allskills		2	2	balance2		20	20
Smoke		tors			Nef	Lum					ac-miss		250	250	ac%		75	75	res-all		50	50	balance2		20	20	light		-1	-1	charged	72	18	6
Stealth		tors			Tal	Eth					red-mag		3	3	dex		6	6	stam		15	15	move2		25	25	cast2		25	25	balance2		25	25
Steel		swor	axe	mace	Tir	El					swing2		25	25	dmg-min		3	3	dmg-max		3	3	openwounds		50	50	dmg%		20	20
Strength		mele			Amn	Tir					str		20	20	dmg%		35	35	vit		10	10	crush		25	25
Venom		weap			Tal	Dol	Mal				dmg-pois	175	312	312	ignore-ac		1	1	charged	83	27	15	charged	92	11	13	manasteal		7	7
Wealth		tors			Lem	Ko	Tir				gold%		250	250	mag%		100	100
White		wand			Dol	Io					skilltab	7	3	3	red-mag		4	4	cast2		20	20	mana		13	13	skill	68	3	3	skill	84	2	2	skill	69	4	4
Zephyr		miss			Ort	Eth					move2		25	25	swing2		25	25	dmg%		33	33	att		66	66	gethit-skill	240	7	1	ac		25	25
Bound by Duty		tors			Dol	Um	Ber	Ist			res-all		50	50	ac%		70	70	dmg-demon		200	200	dmg-undead		100	100	lifesteal		8	8	allskills		2	2	str		20	20
Bramble		tors			Ral	Ohm	Sur	Eth			balance2		50	50	ac		300	300	aura	Thorns	15	21	heal-kill		13	13	extra-pois		25	50	res-pois		100	100	charged	Spirit of Barbs	33	13
Breath of the Dying		weap			Vex	Hel	El	Eld	Zod	Eth	swing2		60	60	dmg-undead		125	125	lifesteal		12	15	noheal		1	1	kill-skill	Poison Nova	50	20	dmg%		350	400	all-stats		30	30
Call to Arms		weap			Amn	Ral	Mal	Ist	Ohm		swing2		40	40	dmg%		200	240	allskills		1	1	oskill	Battle Command	2	6	oskill	Battle Orders	1	6	oskill	Battle Cry	1	4	regen		12	12
Crescent Moon		axe	swor	pole	Shael	Um	Tir				pierce-ltng		35	35	ignore-ac		1	1	dmg%		180	220	abs-mag		9	11	charged	Summon Spirit Wolf	30	18	hit-skill	Static Field	7	13	hit-skill	Chain Lightning	10	17
Delirium		helm			Lem	Ist	Io				hit-skill	Confuse	11	18	charged	Attract	60	17	gethit-skill	Terror	14	13	ac		261	261	gethit-skill	Mind Blast	6	14	gethit-skill	Delerium Change	1	50	allskills		2	2
Doomsayer		axe	pole	hamm	Hel	Ohm	Um	Lo	Cham		dmg%		280	320	aura	Holy Freeze	12	12	swing2		45	45	noheal		1	1	pierce-cold		40	60	allskills		2	2	hit-skill	Volcano	5	18
Enigma		tors			Jah	Ith	Ber				ac		750	775	heal-kill		14	14	move2		45	45	str/lvl	6			allskills		2	2	mag%/lvl	8			oskill	Teleport	1	1
Stone		tors			Shael	Um	Pul	Lum			ac%		220	260	charged	Clay Golem	16	16	ac-miss		300	300	charged	Molten Boulder	80	16	str		16	16	vit		16	16	balance2		40	40
Eternity		mele			Amn	Ber	Ist	Sol	Sur		dmg%		260	310	indestruct		1	1	slow		33	33	charged	Revive	88	8	regen		16	16	regen-mana		16	16	nofreeze		1	1
Exile's Path		pala			Vex	Ohm	Ist	Dol			block2		30	30	freeze		1	1	ac%		220	260	aura	Defiance	13	16	skilltab	10	2	2	hit-skill	Life Tap	15	5	rep-dur	25
Famine		axe	hamm		Fal	Ohm	Ort	Jah			dmg%		270	320	lifesteal		12	12	swing2		30	30	noheal		1	1	dmg-mag		180	200	dmg-elem	100	50	200	ethereal		1	1
Hand of Justice		weap			Sur	Cham	Amn	Lo			swing2		33	33	dmg%		280	330	aura	Holy Fire	16	16	levelup-skill	Blaze	100	36	death-skill	Meteor	100	48	ignore-ac		1	1	pierce-fire		20	20
Heart of the Oak		staf	mace		Ko	Vex	Pul	Thul			cast2		40	40	charged	Oak Sage	25	4	mana%		15	15	allskills		3	3	regen		20	20	res-all		30	40	charged	Raven	60	14
