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Future revisions of this FAQ may be found at http://www.gamefaqs.com .
1. Revision History
______________________________________________________________________________
v3.2, 09/11/2001, 2:20pm
Minor update on the Runeword formulas.
I pray for the families involved in the terrorist attack yesterday. No cause
and no reason can be worth the destruction leveled against our civillians.
v3.1, 09/02/2001, 10:00pm
Minor updates for Eld and Pul. They were decremented from +175% stats to
+75% against the critters of choice. Also fixed some spelling errors. :)
Also fixed an error with White's effects.
v3.0, 08/28/2001, 11:00am
Updating for the 1.09 patch. Sorry on the delay, I've been working 100 hour
weeks and haven't had time to play D2 inside the last month and more. :(
Fixed the Tal Rune's stats. Fixed the names of Shael, Io, and Jah. Fixed
Jah's effect. Updated recipes where names/effects have changed.
Inactive runewords have been removed; I didn't feel they were helping the
FAQ. The `speculative` section was pulled for the same reason.
v2.1, 07/22/2001, 12:10pm
Ripped out the old inaccurate unconfirmed Fury recipie. I can't believe I
missed that!
v2.0, 07/21/2001, 8:30pm
Added Venom and Fury, and finalized all of the listings of what works in
what.
v1.9, 07/11/2001, 7:00pm
Added Terror (inactive), White.
v1.5.1, 07/09/2001, 1:30pm
Fixed the stats on the Ancient's Pledge. woo!
v1.5, 07/08/2001, 11:40pm
A couple of "required level" corrections. Added the How-To section. Added
recipes for Memory and Silence. Fixed the Io/Po rune conspiracy. yeesh,
Silence is powerful..
v1.4, 07/06/2001, 12:30pm
Remind me not to make changes after midnight. Added information about what
the rune levels mean, and a note about single player mode.
v1.3.3, 07/06/2001, 2:45pm
More "this doesn't work" fixes.. should be current now.
v1.3.2, 07/06/2001, 1:45pm
Several different rune recipie problems have been submitted and are now
corrected. Yeesh. More testing needed! :) I went through and corrected all
of the known problems with rune recipes and double-checked all my rune
stats against my info. List restructured alphabetically.
v1.3.1, 07/06/2001, 7:00a
There's a problem with Rhyme.. someone send me screenshot confirmation
of the new theory please!
v1.3, 07/04/2001, 8:20pm
Experienced the Runeword Bug first-hand, adding it to the FAQ. Two more
Runewords: Rhyme and Smoke.
v1.2, 07/04/2001, 6:00pm
Picked up some more Runewords: Added stats on Honor, Holy Thunder, King's
Grace, Lore, Nadir, Radiance, and Zephyr.
v1.1, 07/04/2001, 3:00pm
Formatted everything for posting and submitted to GameFAQs.
v1.0, 07/04/2001, 2:30pm
I was going through my collected information on the D2 expansion and noted
that GameFAQs seemed to be lacking content.. so I codified a mess of it that
I wanted to print out anyway, and here we are.
Welcome to the D2 Expansion Runeword FAQ. I'm going to list every Runeword I
find, read about, or hear about. Contributions and corrections from players
are encouraged -- Skip on down to "Credits and Contact Info" to find me.
The FAQ consists of two major parts - a rune section, showing you what all the
runes in the game are and how rare they are in comparison to one another, and
a runeword section, detailing all the known runewords at the time I last
updated.
Hopefully this will give everyone a little something to do with all those
runes, instead of just loading up mules to the point of collapse.. :)
Runes do different things in different types of items, so the bonuses are
split up. "Level required" refers to the level that a monster has to be
before there's a chance that it will drop the rune. The existing Diablo 2
Experience FAQ can serve as a baseline until information is available for
me to update for the Expansion's levels.
The level required is also the level you have to be to use an item with
that rune socketed in it - with Hel (#15) being the only exception. That
rune can be used at Level 1.
