I also left the Insight runeword off this list because it’s an obvious choice like spirit. I wanted to get more of the unpopular runewords some shine.

Why isn't "Stealth" on this list?! "Stealth" should be #1!! Tal+Eth, easiest Runeword for Starter: +25% Faster Run/Walk , +25% Faster Casting Rate, +25% Faster Hit Recovery, +6 to Dexterity, Regenerate Mana 15%, +15 Maximum Stamina, Poison Resist +30%, Magic Damage Reduced by 3

If you left out "obvious choices" to show off less popular runewords, then this isn't a "top 10".

I think LORE deserves a mention. ORT - SOL in a helm is a very cheap skill + for any caster that's viable well into nm and even hell. This goes double for druid casters who find a socketed druid helm

I really like the early game and low-level items, so this video was fun for me. I definitely thought of Leaf first thing, and you mentioned Steel at one point, but I was always a big fan of the Strength runeword (Amn + Tir) for the easy crushing blow and boost to life. i pretty much always put this guy on a low level Barb and rode it out until I find something nice.

Just came across your channel yesterday and since I love Diablo, especially D2LoD, I just had to subscribe. Great videos, keep up the good work and keep the world of Sanctuary alive!

"Great early runeword for when you're doing uber trist early on"

I like how "really early on runewords" means "not getting destroyed in hell difficulty"...

Another great list and video, Xtimus.

Thanks for sharing this information! I just bought the game, after many years. Cheers!

"Best starter runewords" *mentions a 5os runeword that uses two HRs* Dude.. that's not a starter runeword.. you'll never get those runes in normal or the weapon needed to get that many sockets. Are you ok?

by ''starter'' i was expecting LOW level rw not 60+

Something to note with the leaf staff you should have mentioned, If you are lucky enough to find a socketed staff that already has + to stuff, it can stack up for an impressive +7-9 to depending on how lucky you are.

Haven't played in prob a decade but this was a great refresher for getting ready for Resurrected

Smoke is actually one of my favorites. Only two runes and good resists.

Thanks for the Vid! I just reinstalled and i am playing self-found-offline only for now. When i was checking what i could build with my low lvl runes so far i was wondering why no one ever thinks about Lionheart for example. Looks like everybody but me has better runes but this list sure helped me haha.

you missed my biggest fave of all tal eth in a two sock armor gives fhr fcr, frw, and all kinds of bonuses.

I think part of the reason why lionheart is overlooked is the need for good 3os armors. most see lionheart as waste when you could just trade your 3os armor or make something better in it

I havent played the game for ages, but i remember that cheap armor runewords was very good in eth armors early on - low runes where cheap enough to use on something that wouldnt last, and the 50% defence buff and -10 str requirement made it easy to get very strong armors as you level up. Ofc you can also just c if the vendor has a decent eth armor for sale...

Splendor is the softcore alternative for all those rhymes and ancient pledges

Lore is also really good. It's super cheap and can last from normal all the way to hell before a potential upgrade.

I actually discovered the original Obedience runeword when the patch hit all those years ago. All we knew at the time was the rune order and I got Ko & Fal from my forges. I used the original Obedience on a Fury Druid.

bang on man. Im tired of reference to websiites eeverytime I THINK I HAVE ALL ingredients - then i go to reference google to verify and damn am i tired of that - so I just pinned THIS VIDEO on bar to a handfull select runewords needed for early - i mean this is exactly whats needed more of IMO by rune category A. El-Lem B. Pul - Mal C. Vex-Zod & sayh start with el - what runewords use3d in with wep types and levels - then Tire - same formmat picture grapph of weapon types useses categories - review of better uses on what starters . and yeah - could assume it would give you a few long term views as refeerence guide i just thought of as I was watchiung your vid - so - its Collective collaboration :} cheers man

Best starter runewords Requiring level 50 and above

on malice it says drain life -5.. what is that ? sounds like I keep to my forge hammer as a starter weapon.

Hi Xtimus and Diablo 2 players, I understand that the Runeword "Leaf" works on a sorceress two-hands staff, but does it also works on a single-hand staff, such as a globe/orb/sphere/swirling crystal? Thank you!

Leaf also effects fire trap for sins and what about strength? Amn and tir for any melee weapon? 35% Enhanced Damage 25% Chance Of Crushing Blow 7% Life Stolen Per Hit +2 To Mana After Each Kill +20 To Strength +10 To Vitality

Ok wth. You making a list of best starter runewords and you skipping... best starter runewords because they are "obvious" ?

While there are better options waiting in Act 2, it’s easy to shop for a three socket axe from either Charsi or Gheed if you are looking to make Steel right away. It’s one step slower than a flail but only requires 32 str and no dexterity. It can be fun to see how powerful you can get by the time you reach Andariel. However given the required level 15 of the runes themselves, I’d probably choose to wait to shop from Fara in most cases.