Kingslayer		swor	axe		Mal	Um	Gul	Fal			swing2		30	30	dmg%		230	270	reduce-ac		25	25	crush		33	33	openwounds		25	25	oskill	Vengeance	1	1	gold%		40	40
Passion		weap			Dol	Ort	Eld	Lem			dmg%		160	210	oskill	Zeal	1	1	att%		50	80	oskill	Berserk	1	1	swing2		25	25	charged	Heart of Wolverine	12	3	stupidity		10	10
Gloom		tors			Fal	Um	Pul				ac%		170	230	res-all		30	30	gethit-skill	Dim Vision	15	3	balance2		10	10	dmg-to-mana		5	5	light		-3	-3	half-freeze		1	1
Sanctuary		shld			Ko	Ko	Mal				block		20	20	block2		20	20	ac%		130	160	ac-miss		250	250	res-all		50	70	balance2		20	20	charged	Slow Missiles	60	12
Chaos		h2h			Fal	Ohm	Um				demon-heal		15	15	dmg%		240	290	dmg-mag		216	471	oskill	Whirlwind	1	1	swing2		35	35	hit-skill	Frozen Orb	9	11	hit-skill	Charged Bolt	11	9
The Beast		axe	scep	hamm	Ber	Tir	Um	Mal	Lum		swing2		40	40	aura	Fanaticism	9	9	dmg%		240	270	str		25	40	charged	Summon Grizzly	5	13	oskill	Wearbear	3	3	oskill	Shape Shifting	3	3
Spirit	1	swor	shld		Tal	Thul	Ort	Amn			balance3		55	55	mana		89	112	ac-miss		250	250	vit		22	22	cast3		25	35	abs-mag		3	8	allskills		2	2
Splendor		shld			Eth	Lum					light		3	3	gold%		50	50	mag%		20	20	ac%		60	100	block2		20	20	cast2		10	10	allskills		1	1
Duress		tors			Shael	Um	Thul				dmg-cold	50	37	133	dmg%		10	20	ac%		150	200	balance2		20	20	openwounds		33	33	crush		15	15	stamdrain		-20	-20
Oath	1	swor	axe	mace	Shael	Pul	Mal	Lum			dmg%		210	340	swing1		30	30	hit-skill	Bone Spirit	30	20	charged	IronGolem	14	17	charged	Heart of Wolverine	20	16	abs-mag		10	15	indestruct		1	1
Obedience	1	pole			Hel	Ko	Thul	Eth	Fal		dmg%		370	370	crush		40	40	kill-skill	enchant	30	21	pierce-fire		25	25	ac		200	300	balance3		40	40	res-all		20	30
Harmony	1	miss			Tir	Ith	Sol	Ko			dmg%		200	275	dmg-elem		55	160	charged	Revive	25	20	aura	Vigor	10	10	oskill	Valkyrie	2	6	regen-mana		20	20	light		2	2
Fortitude	1	weap	tors		El	Sol	Dol	Lo			ac%		200	200	dmg%		300	300	cast3		25	25	gethit-skill	Chilling Armor	20	15	dmg-to-mana		12	12	hp/lvl		8	12	res-all		25	30
Faith	1	miss			Ohm	Jah	Lem	Eld			dmg%		280	280	att%		300	300	dmg-fire		120	120	res-all		15	15	aura	fanaticism	12	15	reanimate	1	10	10	allskills		1	2
Bone		tors			Sol	Um	Um				hit-skill	Bone Spear	15	10	gethit-skill	Bone Armor	15	10	nec		2	2	mana		100	150
Brand	1	miss			Jah	Lo	Mal	Gul			dmg%		260	340	dmg-demon		280	330	hit-skill	Bone Spear	100	18	gethit-skill	Amplify Damage	35	14	knock		1	1	noheal		1	1	explosivearrow		15	15
Death	1	swor	axe		Hel	El	Vex	Ort	Gul		dmg%		300	385	deadly/lvl	4			charged	BloodGolem	15	22	att-skill	Glacial Spike	25	18	death-skill	Chain Lightning	100	44	crush		50	50	indestruct		1	1
Destruction	1	pole	swor		Vex	Lo	Ber	Jah	Ko		dmg%		350	350	dmg-mag		100	180	hit-skill	Molten Boulder	5	23	death-skill	Meteor	100	45	att-skill	Nova	15	22	hit-skill	Volcano	23	12	noheal		1	1
Dragon	1	tors	shld		Sur	Lo	Sol				ac		360	360	ac-miss		230	230	str/lvl	3			hit-skill	Hydra	12	15	gethit-skill	Venom	20	18	aura	Holy Fire	14	14	all-stats		3	5
