Best Druid Runewords - D2R 2.6

This guide collects the top runewords for the Druid class from beginner / ladder starter levelling RWs to end-game ones. Get a head-start with your Druid by equipping it with beginner runewords, getting to the end-game, and gearing it up with the top runeword choices.

Lore (Helm base, Ort+Sol)

+1 To All Skills

+10 To Energy

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

Lightning Resist +30%

Damage Reduced By 7

+2 To Light Radius

Lore is an optimal low level / ladder starte runewords, with the main utility of providing your character with +1 to All skills, which makes a great difference during levelling.

Edge (Missile Weapon base, 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%

Edge is the must-have gambling runeword. If you wear it during shopping at vendors, prices will be reduced by 15%, which includes gambling as well!

Call To Arms (Weapons, Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist + Ohm)

+1 To All Skills

+40% Increased Attack Speed

+250-290% Enhanced Damage (varies)

Adds 5-30 Fire Damage

7% Life Stolen Per Hit

+2-6 To Battle Command (varies)*

+1-6 To Battle Orders (varies)*

+1-4 To Battle Cry (varies)*

Prevent Monster Heal

Replenish Life +12

30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Call to Arms, also known as CTA, is the ultimate switch weapon for every character class other than Barbarians. It grants the Battle Orders skill which can boost your Life and Mana by up to 80%. Battle Command also provides +1 to All skill levels, making the runeword even more attractive. Make sure you always have Battle Orders and Battle Command casted on your character, especially if you play hardcore!

Breath of the Dying (Weapon base, Vex+Hel+El+Eld+Zod+Eth)

50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Poison Nova When You Kill An Enemy

Indestructible

+60% Increased Attack Speed

+350-400% Enhanced Damage

+200% Damage To Undead

-25% Target Defense

+50 To Attack Rating

+50 To Attack Rating Against Undead

7% Mana Stolen per Hit

12-15% Life Stolen per Hit

Prevent Monster Heal

+30 To All Attributes

+1 To Light Radius

Requirements -20%

BOTD is a great weapon choice for Melee Druids, as it provides a huge amount of attack speed, damage, life leech and mana leech. It is amongst the best melee weapons, and you won't need to struggle with potions, making the gameplay much more fun.

Last Wish (Sword/Hammer/Axe base, Jah+Mal+Jah+Sur+Jah+Ber)

6% Chance To Cast Level 11 Fade When Struck

10% Chance To Cast Level 18 Life Tap On Striking

20% Chance To Cast Level 20 Charged Bolt On Attack

Level 17 Might Aura When Equipped

+330-375% Enhanced Damage

Ignore Target's Defense

60-70% Chance of Crushing Blow

Prevent Monster Heal

Hit Blinds Target

+(0.5 per character level) 0.5-49.5% Chance of Getting Magic Items (Based on Character Level)

Last Wish is the most expensive item in the game with good reason. It deals a decent amount of damage, and is optimal for Melee Druids. Combined with fast attack speed, the Crushing Blow will melt Bosses in no time. The Life tap allows for constant healing, and Fade provides 11% physical resistance, over 55% all resistance, and almost 80% curse duration reduction. Overall the runeword is great for offense, but is unmatched in defensive capabilities.

Grief (Axe/Sword base, Eth+Tir+Lo+Mal+Ral)

5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Venom On Striking

+30-40% Increased Attack Speed

Damage +340-400

Ignore Target's Defense

-25% Target Defense

+(1.875 per character level) 1.875-185.625% Damage To Demons (Based on Character Level)

Adds 5-30 Fire Damage

-20-25% To Enemy Poison Resist

20% Deadly Strike

Prevent Monster Heal

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

+10-15 Life After Each Kill

If you want to deal the most amount of damage with your Druid, Grief will be your best choice. It is the best offensive one hand weapon in the game, deals a huge amount of damage with each hit while also having a very fast attack speed (+30-40%). 