I like the top Videos, How about one top of "Useless Skills" like increased stamina,Holy Bolt,etc

Honor was the breath of the dying runeword before LOD expansion. It's powerful but it just can't compete anymore.

Honour was always used by me on my lowbies, its a great merc weapon too

how about with crushing blow for 2 socketed weapon? i think.. isnt that good for starter? i use it to my assassin.

Somehow I never really played this game with any runewords, I always found it to be more satisfying using uniques that dropped for me. I think the only runeword I ever used was like stealth I created accidentally when I was very new to the game and just wanted extra poison resist and mana regen lol.

Can you confirm that FADE also grants reduced damage that is not mentioned in the tooltip? Thanks man - great content

Should also let people know best bases for these runewords. A 3 warmth 2 socket staff= level 9 warmth stick

Top 10 starter Runewords and you show only one low items and rest is 50+ levels. Good 10 Starter Runewords are: Steel weapon, Malice weapon, Leaf staff, Stealth armor, Spirit weapon, Honor weapon, Insight weapon, Peace armor, Splendor shield, White wand.

Lionheart was the first runeword I ever made. Its great for mid lvls.

So what should i use to put runes in? Can low level open socket work just as high lvl?

edge should be on the list, great for act 1 merc and shopping op, cheap

Ive never, ever needed to put a treachery in a Sacred Armor, but thats sexy end game stuff :) Especially eth on a merc!

ok, so i started to play d2 after 15 years... starting with normal i don't have this runes... my stash is full with low level runes...are they any useful or should i sell them...no idea.

Lore (ort sol) is a good mid game rune word too

I was expecting (from the title) starter runes... you know before nightmare... or people starting the game again. Started good with leaf (actually useful) Can't talk for the rest of the vid mind you.... lol.

How does ancient's pledge provide more resists on a paladin shield?

Zephyr (Ort-Eth) is incredible for Bowzon! Then just combine it with Peace (Shael-Thul-Amn) and it's a life saver, you can cast a damn lvl 15 valkyrie and with extra attack speed from zephyr well it doesn't need explaining but it'll be a walk in the park from there.

C'mon dude, stealth is the best early lv and it's not hard to get

Fade gives implicit DR % and curse duration reduced, that buff is seriously strong, hence treachery is actually a beast of a runeword

Leaf is also good on assassin

Obedience eth thresher, Andy helm with a Ral and an eth fortitude and my merc is absolutely filthy highly recommend for real. Even upped Duriel Shell is nasty with a g face or something. Wish I had an eth andy face just for some extra Def but oh well. Obedience, Andy head and eth fort (or upped Duriel Shell) is a disgusting setup for a merc Been tryin out a reaper toll here and there but the enchant from obedience is soooo nice

I know I'm super late but Obedience is the best in slot for budget summon-necro mercenaries. It's by far the best one. Considering summon necro rely a lot on Corpse Explosions AoE damage.

Starter is at least before nightmare and late normal so why is everything late normal to nightmare

Fade does more than resistances. You’re forgetting the damage reduction and curse reduction time which are also huge’s.

way better list of early game runewords, excluding insight and spirit because they're too obvious: 1-Lore = OrtSol in a helm, the +1 all skills is great for getting any caster going that much faster 2-Stealth = TalEth in a chest armor, the main thing is the fhr and the frw, both make you go faster through the content and resists aren't really an issue untill you reach nightmare 3-Splendor = EthLum in a shield, +1 skills and fcr, you'll be casting faster and with a bigger punch 4-Rhyme = ShaelEth in a shield, 25all resists, 25mf, good block stats, can propell your character into the stratosphere if you're lucky with your first boss kills 5-White = DolIo in a wand, very cheap and many +skills for just those 2 easy runes this very short list doesn't go beyond io or lum and with the 2 obvious choices added and the non-runewords you pick up, you'll be in hell quite fast. The list mentions 4 socket and even 5 socket items, those are mid-game and not starter, where you start to transition into top tier, but aren't there quite yet

How to get early 4 slot items ? Please help me .

Ancient pledge is preaty op for the price you get all the rune from a quest in act 5. so your good to go in nightmare right away

Obedience and treachery make a powerful polearm barb when mixed with arreats face shadow dancer soul drainer veldungo hearty cord bulkathos wedding band and highlords wrath and charms etc

got lum rune in nightmare pit (first run) and made smoke in a magic 2 socket armor by accident(i thought it was white)

Hey bro can i make that item in single player mode? Thanks

Im playing 1.13v and don't know why Dol Lo (white) runeword doesnt work, anyone know whats wrong?

No Stealth, or Lore? I'm disappointed. The title states "starter" runewords, not mid-level runewords. Misleading title is misleading.

