Runes are powerful stones you can use to upgrade your items using the socketing system. If socketed in the right order at the same item they’ll form a Runeword: a powerful named item with huge bonuses. They can be used in the Horadric Cube to craft some items, or multiple of the same combined into another Rune altogether.
If you’ve perused our Runewords Diablo 2 article, you’re familiar with the 3 base recipes for cubing Runes:
3 of the same Rune = 1 of the next level of rarity.
The next level of rarity is 3 of the same Rune + 1 chipped/flawed gem = 1 of the next level of rarity.
And finally it becomes 2 of the same Rune + 1 normal/flawless gem = 1 of the next level of rarity.
Below our table will show you what each Rune confers depending on the item it’s socketed into and how to make one!
Also don’t be intimidated by the ultra-rare Runes, as you’ll get an Ort, Ral, and Tal for free in Act 5 as a quest reward.
Low Tier Runes
These are common and are normally sold rather than held onto.
| Name | Recipe | Armor/Helms/Shields | Weapon | Level |
| El | N/A | +15 Defense, +1 To Light Radius | +50 To Attack Rating, +1 Light Radius | 11 |
| Eld | 3x El Runes | 15% Slower Stamina Drain/7% Increased Chance of Blocking(Shields) | +75% Damage To Undead, +50 Attack Rating Against Undead | 11 |
| Tir | 3x Eld Runes | +2 To Mana After Each Kill | +2 To Mana After Each Kill | 13 |
| Nef | 3x Tir Runes | +30 Defense Vs. Missile | Knockback | 13 |
| Eth | 3x Nef Runes | Regenerate Mana 15% | -25% To Target Defense | 15 |
| Ith | 3x Eth Runes | 15% Damage Taken Goes to Mana | +9 To Maximum Damage | 15 |
| Tal | 3x Ith Runes | Poison Resist 30%/Poison Resist 35%(Shields) | +75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds | 17 |
| Ral | 3x Tal Runes | Fire Resist 30%/Fire Resist 35%(Shields) | Adds 5-30 Fire Damage | 19 |
| Ort | 3x Ral Runes | Lightning Resist 30%/Lightning Resist 35%(Shields) | Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage | 21 |
| Thul | 3x Ort Runes | Cold Resist 30%/Cold Resist 35%(Shields) | Adds 3-14 Cold Damage – 3 Second Duration | 23 |
| Amn | 3x Thul Runes And
1x Chipped Topaz |
Attacker Takes Damage of 14 | 7% Life Stolen Per Hit | 25 |
| Shael | 3x Sol Runes and
1x Chipped Sapphire |
20% Faster Hit Recovery/20% Faster Block Rate(Shields) | 20% Increased Attack Speed | 29 |
Mid Tier Runes
These are still valuable, and are used in more powerful Runewords normally. In general these Runes have a little more value than Low-Tier Runes.
| Name | Recipe | Armor/Helms/Shields | Weapon | Level |
| Sol | 3x Amn Runes and
1x Chipped Amethyst |
Damage Reduced By 7 | +9 To Minimum Damage | 27 |
| Dol | 3x Shael Runes and
1x Chipped Ruby |
Replenish Life +7 | Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25% | 31 |
| Hel | 3x Dol Runes and
1x Chipped Emerald |
Requirements -15% | Requirements -20% | – |
| Io | 3x Hel Runes and
1x Chipped Diamond |
+10 To Vitality | +10 To Vitality | 35 |
| Lum | 3x Io Runes and
1x Flawed Topaz |
+10 To Energy | +10 To Energy | 37 |
| Ko | 3x Lum Runes and
1x Flawed Amethyst |
+10 To Dexterity | +10 To Dexterity | 39 |
| Fal | 3x Ko Runes and
1x Flawed Sapphire |
+10 To Strength | +10 To Strength | 41 |
| Lem | 3x Fal Runes and
1x Flawed Ruby |
50% Extra Gold From Monsters | 75% Extra Gold From Monsters | 43 |
| Pul | 3x Lem Runes and
1x Flawed Emerald |
+30% Enhanced Defense | +75% Damage To Demons, +100 Attack Rating Against Demons | 45 |
| Um | 2x Pul Runes and
1x Flawed Diamond |
All Resistances +15(Armor/Helms) +22(Shields) | 25% Chance of Open Wounds | 47 |
Top Tier Runes
The top tier are normally traded for or purchased on D2 items sites. Don’t trade these unless it’s a very expensive, rare item.
A Zod Rune drops about 1 in 38 Million drops!
| Name | Recipe | Armor/Helms/Shields | Weapon | Level |
| Mal | 2x Um Runes and 1x Normal Topaz | Magic Damage Reduced By 7 | Prevent Monster Heal | 49 |
| Ist | 2x Mal Runes and 1x Amethyst | 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | 30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | 51 |
| Gul | 2x Ist Runes and 1x Sapphire | 5% To Maximum Poison Resist | 20% Bonus To Attack Rating | 53 |
| Vex | 2x Gul Runes and 1x Ruby | 5% To Maximum Fire Resist | 7% Mana Stolen Per Hit | 55 |
| Ohm | 2x Vex Runes and 1x Emeral | 5% To Maximum Cold Resist | +50% Enhanced Damage | 57 |
| Lo | 2x Ohm Runes and 1x Diamond | 5% To Maximum Lightning Resist | 20% Deadly Strike | 59 |
| Sur | 2x Lo Runes and 1x Flawless Topaz | Maximum Mana 5%/+50 To Mana (Shields) | Hit Blinds Target | 61 |
| Ber | 2x Sur Runes and 1x Flawless Amethyst | Damage Reduced by 8% | 20% Chance of Crushing Blow | 63 |
| Jah | 2x Ber Runes and 1x Flawless Sapphire | Increase Maximum Life 5%/+50 Life (Shields) | Ignore Target’s Defense | 65 |
| Cham | 2x Jah Runes and 1x Flawless Ruby | Cannot Be Frozen | Freeze Target +3 | 67 |
| Zod | 2x Cham Runes and 1x Flawless Emerald | Indestructible | Indestructible | 69 |