Kingslayer (Sword/Axe base, Mal+Um+Gul+Fal)

+30% Increased Attack Speed

+230-270% Enhanced Damage

-25% Target Defense

20% Bonus To Attack Rating

33% Chance of Crushing Blow

50% Chance of Open Wounds

+1 To Vengeance

Prevent Monster Heal

+10 To Strength

40% Extra Gold From Monsters

Kingslayer is a good semi-budget weapon choice for melee druids. While it doesn't deal much physical damage, the Crushing Blow and Open Wounds make up for that.

Death (Sword/Axe base, Hel+El+Vex+Ort+Gul)

100% Chance To Cast Level 44 Chain Lightning When You Die

25% Chance To Cast Level 18 Glacial Spike On Attack

Indestructible

+300-385% Enhanced Damage

20% Bonus To Attack Rating

+50 To Attack Rating

Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage

7% Mana Stolen Per Hit

50% Chance of Crushing Blow

+(0.5 per Character Level) 0.5-49.5% Deadly Strike (Based on Character Level)

+1 To Light Radius

Level 22 Blood Golem (15 Charges)

Requirements -20%

Death is another semi-budget weapon with great attacking potential. As it's indestructible, you can use an Ethereal Base (preferably Berserker Axe), dealing a lot more damage than with non-eth weapons. The % deadly strike/level also provides a huge damage boost.

Beast (Axe/Scepter/Hammer base, Ber+Tir+Um+Mal+Lum)

Level 9 Fanaticism Aura When Equipped

+40% Increased Attack Speed

+240-270% Enhanced Damage

20% Chance of Crushing Blow

25% Chance of Open Wounds

+3 To Werebear

+3 To Lycanthropy

Prevent Monster Heal

+25-40 To Strength

+10 To Energy

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

Level 13 Summon Grizzly (5 Charges)

Beast is the optimal weapon for Summoner Druids, as the fanaticism aura is awesome for the attack speed and damage output of your summons.

Heart of the Oak (Mace/Staff base, Ko+Vex+Pul+Thul)

+3 To All Skills

+40% Faster Cast Rate

+75% Damage To Demons

+100 To Attack Rating Against DemonsAdds 3-14 Cold Damage, 3 sec.Duration

7% Mana Stolen Per Hit

+10 To Dexterity

Replenish Life +20

Increase Maximum Mana 15%

All Resistances +30-40

Level 4 Oak Sage (25 Charges)

Level 14 Raven (60 Charges)

HOTO is the ideal weapon for caster druids. No other weapon grants +3 to all skill bonus, which makes your attacks deal a lot more damage. In addition, the 40% FCR is amongst the best in the game, and the resistance bonus is also a big help in reaching the 75% resist caps on hell difficulty.

Oath (Sword/Axe/Mace base, Ort+Sol)

30% Chance To Cast Level 20 Bone Spirit On Striking

Indestructible

+50% Increased Attack Speed

+210-340% Enhanced Damage

+75% Damage To Demons

+100 To Attack Rating Against Demons

Prevent Monster Heal

+10 To Energy

+10-15 Magic Absorb

Level 16 Heart of Wolverine (20 Charges)

Level 17 Iron Golem (14 Charges)

Oath is another semi-budget runeword for melee druids. You will be able to deal fairly high amounts of physical damage with ultra fast attack speed by using it.

Spirit (Sword base, Tal+Thul+Ort+Amn)

+2 To All Skills

+25-35% Faster Cast Rate

+55% Faster Hit Recovery

Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage

Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration

+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

Spirit is a great weapon option for caster druids, mainly due to its +2 All skill stat. The faster cast rate comes handy when teleporting and the Faster Hit Recovery helps boost your recovery speed against attacks by several frames.

Enigma (Body Armor base, Jah+Ith+Ber)

+2 To All Skills

+45% Faster Run/Walk

+1 To Teleport

+750-775 Defense

+ (0.75 Per Character Level) +0-74 To Strength (Based On Character Level)

Increase Maximum Life 5%

Damage Reduced By 8%

+14 Life After Each Kill

15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana

+ (1 Per Character Level) +1-99% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (Based On Character Level)

Enigma is the best caster druid armor, as it provides +2 to all skills while granting you the ability to teleport. As teleport is by far the fastest way to move, and the armor also has +1% magic find per level, it is the best option for Boss farming and for magic finding. The other stats such as the strength, maximum life and damage reduction boost are also great, while the 45% FRW helps your character move ultra quickly.