Zod - #33
Weapon : Indestructible
Armor/Helm/Shield: Indestructible
Level Required : 69
This rune prevents items from losing durability. It can be socketed in
Ethereal items, effectively preserving them forever.
Herein lies all the Runewords I know of.. please update me on any other
runewords you know, or other configurations you test. I've listed what's
known to work, and what's known to not work, but there's a lot left to test
out there.
.----------------------------------------------------------------------------.
| 4.1: Single Player vs Open TCP/IP mode |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------------'
Prior to the 1.09 patch, you had to be playing on Battle.net in order to
get any benefit from Runewords. The only Runeword that worked in Single
Player or Open TCP/IP was Ancient's Pledge.
With the 1.09 patch, however, Runewords are now active in Open TCP/IP mode.
.----------------------------------------------------------------------------.
| 4.2: How to make a Runeworded Item |
'----------------------------------------------------------------------------'
To make a Runeword Item, do the following.
1. Find yourself a socketed item. It doesn't matter if the item is Normal,
Exceptional, or Elite. It doesn't matter if it's standard or superior. Just
don't use a Magical item that's been socketed. Rares and Uniques will only
pick up a single socket, and thus cannot be Runeworded.
2. Set the runes in the item in the exact order listed below. Be sure to
check to see if that particular item type is allowed for that Runeword before
proceeding.
3. The item must have the *exact* number of sockets for that Runeword. If you
go to socket Ral Ort Tal in a shield with four sockets, you will not get the
Ancient's Pledge.
Ancient's Pledge 10% Damage Taken Goes to Mana
Ral (8) + Ort (9) + Tal (7) +50% Enhanced Defense
Shields Only +43% Resist Cold
Level Required: 21 +48% Resist Fire, Poison, and Lightning
* This Runeword works in
* Single Player Mode.
Black Level 4 Corpse Explosion [12 Charges]
Thul (10) + Io (16) + Nef (4) 40% Chance of Crushing Blow
Level Required: 35 Magic Damage Reduced by 2
Club, Hammer, Mace Only +120% Enhanced Damage
+200 to Attack Rating
+15% Increased Attack Speed
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage
+10 Vitality
Knockback
Fury +209% Enhanced Damage
Jah (31) + Gul (25) + Eth (5) 40% Increased Attack Speed
Melee Weapons Only Prevent Monster Heal
Level Required: 65 66% Chance of Open Wounds
NOT: Scepters 33% Chance of Deadly Strike
Ignores Target's Defense
-25% Target Defense
+20% to Attack Rating
6% Life Stolen per hit
+5 to Frenzy (Barbarian Only)
Holy Thunder Level 7 Chain Lightning [60 Charges]
Eth (5) + Ral (8) + Ort (9) -25% Target Defense
+ Tal (7) +60% Enhanced Damage
Scepters Only +75 Poison damage / 5 seconds
Level Required: 21 +5% Maximum Lightning Resistance
+60% Lightning Resistance
+21-110 Lightning Damage
+5-30 Fire Damage
+10 Maximum Damage
+3 to Holy Shock (Paladin Only)
Honor +160% Enhanced Damage
Amn (11) + El (1) + Ith (6) +250 Attack Rating
+ Tir (3) + Sol (12) +9 Minimum Damage
Melee Weapons Only +9 Maximum Damage
Level Required: 27 25% Deadly Strike
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+1 to All Skill Levels
+2 Mana per kill
+1 Light Radius
Replenish Life +10
+10 Strength
King's Grace +100% Enhanced Damage
Amn (11) + Ral (8) + Thul (10) +150 Attack Rating
Sword, Scepter Only +100 Attack Rating vs Undead
