Strongest Low Level Runewords in Diablo II

This is one of my first ever edited video. There are some audio glitches in the beginning for some reason. I probably messed something up during the editing process, because the source files are fine.
/ indrekleede
/ indrekleede
/ discord

[@IndrekLeede]

What the fuck. Seriously. This guy decided to make a list of strongest runewords and he doesn't even include Enigma. Why does everything have to be in a video format these days? Takes 4 minutes to show 10 items like that while in text format I could read through them in 4 seconds. 0:17 10. Ancient's Pledge (shields) Ral+Ort+Tal 0:36 9. Steel (swords, axes, or maces) Tir+El 0:56 8. Stealth (armors) Tal+Eth 1:16 7. Rhyme (shields) Shael+Eth 1:35 6. Lore (helms) Ort+Sol 1:54 5. Black (clubs, hammers, or maces) Thul+Io+Nef 2:20 4. Leaf (staves) Tir+Ral 2:38 3. White (wands) Dol+Io 2:59 2. Insight [ladder only] (polearms) Ral+Tir+Tal+Sol 3:26 1. Spirit [ladder only] (swords or shields) Tal+Thul+Ort+Amn

[@phantompower]

Btw dude, thanks for the vid, I've already referenced it several times in the last week.

[@blech71]

Indrek omg it took me a second. I was about to go in defensive mode on your behalf then I realized lol

[@BrunoTheViking]

I like the adaptation to today's youtube standard comment section. Also, I'd like to add an important info regarding "Steel". Today I tried making one with a Scepter and it failed. It works only on mace class weapons (Mace, Morning Star, Flail, and Exceptional/Elite versions)

[@Nyarlathotep_Flagg]

He said low lvl. Enigma is anything but low lvl.

[@Breeelax]

Yeah fuck that guy. Thank god you came along and saved us from that purgatory of a video!

[@MrMFgoon21]

just wanted to say your content was some of the first i watched on d2 when i got back into the game. Now I'm grinding D2R almost exactly 6 years later.... time flies! hope you continue uploading!

[@alexbridden1594]

My personal favourite is Malice. It's mostly about just doing damage, but it does that very well. It has an annoying drawback, but it can be compensated for and you can get it as early as act 1.

[@gonwyte8534]

Indrek, I think you have a good accent/voice fir this type of content style. You do a good job explaining everything and it's very easy to follow. Just highlighting something you might be pretty decent at.

[@austinkruegerlee6744]

Great video, your accent really adds to the video

[@ToaGatanuva]

indeed. The way the runes are pronounced does it for me, as this is also the way I pronounce them

[@rodneyb2950]

Seriously. Soumds like hes speaking in skyrim shouts when he says the runes

[@wolfegeist7808]

He kinda sounds like shulker craft

[@ham7357]

This isn’t his video he took in from djuntas

[@PietkaMS]

That fire staff is amazing!

[@thelatepatrick]

this is what i need thanks more video of diablo2lod

[@marektoth7814]

STEALTH runeword is enough for my necro for the ENTIRE normal difficulty...LOVE YOU : Tal + Eth...VERY NICE video !!!...

[@Metalmudo]

For my necro i had really awesome luck to buy wand with: +3 spear, +1 revive and +1 spirit

[@rdpvader]

Great video, very very useful. You just won your 1000th like :)

[@ngoclongvu3944]

By the way, how do you get Vitality runes? World 1? And about other Character? I noticed that Only when runes are socket-ed into definite gear, could they bring into full play, didn't they?

[@MrStensnask]

Good list. By the way, you sound exactly like someone from Skyrim :D

[@MrDbhendrickson]

awesome video, just what I needed Thanks

[@Usumgallu]

I can remember the pain from trying to buy the perfect base wand for DOL IO. I remember going in and out Lut Gholein hundreds and hundreds of times to get the skills I wanted with two sockets.

[@alex_4868]

great video, great player!

[@coco93nut]

I remember a while ago i didnt know about ancient's pledge and i was always using 3 flawless or perfect diamonds in a kite or large shield . Good list btw

[@d2hc900]

3 perfect diamond shield is better than ancients pledge. But you aren't likely to get 3 perfect diamonds by the time you make it to act 5. Ancients pledge gives 43/48/48/48 res where 3 pdiamond shield gives 57/57/57/57 res.

