18 early Rune Words you need to know in Diablo 2: Resurrected

Sep 24, 2021

Diablo is back, again. It’s been more than 20 years since its initial release, and many fans have been waiting for its remake. Even so, most of you would probably have forgotten the Rune Words you’ll need in your adventure. So for those who forgot what they are, and for those who are new to Diablo 2, here are some important Rune Words that are extremely helpful in your first run. Just one thing to remember — make sure you insert the runes in the correct order and on the correct equipment!

Name	Level	Equipment	Rune Word	Attributes
Nadir	13	Helm	Nef + Tir	+50% Enhanced Defense +10 Defense +30 Defense vs. Missile +5 To Strength +2 To Mana After Each Kill -33% Extra Gold From Monsters -3 To Light Radius Level 13 Cloak of Shadows (9 Charges)
Steel	13	Sword Axe Mace	Tir + El	+25% Increased Attack Speed +20% Enhanced Damage +3 To Minimum Damage +3 To Maximum Damage +50 To Attack Rating 50% Chance Of Open Wounds +2 To Mana After Each Kill +1 To Light Radius
Malice	15	Melee Weapon	Ith + El +Eth	+33% Enhanced Damage +9 To Maximum Damage -25% Target Defense +50 To Attack Rating 100% Chance Of Open Wounds Prevent Monster Heal -100 To Monster Defense Per Hit Drain Life -5
Stealth	17	Body Armor	Tal + Eth	25% Faster Run/Walk 25% Faster Cast Rate 25% Faster Hit Recovery +6 To Dexterity Regenerate Mana 15% +15 To Maximum Stamina Poison Resist +30% Magic Damage Reduced By 3
Leaf	19	Staff	Tir + Ral	+3 To Fire Skills Adds 5-30 Fire Damage +3 To Inferno (Sorceress Only) +3 To Warmth (Sorceress Only) +3 To Fire Bolt (Sorceress Only) + (2 Per Character Level) +2-198 To Defense (Based On Character Level) Cold Resist +33% +2 To Mana After Each Kill
Ancient’s Pledge	21	Shield	Ral + Ort + Tal	+50% Enhanced Defense Cold Resist +43% Lightning Resist +48% Fire Resist +48% Poison Resist +48% 10% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
Holy Thunder	21	Scepter	Eth + Ral + Ort + Tal	+60% Enhanced Damage +10 To Maximum Damage -25% Target Defense Adds 5-30 Fire Damage Adds 21-110 Lightning Damage +75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds +3 To Holy Shock (Paladin Only) +5 To Maximum Lightning Resistance Lightning Resistance +60% Level 7 Chain Lightning (60 Charges)
Zephyr	21	Missle Weapon	Ort + Eth	7% Chance To Cast Level 1 Twister When Struck 25% Faster Run/Walk 25% Increased Attack Speed +33% Enhanced Damage -25% Target Defense +66 To Attack Rating Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage +25 Defense
King’s Grace	25	Sword Scepter	Amn + Ral + Thul	+100% Enhanced Damage +150 To Attack Rating +100% Damage To Demons +100 To Attack Rating Against Demons +50% Damage To Undead +100 To Attack Rating Against Undead Adds 5-30 Fire Damage Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 7% Life Stolen Per Hit
Strength	25	Melee Weapon	Amn + Tir	35% Enhanced Damage 7% Life Stolen Per Hit 25% Chance Of Crushing Blow +20 To Strength +10 To Vitality +2 To Mana After Each Kill
Edge	25	Missle Weapon	Tir + Tal + Amn	Level 15 Thorns Aura When Equipped +35% Increased Attack Speed +320-380% Damage To Demons +280% Damage To Undead +75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds 7% Life Stolen Per Hit Prevent Monster Heal +5-10 To All Attributes +2 To Mana After Each Kill Reduces All Vendor Prices 15%
Spirit	25	Sword, Shield	Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn	(Sword) +2 To All Skills +25-35% Faster Cast Rate +55% Faster Hit Recovery Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage Adds 3-14 Cold Damage +75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds 7% Life Stolen Per Hit +250 Defense Vs. Missile +22 To Vitality +89-112 To Mana +3-8 Magic Absorb (Shield) +2 To All Skills +25-35% Faster Cast Rate +55% Faster Hit Recovery +250 Defense Vs. Missile +22 To Vitality +89-112 To Mana Cold Resist +35% Lightning Resist +35% Poison Resist +35% +3-8 Magic Absorb Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Lore	27	Helm	Ort + Sol	+1 To All Skills +10 To Energy Lightning Resist +30% Damage Reduced By 7 +2 To Mana After Each Kill +2 To Light Radius
Honor	27	Melee Weapon	Amn + El + Ith + Tir + Sol	+1 to All Skills +160% Enhanced Damage +9 to Minimum Damage +9 to Maximum Damage +250 to Attack Rating 7% Life stolen per Hit 25% Deadly Strike +10 to Strength +10 Replenish Life +2 to Mana after each Kill +1 to Light Radius
Insight	27	Polearm Staff	Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol	Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped +35% Faster Cast Rate +200-260% Enhanced Damage +9 To Minimum Damage 180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating Adds 5-30 Fire Damage +75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds +1-6 To Critical Strike +5 To All Attributes +2 To Mana After Each Kill 23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Radiance	27	Helm	Nef + Sol + Ith	+75% Enhanced Defense +30 Defense Vs. Missile +10 To Vitality +10 To Energy +33 To Mana Damage Reduced By 7 Magic Damage Reduced By 3 15% Damage Goes To Mana +5 To Light Radius
Rhyme	29	Shield	Shael + Eth	40% Faster Block Rate 20% Increased Chance of Blocking Regenerate Mana 15% All Resistances +25 Cannot Be Frozen 50% Extra Gold From Monsters 25% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items
Peace	29	Body Armor	Shael + Thul + Amn	4% Chance To Cast Level 5 Slow Missiles When Struck 2% Chance To Cast Level 15 Valkyrie On Striking +2 To Amazon Skill Levels +20% Faster Hit Recovery +2 To Critical Strike Cold Resist +30% Attacker Takes Damage of 14

It is possible to make these Rune Word items from the runes obtainable from the Countess in Normal and Nightmare levels. The Countess guarantees at least one drop, so some Countess runs may be in line for those who want to build these items.

Here are the Runes the Countess drops by difficulty.

Difficulty	Runes
Normal	El, Eld, Tir, Nef, Eth, Ith, Tal, Ral
Nightmare	El, Eld, Tir, Nef, Eth, Ith, Tal, Ral, Ort, Thul, Amn, Sol, Shael, Dol, Hel, Io, Lum, Ko
Hell	El, Eld, Tir, Nef, Eth, Ith, Tal, Ral, Ort, Thul, Amn, Sol, Shael, Dol, Hel, Io, Lum, Ko, Fal, Lem, Pul, Um, Mal, Ist, Gul, Vex, Ohm, Lo

The Countess is a very thankful boss that supplies most of the runes we need, but unfortunately, she doesn't drop the runes above Lo. The drop rate of runes Gul, Vex, Ohm, and Lo are known to be extremely low, so to obtain these runes and above (Sur, Ber, Jah, Cham, Zod), you'll need to go somewhere else that has a higher Treasure Class.