The best Ladder Starter Runewords for Diablo 2 Resurrected Patch 2.6

15.02.2022 - 20:25:10
D2R Gameplay Guides , Diablo 2: Resurrected , Game Guides

The best Ladder Starter Runewords for Diablo 2 Resurrected Patch 2.6

The best ladder starter runewords for Diablo 2 Resurrected Patch 2.6

Runewords are by far the most powerful items in Diablo 2 Resurrected. Not only are they the best end-game items, but runewords made of lower-tier runes can be your best item options for levelling as well. In this guide I will cover the best runeword options to quickly level up your character.

Best Ladder Starter Weapon Runewords

Unbending Will (Sword base, Fal + Io + Ith + Eld + El + Hel)

18% Chance to cast Level 18 Taunt on striking

+3 To Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)

+20-30% Increased Attack Speed (varies)

+300-350% Enhanced Damage (varies)

+9 To Maximum Damage

+50 To Attack Rating

+75% Damage to Undead

+50 Attack Rating Against Undead

8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)

Prevent Monster Heal

+10 To Strength

+10 To Vitality

Damage Reduced By 8

+1 Light Radius

Requirements -20%

Let's start off with a brand new runeword. Unbending Will is an amazing weapon for any melee build (especially barbarians) due to it’s high enhanced damage, life steal, healing prevention and several other useful bonuses. The required runes can already be collected on nightmare difficulty, and you will quickly be able to defeat monsters on Hell.

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

+2 To All Skills

+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)

+55% Faster Hit Recovery

Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage

Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration (Normal)

+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds

7% Life Stolen Per Hit

+250 Defense Vs. Missile

+22 To Vitality

+89-112 To Mana (varies)

+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)

A Spirit Sword is the best weapon of choice not just for starter, but often for end-game caster builds as well. The required runes can already be found on Normal difficulty, which is quite amazing for such a powerful runeword.

Black (Club/Hammer/Mace base, Thul + Io + Nef)

+120% Enhanced Damage

40% Chance Of Crushing Blow

+200 To Attack Rating

Adds 3-14 Cold Damage - Cold Duration 3 Seconds

+10 To Vitality

15% Increased Attack Speed

Knockback

Magic Damage Reduced By 2

Level 4 Corpse Explosion (12 Charges)

Black runeword is popular mainly amongst Smiter Paladins and other melee builds due to it's very high Crushing Blow chance, with which even the strongest monsters, like the Ubers can be defeated. 

Honor (Melee Weapon base, Amn + El + Ith + Tir + Sol)

+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

If you manage to find a 5 socket weapon with decent base damage during levelling, making a Honor runeword can speed up your Melee build's levelling process a lot.

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Edge (Missile Weapon base, Tir + Tal + Amn)

Level 15 Thorns Aura When Equipped

+35% Increased Attack Speed

+320-380% Damage To Demons (varies)

+280% Damage To Undead

+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds

7% Life Stolen Per Hit

Prevent Monster Heal

+5-10 To All Attributes (varies)

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

Reduces All Vendor Prices 15%

An Edge runeword Bow is a must have item for any character. Other than Gheed's Fortune Unique Grand Charm, it is the only item that reduces vendor prices, allowing you to spend your gold at vendors much more efficiently.

Harmony (Missile Weapon base, Tir + Ith + Sol + Ko)

Level 10 Vigor Aura When Equipped

+200-275% Enhanced Damage (varies)

+9 To Minimum Damage

+9 To Maximum Damage

Adds 55-160 Lightning Damage

Adds 55-160 Fire Damage

Adds 55-160 Cold Damage

+2-6 To Valkyrie (varies)

+10 To Dexterity

Regenerate Mana 20%

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

+2 To Light Radius

Level 20 Revive (25 Charges)

Harmony is a great runeword for Bow builds, as it deals high amount of damage and in addition also provides you Vigor aura that increases your movement speed by roughly 50%. It's also very useful on an Act1 Rogue Mercenary due to it's running speed increase.

Insight (Polearm/Staves base, Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol)

Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies)

+35% Faster Cast Rate

+200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies)

+9 To Minimum Damage

180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)

Adds 5-30 Fire Damage

+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds

+1-6 To Critical Strike (varies)

+5 To All Attributes

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

Insight is another runeword that's viable for end-game characters due to its Meditation Aura. You can equip it on your Act2 Mercenary and will never need to worry about Mana recovery. It also deals a decent amount of melee damage, so overall it's an awesome Desert Merc weapon.

