If the player puts certain combinations of Runes in the correct order into an item with exactly that number
of sockets and of the correct item type, the item's name will change into a "unique" name, displayed in gold, and the item will acquire extra powers, depending on the "rune word" that was used. The benefits of using a Rune Word is that you can make the Rune Word magical bonuses apply to any type of item allowed with the proper number of sockets. You could, for example, use an Elite Socketed sword or an Exceptional Socketed sword, and you can also pick which type of sword is used. Uniques, in comparison, use the same item type such as short sword, and are always the same quality (Normal/Exceptional/Elite). You can continue to find better Socketed weapons or armor and, with the proper Runes, continue to have this Rune Word bonus applied to better and better Socketed items as you find them. Rune Word Rules 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. 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. 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 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. And youre an idiot. Example: "RalOrtTal". You must first place Ral, then Ort, then finally Tal into the Socketed Item. Rune Word Formulae New Formulae will be revealed as they are discovered. Check back later for more formulae and watch the news for updates to this page. If you have discovered new Rune Words send them in and we'll add them once they're confirmed. It is possible to create some future Rune Words that are not ready yet. These items can be identified by their Rune Word Name not being on the below list, Poison Resist +25%, and no additional abilities beyond what the abilities that were already on the Runes inserted. If these Rune Words are completed and added into the game, chances are that existing Rune Word items will not convert or be updated to the new Rune Words stats. So there is no reason to create these Rune Words yet before they are ready. It's also possible that the formula will change for these items. So once they are added, the old formula might not work. Keep in mind when experimenting with unknown Rune Words that you must be prepared to accept the loss of your Runes if the formula does not work. Rune Words must be inserted in the correct item, and in the correct order to work. The following Rune Word Formulae require Diablo II: LOD v1.09:
Rune Word
Allowed Items
Rune Order
Completed Stats +50% Enhanced Defense Cold Resist +43% Fire Resist +48% Lightning Resist +48% Poison Resist +48% 10% Damage Goes To Mana +120% Enhanced Damage 40% Chance Of Crushing Blow +200 To Attack Rating Adds 3-14 Cold Damage - Cold Duration 3 Seconds +10 To Vitality +19 Poison Damage Over 2 Seconds 15% Increased Attack Speed Knockback Magic Damage Reduced By 2 Level 4 Corpse Explosion (12 Charges) +209% Enhanced Damage 40% Increased Attack Speed Prevent Monster Heal 66% Chance Of Open Wounds 33% Chance Of Deadly Strike Ignore Target's Defense -25% Target Defense 20% Bonus To Attack Rating 6% Life Stolen Per Hit +5 To Frenzy (Barbarian Only) +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) +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 +100% Enhanced Damage
Ancient's Pledge
3 Socket Shields
Ral + Ort + Tal
Black
3 Socket Clubs/Hammers/Maces
Thul + Io + Nef
Fury
3 Socket Melee Weapons
Jah + Gul + Eth
Holy Thunder
4 Socket Scepters
Eth + Ral + Ort + Tal
Honor
5 Socket Melee Weapons
Amn + El + Ith + Tir + Sol
King's Grace
3 Socket Swords/Scepters
Amn + Ral + Thul
+100% Damage vs. 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 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 Cold Resist +33% +20% Enhanced Damage Requirements -15% +25 To Strength +10 To Energy +20 To Vitality +15 To Dexterity +50 To Life All Resistances +30% +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
Leaf
2 Socket Staves (Not Orbs)
Tir + Ral
Lionheart
3 Socket Body Armor
Hel + Lum + Fal
Lore
2 Socket Helms
Ort + Sol
Malice
3 Socket Melee Weapons
Ith + El + Eth
+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 +50% Enhanced Damage 300% Damage vs 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 +3 to Sorceress Skills 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 +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 +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
Melody
3 Socket Missile Weapons
Shael + Ko + Nef
Memory
4 Socket Staves (Not Orbs)
Lum + Io + Sol + Eth
Nadir
2 Socket Helms
Nef + Tir
Radiance
3 Socket Helms
Nef + Sol + Ith
Rhyme
2 Socket Shields
Shael + Eth
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 200% Enhanced Damage 175% Damage vs. Undead Requirements -20% 20% Increased Attack Speed +50 Attack Rating vs. Undead +2 To All Skill Levels 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 Per Kill 30% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items +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 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 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
Silence
6 Socket Weapons
Dol + Eld + Hel + Ist + Tir + Vex
Smoke
2 Socket Body Armor
Nef + Lum
Stealth
2 Socket Body Armor
Tal + Eth
Steel
2 Socket Swords/Axes/Maces
Tir + El
Strength 2 Socket Melee Weapons
Amn + Tir
35% Enhanced Damage 25% Chance Of Crushing Blow 7% Life Stolen Per Hit +2 To Mana Per Kill +20 To Strength +10 To Vitality 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 300% Extra Gold From Monsters 100% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items +2 To Mana After Each Kill +10 To Dexterity Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25% +10 To Vitality +3 To Poison And Bone Spells (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 +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 Hit
Venom
3 Socket Weapons
Tal + Dol + Mal
Wealth
3 Socket Body Armor
Lem + Ko + Tir
White
2 Socket Wand
Dol + Io
Zephyr
2 Socket Missile Weapons
Ort + Eth