For Patch 2.6, in addition to introducing 8 new runewords to sprinkle in more variety, I would like to suggest to also improve the viability of the existing lackluster runewords as follows…
Enlightenment Runeword
Enlightenment is intended for the Sorceress. It offers little of interest outside of +2 to skills. I recommend adding FCR and increase chance to cast both Blaze and Fire Ball to help make this runeword more competitive vs. Steath…
- Enlightenment
Pul - Ral - Sol
5% To Cast Level 15 Blaze When Struck
5% To Cast level 15 Fire Ball On Striking
+2 To Sorceress Skill Levels
+1 To Warmth
+30% Enhanced Defense
Fire Resist +30%
Damage Reduced By 7 - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +15-20% Faster Cast Rate
- Change Blaze Cast from 5% to 10%
- Change Fire Ball Cast from 5% to 10%
Gloom Runeword
Gloom is a useless runeword and a waste of a Fal, Um, and Pul runes. In order to add more value, I recommend adding decrepify on striking and change HFD to CBF…
- Gloom
Fal - Um - Pul
15% Chance To Cast Level 3 Dim Vision When Struck
+10% Faster Hit Recovery
+200-260% Enhanced Defense
+10 To Strength
All Resistances +45
Half Freeze Duration
5% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
-3 To Light Radius - Proposed Buffs:
- Add 15% Chance To Cast Level 1 Decrepify On Striking
- Change Half Freeze Duration to Cannot Be Frozen
Myth Runeword
Myth is one of the worst runewords in the game. I recommend replacing the useless chance to cast howl/taunt with a bonus for all weapon masteries to let the player test out all the different types of weapons while building their character…
- Myth Runeword
Hel - Amn - Nef
+2 To Barbarian Skill Levels
+30 Defense Vs. Missile
Replenish Life +10
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Requirements -15% - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +1 To Blade Mastery
- Add +1 To Axe Mastery
- Add +1 To Mace Mastery
- Add +1 To Spear Mastery
- Add +1 To Polearm Mastery
- Add +1 To Throwing Mastery
Nadir Runeword
Nadir is pretty garbage runeword besides the cloak of shadow charges. To make this runeword better for general purpose fighting, I recommend adding a bonus to AR and increasing cloak of shadow charges as follows…
- Nadir
Nef - Tir
+50% Enhanced Defense
+10 Defense
+30 Defense vs. Missile
Level 13 Cloak of Shadows (9 Charges)
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
+5 To Strength
-33% Extra Gold From Monsters
-3 To Light Radius - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +50 To Attack Rating
- Change Cloak of Shadow Charges from 9 to 30
Principle Runeword
Principle is a lackluster runeword designed for the Paladin. To make this runeword more useful, I recommend adding bonus to zeal, +AR to help with melee, and swap fire resist to all resist…
- Principle
Ral - Gul - Eld
100% To Cast Level 5 Holy Bolt On Striking
+2 To Paladin Skill Levels
+50% Damage to Undead
+100-150 To Life
15% Slower Stamina Drain
+5% To Maximum Poison Resist
Fire Resist +30% - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +1-3 To Zeal (Paladin Only)
- Add +250 To Attack Rating
- Change Fire Resist to All Resist
Radiance Runeword
Radiance is a lackluster runeword for helms that slightly improves its wearer’s life and mana pools, but inferior to Lore’s +1 bonus to skills. To make this runeword more appealing, I recommend adding FCR and chance to cast confuse when struck as follows…
- Radiance
Nef - Sol - Ith
+75% Enhanced Defense
+30 Defense Vs. Missile
+10 To Energy
+10 To Vitality
15% Damage Goes To Mana
Magic Damage Reduced By 3
+33 To Mana
Damage Reduced By 7
+5 To Light Radius - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +10% Faster Cast Rate
- Add +15% Chance To Cast Level 5 Confuse When Struck
Rain Runeword
Rain is intended for the Druid and is a fairly medicore runeword that provides a boost to skills, maximum mana and mana recovery. To fit the namesake, add bonus to hurricane and increase chance to cast cyclone armor as follows…
- Rain
Ort - Mal - Ith
15% To Cast Level 15 Cyclone Armor When Struck
25% To Cast Level 15 Twister On Striking
+2 To Druid Skills
+100-150 To Mana
Lightning Resist +30%
Magic Damage Reduced By 7
15% Damage Taken Goes to Mana - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +1-3 To Hurricane (Druid Only)
- Change Cyclone Armor Cast from 15% to 25%
Venom Runeword
Venom is one of the worst runewords in the game. For starters, it needs minus poison resistance. If you want to improve weapon, than adding ED is necessary to make it viable. Lastly, since it makes enemies flee, it seems fitting to have slow enemy target as follows…
- Venom
Tal - Dol - Mal
Ignore Target’s Defense
+273 Poison Damage Over 6 seconds
7% Mana Stolen Per Hit
Prevent Monster Heal
Hit Causes Monster To Flee 25%
Level 13 Poison Nova (11 Charges)
Level 15 Poison Explosion (27 Charges) - Proposed Buffs:
- Add -30% Enemy Poison Resist
- Add +150% Enhanced Damage
- Add Slows Target By 30%
Wind Runeword
Wind is a horrible runeword for the extremely rare Sur rune. How about reworking runeword to be “Blade Fury Focused” and increase chance to proc Tornado and significantly increase ED to be more competitive…
- Wind
Sur - El
20% Chance To Cast Level 9 Tornado On Striking
+20% Faster Run/Walk
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+15% Faster Hit Recovery
+120-160% Enhanced Damage
-50% Target Defense
+50 To Attack Rating
Hit Blinds Target
+1 To Light Radius
Level 13 Twister (127 Charges) - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +1-3 To Blade Fury (Assassin Only)
- Change Tornado Cast from 20% to 30%
- Change Enhanced Damage from 120-160% to 200-250%
Eternity Runeword
The stats on Eternity are not bad, but the runes required: Amn + Ber + Ist + Sol + Sur are simply too expensive for the power gained. To make this runeword more competitive, the only thing missing is IAS as follows…
- Eternity
Amn - Ber - Ist - Sol - Sur
Indestructible
+260-310% Enhanced Damage
+9 To Minimum Damage
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
+20% Chance of Crushing Blow
Hit Blinds Target
Slows Target By 33%
Regenerate Mana 16%
Replenish Life +16
Cannot Be Frozen
30% Better Chance Of Magic Items
Level 8 Revive (88 Charges) - Proposed Buffs:
- Add +40% Increased Attack Speed