Runes
This page lists PD2 changes for insertables (runes, gems, jewels) relative to the vanilla game.
Runes
All runes are now stackable. Runes can be switched between their stacked and non-stacked forms with cube recipes or shortcuts, and can only be placed in items when in their non-stacked form. Runes begin dropping in their stacked form at the end of Act 2 in Normal difficulty where players should have access to the Horadric Cube.
For rune effects that have been changed, changes are shown in blue with the original effects shown in gray.
| # | Rune | Name | Level | Weapon | Chest/Helm | Shield | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
El | 11 | +50 to Attack Rating, +1 to Light Radius |
+15 Defense, +1 to Light Radius |
+15 Defense, +1 to Light Radius |
Low |
| 2 |  |
Eld | 11 | +75% Damage to Undead, +50 to Attack Rating against Undead |
15% Slower Stamina Drain | 7% Increased Chance of Blocking | Low |
| 3 |  |
Tir | 13 | +2 to Mana after each Kill | +2 to Mana after each Kill | +2 to Mana after each Kill | Low |
| 4 |  |
Nef | 13 | Knockback | +30 Defense vs. Missile | +30 Defense vs. Missile | Low |
| 5 |  |
Eth | 15 | -25% Target Defense | Regenerate Mana 15% | Regenerate Mana 15% | Low |
| 6 |  |
Ith | 15 | +9 to Maximum Damage | 15% Damage Taken Gained as Mana when Hit | 15% Damage Taken Gained as Mana when Hit | Low |
| 7 |  |
Tal | 17 | +75 Poison Damage over 5 Seconds | Poison Resist +30% | Poison Resist +35% | Low |
| 8 |  |
Ral | 19 | Adds 5-30 Fire Damage | Fire Resist +30% | Fire Resist +35% | Low |
| 9 |  |
Ort | 21 | Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage | Lightning Resist +30% | Lightning Resist +35% | Low |
| 10 |  |
Thul | 23 | Adds 3-14 Cold Damage | Cold Resist +30% | Cold Resist +35% | Low |
| 11 |  |
Amn | 25 | 7% Life Stolen per Hit | Attacker Takes Damage of 14 | Attacker Takes Damage of 14 | Low |
| 12 |  |
Sol | 27 | +9 to Minimum Damage | Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 7 | Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 7 | Low |
| 13 |  |
Shael | 29 | +20% Increased Attack Speed | +20% Faster Hit Recovery | +20% Faster Block Rate | Low |
| 14 |  |
Dol | 31 | 20% Enhanced Damage Hit Causes Monster to Flee 25% |
Replenish Life +10 Replenish Life +7 |
Replenish Life +10 Replenish Life +7 |
Low |
| 15 |  |
Hel | -- | Requirements -20% | Requirements -15% | Requirements -15% | Mid |
| 16 |  |
Io | 35 | +10 to Vitality | +10 to Vitality | +10 to Vitality | Mid |
| 17 |  |
Lum | 37 | +10 to Energy | +10 to Energy | +10 to Energy | Mid |
| 18 |  |
Ko | 39 | +10 to Dexterity | +10 to Dexterity | +10 to Dexterity | Mid |
| 19 |  |
Fal | 41 | +10 to Strength | +10 to Strength | +10 to Strength | Mid |
| 20 |  |
Lem | 43 | 75% Extra Gold From Monsters | 50% Extra Gold From Monsters | 50% Extra Gold From Monsters | Mid |
| 21 |  |
Pul | 45 | +75% Damage to Demons, +100 to Attack Rating against Demons |
+30% Enhanced Defense | +30% Enhanced Defense | Mid |
| 22 |  |
Um | 47 | 10% Chance of Open Wounds, +120 Open Wounds Damage per Second 25% Chance of Open Wounds |
All Resistances +15 | All Resistances +22 | Mid |
| 23 |  |
Mal | 49 | Prevent Monster Heal | Magic Damage Taken Reduced by 7 | Magic Damage Taken Reduced by 7 | Mid |
| 24 |  |
Ist | 51 | 30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | 30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items |
30% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items 25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items |
Mid |
| 25 |  |
Gul | 53 | 20% Bonus to Attack Rating | +4% to Maximum Poison Resist +5% to Maximum Poison Resist |
+4% to Maximum Poison Resist +5% to Maximum Poison Resist |
Mid |
| 26 |  |
Vex | 55 | 7% Mana Stolen per Hit | +4% to Maximum Fire Resist +5% to Maximum Fire Resist |
+4% to Maximum Fire Resist +5% to Maximum Fire Resist |
High |
| 27 |  |
Ohm | 57 | +45% Enhanced Damage +50% Enhanced Damage |
+4% to Maximum Cold Resist +5% to Maximum Cold Resist |
+4% to Maximum Cold Resist +5% to Maximum Cold Resist |
High |
| 28 |  |
Lo | 59 | 20% Deadly Strike | +4% to Maximum Lightning Resist +5% to Maximum Lightning Resist |
+4% to Maximum Lightning Resist +5% to Maximum Lightning Resist |
High |
| 29 |  |
Sur | 61 | +4 Life after each Kill Hit Blinds Target |
Increase Maximum Mana 5% | +50 to Mana | High |
| 30 |  |
Ber | 63 | 20% Chance of Crushing Blow | Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 5% Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 8% |
Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 5% Physical Damage Taken Reduced by 8% |
High |
| 31 |  |
Jah | 65 | Ignore Target's Defense | Increase Maximum Life 5% | +75 to Life +50 to Life |
High |
| 32 |  |
Cham | 67 | Freezes Target +3 | Cannot Be Frozen | Cannot Be Frozen | High |
| 33 |  |
Zod | 69 | Indestructible | Indestructible | Indestructible | High |
The term "high rune" refers to any rune that cannot drop from the Hellforge quest, which is Vex or higher. It is not to be confused with the troublesomely-named "HR" unit of currency, which can be used with any sufficiently-valuable item rather than just high runes.
