Guides

Diablo 2 Best Runes List

Diablo 2 Resurrected Runes are a type of item players will find when playing the game. You can use these by themselves to gain bonuses with socketed weapons and armor. However, the more effective way of using Runes is to combine them into a Runeword. This will grant the item powerful stats and magic effects. Some of these runewords are considered as the best gear in the game for specific Builds and Classes in D2 Resurrected. Below we include a Ranking of the Best Runes based on their value in-game, which relates to what Runewords they are used in.
Quickly navigate this All Guide using the links below.

Best Runes in D2R

  • S TIER
    The Best Runes in D2 and used as late-game currency.
  • A TIER
    Very Strong runes, similar value to S-Tier Choices.
  • B TIER
    Good runes and can be used in useful runewords with the right Class Build.
  • C TIER
    An Average choice, middle of the pack neither good nor bad.
  • D TIER
    Below Average, slightly on the weaker side of an average runes.
  • E TIER
    Weak choice and common low level drop.
  • F TIER
    Worst the lowest ranking options in this Diablo 2 Runes Tier List.

You can CLICK/TAP the Runes to view How To Get and what Runewords you can make with the rune.

How To Get Runes in Diablo 2

You can obtain Runes using four methods, first is they can randomly drop in-game in specific difficulty. Second, you can get a higher chance of rune drop rates from the Countess and Hell Forge. Lastly, you can craft runes using recipes in the Horadric Cube, but we do not recommend this method.

