All of the new Rune Words in Diablo 2: Resurrected patch 2.4

Diablo 2: Resurrected is bringing a whole host of changes to the game with its upcoming patch 2.4, and among those changes are new Rune Words. And when I say new, I mean brand-new — several of the upcoming Rune Words were never in the original Diablo 2.

What do they do? Who are they for? Keep reading as we break down all of the new Rune Words coming to Diablo 2: Resurrected in patch 2.4.

The New Rune Words of Patch 2.4

Pattern Rune Word

Pattern, along with Plague, is not actually a new Rune Word as such — it’s been in the game files since the original release of Diablo 2 but was never made available to players. It’s specifically an Assassin-only Rune Word, usable in Scissors Katar weapons for Assassins and nothing else. Taking a look at what it offers shows that it’s a fairly broadly useful Rune Word.

• +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
• Uses Tal + Ort + Thu (3 Sockets)

It adds a good amount of functionality to Assassin players for a relatively small rune cost — the block rate and bonus resistance it grants could make your Assassin a bit more likely to survive, while the enhancement to damage and additional fire, lightning and cold damage plus poison damage over time are attractive for offensive output.

Plague Rune Word

This is the other old Rune Word that was never implemented before patch 2.4. Plague is a sword Rune Word, and it’s got a lot going on.

• 20% Chance to cast level 12 Lower Resist when struck
• 25% Chance to cast level 15 Poison Nova on striking
• Level 13-17 Cleansing Aura When Equipped (varies)
• +1-2 All Skills
• +20% Increased Attack Speed
• +220-320% Enhanced Damage (varies)
• -23% To Enemy Poison Resistance
• 0.3% (0-29.7) Deadly Strike (Based on Character Level)
• +25% Chance of Open Wounds
• Freezes Target +3
• Uses Cham + Shael + Um (3 Sockets)

There’s various ways this could be useful — a Barbarian or Paladin could just use it to go to town, for example, it adds attack speed, damage and and Deadly Strike, but it could be effective in the hands of just about anyone — it’s not limited by class the way Pattern is and everybody can use swords in the game. I’ve seen a few people talk about using it with a Necromancer who has the proper mercenary, essentially turning the Necromancer into a support class reducing everyone’s poison resistance.

Flickering Flame Rune Word

Now we come to the first entirely new Rune Word from patch 2.4. Flickering Flame was not in the original files, it’s a new helm Rune Word built around fire damage and fire resistance. Wowhead says it’s probably best for Fire Druids, and I think I have to agree with them — Fire Amazons would likely benefit more from Wisdom, and the relative lack of non-fire based defense on the Rune Word would make Sorcerers look elsewhere. Still, if you use fire a lot, it’s worth taking a look.

• Level 4-8 Resist Fire Aura When Equipped (varies)
• +3 To Fire Skills
• -10-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance (varies)
• +30% Enhanced Defense
• +30 Defense Vs. Missile
• +50-75 To Mana (varies)
• Half Freeze Duration
• +5% To Maximum Fire Resist
• Poison Length Reduced by 50%
• Uses Nef + Rul + Vex (3 Sockets)

The Resist Fire Aura is attractive because it applies to anyone in range of it, so mercenaries and summoned creatures would benefit. The penalty to enemy Fire Resistance, the bonus to Fire Skills, the reduction to Freezes and Poison Length, and the Enhanced Defense are all solid, although you’ll certainly want to replace this Rune Word in most cases well before you try higher difficulty levels.

Mist Rune Word

This Rune Word is a five-socket one, usable in bows, which could attract an Amazon player or someone using a Mercenary with a bow equipped. Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of people argue that it’s underwhelming for an Amazon, but I think it could definitely be of good use.

• Level 8-12 Concentration Aura When Equipped (varies)
• +3 To All Skills
• 20% Increased Attack Speed
• +100% Piercing Attack
• +325-375% Enhanced Damage (varies)
• +9 To Maximum Damage
• 20% Bonus to Attack Rating
• Adds 3-14 Cold Damage
• All Resistances +40
• Freeze Target +3
• +24 Vitality
• All Resistances +40
• Uses Cham + Shael + Gul + Thul + Ith (5 Sockets)

I like the Concentration Aura on the Rune Word, the significant damage bonuses, the added Cold Damage and Freezes Target, the sizeable +40 to Resistances… it’s a strong early endgame Rune Word for a Bowazon player. It may not be the best option after you get deeper into endgame, I’ll grant you that, but it’s fairly easy to get the runes, and there’s not a lot I can say negative about +327% Enhanced Damage.

Wisdom Rune Word

Another new Rune Word for the head slot, Wisdom is specifically for the Diadem.

• +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
• Uses Pul + Ith + Eld (3 Sockets)

Piercing attack lets you basically shoot or throw a ranged weapon attack through the body of your first target and hit enemies behind it for full damage. By itself, this makes this Rune Word excellent for Amazon players or any niche build based around ranged weapon attacks. The damage taken as Mana effect, added to Mana after each kill, means that the proper use of this Rune Word could keep a character with mana to spare a lot longer, especially when combined with the 5% Man stolen per hit. I definitely think I’d prefer Wisdom to Flickering Flame for an Amazon player, even a Fire Amazon.

Unbending Will Rune Word

We talked about Unbending Will already, but I feel like I may have sold it a bit short in terms of all that it offers. It’s not Oath, but honestly if not for the six runes needed for Unbending Will vs. Oath’s four, I’d almost be willing to put the two up as near equals.

• 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%
• Uses Fal + Io + Ith + Eld + El + Hel (6 Sockets)

The reason Oath wins is because it can be used in Ethereal Weapons, which can’t be repaired normally and have reduced durability. Since Oath makes weapons it is socketed into indestructible, it effectively removes the main limitation of Ethereal Weapons. However, as great as that is, for a non-Ethereral Weapon using character, a great big honking 2h sword with Unbending Will gets Increased Attack Speed, Enhanced Damage, Life Stolen per Hit, +10 to both Strength and Vitality, Damage Reduction, and bonuses against Undead, plus a chance to Taunt on hit. It’s a fairly solid Rune Word even for that exorbitant cost of six sockets.

Since it’s essentially a Barbarian focused Rune Word, and the best and easiest way to get six sockets is through a quest, I think we’ll mostly see it in the hands of Barbarians looking for a more tankish role.

Obsession Rune Word

This is another brand-new Rune Word, and makes whatever weapon it is in indestructible. Since it only works in staves and offers a host of health, mana, and resistance buffs, it’s a really solid Rune Word for when you’re trying to gear up to tackle higher difficulties.

• Indestructible
• 24% Chance to cast level 10 Weaken when struck
• +4 To All Skills
• +65% Faster Cast Rate
• +60% Faster Hit Recovery
• Knockback
• +10 To Vitality
• +10 To Energy
• Increase Maximum Life 15-25% (varies)
• Regenerate Mana 15-30% (varies)
• All Resistances +60-70 (varies)
• 75% Extra Gold from Monsters
• 30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
• Uses Zod + Ist + Lem + Lum + Io + Nef (6 Sockets)

Clearly this is a Rune Word aimed at Sorceress players, with the +65% Faster Cast Rate, but I could honestly see other classes using it to farm with, with all of that bonus Vitality, the Increase Max Life, the Mana regen, the big boost on Resistances and all that extra gold and Magic Item drop chance.

That covers the new Rune Word of Diablo 2: Resurrected‘s patch 2.4. Hopefully something in here is what you’re looking for to help you kick demon butt during the ladder season.