Duress (Body Armor base, Shael+Um+Thul)

+40% Faster Hit Recovery

+10-20% Enhanced Damage

Adds 37-133 Cold Damage 2 sec. Duration

15% Chance of Crushing Blow

33% Chance of Open Wounds

+150-200% Enhanced Defense

-20% Slower Stamina Drain

Cold Resist +45%

Lightning Resist +15%

Fire Resist +15%

Poison Resist +15%

Duress is an optimal Body Armor for Melee druids due to its +15% Crushing blow and +33% Open wounds. If you are looking for maximum damage, it is your best bet. The runeword is fairly cheap, and has great defensive abilities as well, such as the 150-200% defense and the +resistances.

Fortitude (Body Armor base, El+Sol+Dol+Lo)

20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when Struck

+25% Faster Cast Rate

+300% Enhanced Damage

+200% Enhanced Defense

+15 Defense

+X To Life (Based on Character Level)

Replenish Life +7

+5% To Maximum Lightning Resist

All Resistances +25-30

Damage Reduced By 7

12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana

+1 To Light Radius

Fortitude is another great melee druid armor. It provides a well-balanced survivability boost (200% defense, life/level, 25-30 all resistance, Chilling Armor cast for further defense boost), while also providing an amazing 300% enhanced damage boost to your physical attacks.

Chains of Honor (Body Armor base, Dol+Um+Ber+Ist)

+2 To All Skills

+200% Damage To Demons

+100% Damage To Undead

8% Life Stolen Per Hit

+70% Enhanced Defense

+20 To Strength

Replenish Life +7

All Resistances +65

Damage Reduced By 8%

25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

COH is another great caster druid armor. If you are willing to sacrifice enigma's teleportation speed, it is the best potential armor choice as it provides 65% to all resistances.

Rain (Body Armor base, Ort+Mal+Ith)

5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Cyclone Armor When Struck

5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Twister On Striking

+2 To Druid skill levels

+100-150 To Mana

Lightning Resist +30%

Magic Damage Reduced By 7

15% Damage Taken Goes to Mana

Rain is a relatively low budget, but very useful caster druid armor, as it provides +2 to Druid skill levels.

Stealth (Body Armor base, Tal + Eth)

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

Stealth is an awesome ladder starter / levelling runeword for any class. No matter what kind of druid build you play, the 25% FRW and 25% FCR will make your progress towards the endgame much faster.

Smoke (Body Armor base, Nef + Lum)

+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

Smoke is another awesome ladder starter / levelling item. Unlike Stealth, it's main benefits are it's defensive abilities, especially the +50% all resistance which boosts your survivability by a great margin on Normal and Nightmare difficulty.

Phoenix (Shield base, Vex+Vex+Lo+Jah)

100% Chance To Cast level 40 Blaze When You Level Up

40% Chance To Cast Level 22 Firestorm On Striking

Level 10-15 Redemption Aura When Equipped

+350-400% Enhanced Damage

Ignores Target's Defense

14% Mana Stolen Per Hit

-28% To Enemy Fire Resistance

20% Deadly Strike

+350-400 Defense Vs. Missile

+15-21 Fire Absorb

A phoenix shield is optimal for Melee Druids. If you want the benefits of wearing a shield while not compromising on offensive abilities, this runeword is your best choice. The Redemption aura is another super nice ability, as you continuously heal yourself after every redeemed corpse. The shield can be optimal for Hardcore difficulty too.

Spirit (Shield base, Tal+Thul+Ort+Amn)

+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

Spirit is the best caster druid shield, as it's the only shield that grants +2 all skills, and the +FCR is also unmatched. Beyond that there are the other great defensive abilities, such as the 55% FHR and the 35 Cold, Lightning and Poison resistance.

If you are tired of farming for endless hours, you can quickly buy the best items at our D2R Store.

Related Guides

Ultimate Mercenary Guide | D2R Rune Farming Guide | 4 Socket Monarch Farming Guide