Obedience is ridiculous. My go to for merc

I think a harmony bow on an act one Merc for a summon necromancer just blows it away for nightmare

This is not early... do a tutorial for normal level only thats the earliest.

Or a holly fire paladin using enlightenment to use the warmth spell

Can you make leaf using any 2 socket weapon? Or it has to be a staff weapon.

what is low or early runes to this man ^^ many of these have never dropped on me

Stealth should be pretty obvious too. Carries you easily till you get viper, smoke etc etc.

Good video. I recently started playing diablo 2. I currently play on a hardcore assassin with a Spirit sword, +rhyme shield and an infinity on my merc. Working on that stealth before I'll try my luck in hell. Fuck trading :D

No one uses Lionheart (Hel-Lum-Fal) because Smoke (Nef-Lum) gives more resists and more defense while requiring an (easier-to-find) 2-socket base and not requiring a Fal. These runewords are generally "temporary" stuff you make to survive while levelling up your first character. Not so much "keeper" stuff you make later when your rune inventory is plentiful. Most players struggle to find their first Lum in early Nightmare (or maybe they cube one up after stubbornly running Normal Countess a thousand times). Fal is just not realistically obtainable at that point in the game unless you get a lucky drop - chances are that by the time you finally get a Fal you've already outgrown Lionheart (and Smoke), you've already figured out your resists, you have better item/runeword options available.

Wow that Honor runeword is like a budget version of Botd, the stats is too well-rounded

also the crushing blow. 2 runes only.

thanks dude

i made the 3. 5. and 7. And this is awesome (and the sword)

Surprised there are no Stealth, Insight or Lore on the list. Those are my go to for any character, other than that good list.

xD He said: "Starter" Aha... :P

is the honor runeword ladder?

What about Oath? Other than Insight I would say it's the most OP rune word for the cost. Hell you can use two of them. One that's ethereal for fighting and a normal one on weapon switch to cast Heart Of Wolverine and Iron Golem.

Obedience OP? Man, Insight is OP. Lvl 6 CS is 46%, a good insight deals more damage than obedience, and it costs only up to Sol rune! Even when you reroll, it costs only several Hel runes. Not to metion that it has Meditation Aura. Obedience is only better at killing bosses. Oh many people may assume Enchant will be good. It's level 21! Actually Enchant without bonus from other sorc skills deals almost no damage. Its only purpose is providing extra AR. However Insight provides bonus AR too.

leaf awesome for trao assassin too

Xtimus this is what i need 🤗🤗🤗🤗

These rune words are why the game is fun.

I feel like ancient's pledge used to have a different name...

Hello, hope you or anyone would reply. I've recently just got back into D2, and i've forgotten how complex the crafting system was. Actually, i believe i've never gotten much into it as i was just a kid when i started playing D1 and 2. Moving on to my question.. So i can just attach the runes on ANY socket weapon and will get a specific Runeword? Did i make any sense?

Steel, Insight, Ancient pledge, Treachery, Stealth others is very hard to find. As I remember I've been found 1 or 2 hr's for the whole playtime on battle.net other hr's where dropped for me by other players. Game a bit disbalanced, but still pretty cool feature with runewords and horadric cube

Lionheart is dwarved by Smoke. That's why.

I feel like Honor should be paired with Chains of Honor.

With D2:R introducing Ladder and MP content in single player (YAY), this video will suddenly become way more significant. I just noticed "Obediance" is ethereal, means it can´t be repaired, can those shrines that repair weapons repair ethereals? Can armor rune words be done on ANY type of armor or do at least some require heavy stuff lite plate armor like you show "Lionheart" on? "Honor" requires a lot of runes, but seems like a great weapon for a Double-swing Barbarian, keeping him healed and with mana for a LOOOOONG time.

Love how people still play d2 with me

0:53 dude this is EPIC but does it work with Superior long sword? it's have 3-21 damage and 14% Enhanced Damage this is magic item (Blue nametag) it is work with different swords? Its have 4 sockets

Hmm was expecting something really for starters. Like normal act V or something

Early on? Some. Of these require level 63!

Only major thing youre missing is how to get those runes for each runeword. You shouldve made a quick grind explanation for each runes it required.

And where is stealth runeword early on is a lot op

also leaf is good for fire trap assasin

how to adjust your vault space to became bigger and to save more runes and gems and items

I've beaten d2 with zealer using Honor, it's pretty decent.

I think Ima go find this game in my old games . Will my new computer run it still?

Great and useful video, but a little to much talk here and there. I'm calling you out on "trying to reach 10 min" haha ;P "It´s really gonna help you early on to get your resistances up, So you are not getting completely destroyed in hell dificulty on your characater." -Xtimus on "Ancient's Pledge"

can u use runewords on magic items?