As long as they are not magical (e.g. blue text) they should work, as Malice is for all melee weapons.
The runeword will keep the original porperty.
For some examples:
If a superior weapon with +10% Enhanced Damage is made into runeword, it will keep the +10% Enhanced Damage on top of any other % Enhanced Damage.
The Scepters class will keep its +50% Damage to Undead
I just made Ith El Eth Malice on a Grand Scepter with “+50% Damage to Undead” base weapon. Dang, the Malice Weapon is OP.
I bet you. Duriel will die fast on my next attempt.
Edit.
I made another Runeword.
Ral Ort Tal “Ancient’s Pledge” Shield. Way better than my noobie Zealot shield. I would just kill The Countess over and over and make an OP runeword stuffs instead.
I feel like I am cheating on this game.
Would make new players or returning players like me to get into this Runewords.
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Runewords completely changed how you play the game. It was pretty controversial at the time, and imo still is.
It is very rare that you will find a weapon or armor that beats the early runewords like malice or leaf or spirit or stealth. It greatly devalued unique items. Then you get to nightmare and start making things like insight, harmony, honor, smoke and again uniques look pitiful by comparison.
Then you get to hell and start looking at stuff like grief, faith, heart of the oak, fortitude, chains of honor, enigma and you wonder why uniques are even still in the game. I guess they make nice collector’s items 
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Thanks guys.
I killed Baal last night. I completed the whole Normal all on SOLO.
Now, I remember that I didnt complete Diablo 2 back then. But this time with D2R, I am successful.
It’s all about the Runewords. I have max’d out 75 resistance on all stats at 470 Defense on my Paladin. I was leveling up as a Hammerdin but Zeal X 3 fairly did the job. And it’s easier as it doesnt have mana cost.
I have King’s Grace War Sword and Rhyme Aerin Shield while my Rogue Merc is using Stealth Scale Mail with Nadir Full Helm. Was not able to make her a Runeword bow but it is okay as the rest of my items are all yellow… (unique).
Not sure if I would continue on Nightmare mode. It was a heavy grind on Normal Solo. Died twice before Baal but I killed Baal on my first try.
I missed WoW for a week. But I really had a blast on this Diablo 2.
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Glad it worked out for you. I did it without runewords. I’ll detail it for anyone else stuck at Duriel… Me and my merc used 2 runes ( the level 17 and 19 runes for fire and poison damage) in our weapons, and I loaded up on Full Rejuv potions, and before going in drank multiple thawing potions (I’ve read that the resistance doesn’t stack, but the DURATION does stack). I used the full rejuv on both my merc and myself. I also opened a town portal so I could escape if needed. Duriel died and I advanced to act 3.
this. you don’t need anything else.