Diablo II: Resurrected's Reign of the Warlock expansion introduces the Warlock, the newest playable class, and alongside him comes a wave of fresh excitement for both new and returning fans. The expansion delivers much more than a new class, offering a wide array of features and content that push the boundaries of the classic ARPG. The Warlock brings a toolkit that is both distinct and versatile, combining different playstyles: from summoner and spell-slinger to an inventive melee fighter who can wield any two-handed weapon "with his mind while still using a shield," making combinations never before seen in the game. With this innovative approach, the Warlock class stands ready for creative build-crafting and exciting gameplay. Below, you'll find details on some of the best Runewords for the class, as well as strategies for leveling your Warlock at top speed.
D2R Warlock Best Runewords
When assembling a Warlock in Diablo II: Resurrected: Reign of the Warlock, choosing the right Runewords greatly improves performance and comfort through every stage of the game. Here’s a rundown of the most fitting Runeword options for every Warlock build, individually described and grouped by build type.
Warlock Leveling Runewords
Leaf (Tir + Ral, Staff)
Perfect for the Fire Warlock's early and midgame stages, Leaf is attainable at level 19 in a staff. It provides +3 to Fire Skills, ideal for speeding up your damage output with Ring of Fire, Flame Wave, and Apocalypse. This Runeword is recommended to power up your initial Chaos tree progression.
Caster Warlock (Fire and Magic builds) Runewords
Spirit (Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn, Sword or Shield)
Spirit is an all-around powerhouse for both Fire and Magic Warlock styles. It grants faster cast rate, improved mana and health, and a solid amount of resistance and vitality. You can use it in either a sword or shield, and it syncs especially well for Warlocks thanks to two-handed weapon compatibility with a shield.
Heart of the Oak (Ko + Vex + Pul + Thul, Flail)
This Runeword is outstanding for higher level caster Warlocks. Increases all skills, delivers an impressive 40% faster cast rate, and boosts mana regeneration. The resistances and life leech round out the core stats most caster Warlocks crave.
Obsession (Zod + Ist + Lem + Lum + Io + Nef, Staff)
Obsession provides a massive boost to casting, resistances, and survivability. This high-end Runeword specifically shines in caster setups with high skill investment in the Chaos tree.
Hybrid & Utility Warlock Runewords
Phoenix (Vex + Vex + Lo + Jah, Shield)
A luxury pick for Fire and Magic Warlocks, Phoenix offers redemption aura for passive healing and mana restoration, together with a large fire damage bonus and the chance to inflict negative enemy fire resistance—bolstering the output of all main fire spells.
Enigma (Jah + Ith + Ber, Body Armor)
Enigma brings teleport and a solid strength increase, transforming map navigation and providing core mobility for both caster and summoner Warlocks, as well as melee.
Summoner / Demon Warlock Runewords
Beast (Ber + Tir + Um + Mal + Lum, Axe/Scepter/Hammer)
Beast is tailored for summoning-focused builds, especially with Goatman demons. The aura increases attack speed and damage for both you and your summoned monsters, amplifying the Warlock’s demon army effectiveness.
Melee/Eld Hybrid Warlock Runewords
Honor (Amn + El + Ith + Tir + Sol, Melee Weapon)
When leveling with melee or using Cleave or Echoing Strike, Honor gives life leech, bonus to all skills, extra damage, and replenishes life. It's attainable well before endgame and works well in two-handers made usable with Levitation Mastery.
Grief (Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral, Sword/Axe)
A premier weapon for Eld tree Warlocks, Grief delivers unmatched raw physical damage, improved attack speed, and life leech, making it formidable for Cleave and melee combos.
Breath of the Dying (Vex + Hel + El + Eld + Zod + Eth, Melee Weapon)
With mighty enhanced damage and life leech, Breath of the Dying ensures powerful attacks and quick life restoration in melee scenarios.
Fortitude (El + Sol + Dol + Lo, Body Armor)
This armor Runeword supplies both resilience and offensive power; it offers enhanced damage and a strong defense bonus, pairing well with the Warlock's melee potential.
Warlock Mercenary Support Runewords
Insight (Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol, Polearm/Staff)
For Mercenaries, Insight remains a staple, providing a Meditation aura to regenerate your mana, invaluable for both caster and summoner variants through leveling and into late-game.
Rhyme (Shael + Eth, Shield)
An underrated and affordable option early on, Rhyme prevents chill and grants resistances and faster block, helping cover defensive gaps before moving on to luxury shields like Spirit or Phoenix.
D2R Warlock Fast Leveling Guide
Advancing your Warlock swiftly in Diablo II: Resurrected comes down to picking the right skill progression and adapting once you hit roadblocks. If speed is your main goal, the optimal path runs right down the Chaos tree, using its potent fire and magic spells as you progress.
1. Early Levels:
Begin with Miasma Bolt - an effective starter skill that handles most early monsters with ease. Only one or two points are needed before you quickly progress, allowing you to put your skill points where you need them next.
2. Level 6–17:
Once you reach level 6, pick up Ring of Fire immediately. This is the skill that will carry you through much of Normal difficulty as it deals great area damage in a circle around your character. Expect it to be a bit mana hungry, so don’t hesitate to invest a few points into Energy for more comfortable casting.
3. Level 18–29:
At level 18, add Flame Wave to your arsenal. Both Ring of Fire and Flame Wave are highly effective when alternating, as you can cast each in turn to account for their brief cooldowns. Flame Wave is especially good against tight packs in places like the Secret Cow Level or the Flayer Jungle.
4. Level 30+:
When you unlock Apocalypse at level 30, start to incorporate it (alongside Ring of Fire and Flame Wave) for even more screen-clearing power. Apocalypse starts off modest but, after four to five points, ramps up in damage significantly. Stacking Apocalypse with your other fire skills allows you to blanket large groups of monsters and handle acts up to Nightmare with impressive speed.
5. Handling Fire Immunes:
Moving into the later acts of Normal and throughout Nightmare, you’ll encounter monsters immune to fire, most notably in the Chaos Sanctuary and a few other spots. When faced with these, revert to Miasma Bolt for single-target magic damage, or let your mercenary assist if you need an extra push. Apocalypse can sometimes help with breaking enemy resistances, but primarily you'll be relying on magic skills for these encounters.
6. Act IV Nightmare and Beyond:
As fire immunes become more widespread in Act IV Nightmare and Hell, it’s recommended to respec your build into a magic-focused Warlock. Here, distribute your points into Miasma Chain and Abyss, and continue supporting with Miasma Bolt. A few points in Enhanced Entropy will improve the area and duration of your clouds, making you even more efficient at clearing packs. Only a handful of enemies in Hell are immune to magic, so this approach lets you sweep through most content without difficulty. For enemies that resist both fire and magic (such as Baal’s second wave in Hell), you may need to rely on your mercenary or group support.
Follow this roadmap and you'll zoom through the Warlock leveling process, handling each part of the game with the best tools the class has to offer. This strategy remains the quickest path to max level, allowing you to focus on gearing up and tackling endgame content.