[@Modighen]

Good list. I bet outside of Insight, everyone skips over these. Many people don't like Malice, but it's a staple of my early hirelings and melee characters due to its -monster defense per hit, prevents monster healing and 100% chance of open wounds. Did the -5 drain life earn it exile status from your list?

[@31K4L]

what would you recommend for low lvl light soso ??

[@mksee66]

good stuff mate. I have a question though. why did you put the runes in an ethereal weapon? what happens if the weapon breaks?

[@IndrekLeede]

Weapons only lose durability if you attack with them. Casting never costs durability.

[@deadforever8810]

can you please show us how to build a hammerdin?.Im not talking about skills points distributtion or what gear do you need,im talking about how to build it from level 1 since every guide out there doesnt show how to do it,i'd really apreciate a video on this.

[@TheDarkmore]

Great list, if you would go just slightly higher, you could also have 2 very good armors: nef+lum=smoke and shael+thul+lem=treachery. You could include strenght also, which has crushingblow,lifesteal and huge str bonus. I once finished hell with: lore,strenght,smoke,rhyme on a kicksin. I had zero points in str, just used boneshield and wyrms for boots, hell was pretty easy.

[@martischubi]

Although i wouldnt suggest black & white(^^) as low lvl runewords this was a pretty good vid. Pretty sure that many ppl know the runes for an infinity but have no clue which runewords they can use when actually playing/building up a new char.

[@asddsagogoolpower]

What a nice video!

[@MrSoccerface]

I'm planning to play single, are any of these rune words ladder only? I know there's a rune word mode, but I can't find that folder for it to work.

[@jzheng7324]

www.reddit.com/r/diablo2/comments/4nwwc5/confirmed_working_method_for_ladder_runewords_on/ Here is what you need in 1.14. If 1.13, go for plugy then.

[@HarryPotter-fj8oi]

I had an ethereal spetum i cubed it and i opened 4open socket and i runed the spetum to make insight and it says : gemmed spetum .I don't know what went wrong.I need some help.

[@JoeShopper]

Great info!

[@AlmosTxxx]

Does number 2 have to be that leveled Voulge or just any 4 socket two handed weapon ?

[@IndrekLeede]

4 socketed polearms only. Spears or other weapon types won't work. Has to be polearm type.

[@midichlorian666]

TIR+EL is it possible to use for wrist blade?

[@MrDazzlerdarren]

Reminds me of one of the DJs in Vice City! :-D

[@fantasizer8473]

Gg that ethereal sword with the spirit rune word

[@interstellartravel]

Mo Fan If you only cast, weapons don't lose durability. Only when you start swinging them does durability drop.

[@NakedSnake85]

I bet you are from Finland, judging by your accent😋 Nice list👌

[@kunterieser]

My lore didn’t work when I put it into a skull cap? Any reason why? Non ladder

[@BoroMonokli]

Been a proud leaf user as a firebolt sorceress.

[@phuuc8075]

lol every time i started a new sorc built i alway go fire first for that sweet leaf power which can help win norm pretty quick without much cheesing and shit... then for any built just respect at nightmare...

[@interstellartravel]

Phú Đức Nguyễn This is my strategy too. Shop a +3 Fireball staff in act 2 at drognan and make leaf in it, it is very powerful for normal difficulty.

[@marcelloberry6829]

Peace should be on this imo

[@philipcharpentier-havill801]

one low lvl that really helps (cuz you can give it to a rogue merc) is Edge: Tir, tal, Amn. bows (LADDER ONLY) Especially when you have Minions like a summon necro, or a druid. cuz then everybody gets the Thorns aura on em. also when doing leaf on a staff with +3 warmth and/or +3 inferno already on it wooooooooooo boy xD. plus freaking 9, in soviet Russia, witch burns you.

[@cuchilloreloaded]

Malice should be in the list.

[@marchattack9276]

It’s shit cause of the drain life

[@obesechicken13]

Can't you put it on a merc?

[@marchattack9276]

obesechicken13 i think u can do it on act 3 merc but not act 2

[@obesechicken13]

I have it on an act 2 merc right now. His life regen outpaces the drain pretty significantly.

