What should i insert in a 4 socket war hammer for a 21 lvl barb (WW)
A 4 socket hammer is not the greatest weapon base for a barb because the base weapon speed is normal (not fast), and there are no good runeword options early. If you just want some damage / leech / whatever, then ith runes, rubies, topaz, skulls, emeralds, etc. are fine.
Otherwise…
Your only actual budget option is Passion (4 Socket Weapons) - Dol + Ort + Eld + Lem
http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/runewords-110.shtml
Tbh I’d toss the hammer, and look for a 3 socket club/hammer/mace and make a Black (Thul + Io + Nef)
http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/runewords-original.shtml
Or get a 4 socket polearm and make an Insight instead (Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol).
http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/runewords-110.shtml
People probably have Blacks and Insights lying around to give away for free, if you’re playing online.
I’m not quite sur to understand. I should not use a mace because it’s normal speed, but you propose to use a 3 sockets club/hammer/mace and make a Black (Thul + Io + Nef).
Should i put my skill point in mace or in sword mastery?
That specific hammer is slow. Some maces are fast, like the ones he mentioned for the RW’s. The War Hammer is actually the only one handed hammer in the game, the rest (one handed) are classified as Maces, different categories (they both count as “maces” for the purposes of Runewords though iirc, please fact check me on this. This does not apply to scepters, a totally different classification).
Plus, Y9u have the the benefit of shopping at the act2 vendor for 3 socket versions of Flails or Maces which make 2 or 3 socket RW’s easier.
the faster ones tend to be more wanted due to their ability to apply ailments like Crushing blow, poison stacks, etc, as well as leech faster and more smoothly. Slower heavy hitting weapons tend to be chunky when it comes to damage and leech, and you suffer more often from dry spells at lower levels. This evens out at higher levels, but it can make the lower level grind frustrating at times.
If you have enough IAS on your gear it isn’t bad, but 4 socket does make it tougher, as most 4 socket RW’s that are useable in a hammer are higher and not worth putting in a normal tier weapon.
There are some good 3 socket ones, like Malice, and that’s a solid weapon to use in normal. I tend to have a Malice flail, and it carries me through most of normal. But it does work better in faster maces, like a flail, since it applies allot of ailments (debuffs).