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Rune is an item introduced with the Lord of Destruction expansion. To add modifiers to items that are socketed, Runes can be inserted into them. The specific modifications added by a particular Rune depend on the kind of Rune that is used as well as the type of item it is placed (weapon, body armor, shield or helm). Runes which have been inserted into an item can't be recovered. However, they can be destroyed to clear any busy sockets.
Runes are most well-known because of their ability to produce strong Rune Words when inserted into the right kind of item in the right order, as well as other circumstances. They can also be used to aid in Horadric Cube transmutations such as crafting and upgrading.
For a complete listing of Rune Words, refer to our Rune Words guide.
Diablo 2 Rune List
The following table lists each of the 33 Runes found in Diablo 2 as well as the modifiers they add to the items into which they are put in depending on their type. The Runes are listed in order of their relative rarity, starting with El being the most common, as well as Zod being the rarest. The Rlvl column represents the minimum level needed to equip an item which the corresponding Rune has been placed.
We understand that finding runes can be an extremely difficult task, so we have created a separate guide. It is available by clicking the link below.
Diablo 2 has many Runes:
Random drops from monsters
Random drops from containers like chests, barrels, and even loose rocks
Rewards for destroying Mephisto's Soulstone as part of the Hell's Forge quest in Act 4.
Act 5: Rewards for completing the Rescue on Mount Arreat quest
Upgrading Runes by using the Horadric Cube by combining less Runes
Trading with other players
For a complete list of Runes as well as general details, check out our Runes guide.
Runes are dropped by monsters and from containers
Most monsters have a very slight chance of dropping one Rune after being killed. The chance for a drop and the type of Rune dropped depends on several factors, including the size of the region as well as the rareness of the Rune, the kind and rank of the monster that was killed, as well as the number of players participating in the game. Containers are subject to the same variables. Magic Find does not improve the chances of finding Runes since they aren't treated as Magic objects.
Much like other items, the more powerful and high-level Runes may begin to drop as you progress through the different Acts and difficulties of the game. However, there are some exceptions to this that will be addressed later. The table below shows when the various Runes might start to drop. Be aware that the list is cumulative; when Zod might drop, so too could every other Rune.
Rune Drops from the Countess
The Countess is Act 1 boss who rules from the Black Marsh's Forgotten Tower. Even though Runes are not usually found so early in the story of the game, the Countess is able to drop Runes from her unique drop table. In the Nightmare difficulty, she might also drop Runes that are otherwise inaccessible at this point, although only rarely. This makes her a very popular boss for farming.
Below is a table that lists the Runes which can drop from the Countess in each difficulty. Be aware that every Rune does not have an equal chance of dropping as the more Runes are more likely to drop.
Rune drops are available from Level 85 areas
Each Act begins in Hell , and includes several 85-level zones, where any item, even Zod is able to drop. These areas are the second one that is not covered by the usual Rune drop rules. A lot of these areas are regularly farmed by players for this reason.
Rune Drop Chance
Below is an estimation of the drop rate for Runes at mid- and high-levels in one-player games. It includes different types of regular "white monsters". Ghost columns include ghost-like monsters like Wraiths and Willow Wisps. Only the Desert column has Vultures and Swarms. Each additional member of the group will increase the probability by around 10 percent.
Runes from Quest Rewards
Two quests lead to Runes: Act 4, the Hell's Forge, and Act 5 The Rescue on Mount Arreat.
Runes from Hell's Forge
A random selection of Runes from a small pool will drop based on the level of difficulty after Mephisto has been destroyed. Each Rune from the pool has an equal one in eleven chance of dropping. The rarity of the Rune has no impact in this instance. The following table shows the number of Runes that are likely to drop in each difficulty.
Runes From the Rescue on Mount Arreat
After completing the Rescue of Mount Arreat, Qual-Kehk will talk to you and give you three Runes as an incentive. (Or drop them near if your inventory's overflowing): Tal Rune Tal Rune; Ral Rune Ral Rune; and Ort Rune Ort Rune. These Runes can be utilized as a shield with three sockets that is of normal, inferior, or superior quality to make the ancient's pledge Rune Word. Each difficulty rewards the same Runes.
Running Runes Upgrading Through the Horadric Cube
Runes can be upgraded into Runes with a higher rank by using the Horadric Cube. The following table shows the necessary inputs needed to transform the current Rune into the next Rune.
A Rune Word, also known as Runeword is the collective name given to the different combinations of Runes which add powerful modifiable modifiers that are predetermined to the items in which they are added to. There are 78 Rune Words each one requiring between 2 and 6 Runes.
Due to their strength and the limited supply of the highest-level Runes Due to their power and rarity, many Rune Words can be completed to produce many of the sought-after items in Diablo 2.
For a full list of Runes as well as general information, refer to our Runes guide. For more information about the process of finding and farming Runes, refer to our Rune Finding guide.
Diablo 2 Rune Words List
Below is a table listing every one of the 78 Rune Words found in Diablo 2. The Item Type column indicates the type of item into which the Runes must be inserted to finish the Rune Word. The column Rlvl represents the minimum level needed for an item to be equipped into where the Rune Word has been created. The Ladder column shows whether the Rune Word can only be created by Ladder characters; this column is not relevant for Diablo II: Resurrected however since Ladder-exclusive Rune Words have been made available to non-Ladder characters as well.
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