Passion (Any Weapon base, Dol + Ort + Eld + Lem)

+25% Increased Attack Speed

+160-210% Enhanced Damage (varies)

50-80% Bonus To Attack Rating (varies)

+75% Damage To Undead

+50 To Attack Rating Against Undead

Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage

+1 To Berserk

+1 To Zeal

Hit Blinds Target +10

Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25%

75% Extra Gold From Monsters

Level 3 Heart of Wolverine (12 Charges)

Passion is a cornerstone runeword for many builds that use the Barbarian Berserk or the Paladin Zeal skill for attacking. By wearing a Passion weapon, no matter what class you play with, you will be able to use both attacking skills, which can be useful for a variety of end-game melee builds.

Oath (Sword/Axe/Mace base, Shael + Pul + Mal + Lum)

30% Chance To Cast Level 20 Bone Spirit On Striking

Indestructible

+50% Increased Attack Speed

+210-340% Enhanced Damage (varies)

+75% Damage To Demons

+100 To Attack Rating Against Demons

Prevent Monster Heal

+10 To Energy

+10-15 Magic Absorb (varies)

Level 16 Heart Of Wolverine (20 Charges)

Level 17 Iron Golem (14 Charges)

Oath requires somewhat higher runes compared to the other runewords mentioned, however it’s amongst the best end-game weapons when it comes to pure melee damage, and is comparable to Breath of the Dying or Grief weapons.

 

Lawbringer (Sword/Hammer/Scepter base, Amn + Lem + Ko)

20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Decrepify On Striking

Level 16-18 Sanctuary Aura When Equipped (varies)

-50% Target Defense

Adds 150-210 Fire Damage

Adds 130-180 Cold Damage

7% Life Stolen Per Hit

Slain Monsters Rest In Peace

+200-250 Defense Vs. Missile (varies)

+10 To Dexterity

75% Extra Gold From Monsters

Lawbringer is an awesome Act5 Barbarian mercenary weapon, both the Sanctuary Aura and the Decrepify casting will help you and your party to cut through enemy monsters quickly.

Leaf (Staves base (Not Orbs), Tir + Ral)

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%

Leaf requires runes that are easily accessible on Normal difficulty, and is a great weapon of choice for Fire Sorceresses.

Memory (Staves base (Not Orbs), Lum + Io + Sol + Eth)

+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

Memory is another Sorceress Runeword, which is a great choice for almost any sorceress build.

 

Pattern (Claw base, Tal + Ort + Thul)

+30% Faster Block Rate

+40-80% Enhanced Damage (varies)

10% Bonus to Attack Rating

Adds 17-62 Fire Damage

Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage

Adds 3-14 Cold Damage

+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds

+6 to Strength

+6 to Dexterity

All Resistances +15

Pattern is another runeword that'll be freshly introduced to the game with the new patch. It is a decent weapon of choice for melee Assassins during levelling. 

White (Wand base, Dol + Io)

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

If you play a Poison and Bone Necromancer, your best levelling weapon of choice is White

Best Ladder Starter Body Armor Runewords

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

+40% Faster Hit Recovery

+10-20% Enhanced Damage (varies)

Adds 37-133 Cold Damage 2 sec. Duration (Normal)

15% Chance of Crushing Blow

33% Chance of Open Wounds

+150-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)

-20% Slower Stamina Drain

Cold Resist +45%

Lightning Resist +15%

Fire Resist +15%

Poison Resist +15%

Duress is an awesome mid- and endgame body armor that’s useful for any melee build due to it’s good defensive stats and the increased Crushing Blow and Open Wounds chances.

Treachery (Body Armor base, Shael + Thul + Lem)

5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Fade When Struck

25% Chance To Cast level 15 Venom On Striking

+2 To Assassin Skills

+45% Increased Attack Speed

+20% Faster Hit Recovery

Cold Resist +30%

50% Extra Gold From Monsters

While Treachery provides Assassin Skills, it’s a viable Armor for any non-caster build due to it’s Increased Attack Speed and Fade Skill, which improves your survivability immensely. It is also amongst the best end-game mercenary armors (just make sure to put it in an ethereal armor, as items don’t lose durability on your merc).

 

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 a decent levelling armor that provides great defensive stats.

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 can be used by any build, whether it's caster, melee or missile. The Faster Run/Walk, Faster Cast Rate, and Faster Hit Recovery boost are all great to start levelling your character.