Level Required: 25 150% Damage vs Undead
+100 Attack Rating vs Demons
200% Damage vs Demons
7% Life Steal
+3-14 Cold Damage (3 seconds)
+5-30 Fire Damage
Leaf +5-30 Fire Damage
Tir (3) + Ral (8) +2 Mana per kill
Staves Only +3 to Fire Skills
Level Required: 19 +33% Cold Resistance
+3 Inferno
+3 Fire Bolt
+3 Warmth
Lionheart -15% Requirements
Hel (15) + Lum (17) + Fal (19) +20% Enhanced Damage
Body Armor Only +30% to All Resistances
Level Required: 41 +50 Life
+10 Energy
+20 Vitality
+15 Dexterity
+25 Strength
Lore +1 to All Skill Levels
Ort (9) + Sol (12) +2 Mana per kill
Helms Only Reduced Damage by 7
Level Required: 27 +30% Lightning Resistance
+10 Energy
+2 Light Radius
Malice
Ith (6) + El (1) + Eth (5) +33% enhanced damage
Melee Weapons Only +9 max damage
Level Required: 15 +50 Attack Rating
100% chance of open wounds
-100 monster defense/hit
Prevents Monster Heal
-25% target defense
Drain Life -5
Melody 400% Damage vs Undead
Shael (12) + Ko (18) + Nef (4) +50% Enhanced Damage
Missile Weapons Only +3 to Bow and Crossbow Skills
Level Required: 39 +3 to Slow Missiles
+3 to Dodge
* Pretty Amazon specific +3 to Critical Strike
+10 Dexterity
20% Increased Attack Speed
Knockback
Memory 33% Faster Cast Rate
Lum (17) + Io (16) + Sol (12) +50% Enhanced Defense
+ Eth (5) +3 to Sorceress Skill Levels
Staves Only Magic Damage Reduced By 7
Level Required: 37 +20% Max Mana
-25% Target Defense
+9 Minimum Damage
+10 Energy
+10 Vitality
Nadir Level 13 Cloak of Shadows [9 charges]
Nef (3) + Tir (4) +50% Enhanced Defense
Helms Only +2 Mana per kill
Level Required: 13 -3 Light Radius
+30 Defense vs Missle
+10 Defense
+5 Strength
-33% Gold from monsters
Radiance 15% Damage Taken to Mana
Nef (3) + Sol (12) + Ith (6) +75% Enhanced Defense
Helms Only Magical Damage Reduced by 3
Level Required: 27 Physical Damage Reduced by 7
+30 Defense vs Missles
+33 Mana
+10 Energy
+10 Vitality
+5 Light Radius
Rhyme Cannot be Frozen
Shael (12) + Eth (5) 40% Faster Block Rate
Shields Only 20% Increased Blocking
Level Required: 29 +15% Mana Regeneration Rate
+25 to All Resistances
+25% Chance to find Magic Items
+50% Gold from Monsters
Silence 175% Damage vs Undead
Dol (14) + Eld (2) + Hel (15) Hit Blinds Target
+ Ist (24) + Tir (3) + Vex (26) 20% Faster Hit Recovery
Weapons Only +2 All Skill Levels
Level Required: 55 +200% Enhanced Damage
11% Mana Steal
* The only restriction on +75 Resist All
* the weapon is that it must 20% Increased Attack Speed
* pack 6 sockets.. so you'll +2 Mana after each kill
* never see this on a Claw. +50 Attack Rating vs Undead
25% Hit Causes Monster to Flee
Requirements -20%
+30% Chance to find Magic Items
Smoke Level 6 Weaken [18 charges]
Nef (4) + Lum (17) 20% Faster Hit Recovery
Body Armor Only -1 Light Radius
Level Required: 37 +75% Enhanced Defense
+50 Resist All
+280 Defense vs Missile
+10 Energy
Stealth 25% Faster Casting Rate
Tal (8) + Eth (7) 25% Faster Hit Recovery
Body Armor Only 25% Faster run/walk speed
Level Required: 17 Magical Damage Reduced By 3
+15% Mana Regeneration Rate
+30% Poison Resistance
+15 Maximum Stamina
+6 Dexterity
Steel +20% Enhanced Damage
Tir (3) + El (1) +3 Minimum Damage
Axe, Mace, Sword Only +3 Maximum Damage
Level Required: 13 +50 Attack Rating
50% Chance of Open Wounds
+1 Light Radius
+2 Mana per kill
25% Increased Attack Speed
Strength +35% Enhanced Damage
Amn (11) + Tir (3) 25% Chance of Crushing Blow
Melee Weapons Only 7% life steal