  • Countess Farming
    The Countess is the objective of The Forgotten Tower (Quest) in Act I. You can repeatedly kill the Countess Boss for Runes, even after you finish the quest.
  • Hell Forge Runs
    Hell Forge is the second quest of Act IV. Started by talking to Deckard Cain. In order to complete the quest players need to bring Mephisto's Soulstone to the Hellforge, located within the River of Flame.
  • Drop Chance
    Randomly dropped by monsters.
  • Horadric Cube Recipe
    Using a recipe to craft a rune.
Rune How To Get What It Does What You Can Make
F Tier
El
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 2
Horadric Cube Recipe:
Weapon: +50 attack rating, +1 light
Armor: +15 defense, +1 light
Shield: +15 defense, +1 light
F Tier
Eld
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 2
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 El
Weapon: +75% damage to undead, +50 attack rating vs. undead
Armor: 15% slower stamina drain
Shield: +7% block chance
F Tier
Tir
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 2
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Eld
Weapon: +2 mana per kill
Armor: +2 mana per kill
Shield: +2 mana per kill
F Tier
Nef
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 2
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Tir
Weapon: knockback
Armor: +30 defense vs. missiles
Shield: +30 defense vs. missiles
F Tier
Eth
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 3
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Nef
Weapon: -25% target defense
Armor: +15% mana regeneration
Shield: +15% mana regeneration
F Tier
Ith
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 3
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Eth
Weapon: +9 maximum damage
Armor: 15% damage to mana
Shield: 15% damage to mana
E Tier
Tal
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 3
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Ith
Weapon: +75 poison damage over 5s
Armor: 30% poison resist
Shield: 35% poison resist
E Tier
Ral
Countess: Normal and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 3
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Tal
Weapon: +5-30 fire damage
Armor: 30% fire resist
Shield: 35% fire resist
E Tier
Ort
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 4
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Ral
Weapon: +1-50 lightning damage
Armor: 30% lightning resist
Shield: 35% lightning resist
E Tier
Thul
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 4
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Ort
Weapon: +3-14 cold damage, 3s chill
Armor: 30% cold resist
Shield: 35% cold resist
D Tier
Amn
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Normal
Drop Chance: Act 4
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Thul + 1 Chipped Topaz
Weapon: 7% life leech
Armor: 14 damage returned
Shield: 14 damage returned
D Tier
Sol
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Nightmare
Drop Chance: Act 4
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Amn + 1 Chipped Amethyst
Weapon: +9 minimum damage
Armor: damage reduced by 7
Shield: damage reduced by 7
C Tier
Shael
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Nightmare
Drop Chance: Act 5
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Sol + 1 Chipped Sapphire
Weapon: 20% increased attack speed
Armor: 20% faster hit recovery
Shield: 20% faster block rate
C Tier
Dol
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Nightmare
Drop Chance: Act 5
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Shael + 1 Chipped Ruby
Weapon: hit causes flee 25%
Armor: replenish life +7
Shield: replenish life +7
B Tier
Hel
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 1 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Dol + 1 Chipped Emerald (Ladder Only)
Weapon: requirements -20%
Armor: requirements -15%
Shield: requirements -15%
B Tier
Io
Countess: Nightmare and above
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 1 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Hel + 1 Chipped Diamond (Ladder Only)
Weapon: +10 vitality
Armor: +10 vitality
Shield: +10 vitality
B Tier
Lum
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 2 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Io + 1 Flawed Topaz (Ladder Only)
Weapon: +10 energy
Armor: +10 energy
Shield: +10 energy
B Tier
Ko
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 2 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Lum + 1 Flawed Amethyst (Ladder Only)
Weapon: +10 dexterity
Armor: +10 dexterity
Shield: +10 dexterity
B Tier
Fal
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 3 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Ko + 1 Flawed Sapphire (Ladder Only)
Weapon: +10 strength
Armor: +10 strength
Shield: +10 strength
A Tier
Lem
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 3 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Fal + 1 Flawed Ruby (Ladder Only)
Weapon: 75% extra gold
Armor: 50% extra gold
Shield: 50% extra gold
B Tier
Pul
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 4 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 3 Lem + 1 Flawed Emerald (Ladder Only)
Weapon: +75% damage to demons, +100 attack rating vs. demons
Armor: +30% defense
Shield: +30% defense
A Tier
Um
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Nightmare and Hell
Drop Chance: Act 4 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Pul + 1 Flawed Diamond (Ladder Only)
Weapon: 25% open wounds
Armor: 15% all resists
Shield: 22% all resists
A Tier
Mal
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Hell
Drop Chance: Act 5 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Um + 1 Topaz (Ladder Only)
Weapon: prevent monster heal
Armor: magic damage reduced by 7
Shield: magic damage reduced by 7
S Tier
Ist
Countess: Hell
Hell Forge: Hell
Drop Chance: Act 5 (Nightmare)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Mal + 1n Amethyst (Ladder Only)
Weapon: 30% magic find
Armor: 25% magic find
Shield: 25% magic find
B Tier
Gul
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: Hell
Drop Chance: Act 1 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Ist + 1 Sapphire (Ladder Only)
Weapon: +20% AR
Armor: 5% maximum poison resist
Shield: 5% maximum poison resist
S Tier
Vex
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 1 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Gul + 1 Ruby (Ladder Only)
Weapon: 7% mana leech
Armor: 5% maximum fire resist
Shield: 5% maximum fire resist
S Tier
Ohm
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 2 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Vex + 1 Emerald (Ladder Only)
Weapon: +50% enhanced damage
Armor: 5% maximum cold resist
Shield: 5% maximum cold resist
S Tier
Lo
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 2 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Ohm + 1 Diamond (Ladder Only)
Weapon: 20% deadly strike
Armor: 5% maximum lightning resist
Shield: 5% maximum lightning resist
S Tier
Sur
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 3 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Lo + 1 Flawless Topaz (Ladder Only)
Weapon: hit blinds target
Armor: +5% mana
Shield: +50 mana
S Tier
Ber
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 3 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Sur + 1 Flawless Amethyst (Ladder Only)
Weapon: 20% crushing blow
Armor: 8% physical resist
Shield: 8% physical resist
S Tier
Jah
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 4 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Ber + 1 Flawless Sapphire (Ladder Only)
Weapon: ignore target defense
Armor: +5% life
Shield: +50 life
S Tier
Cham
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 4 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Jah + 1 Flawless Ruby (Ladder Only)
Weapon: freeze target +3
Armor: cannot be frozen
Shield: cannot be frozen
S Tier
Zod
Countess: N/A
Hell Forge: N/A
Drop Chance: Act 5 (Hell)
Horadric Cube Recipe: 2 Cham + 1 Flawless Emerald (Ladder Only)
Weapon: indestructible
Armor: indestructible
Shield: indestructible
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