[@alexmmotta]

Just use something to replenish life and Malice won't bother :D

[@Omerack]

wow i didnt realize how awesome spirit is. its perfect for teleporting around with enigma on

[@thundertakeyou7174]

If you can afford Enigma, you'd better use HOTO as it gives more skills and FCR, and it's resistances will come in handy, too. The only thing it misses is FHR, but you'll be fine with HOTO unless you need hit recovery badly.

[@brainwasher9876]

the tricky thing about Spirit is that the only non-pally shields that have the four sockets needed are elite shields...the lowest level and strength one is a Monarch which is over a dozen levels higher. So if you want to get it at low levels you either have to use a weapon (which means not using wands or orbs for the casters that need them the most) or you can be a pally, who already has a host of other excellent shield rune word options.

[@Fredcerebrate]

I think this video is about low level runewords. So, we can not include HOTO.

[@ekoms108]

Wizepike is the absolute best

[@anasbachtiar3654]

Ok this really help, thx

[@branstorm1789]

which patch of d2 should be ? runeword tal eth is not working..

[@Nyarlathotep_Flagg]

Though it is Amazon specific you should have added huntress. 2+ to all skills at lvl 20, super easy runes 2 get(and only 2 of them). Basically 2 runs at tower on normal ensures you can make it.

[@mariovega6282]

Most excellent!

[@emrahkaraca1982]

Do the runewords work on magically socketed items such as artisan's armor or weapon?

[@SkanTheNew]

Nope, all items available for runes words have to be gray with sockets

[@prokariot1]

I changed from Ghost Armor Stealth to Dusk Shroud Smoke after I reached hell. I was not a dummy doll to archers anymore. It was still a relatively cheap runeword.

[@AlmosTxxx]

And does the wand one have to be a bone wand or any wand with 2 sockets ?

[@IndrekLeede]

Can be any wand with 2 sockets, but not all wands are able to get 2 sockets. When buying a wand from Drognan only Bone Wands can get 2 sockets.

[@robertonuno2592]

Thank you very helpful.

[@SuperBarul]

nice video m8

[@zenderman5883]

Flails or Falchions are the weapons I usually make Steel into

[@Defi4nc3s1]

My personal List of LOW Runewords goes: Lionheart Lore (all class = War Hat/ Could be in Class specific for bonus skills) Splendor (Low Strength beat its Def Cap) Smoke (one of the best resist and fhr armors for early, on tanky hero as pala/dru shape or barb could be a immortal's gift) Strength (Good options, plus best STR/VIT on its level to them) Malice (usually for assassin's skills) cheap.. Stealth(Never consider it.... but prob. for any caster/or druid itself/assassin cuz of the good fhr and r/w speed) Honor (a dangerious Spearlike for low level or Sword with fast enough speed, dru wolf can conpensate that) Steel (Rarely and used to use it on swords) Black (sorry its great only for Kicker or Barb on WW/Concentrate/Berserk/Frenzy) Spirit (Weapon is better than shield... you need alot of STR for the other if you aren't pally ^^) Ancient's Pledge... only did it once on Pally shield, not worth... better Spledor (lower str too) King's Grace (good for pally option of skill bonus ^^) Leaf/White/Memory (Almost not doing them, because u need the perfect balance of bonus skills, also 2 of them are 2-handed.../Maybe Leaf for Enchantress at low/Memory for big bosses - static field). Edge (Good for amazon's or Rogue Merc)

[@asmodeus1234]

Defi4nc3s1 you should've put the runes needed for each

[@catherinechase5858]

Many of those aren't low level rune words.

[@royyurkas3455]

Some of these are Ladder only items. No mention of which one are single player/ladder

[@Breeelax]

PlugY is your friend...

[@shawn680]

Should have mentioned Treachery and Smoke, but a fine list nonetheless.

[@jimparkin2345]

The last time I seriously played D2 was juuuuust long enough ago that forget a lot of the farming minutiae. Where would one go to grab the runes for the early rune words? NM countess? I play single player using PlugY for ladder runes etc.

