Page last updated: 01 March 2022 07:58
Rune words
Diablo 2 Rune words
Here are some facts about the Diablo 2 Rune words:
- When you create a Rune Word you still receive all of the magical bonuses that were already on each Rune you Socketed.
- Socketed Items must have the exact number of sockets as the Rune Word formula requires. If the Rune Word is a 3 Rune formula then you must use an item with exactly 3 sockets. A 4 socket item will not work with a 3 socket formula.
- The Socketed Item type must be the correct item type for the formula. If the formula requires a sword, the formula will not work if you use an axe or spear.
- Rune Words will only work in Socketed non-magical items. This means that Set Items, Unique Items, or Magic Items with enough Sockets and the proper item type will not allow or convert to Rune Words. Again, they will not work on Magic, Set, Unique or Rare items. So if you have a Mechanic's (or Jewelers item) piece of armor with 2 slots, the Stealth will not work on it because it's magical.
- The correct Runes for a formula must be used. If one of the Runes is wrong you receive the bonuses of the Runes inserted but it does not become a Rune Word.
- The Rune
looks a lot like LO. Make sure you use the correct one. - Rune Words will not work in Wirt's Leg
- The Runes must be placed in the correct order. You can have the correct Socketed item, correct runes and still not
activate the Rune Word if you do not socket the Runes in the correct order. This is because you're trying to spell
the "Rune Word" correctly and you have spelled it incorrectly. Example: "RalOrtTal". You must first place
, then 
, then finally 
into the Socketed Item.
- Do not place the runes into Blue or Rare items. Only Superior and normal white items.
- You need the right patch for the formulae to work. Make sure you have the latest patch.
Original Runewords
These are the original rune words that shipped with Diablo 2. Later in patch 1.10 and 1.11 more were added.
| Original Rune Words | Allowed Items | Rune Order | Completed Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient's Pledge | 3 Socket Shields | + + |
+50% Enhanced Defense Cold Resist +43% Fire Resist +48% Lightning Resist +48% Poison Resist +48% 10% Damage Goes To Mana |
| Black | 3 Socket Maces(Hammers,Clubs,Maces) |  + +  |
+120% Enhanced Damage +200 To Attack Rating Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 40% Chance Of Crushing Blow Knockback +10 To Vitality Magic Damage Reduced By 2 Level 4 Corpse Explosion (12/12 Charges) |
| Fury | 3 Socket Melee Weapons |  +  +  |
+209% Enhanced Damage 40% Increased Attack Speed Prevent Monster Heal 66% Chance Of Open Wounds 33% Deadly Strike Ignore Target's Defense -25% Target Defense 20% Bonus To Attack Rating 6% Life Stolen Per Hit +5 To Frenzy (Barbarian Only) |
| Holy Thunder | 4 Socket Scepters | + + + |
+60% Enhanced Damage -25% Target Defense Adds 5-30 Fire Damage Adds 21-110 Lightning Damage +75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds +10 To Maximum Damage Lightning Resistance +60% +5 To Maximum Lightning Resistance +3 To Holy Shock (Paladin Only) Level 7 Chain Lightning (60 Charges) |
| Honor | 5 Socket Melee Weapons |  +  +  +  +  |
+160% Enhanced Damage +9 To Minimum Damage +9 To Maximum Damage 25% Deadly Strike +250 To Attack Rating +1 to All Skills 7% Life Stolen Per Hit Replenish Life +10 +10 To Strength +1 To Light Radius +2 To Mana After Each Kill |
| King's Grace | 3 Socket Swords/Scepters | + + |
+100% Enhanced Damage +100% Damage To Demons +50% Damage To Undead Adds 5-30 Fire Damage Adds 3-14 Cold Damage - 3 Second Duration +150 To Attack Rating +100 To Attack Rating Against Demons +100 To Attack Rating Against Undead 7% Life Stolen Per Hit |
| Leaf | 2 Socket Staves* (Not Orbs) | + |
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage +3 To Fire Skills +3 To Fire Bolt (Sorceress Only) +3 To Inferno (Sorceress Only) +3 To Warmth (Sorceress Only) +2 To Mana After Each Kill + (2 Per Character Level) +2-198 To Defense (Based On Character Level) Cold Resist +33% |
| Lionheart | 3 Socket Body Armor |  +  +  |