High runes typically form the core of market trading currencies due to their rarity and general usefulness, while upper "mid runes" (Lem through Gul) are close enough in value to be traded in a similar fashion, especially during the beginning of each ladder season. Below Lem, rune values are too low for individual runes to be practically referred to in terms of HRs, and are traded more often in bulk rather than as individual tokens of currency. Beyond runes, few items are used as ubiquitously as currency, with the most notable exception being Worldstone Shards.
Gems
Flawless and Perfect gems are now stackable. Flawless gems now begin dropping in Act 4 Normal, and Perfect gems can now drop in Hell.
Gem effects have not been changed from vanilla D2, but are included here for convenience.
| Gem | Name | Level | Weapon | Chest/Helm | Shield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Chipped Sapphire | 1 | Adds 1-3 Cold Damage | +10 to Mana | Cold Resist +12% |
 |
Flawed Sapphire | 5 | Adds 3-5 Cold Damage | +17 to Mana | Cold Resist +16% |
 |
Sapphire | 12 | Adds 4-7 Cold Damage | +24 to Mana | Cold Resist +22% |
 |
Flawless Sapphire | 15 | Adds 6-10 Cold Damage | +31 to Mana | Cold Resist +28% |
 |
Perfect Sapphire | 18 | Adds 10-14 Cold Damage | +38 to Mana | Cold Resist +40% |
 |
Chipped Emerald | 1 | +10 Poison Damage over 3 Seconds | +3 to Dexterity | Poison Resist +12% |
 |
Flawed Emerald | 5 | +20 Poison Damage over 4 Seconds | +4 to Dexterity | Poison Resist +16% |
 |
Emerald | 12 | +40 Poison Damage over 5 Seconds | +6 to Dexterity | Poison Resist +22% |
 |
Flawless Emerald | 15 | +60 Poison Damage over 6 Seconds | +8 to Dexterity | Poison Resist +28% |
 |
Perfect Emerald | 18 | +100 Poison Damage over 7 Seconds | +10 to Dexterity | Poison Resist +40% |
 |
Chipped Topaz | 1 | Adds 1-8 Lightning Damage | 9% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | Lightning Resist +12% |
 |
Flawed Topaz | 5 | Adds 1-14 Lightning Damage | 13% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | Lightning Resist +16% |
 |
Topaz | 12 | Adds 1-22 Lightning Damage | 16% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | Lightning Resist +22% |
 |
Flawless Topaz | 15 | Adds 1-30 Lightning Damage | 20% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | Lightning Resist +28% |
 |
Perfect Topaz | 18 | Adds 1-40 Lightning Damage | 24% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items | Lightning Resist +40% |
 |
Chipped Ruby | 1 | Adds 3-4 Fire Damage | +10 to Life | Fire Resist +12% |
 |
Flawed Ruby | 5 | Adds 5-8 Fire Damage | +17 to Life | Fire Resist +16% |
 |
Ruby | 12 | Adds 8-12 Fire Damage | +24 to Life | Fire Resist +22% |
 |
Flawless Ruby | 15 | Adds 10-16 Fire Damage | +31 to Life | Fire Resist +28% |
 |
Perfect Ruby | 18 | Adds 15-20 Fire Damage | +38 to Life | Fire Resist +40% |
 |
Chipped Amethyst | 1 | +40 to Attack Rating | +3 to Strength | +8 Defense |
 |
Flawed Amethyst | 5 | +60 to Attack Rating | +4 to Strength | +12 Defense |
 |
Amethyst | 12 | +80 to Attack Rating | +6 to Strength | +18 Defense |
 |
Flawless Amethyst | 15 | +100 to Attack Rating | +8 to Strength | +24 Defense |
 |
Perfect Amethyst | 18 | +150 to Attack Rating | +10 to Strength | +30 Defense |
 |
Chipped Diamond | 1 | +28% Damage to Undead | +20 to Attack Rating | All Resistances +6 |
 |
Flawed Diamond | 5 | +34% Damage to Undead | +40 to Attack Rating | All Resistances +8 |
 |
Diamond | 12 | +44% Damage to Undead | +60 to Attack Rating | All Resistances +11 |
 |
Flawless Diamond | 15 | +54% Damage to Undead | +80 to Attack Rating | All Resistances +14 |
 |
Perfect Diamond | 18 | +68% Damage to Undead | +100 to Attack Rating | All Resistances +19 |
 |
Chipped Skull | 1 | 2% Life Stolen per Hit, 1% Mana Stolen per Hit |
Regenerate Mana 8%, Replenish Life +2 |
Attacker Takes Damage of 4 |
 |
Flawed Skull | 5 | 2% Life Stolen per Hit, 2% Mana Stolen per Hit |
Regenerate Mana 8%, Replenish Life +3 |
Attacker Takes Damage of 8 |
 |
Skull | 12 | 3% Life Stolen per Hit, 2% Mana Stolen per Hit |
Regenerate Mana 12%, Replenish Life +3 |
Attacker Takes Damage of 12 |
 |
Flawless Skull | 15 | 3% Life Stolen per Hit, 3% Mana Stolen per Hit |
Regenerate Mana 12%, Replenish Life +4 |
Attacker Takes Damage of 16 |
 |
Perfect Skull | 18 | 4% Life Stolen per Hit, 3% Mana Stolen per Hit |
Regenerate Mana 19%, Replenish Life +5 |
Attacker Takes Damage of 20 |
Jewels
Several jewel affixes have changed.
Also see: Unique Jewels