Runewords are a great way to improve your character in Diablo 2. Not only do they make it easier, but give you added bonuses so you can take on the more difficult monsters and continue getting bigger and better items from Diablo.
Here is a list of the best armor runewords d2. Some of the Runewords that are listed here will create an armor piece with three sockets, and others will create items with two sockets. In order to create Runewords, you first must have the correct runes.
Diablo 2 has a wide variety of armor and Runewords and this article will help you select the best Diablo 2 Runeword for armor.
Best d2 armor runewords
The best armor base for Diablo 2 Runewords is the base that has the stats you want. For example, if you want to make a Runeword with +2 skills and +50 life, you are going to need an armor that has 20% Enhanced Defense and 1 to 2 sockets. Once you find this type of armor, you will need to use the Horadric Cube with the correct runes in order to make the Runeword. You can learn more about this process in our other articles on making Runewords.
When it comes to Runewords, a lot of players focus on what they want their final item to be, but they don’t pay as much attention to the armor base that they’re using. Choosing a good armor base can make a huge difference in how your runeword turns out. For example, if you’re trying to create a runeword with lots of defensive stats, like Enigma or Grief, you probably know that it’s better to use a large shield than an armor piece for those stats. But when it comes to the actual armor pieces, there are still plenty of other factors you should consider before making your choice.
Armor bases are all different from each other in one way or another, and you need to choose one that matches your character and build. In some cases, this will mean choosing an armor base that has specific sockets for your runes—for example, if you’re playing a Paladin and want to put the Ral rune into an Eth rune word (which is not normally possible), you could use an eth Archon Plate that has four sockets instead of three. Or maybe you need an armour base with certain resistances–an eth chain mail will have more fire resistance than
3-socket Armor bases
- Enigma
- Mage Plate
- Dusk Shroud
4-socket Armor bases
- Chains of Honor
- Archon Plate
- Fortitude
- Archon Plate (Ethereal)
Best armor runewords for merc d2
Treachery is the best merc armor in 95% of cases do I would go with that, however see below for other quick options for your best merc gear in d2.
- Prudence (2os)
- Treachery (3os
- Stone (4os)
- Treachery is top tier with Fort.
Enigma (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)
Chains of Honor (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
Bramble (Ral + Ohm + Sur + Eth)
- Level 15-21 Thorns Aura When Equipped
- +50% Faster Hit Recovery
- +25-50% To Poison Skill Damage
- +300 Defense
- Increase Maximum Mana 5%
- Regenerate Mana 15%
- +5% To Maximum Cold Resist
- Fire Resist +30%
- Poison Resist +100%
- +13 Life After Each Kill
- Level 13 Spirit of Barbs (33 Charges)
Fortitude (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
Smoke (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
Duress (Shael + Um + Thul)
- +40% Faster Hit Recovery
- +10-20% Enhanced Damage
- Adds 37-133 Cold Damage 2 sec. Duration (Normal)
- 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%
Peace (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
What are the best merc budget armor?
For your d2 merc armor runeword, Treachery should be your go-to choice. It’s cheap and increases your mercenary’s damage and survivability massively. Doesn’t even need to be in an ebugged base, though that definitely helps.
If you’ve got a 3 socket circlet with +2 vita, it’s worth considering adding a third rune (Shael) to turn it into Smoke, which is honestly one of the best underrated Runewords early in the game. That +50 res makes a big difference when you’ve otherwise got low end gear.
Treachery is a great early game armor runeword for mercenaries as it reduces their damage taken and increases their damage output. Smoke is also a great alternative albeit harder to acquire. For very low budget or early gear, your absolute go-to is Stealth.
Treachery (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
Smoke (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
Stealth (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
All Armor Runewords D2
| Rune word | Sockets | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Bone | 3 sockets | 15% Chance To Cast level 10 Bone Armor When Struck |
| Bramble | 4 sockets | Level 15–21 Thorns Aura When Equipped |
| Chains of Honor | 4 sockets | +2 To All Skills |
| Dragon | 3 sockets | 20% Chance to Cast Level 18 Venom When Struck |
| Duress | 3 sockets | +40% Faster Hit Recovery |
| Enigma | 3 sockets | +2 To All Skills |
| Enlightenment | 3 sockets | 5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Blaze When Struck |
| Fortitude | 4 sockets | 20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when Struck |
| Gloom | 3 sockets | 15% Chance To Cast Level 3 Dim Vision When Struck |
| Lionheart | 3 sockets | +20% Enhanced Damage |
| Myth | 3 sockets | 3% Chance To Cast Level 1 Howl When Struck |
| Peace | 3 sockets | 4% Chance To Cast Level 5 Slow Missiles When Struck |
| Principle | 3 sockets | 100% Chance To Cast Level 5 Holy Bolt On Striking |
| Prudence | 2 sockets | +25% Faster Hit Recovery |
| Rain | 3 sockets | 5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Cyclone Armor When Struck |
| Smoke | 2 sockets | +75% Enhanced Defense |
| Stealth | 2 sockets | Magic Damage Reduced By 3 |
| Stone | 4 sockets | +60% Faster Hit Recovery |
| Treachery | 3 sockets | 5% Chance To Cast Level 15 Fade When Struck |
| Wealth | 3 sockets | 300% Extra Gold From Monsters |
For a master Rune list check out Diablo 2 Wiki here