Level Required: 25 +2 Mana per kill
+10 Vitality
+20 Strength
Venom Level 13 Poison Nova [11 charges]
Tal (8) + Dol (14) + Mal (23) Level 15 Poison Explosion [27 charges]
Weapons Only Ignore Target's Defense
Level Required: 49 7% Mana Stolen per hit
+400 Poison Damage Over 8 seconds [50/sec]
* Tailored for claw-fighting Prevent Monster Heal
* Assassins. +25% Hit Causes Monster to Flee
Wealth +100% Chance to find Magic Items
Lem (20) + Ko (18) + Tir (3) 300% Extra Gold from Monsters
Body Armor Only +2 Mana after each kill
Level Required: 43 +10 Dexterity
White +25% Hit causes Monster to Flee
Dol (14) + Io (16) 20% Faster Cast Rate
Wands Only Magic Damage Reduced By 4
Level Required: 35 +13 Mana
+10 Vitality
* Nice Necro bonuses on +3 to Bone and Poison Spells (no curses)
* this one. +4 to Skeletal Mastery
+2 to Bone Spear
+3 to Bone Armor
Zephyr 7% chance of Lvl1 Twister when hit
Ort (9) + Eth (5) +33% Enhanced Damage
Missile Weapons Only +1-50 Lightning Damage
Level Required: 21 25% Increased Attack Speed
-25% Target Defense
25% Faster Run
+25 Defense
+66 Attack Rating
5. Credits and Contact Info
______________________________________________________________________________
- Credits
Blizzard Entertainment, for some of the finest games around. A good part of
my life has been devoted to Warcraft, Starcraft, and Diablo.
GameFAQs.com, for providing the best online gaming resource that we have in
this troubled day and age. :)
ILJ, for sending in a screenshot of Rhyme not functioning in Body Armor..
remind me to smack the guy who gave me that recipie.. :)
Hanzo, for letting me know that Holy Thunder didn't work out in swords.
Rich, for catching the Steel / Claw problem.
Derek, for catching the mlvl/ilvl/clvl difference that I didn't explain
correctly.
Nyren, for pointing out the lack of Runeword support in single-player mode.
Darkone, for socketing up a helm with too many slots for a two-rune Runeword,
thus leading to the How-To section.
Lokust, for proving that Ancient's Pledge works in single-player mode.
wiz_kamikaz, for letting me know that Steel works with Maces.
Wicked Mouse, for giving me more accurate stats on his Ancient's Pledge. :)
Nik, for letting me know that Memory couldn't work in Orbs.
Gordon Fruman, for the unconfirmed `Blood` runeword.
Scott Anderson, for the `Lionheart` runeword.
furyentity, for catching my mistake on the unconfirmed Fury recipie.
SuperLuigi, for catching my mistake on the Strength recipie.
- Contact Info
Do you have additions or corrections for this FAQ? Send an email over to . Due to the kind of item listings we're dealing with,
please submit a screenshot of the item in question, clear enough that I can
read the values off of it to update the FAQ. It's the only way to maintain
good info. :)
Don't know how to take a screenshot? Hit Print Screen while in D2, and you'll
find it saved as Screenshot001.jpg in your Diablo 2 game directory. Try to
have the /users or /time command showing, as it helps prove that you're in a
realm game. Mail the resulting JPG to me, and corrections will happen ASAP.
Full credit will be given to the person responsible for the contributions or
corrections.
One note of warning: Please make sure that you've read the latest version of
the FAQ. Updates can be found at www.gamefaqs.com -- check there *first*. If
this FAQ winds up elsewhere, they might not have the current version.
(c) 2001, by Brian Kern
Limited reproduction rights as assigned.
