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In Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Runewords are a new mechanic in D4 that reintroduces the most iconic system of Diablo 2 in a simplified way. Though Runewords and Runes work differently in Diablo 4 than they did in Diablo 2, the concept is essentially the same.

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Runes can be acquired from a variety of high-level content in Diablo 4, and each Rune has a particular name and effect or trigger condition. When combined in a certain order into sockets on gear, these Runes create what is called a Runeword, granting unique abilities dependent on which Runes were used.

This guide goes over how the new Runeword system Diablo 4 introduces works, and what Runeword requirements are necessary to create these highly customizable abilities.

Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred Runewords Overview

Customize Equipment With Unique Trigger & Effect Abilities

Diablo 4 Runewords Explained Runeword On Gear Vessel of Hatred

The Diablo 4 Runeword system essentially works on a Trigger and Effect mechanic – tied to Ritual and Invocation Runes, respectively. When you place a Ritual Rune on the top socket, and an Invocation Rune in the bottom socket, the Ability of the bottom Rune can be triggered by creating Offerings with the top Rune.

Each Ritual Rune generates a certain amount of Offerings, and each effect granted by an Invocation Rune requires a certain amount to trigger.

For example, a Ritual Rune might give you 75 Offerings every time you Evade, and an Invocation Rune might grant you 1 Primary Resource after generating 5 Offerings. So, with this Runeword, every time you Dodge, you gain Resources. And if you generate more Offerings than are required, a special bonus will be granted – in this particular case, when you Dodge, you will gain a massive amount of your main Resource.

You can only have two Runewords active at a time on two separate pieces of gear.

This system is incredibly customizable and even lets classes use abilities not normally available to them. A Spiritborn can trigger a Barbarian's War Cry, a Rogue can use a Necromancer's Desecrated Ground, and a Sorcerer can use the Spiritborn's Concussive Stomp – and all combinations of classes and abilities available via Runes in between.

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How To Create Runewords in Diablo 4

Diablo 4 Runewords System Explained Popup Vessel of Hatred

Ritual and Invocation Runes: What's The Difference?

There are two types of Runes in Diablo 4: Ritual Runes and Invocation Runes. Both of these Diablo 4 Rune types are automatically categorized in the Socketable tab of your character inventory upon being picked up.

  • Ritual Runes, or Trigger Runes, always have an icon that points upward with a notch at the bottom
  • Invocation Runes, or Effect Runes, always have an icon that points downward with an indent at the top

Ritual Runes always generate a certain amount of Offerings. One might generate 50 Offerings when you cast the same ability three times in a row, while another generates 200 Offerings when you drink a Healing Potion. There are a lot of these types of Runes that generate Offerings from a wide variety of triggers, suited so that practically every Diablo 4 build has some choices it can reliably proc.

Invocation Runes require a certain amount of Offerings to be generated by the Ritual Rune. For example, one reduces your Cooldowns when you reach 100 Offerings. Another grants the Earthen Bulwark ability (from the Druid class) when you reach 800 Offerings.

If you generate more Offerings than are required, it usually scales to an extended duration or boosted effect.

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Runewords Require Two Open Sockets On Gear

Because Runewords are made up of two parts, and because they are Socketable items, you must have a piece of Gear with two Sockets available to create a Runeword. This means that it's only possible for gear of the Head, Chest, Legs, and Two-Handed type can be imbued with a Runeword. All other item types can only have a maximum of one Socket.

Staffs and Bows count as two-handed weapons, as well as all three of the Spiritborn's available options.

You can increase the number of sockets on your gear at the Jeweler. Visit the Jeweler in any major settlement and tab over to the Add Socket tab. It requires a hefty sum of Gold and some high-level materials, but it will help you meet the two-socket requirement for Diablo 4 Runewords.

To Create Runewords, Place The Runes In Order

Once you have your desired Runes, and have gear with two Sockets to slot them in, tab to your Socketables inventory tab. To create a Runeword, Diablo 4 players must make sure to place the Ritual and Invocation Runes into the correct Socket.

  • Ritual Runes must be placed into the Top socket on your gear
  • Invocation Runes must be placed in the Bottom socket on your gear

If your Runes are placed the wrong way around they will not do anything. But If done correctly, you will see the combined Runeword made up of both Rune names on your gear when you hover over it (as well as the translated version, which amalgamates a title based on the two Runes' effects).

You will also notice a purple square on your Buff bar next to your Health. As you generate Offerings, this purple box fills up. When you fill the box, the associated Runeword effect will trigger. If you have two Runewords equipped, you will gain two separate boxes on your list of current Buffs, which track each Runeword offering buildup separately.

You can replace Runes at will at no cost by simply dragging a new Ritual or Invocation rune to the appropriate slot. When you Salvage gear at the Blacksmith, all equipped Runes will be returned to your Socketables inventory tab, too.