Rune Words
From Diablo Wiki
Rune Words are specific combinations of runes that grant specific socketed items several new magical properties. The Diablo II expansion, Lord of Destruction is required for Rune Words. When a Rune Word is made, the item's name is changed to the Rune Word's name. It appears in gold text, like unique items.
Rune Words keep the original properties of the socketed item. They do not work on socketed unique, magic, or rare items even if they have the required number of sockets. When a Rune Word is not inserted into a item properly, the item will only gain bonuses from the inserted individual runes. Players must also need the right patch for Rune Words to work.
For example, the Rune Word Ancient's Pledge requires a 3 socketed shield and will not work on any other item even if there are more than 3 sockets. The Runes must be inserted in the right order:
Doing so will grant the shield all of these bonuses:
- +50% Enhanced Defense
- Cold Resist +43%
- Fire Resist +48%
- Lightning Resist +48%
- Poison Resist +48%
- 10% Damage Goes To Mana
All players are able to complete this Rune Word after they complete the Act 5 quest Rescue on Mount Arreat.
[edit] Common Misconceptions
Despite popular belief, Rune Words do not work if the required number of sockets is not equal to the number present on the item. Enigma will only work if the body armor has exactly three sockets.
They also fail to work when the item they are socketed to is not valid. The player cannot have an Ancient's Pledge Bardiche even if they have all 3 runes and a 3-socketed Bardiche, since Ancient's Pledge is a shield-only Rune Word.
The Runes socketed must also be arranged in the correct order. Otherwise, you will only get the effects of the individual runes without the bonus.
Rune Words only work in non-magical items. You cannot insert a Rune Word into magical, rare, set or unique item. The runes will only confer their regular bonuses, and not the Rune Word bonuses.
Be careful when using Rune Words formula with the runes Io and Lo, as it's easy to confuse the two at a glance.
Rune Words will not work with Wirt's Leg.
[edit] Definitions of Item Types
As Rune Words only work in certain item categories, it's helpful to know exactly what each one means. Listed below are the different categories of items used in Rune Words.
- Body Armor -- Armor worn on chest
- Helm -- Armor worn on the head; including Barbarian Helms, Druid Pelts and Circlets
- Club -- Clubs and exceptional and elite versions
- Shield -- Any armor used to block; including Necromancer Shrunken Heads and Paladin-specific Shields
- Hammers -- War Hammer, Maul, Great Mail, and exceptional and elite versions
- Maces -- Mace, Morning Star, Flail, and exceptional and elite versions
- Melee Weapons -- Any non-ranged weapon except Sorceress orbs
- Missile Weapons -- Bows and crossbows
- Weapons -- Melee Weapons, Missile Weapons, and Sorceress orbs
- Scepters -- Scepter, Grand Scepter, War Scepter, and exceptional and elite versions
| Rune Words | ||
|---|---|---|
| Runeword Types | Armor Rune Words • Helm Rune Words • Shield Rune Words • Weapon Rune Words | |
| Original Rune Words | Ancient's Pledge • Black • Fury • Holy Thunder • Honor • King's Grace • Leaf • Lionheart • Lore • Malice • Melody • Memory • Nadir • Radiance • Rhyme • Silence • Smoke • Stealth • Steel • Strength • Venom • Wealth • White • Zephyr | |
| 1.10 Rune Words | Beast • Bramble • Breath of the Dying • Call to Arms • Chaos • Chains of Honor • Crescent Moon • Delirium • Doom • Duress • Enigma • Eternity • Exile • Famine • Gloom • Hand of Justice • Heart of the Oak • Kingslayer • Passion • Prudence • Sanctuary • Splendor • Stone • Wind | |
| 1.10 Ladder Rune Words | Brand • Death • Destruction • Dragon • Dream • Edge • Faith • Fortitude • Grief • Harmony • Ice • Infinity • Insight • Last Wish • Lawbringer • Oath • Obedience • Phoenix • Pride • Rift • Spirit • Voice of Reason • Wrath | |
| 1.11 Rune Words | Bone • Enlightenment • Myth • Peace • Principle • Rain • Treachery | |