[@IndrekLeede]

Most of these runes can be grinded from nightmare Countess, yes. Getting up to Sol is pretty easy from her, but she can drop some higher runes too.

[@toncikalebic9928]

When I put the runes nothing hapends They just give me the basic bonuses I am currently in nightmare 2nd town lvl 45

[@wokest118]

New ladder, earning everything myself

[@thomas930409]

Our absolute favorite was Spirit. In weapon and shield at the same time. *Kani server HUNGARY*

[@iiMAGINExThis]

You forgot my favorite lld pally rw Honor ... Try and find a 5 soc divine scepter with +3 hammer/+3 concentration

[@OvertimeX86]

Thank you

[@ImVeryBrad]

spirit is also ladder only

[@gilian2587]

Ral + Ort + Tal ~= +50% All resist coupled with Nef + Lum ~= +50% All resist. These make Hell mode nearly viable for just about any casting character.

[@erynejackson7120]

thank you

[@EdieMiran]

Thanks!

[@wenksification]

guys, i need help.... do you peeps know the best early rune words for scythe? im a newbie to median xl and i have a talons reach with 3 sockets..... idk what to do with it. plus can i add another socket to it? :)

[@123dmytro123]

+wenksification You better check median forums for info about that mod, since it's completely different from normal d2..

[@wenksification]

Dym ive been to median forums but its so hard to understand lol

[@factsrecorderjohn5800]

In my opinion the best runeword that doesnt include a highrune** ist> is definitely LIONHEART

[@thundertakeyou7174]

Stone, Gloom and Obedience are also pretty nice. Treachery is fine, too.

[@forsaken8382]

i just bought d2 myself :p takes some time to learn it :P to u have some advice for beginner :)?

[@selimthedream]

+indrek aamann Hey there. I have played D2 quite a bit back when I was in college, 1999-2003. I just started again recently but only single player for now. Do you play on bnet? If you do then how is it? I remember looking at some forums and people were complaining about too many bots and such.

[@vaclavm4647]

@@selimthedream Path Of Diablo... Answer

[@rickyzoroza]

2:51 you recommend building it in a what?

[@dinhvantu7304]

Necro bone spear

[@marchattack9276]

What about zephyr

[@Marquaker]

" in Dblyblahblo twoo" :D

[@evilminion6326]

alternitivly if you makeing a white if you use a wand with 3 to skelliton mastery you can have a whoping +7!

[@SpookyWatcher]

Very nice Estonian accent bro ;)

[@OlviMasta77]

SpookyWatcher He sounded finnish to me :D

[@jannopajo9776]

Tervitus, hakkan wist uuesti d2 lod battlenetis hc. Head mälestused:P

[@valdirespindula3091]

How about "King's Grace"?

[@extraallt3705]

Hello just started playing diablo 2 and tried to craft the Lore helmet but when I placed the runes inside the helmet nothing happend..... Do someone know why?

[@IndrekLeede]

+Philip Kartsman Did you input the runes inside a grey helm? If the item name is blue or yellow then it won't work. item name has to be grey.

[@extraallt3705]

+Indrek Leede Oh ok good to know =) Btw is it normal to find a weapon with 4 sockets (for the recipe on your rank1) or do I need to craft it?

[@IndrekLeede]

+Philip Kartsman 4 Socketed swords are common in nightmare already I'd say. A bit of grinding and you should be able to find it If you want to spend a socket quest then find a broad sword or crystal sword from normal cows and use the socket quest on it. It will get 4 sockets. This will only work if you use a sword from normal cow levels, because then the sword will have the correct item level.

[@extraallt3705]

+Indrek Leede Ok guess I just been unlucky finding one yet. Thanks for the help =)

[@MosoKaiser]

+Philip Kartsman Also good to keep in mind that runewords only work on socketed items with the same number of sockets as runes in the runeword (e.g. you can't make a 'Lore' on a 3-socketed helmet).

[@420Smokeapotamus]

#1 game where it had twinked low lvl characters, and mid lvl characters duels, lvl 19s could kill lvl 60s. Anyone remember? Fuck I miss that, so much. Had my own separate account specifically for LLDs, and MLDs.

