Changes to Diablo II: Resurrected – New Rune Words, Cube recipes, Set bonuses and more

Diablo II: Resutected unlike other reworked games from Blizzard will change from its original version. The new Diablo II: resurrected patch 2.4 introduces many changes that will be implemented in the game. In this post, we share with you the main changes that cover class balance changes, new rune words, new Horadric Cube recipes, set items bonuses and more.

New class balance changes

Each class received different recommendations for their habits to balance them out. These are definitely classes and their skills are on par with others at the top, which greatly increases the variability of builds. Full changelog via the link.

New Rune Words

New Rune Words will be added to Diablo 2 Resurrected, as well as changes to the popular Insight Rune Word.

Insight Rune Word now can also be used with Bows and Crossbows.

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Plague
Cham + Shael + Um
Swords {3}
Clvl Required: ?
20% Chance to cast level 12 Lower Resist when struck
25% Chance to cast level 15 Poison Nova on striking
Level 13-17 Cleansing Aura When Equipped (varies)
+1-2 All Skills
+20% Increased Attack Speed
+220-320% Enhanced Damage (varies)
-23% To Enemy Poison Resistance
0.3% (0-29.7) Deadly Strike (Based on Character Level)
+25% Chance of Open Wounds
Freezes Target +3

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Pattern
Tal + Ort + Thul
Claws {3}
Clvl Required: ?
+30% Faster Block Rate
+40-80% Enhanced Damage (varies)
10% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 17-62 Fire Damage
Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
+6 to Strength
+6 to Dexterity
All Resistances +15

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Unbending Will
Fal + Io + Ith + Eld + El + Hel
Swords {6}
Clvl Required: ?
18% Chance to cast Level 18 Taunt on striking
+3 To Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)
+20-30% Increased Attack Speed (varies)
+300-350% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+9 To Maximum Damage
+50 To Attack Rating
+75% Damage to Undead
+50 Attack Rating Against Undead
8-10% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
+10 To Strength
+10 To Vitality
Damage Reduced By 8
+1 Light Radius
Requirements -20%

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Wisdom
Pul + Ith + Eld
Helms {3}
Clvl Required: ?
+33% Piercing Attack
+15-25% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)
4-8% Mana Stolen Per Hit (varies)
+30% Enhanced Defense
+10 Energy
15% Slower Stamina Drain
Cannot Be Frozen
+5 Mana After Each Kill
15% Damage Taken Goes to Mana

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Obsession
Zod + Ist + Lem + Lum + Io + Nef
Staves {6}
Clvl Required: ?
Indestructible
24% Chance to cast level 10 Weaken when struck
+4 To All Skills
+65% Faster Cast Rate
+60% Faster Hit Recovery
Knockback
+10 To Vitality
+10 To Energy
Increase Maximum Life 15-25% (varies)
Regenerate Mana 15-30% (varies)
All Resistances +60-70 (varies)
75% Extra Gold from Monsters
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items

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Flickering Flame
Nef + Pul + Vex
Helms {3}
Clvl Required: ?
Level 4-8 Resist Fire Aura When Equipped (varies)
+3 To Fire Skills
-10-15% to Enemy Fire Resistance (varies)
+30% Enhanced Defense
+30 Defense Vs. Missile
+50-75 To Mana (varies)
Half Freeze Duration
+5% To Maximum Fire Resist
Poison Length Reduced by 50%

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Mist
Cham + Shael + Gul + Thul + Ith
Bows, Crossbows {5}
Clvl Required: ?
Level 8-12 Concentration Aura When Equipped (varies)
+3 To All Skills
20% Increased Attack Speed
+100% Piercing Attack
+325-375% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+9 To Maximum Damage
20% Bonus to Attack Rating
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage
Freeze Target +3
+24 Vitality
All Resistances +40

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New Horadric Cube recipes

The new recipes will allow you to upgrade Set items, which was previously only available for Unique items. This will allow players to improve their starting sets, which in turn will make levelling easier, as well as open up new opportunities for mid-level sets.

1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Normal Set Weapon –> Exceptional Version of Set Weapon
1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Set Weapon –> Elite Version of Set Weapon
1 Tal Rune + 1 Shael Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Normal Set Armor –> Exceptional Version of Set Armor
1 Ko Rune + 1 Lem Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Exceptional Set Armor –> Elite Version of Set Armor

Mercenary changes

Now it is not necessary to level up merc from Normal difficulty for the sake of improved stats and skills. With the new patch, they will be balanced and will not have the disadvantage of levelling a Hell difficulty merc. However, mercenaries will match your character’s level. Each of the Assembly Mercenaries has received various improvements:

• Act 1 – Rogue Archer
  • Added new skills – Freezing Arrow for Cold Arrow Merc and Explosion Arrow for Fire Arrow Merc.
• Act 2 – Desert Mercenary
  • Starting with Nightmare difficulty you will be able to choose a mercenary with any of the six available auras, instead of being limited to three as before.
  • Thorns aura level scaling increased and will now continue scaling up beyond the highest-level threshold up to max level.

