Low-Level runewords

[CrazyTom]

Runes annoy me. They drop so rarely and are only really useful to put in a runeword, 'cause otherwise you're missing out on the best effects they provide.

For me, the best two low-level runewords are Malice (Ith-El-Eth) and Stealth (Tal-Eth).

Malice, for swords, is a fantastic damage dealer and has 100% chance of Open Wounds. You also find the runes fairly often - El is the most common, Ith I find often enough, and Eth usually shows up sooner or later. The sword itself (depending on what you put it in) is good through to late-stage nightmare, but you do need some regenerate to counter the -5 life drain it puts on you.

Tal Eth is an excellent armour runeword that only requires two sockets and two fairly common runes. It gives you good speed, good defence and some other nifty bonuses. It should last you up to the start of Nightmare at the very least, before you find something better.

Any other offers for low-level runewords?

[Dayoh]

cant u check on blizzard.com, for all the runewords?

I remember one high end runeword i did on my Enigma :P, ill jump on D2 in like an hour and tell ya.

From when i first started playing D2 LoD, i always saw runewords as a bit of end game stuff.

[GenocideAlive]

Oh, man. I didn't know about all the little bitty runewords.

Someone share the small, good ones. I'm so going to try his suggestions.

Does that Tal-Eth thing work on all armors? Helmet? ?

[vIsitor]

*tHe vIsitor dusts off Lam Essen's Tome (Read: D2 Manual) and cross-references it with the information on the official D2 website, Arreat Summit*

Ancient's Pledge (Ral/Ort/Tal) is fairly well-known. Gives good resistances. Shields only.

Holy Thunder[/i] (Eth/Ral/Ort/Tal) is less known, but it is a nice word for shock paladins. Scepters only.

[b]Leaf (Tir/Ral) is any fire sorcerress' best friend. Staves only.

Malice (Ith/El/Eth) was already mentioned by the OP. Swords only.

Nadir (Nef/Tir) gives some very nice bonuses considering its low level. Reduces your light radius and gold drop, however. Helmets only.

Rhyme (Shael/Eth) is the next step up from Anchient's Pledge runeword. Lower resistances, but other attributes are much better. Sheilds only.

Stealth (Tal/Eth) was already mentioned by the OP. Body armor only.

Steel (Tir/El) works much like the Malice runeword, except weaker and without the negative attributes. Can be used for swords, axes, and maces.

Strength (Amn/Tir) is a fairly nice runeword with good attributes like life steel and crushing blow. All melee weapons.

Zephyr (Ort/Eth) is a fair runeword that can proc a twister. Ranged weapons only.

[Neo]

Lore (Ort/Sol) Helm, +1 skills, 30% light res. Nifty.

Insight is also a good semi-low level runeword (RalTirTalSol) which when made in a Poleaxe (only, not spear) and equiped gives you meditation. Its areally good mercenary weapon, especially if you are a spell caster. (Ladder only, sorry)

-Neo

[Giantfish]

Let's not forget Spirit (Tal/Thul/Ort/Amn). For shields and swords, mods depends on which you use. Both will give you +2 to all skills, 25%-35% faster casting rate, +22 to vitality, and some mana.

[King_Critter]

What are some good low level runewords for a Necromancer? (Bonemancer, specifically.)

[Neo]

Spirit works in a crystal sword (or whatever).

There is Dol + Io which creates White.

Can be made in wands only, but with the base mods of a normal wand (Say one that has already on it +3 bone spear) you can make a wand that gives a total of +8 to bone spear.

Mods:

Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25%
+10 To Vitality
+3 To Poison And Bone Skills (Necromancer Only)
+3 To Bone Armor (Necromancer Only)
+2 To Bone Spear (Necromancer Only)
+4 To Skeleton Mastery (Necromancer Only)
Magic Damage Reduced By 4
20% Faster Cast Rate
+13 To Mana

-Neo

[Thedutchjelle]

While we're at it, any good Runewords for my lvl 50 singleplayer lightning sorc?

[havoc27]

Are there any good three rune items for a Barbarian? Mine's level 28 as of right now and I picked up a Superior Gothic plate with three slots. Since act three I've been using Isenhart's Case and Lightbrand and am in sore need of a good replacement armour.

[IrishDutchman]

@Neo: I've been trying to find the runes for that one for some time now. I got a great Yew wand with +2 raise skeleton, +2 mastery (and +3 teeth :P), and in combination with that runeword it would give me one hell of an imba wand. :P

[Neo]

mmm I dunno. I think the absolute best white wand (base) would be +3 spear, +3 mastery +3 raise

There is a barbarian specific runeword thats pretty good for armor I suppose.

Hel + Amn + Nef, gives +2 barbarian skills and some other stuff.

There are other armor runewords though that might benefit you better though, such as Lionheart (Hel + Lum + Fal) though the runes aren't that common -- this runeword gives bonuses to str and resistances and such, it's pretty good.

Not really any others I suppose.

EDIT: Remember that running Countess in either Normal or Nightmare can net you many low and even mid level runes. Though normal countess only drops up to Thul (I think) you can still cube them up. Nightmare Countess can actually get you runes to make very useful runewords like Spirit or Insight, which are an absolute must for any spell caster.

-Neo

[GrassDragon]

This website should list all the runewords and all their specific bonuses, as well as what items they work in:

http://www.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/runewords.shtml

As far as little runewords, I'm personally a huge fan of Leaf (Tir + Ral).

[Moser]

I agree with GrassDragon, Leaf is a personal favorite of mine also. Usually when I start up a fire Sorceress I equip her with Leaf and Stealth (Tal + Eth) as soon as I can for pure ownage. :]

[GenocideAlive]

Does Hell Countess drop good runes?

And how do you cube up past thul?

[Neo]

3 Thul Runes + 1 Chipped Topaz = Amn Rune
3 Amn Runes + 1 Chipped Amethyst = Sol Rune
3 Sol Runes + 1 Chipped Sapphire = Shael Rune
3 Shael Runes + 1 Chipped Ruby = Dol Rune
Transmute Formula The following Rune upgrade formulae will only work for Single-Player, Open, or Ladder Characters. They will not work for Normal Characters on the Realms.

3 Dol Runes + 1 Chipped Emerald = Hel Rune
3 Hel Runes + 1 Chipped Diamond = Io Rune
3 Io Runes + 1 Flawed Topaz = Lum Rune
3 Lum Runes + 1 Flawed Amethyst = Ko Rune
3 Ko Runes + 1 Flawed Sapphire = Fal Rune
3 Fal Runes + 1 Flawed Ruby = Lem Rune
3 Lem Runes + 1 Flawed Emerald = Pul Rune
2 Pul Runes + 1 Flawed Diamond = Um Rune
2 Um Runes + 1 Topaz = Mal Rune
2 Mal Runes + 1 Amethyst = Ist Rune
2 Ist Runes + 1 Sapphire = Gul Rune
2 Gul Runes + 1 Ruby = Vex Rune
2 Vex Runes + 1 Emerald = Ohm Rune
2 Ohm Runes + 1 Diamond = Lo Rune
2 Lo Runes + 1 Flawless Topaz = Sur Rune
2 Sur Runes + 1 Flawless Amethyst = Ber Rune
2 Ber Runes + 1 Flawless Sapphire = Jah Rune
2 Jah Runes + 1 Flawless Ruby = Cham Rune
2 Cham Runes + 1 Flawless Emerald = Zod Rune

-Neo