[@johnbamberg1632]

poison kick sin was a bad ass low level duel char back when I played... could easy kill a lot of builds 20-30 levels higher than you

[@DezZzO_YT]

loved to kill guys up to level 80 with my 40 lvl necro lol

[@Fishbro]

I remember that, shit, I was a birch until I got rich lol. After I got rich my hammerdin was a God, one hit kill all, never got hurt by any physical damage, absorbed all other damage except magic. Only necros and hammerdins could kill me, except dudes with full body of charms and attack rating.

[@jaydeleon6447]

Can I use it on a bow for amazon?

[@jaydeleon6447]

I mean the number 1 that you showed.

[@zeliasilva6794]

I tried to build spirit in the same sword u did, in the same order and it still fails to do it. What can i do? Must it be in a ethereal sword?

[@thundertakeyou7174]

Did you put these runes into the sword in single player?

[@IndrekLeede]

Works in ladder.

[@thundertakeyou7174]

Indrek You're right. By the way, are you going to make the new videos? Your previous videos were extremely good.

[@IndrekLeede]

Thanks! I'm working on a new video currently. I want to finish it this week.

[@zeliasilva6794]

yh at single

[@MacroBioBoi]

who's here enjoying this in 2021?

[@Snowbaby9x]

i added socket for sword like u but it wrong. i can't add to Spirit. Help me pls..

[@cartman2dk]

not all swords get 4s after you do the socket quest. try trading urself to one..

[@Snowbaby9x]

tk bro

[@gabrielcremoneis5549]

Please help. I can drop all this runes on first act?

[@IndrekLeede]

Normal Countess drops up to Ral rune. Nightmare Countess can drop rest of runes listed in this video.

[@Spendleton]

Can't forget "Honor"

[@doctoronishispsychosislab1474]

so what happens if is put Tir Ral on a spear ?

[@IndrekLeede]

The spear will only get the bonuses the runes themselves add. Mana to kill and Fire damage. Leaf will only be created in staves.

[@doctoronishispsychosislab1474]

@@IndrekLeede cheers man. you just saved me some runes ^^. what would you socket in a spear for an amazon plz ?

[@ToniRubinic]

I put TIR+EL in a long sword and it just says tirel and didnt become STEEL?

[@lordteapot9740]

has to be 2 socket long sword

[@jislas12]

keep in mind that the item should not be "mechanic´s" prefixed , superior prefix or have 3 sockets because it don´t will work, you need 2 and only 2 sockets and name "long sword" only xd

[@elfstar536]

Will I'm new player ..so thank , guess get nothing more but Coronaslone cast that should flatten the curve.

[@skytg7739]

I was thinking also about Duress but I guess that lvl 47 is not so low level

[@TheMindfulOne]

Tir El did not work in my sword. rip

[@smiteriuszryceriusz1258]

top one honor

[@toncikalebic9928]

I just got a alibaba blade with 2 socets and i put an tir and el rune and nothing magical hapened

[@Bloodangel1212]

Hello my Name is Steve how can i help you?

[@IndrekLeede]

+Bloodangel1212 I lost my drive. Help me recover it, thanks.

[@Bloodangel1212]

Indrek Leede Did u try to press Control alt delete?

[@IndrekLeede]

+Bloodangel1212 Thanks that worked. I pressed control alt delete and my drive appeared on my table. Pretty cool.

[@ahmedsameh764]

how did u know he wants help

[@theoldone7070]

He said in description

[@rokkuform]

you have nice voice ;D

[@wenksification]

How come when i use tir el, i dont get steel wtf?

[@IndrekLeede]

Paladin scepters are sneaky and they are displayed as maces, but are actually rods. Steel doesn't work with rods.

[@wenksification]

@@IndrekLeede im using sabre of carnage. That doesnt count as well?

[@wenksification]

@@IndrekLeede sorry noob question but does rune words work on blue items? Haha. Or does it have to be basic only?

[@IndrekLeede]

@@wenksification only basic items work with grey name.

[@wenksification]

@@IndrekLeede thats why it wasnt working lmao. My bad. First time to play diablo 😂

[@mathiashenderson4288]

Ladder only = not available to single player?

[@Breeelax]

Just use PlugY and you can emulate the "ladder feeling". Ubers aswell as exclusive Rune words are obtainable in SP with it.