• Act 3 – Iron Wolf
  • Life, Defense and Resistances have been improved to increase their survivability in higher difficulties.
  • Added new skills – Glacial Spike for Cold Merc, Fire Bolt and Enchant for Fire Merc and Static Field for Lightning Merc.
• Act 5 – Barbarian Warrior
  • Life, Defense and Resistances have been improved to increase their survivability in higher difficulties.
  • Bash and Stun skills received increase scaling and will no longer be capped at level 80.
  • Added new skill – Battle Cry

Set item bonus changes

Many low-lvl sets have received significant improvements, which will allow them to be used not only at the beginning of the game, as it was before. After all, many of them were much weaker than uniques, even with set bonuses.

Arcanna’s Tricks

• Increased +25 Mana to +50 Mana (2 Items)
• Added Regenerate Mana 12% (3 Items)
• Added +1 to All Skills (Full Set)

Arctic Gear

• Changed 6-14 Cold Damage to +2-198 to Maximum Cold Damage (+2 Per Character Level) (Full Set)

Bul-Kathos’ Children

• Increased +20 Fire Damage to +200 Fire Damage (Full Set)
• Increased +25 Defense to +200 Defense (Full Set)
• Added 10% Life Stolen Per Hit (Full Set)
• Added +20% Deadly Strike (Full Set)

Cathan’s Traps

• Added Regenerate Mana 16% (2 Items)

Civerb’s Vestments

• Increased Fire Resist +15% to Fire Resist +25% (2 Items)
• Added 25% Bonus to Attack Rating (Full Set)
• Added 4-396 Defense (+4 Per Character Level) (Full Set)

Cow King’s Leathers

• Added 5-495 Defense (+5 Per Character Level) (2 Items)
• Added +100 to Life (Full Set)
• Added +1 To All Skills (Full Set)

Infernal Tools

• Added Maximum Mana 20% (Full Set)
• Added Cannot Be Frozen (Full Set)

Iratha’s Finery

• Added +24% Piercing Attack (3 Items)

Milabrega’s Regalia

• Added Cannot Be Frozen (3 Items)
• Added +2-198 To Lightning Damage (+2 Per Character Level) (2 Items)

Naj’s Ancient Vestige

• Added 1-148% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (+1.5 Per Character Level) (2 Items)
• Increased Replenish Life +10 to Replenish Life +20 (Full Set)
• Added +2 To Fire Skills (Full Set)
• Added Increased Maximum Life 12% (Full Set)

Sazabi’s Grand Tribute

• Added Poison Length Reduced by 75% (2 Items)
• Added +1 To All Skills (Full Set)
• Added Damage Reduced by 16% (Full Set)

Vidala’s Rig

• Added 7% Mana Stolen Per Hit (2 Items)
• Changed Adds 15-20 Cold Damage to +1-148 to Maximum Cold Damage (+1.5 Per Character Level) (Full Set)

Level Area changes

Monster Levels in the following areas have been increased for Hell Difficulty:

Area	Previous Hell Level	New Hell Level
Act 1 – Underground Passage Level 2	83	85
Act 2 – Stony Tomb Level 1	78	85
Act 2 – Stony Tomb Level 2	79	85
Act 3 – Arachnid Lair	79	85
Act 3 – Swampy Pit Level 1	80	85
Act 3 – Swampy Pit Level 2	81	85
Act 3 – Swampy Pit Level 3	82	85
Act 3 – Disused Fane	84	85
Act 3 – Ruined Temple	84	85
Act 3 – Forgotten Reliquary	84	85
Act 3 – Sewer Levels 1	84	85
Act 5 – Abaddon	81	85
Act 5 – Pit of Acheron	82	85
Act 5 – Infernal Pit	83	85
Act 5 – Drifter Cavern	84	85
Act 5 – Icy Cellar	83	85

All the changes mentioned above may appear in Diablo 2 Resurrected in a bit another view as it is mentioned in patch notes. When see check the changes when they actually arrive at D2 Resurrected we will update all the guides that we have.