With Diablo 4’s new expansion, Vessel of Hatred, coming in October, players are in for a significant shift in gameplay mechanics. Runewords, a beloved feature from previous Diablo titles, return but with a twist. Now, not just Sorcerers can teleport, and Barbarians won’t exclusively turn skin to iron with their shouts. The magic of runewords breaks the rules of Sanctuary, bringing a fresh wave of strategic depth.
How Runewords Work
Runewords in Diablo 4 have been simplified to enhance accessibility and enjoyment. Runes, which drop from monsters or can be obtained through trading, allow players to create their own skills. Ritual runes build up a resource called Offering, while invocation runes spend this Offering to trigger unique skills. For instance, the legendary Yul and Jah runes can be socketed into a gear piece to form a runeword: using a skill with a cooldown builds Offering via the Yul rune, and once you have enough, your evade becomes a Sorcerer’s teleport with the Jah rune.
Examples of Runewords
Runewords offer a plethora of build options, enabling players to optimize their characters in creative ways. Here are a few examples:
Zan Ritual Rune: Gain Offering every time you use your ultimate skill.
Yax Ritual Rune: Gain Offering every time you use a healing potion.
Lith Ritual Rune: Gain Offering every time you stand still for 0.3 seconds.
Thul Invocation Rune: Casts Sorcerer’s Frost Nova, freezing enemies and making them vulnerable.
Vex Invocation Rune: Gain 3 to all skills for five seconds.
Que Invocation Rune: Casts Druid’s Petrify, stunning enemies and enhancing critical strike damage.
Impact on Gameplay
Each character can utilize two runeword combinations simultaneously, without repeating the same rune. Extra runes can be traded or used to craft better ones and, with sufficient accumulation, transformed into ultra-powerful Mythic Uniques. These runewords will be exclusive to those who own the Vessel of Hatred expansion and integrate seamlessly with Diablo 4’s reworked leveling progression. The update promises a lower level cap, potent loot drops at earlier stages, and higher difficulty options.
Conclusion
The introduction of runewords in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred holds thrilling potential for diverse playstyles and enhanced character builds. As the expansion launches on October 8, prepare for a revitalized Diablo 4 experience that dares to break the conventional rules.