[@tonyaddams]

Spirit is Ladder only. What a pity.

[@Afura33]

You can use plugy for singleplayer if you want to.

[@tonyaddams]

But I play DII 1.14d

[@Afura33]

Tony Addams yea you need to downpatch to 1.13 for plugy

[@tonyaddams]

Is it possible?

[@Afura33]

Tony Addams yea it is possible

[@IRPale]

Pane nimekiri kirjeldusse ka ;)

[@DiMoNico1981Swe]

I remember the best runeword is - Last wish, 2 hand, its just brutal imba good!!! i cant remember the runes, i know took some time to make it.... Last time i played was 2006..

[@degenerationrebornbg9848]

+DiMoNico1981Swe Last Wish is not the best runeword Grief is the most powerful single handed runeword weapon in the game. Last Wish is mostly used in PvM, but Grief in PvP. And runes that require Last Wish are - Jah + Mal + Jah + Sur + Jah + Ber. Compare Last Wish Damage to Grief Damage and see that Grief owns Last Wish

[@karol1030]

both have better dmg :)

[@DiMoNico1981Swe]

degeneration rebornBG Grief sounds not diablo2.. Do you talking about Runewords? becase "Last Wish was best blizzard have ever done in Diablo2.

[@karol1030]

just for meele champions, ut smitter i had just thul io nef rw + 4 x perf diamond shield 45 @ smoke nef lum and this smit was faster than lw and exile vortex smit. For life tap used wand with charges. Better than dracula then are loh gloves. Laying of hands. This smit is much better

[@NomisIsGozulike]

grief exists. its an excellent smiter weapon. grief and exile, what a combo

[@TrueGuyT]

To me, these runewords are the best in the game.

[@zeliasilva6794]

Cuz u didnt saw the strongest ones yet.. ^^

[@hunlepto2239]

Same.

[@brainwasher9876]

the strongest ones are so ridiculously expensive and difficult to put together that it's practically impossible to get them without some extensive and painful trading/playing. The lower ones are underappreciated IMO.

[@Confucius_76]

You sound Italian but also Scandinavian

[@Rumblingbelly]

I don't know what the game creators have been smoking to make a runeword like spirit, so overpowered at lvl 25 even if its an end game item basically. 1.09 version was the most balanced item wise.

[@businesscatlimbo]

No harmony? That's a great rw for low level bowazons.

[@brainwasher9876]

people still play bowzons?!

[@businesscatlimbo]

Andrew Wang people play tons of things still. Meta builds never die, but it's fun to try other things. I built an Ice zon (build focused around freezing arrow/strafe/ice rw) last season and she was pretty fun. Built another zon this season which was a passive "fishy" zon (it was really tough building due to extensive gear to have high damage output) (also fishy means only using one talent tree). Gonna try a mav zon next season probably.

[@server333]

its actually great for all bowazons but there are better options in endgame^^

[@businesscatlimbo]

server333 Well yeah of course.

[@kamen42]

Sure, in the endgame, but this video focuses on Low Level runewords.

[@the1jessebrown]

Watching in 2020

[@trongtiepnguyen6405]

Tal thul ort amn no use diablo offline bro :((

[@michaelcumming2097]

get plugy mod it enables ladder rune words

[@skimyy]

Don't be an idiot like me. It's really difficult to get "Spirit" runeword for shields in low levels. Even if you use the Act 5 quest reward to socket, you cannot socket any low level shields to 4 sockets. Apparently 4 socket shields only tend to drop in hell, the Monarch shields, etc.

[@deathalizer82]

Paladin shields in normal can get 4 sockets. Though usable by paladin only.

[@jackiecollins9759]

that's why you do it in sword until hell difficulty to put it into shield :)

[@piotrstepien462]

I would add TIR + ITH + SOL + KO to this list. Ladder only though... :/ I am playing lots of SP HC games and its painful to have runes and dont have an opportunity to make a Ladder RW. I am aware of plugy and VTest patch so dont bother.

[@Dana6NS]

u actually dont need to install anything, just search the web and u will find how to make ladder only runewords in single, u just need a txt file which u will easily find even on YT

[@Akidryt]

i agree, harmony is badass for bowzons.