Gloom (Body Armor base, Fal + Um + Pul)

15% Chance To Cast Level 3 Dim Vision When Struck

+10% Faster Hit Recovery

+200-260% Enhanced Defense (varies)

+10 To Strength

All Resistances +45

Half Freeze Duration

5% Damage Taken Goes To Mana

-3 To Light Radius

Gloom is a viable end-game defensive armor for Melee builds.

Stone (Body Armor base, Shael + Um + Pul + Lum)

+60% Faster Hit Recovery

+250-290% Enhanced Defense (varies)

+300 Defense Vs. Missile

+16 To Strength

+16 To Vitality

+10 To Energy

All Resistances +15

Level 16 Molten Boulder (80 Charges)

Level 16 Clay Golem (16 Charges)

Just like Gloom, Stone is another end-game defensive armor for Melee builds. There are slight differences between the two, It’s a matter of taste which one you prefer.

Peace (Body Armor base, 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

Peace is a viable levelling item for any Amazon build.

Myth (Body Armor base, Hel + Amn + Nef)

10% Chance To Cast Level 1 Taunt On Striking

+2 To Barbarian Skill Levels

+30 Defense Vs. Missile

Replenish Life +10

Attacker Takes Damage of 14

Requirements -15%

Myth is a viable levelling item for any Barbarian build.

Wealth (Body Armor base, Lem + Ko + Tir)

300% Extra Gold From Monsters

100% Better Chance Of Getting Magic Items

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

+10 To Dexterity

Wealth is your quickest and cheapest option to increase your magic and gold find. As it doesn't provide defensive stats, it's best used by missile or caster builds.

 

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Best Ladder Starter Helm Runewords

 

Wisdom (Helm base, Pul + Ith + Eld)

+33% Piercing Attack

+15-25% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)

4-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)

+30% Enhanced Defense

+10 Energy

15% Slower Stamina Drain

Cannot Be Frozen

+5 Mana After Each Kill

15% Damage Taken Goes to Mana

Wisdom is another new runeword that will be introduced to the game with patch 2.4. It's an amazing helm for Missile builds even in the end-game. It will also be a cornerstone item for Non-amazon missile builds.

Lore (Helm base, Ort + Sol)

+1 To All Skill Levels

+10 To Energy

+2 To Mana After Each Kill

Lightning Resist +30%

Damage Reduced By 7

Lore can quickly be equipped already on Normal difficulty. It's a decent levelling item.

 

Best Ladder Starter Shield Runewords

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

+2 To All Skills

+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)

+55% Faster Hit Recovery

+250 Defense Vs. Missile

+22 To Vitality

+89-112 To Mana (varies)

Cold Resist +35%

Lightning Resist +35%

Poison Resist +35%

+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)

Attacker Takes Damage of 14

A Spirit Shield is the best end-game option for most caster builds. You can obtain the necessary runes already on Normal difficulty, so it’s also an awesome levelling shield choice.

 

Rhyme (Shield base, 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

Rhyme requires only two low tier runes, so is easy to obtain even on Normal difficulty. The Shield provides great survivability boosting stats, and also gives you some Magic find and Extra Gold in addition. It is a viable mid/end-game shield as well, so it definitely worths taking the time to make one.

Ancient's Pledge (Shield base, Ral + Ort + Tal)

+50% Enhanced Defense

Cold Resist +43%

Fire Resist +48%

Lightning Resist +48%

Poison Resist +48%

10% Damage Goes To Mana

Ancient's Pledge is a decent allresist booster. I wouldn’t recommend farming runes or 3 socket shield just so you can make one, but if you happen to have the runes and the shield, it can be a good levelling option.

Splendor (Shield base, Eth + Lum)

+1 To All Skills

+10% Faster Cast Rate

+20% Faster Block Rate

+60-100% Enhanced Defense (varies)

+10 To Energy

Regenerate Mana 15%

50% Extra Gold From Monsters

20% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

+3 To Light Radius

Splendor is an awesome levelling item for Caster builds, and is a viable shield on Hell difficulty too.

Sanctuary (Shield base, Ko + Ko + Mal)

+20% Faster Hit Recovery

+20% Faster Block Rate

20% Increased Chance of Blocking

+130-160% Enhanced Defense (varies)

+250 Defense vs. Missile

+20 To Dexterity

All Resistances +50-70 (varies)

Magic Damage Reduced By 7

Level 12 Slow Missiles (60 Charges)

Sanctuary gives your character a huge survivability boost. It’s probably a stretch to call it a levelling item, as it requires a Mal rune, but if you struggle with survivability or play Hardcore, it’s obtainable fairly early in the season.

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