Dream	1	helm	shld		Io	Jah	Pul				ac		150	220	gethit-skill	Confuse	10	15	mana/lvl	5			res-all		5	20	balance3		20	30	aura	Holy Shock	15	15	mag%		12	25
Edge	1	miss			Tir	Tal	Amn				dmg-demon		320	380	dmg-undead		280	280	swing2		35	35	noheal		1	1	aura	Thorns	15	15	all-stats		5	10	cheap		15	15
Enlightenment		tors			Pul	Ral	Sol				hit-skill	Fire Ball	5	15	gethit-skill	Blaze	5	15	sor		2	2	oskill	Warmth	1	1
Ice	1	miss			Amn	Shael	Jah	Lo			dmg%		140	210	aura	Holy Freeze	18	18	extra-cold		25	30	hit-skill	Frost Nova	25	22	levelup-skill	Blizzard	100	40	pierce-cold		20	20	gold%/lvl	25
Infinity	1	pole			Ber	Mal	Ber	Ist			dmg%		255	325	move3		35	35	vit/lvl	4			aura	Conviction	12	12	kill-skill	Chain Lightning	50	20	pierce-ltng		45	55	charged	Cyclone Armor	30	21
Insight	1	pole	staf		Ral	Tir	Tal	Sol			dmg%		200	260	att%		180	250	mag%		23	23	oskill	Critical Strike	1	6	cast2		35	35	aura	Meditation	12	17	all-stats		5	5
Last Wish	1	swor	hamm	axe	Jah	Mal	Jah	Sur	Jah	Ber	dmg%		330	375	att-skill	Charged Bolt	20	20	hit-skill	Life Tap	10	18	gethit-skill	Fade	6	11	crush		40	50	mag%/lvl	4			aura	Might	17	17
Lawbringer	1	swor	hamm	scep	Amn	Lem	Ko				dmg-cold		130	180	dmg-fire		150	210	aura	Sanctuary	16	18	hit-skill	Decrepify	20	15	ac-miss		200	250	rip		1	1	reduce-ac		50	50
Myth		tors			Hel	Amn	Nef				hit-skill	Taunt	10	1	gethit-skill	Howl	3	1	bar		2	2	regen		10	10
Peace		tors			Shael	Thul	Amn				hit-skill	Valkyrie	2	15	gethit-skill	Slow Missiles	4	5	ama		2	2	oskill	Critical Strike	2	2
Phoenix	1	weap	shld		Vex	Vex	Lo	Jah			dmg%		350	400	ac-miss		350	400	hit-skill	Firestorm	40	22	levelup-skill	Blaze	100	40	pierce-fire		28	28	aura	Redemption	10	15	abs-fire		15	21
Pride	1	pole			Cham	Sur	Io	Lo			dmg-dem/lvl	8			dmg-ltng		50	280	att%		260	300	aura	Concentration	16	20	gethit-skill	Fire Wall	25	17	regen		8	8	gold%/lvl	15
Principle		tors			Ral	Gul	Eld				hit-skill	Holy Bolt	100	5	pal		2	2	life		100	150	dmg-undead		50	50
Prudence		tors			Mal	Tir					ac%		140	170	red-mag		10	10	red-dmg		3	3	res-all		25	35	balance2		25	25	rep-dur	25			light		1	1
Rain		tors			Ort	Mal	Ith				hit-skill	Twister	5	15	gethit-skill	Cyclone Armor	5	15	dru		2	2	mana		100	150
Rift	1	pole	scep		Hel	Ko	Lem	Gul			dmg-mag		160	250	dmg-fire		60	180	dmg-to-mana		38	38	hit-skill	Tornado	20	16	att-skill	Frozen Orb	16	21	charged	Iron Maiden	40	15	all-stats		5	10
Treachery		tors			Shael	Thul	Lem				hit-skill	Venom	25	15	gethit-skill	Fade	5	15	ass		2	2	swing2		45	45
Widowmaker	1	swor	axe		Eth	Tir	Lo	Mal	Ral		dmg-dem/lvl	15			dmg		340	400	swing3		30	40	hit-skill	Venom	35	15	pierce-pois		20	25	ignore-ac		1	1	heal-kill		10	15
Wind		mele			Sur	El					dmg%		120	160	swing2		40	40	move2		20	20	reduce-ac		50	50	hit-skill	245	10	9	charged	240	127	13	balance2		15	15
Winter	1	swor	mace		Lem	Ko	El	Eld			dmg-demon		220	350	dmg-undead		280	300	dmg-cold		100	220	pierce-cold		24	24	hit-skill	Ice Blast	18	20	hit-skill	Frozen Orb	15	13	nofreeze		1	1
Wrath	1	miss			Pul	Lum	Ber	Mal			dmg-demon		300	300	dmg-undead		250	300	dmg-ltng		41	240	dmg-mag		85	120	hit-skill	Life Tap	5	10	hit-skill	decrepify	30	1	nofreeze		1	1