+20% Enhanced Damage Requirements -15% +25 To Strength +10 To Energy +20 To Vitality +15 To Dexterity +50 To Life All Resistances +30 |
| Lore | 2 Socket Helms | + |
+1 To All Skill Levels +10 To Energy +2 To Mana After Each Kill Lightning Resist +30% Damage Reduced By 7 +2 To Light Radius |
| Malice | 3 Socket Melee Weapons | + + |
+33% Enhanced Damage +9 To Maximum Damage 100% Chance Of Open Wounds -25% Target Defense -100 To Monster Defense Per Hit Prevent Monster Heal +50 To Attack Rating Drain Life -5 |
| Melody | 3 Socket Missile Weapons |  +  + |
+50% Enhanced Damage +300% Damage To Undead +3 To Bow and Crossbow Skills (Amazon Only) +3 To Critical Strike (Amazon Only) +3 To Dodge (Amazon Only) +3 To Slow Missiles (Amazon Only) 20% Increased Attack Speed +10 To Dexterity Knockback |
| Memory | 4 Socket Staves (Not Orbs) | + + + |
+3 to Sorceress Skill Levels 33% Faster Cast Rate Increase Maximum Mana 20% +3 Energy Shield (Sorceress Only) +2 Static Field (Sorceress Only) +10 To Energy +10 To Vitality +9 To Minimum Damage -25% Target Defense Magic Damage Reduced By 7 +50% Enhanced Defense |
| Nadir | 2 Socket Helms | + |
+50% Enhanced Defense +10 Defense +30 Defense vs. Missile Level 13 Cloak of Shadows (9 Charges) +2 To Mana After Each Kill +5 To Strength -33% Extra Gold From Monsters -3 To Light Radius |
| Radiance | 3 Socket Helms | + + |
+75% Enhanced Defense +30 Defense Vs. Missile +10 To Energy +10 To Vitality 15% Damage Goes To Mana Magic Damage Reduced By 3 +33 To Mana Damage Reduced By 7 +5 To Light Radius |
| Rhyme | 2 Socket Shields | + |
20% Increased Chance of Blocking 40% Faster Block Rate All Resistances +25 Regenerate Mana 15% Cannot Be Frozen 50% Extra Gold From Monsters 25% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items |
| Silence | 6 Socket Weapons |  +  + +  + +  |
200% Enhanced Damage +75% Damage To Undead Requirements -20% 20% Increased Attack Speed +50 To Attack Rating Against Undead +2 To All Skills All Resistances +75 20% Faster Hit Recovery 11% Mana Stolen Per Hit Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25% Hit Blinds Target +33 +2 To Mana After Each Kill 30% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items |
| Smoke | 2 Socket Body Armor | + |
+75% Enhanced Defense +280 Defense Vs. Missile All Resistances +50 20% Faster Hit Recovery Level 6 Weaken (18 Charges) +10 To Energy -1 To Light Radius |
| Stealth | 2 Socket Body Armor | + |
Magic Damage Reduced By 3 +6 To Dexterity +15 To Maximum Stamina Poison Resist +30% Regenerate Mana 15% 25% Faster Run/Walk 25% Faster Cast Rate 25% Faster Hit Recovery |
| Steel | 2 Socket Swords/Axes/Maces | + |
20% Enhanced Damage +3 To Minimum Damage +3 To Maximum Damage +50 To Attack Rating 50% Chance Of Open Wounds 25% Increased Attack Speed +2 To Mana After Each Kill +1 To Light Radius |
| Strength | 2 Socket Melee Weapons | + |
35% Enhanced Damage 25% Chance Of Crushing Blow 7% Life Stolen Per Hit +2 To Mana After Each Kill +20 To Strength +10 To Vitality |
| Venom | 3 Socket Weapons | + +  |
Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25% Prevent Monster Heal Ignore Target's Defense 7% Mana Stolen Per Hit Level 15 Poison Explosion (27 Charges) Level 13 Poison Nova (11 Charges) +273 Poison Damage Over 6 seconds |
| Wealth | 3 Socket Body Armor |  + + |
300% Extra Gold From Monsters 100% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items +2 To Mana After Each Kill +10 To Dexterity |
| White | 2 Socket Wand | + |
Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25% +10 To Vitality +3 To Poison And Bone Skills (Necromancer Only) +3 To Bone Armor (Necromancer Only) +2 To Bone Spear (Necromancer Only) +4 To Skeleton Mastery (Necromancer Only) Magic Damage Reduced By 4 20% Faster Cast Rate +13 To Mana |
| Zephyr | 2 Socket Missile Weapons | + |
+33% Enhanced Damage +66 To Attack Rating Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage -25% Target Defense +25 Defense 25% Faster Run/Walk 25% Increased Attack Speed 7% Chance To Cast Level 1 Twister When Struck |
Source: http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/runewords-original.shtml
Page link: https://www.diablo-2.net/runes/original-runewords