Every treasure hunter in Sanctuary eventually learns that the mightiest gear in Lord of Destruction is not always found. Often it is built, one rune at a time. Here is how the folk on the Internet Gaming Zone turn a fistful of runes into a champion's kit.

A runeword only takes hold in a normal item, the kind with a plain white name. A magic, rare, set, or unique item will NOT accept a word. The socket count must match the recipe exactly, and the runes must be dropped in from left to right in the listed order. A four-socket sword wants a four-rune word, no more and no less. Short on sockets? Hunt a socketed base, or finish the Act V quest for Larzuk in Harrogath and let him punch the maximum number into an item of your choosing.

• Spirit (Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn) in a four-socket sword or shield. The runes are cheap and the payoff is huge: +2 to all skills and up to 35% faster cast rate. Every young Sorceress or Necromancer should aim for one.
• Insight (Ral + Tir + Tal + Sol) in a four-socket polearm or staff. It grants a Meditation aura, so hand it to your Act II mercenary and never stare at an empty mana globe again.
• Enigma (Jah + Ith + Ber) in a three-socket body armor. The prize is Teleport for ANY class, plus +2 skills and bonus strength that scales with your level. Those high runes are dear, so treat this one as an end-game goal.

Missing a rune? The Horadric Cube you recovered back in Act II trades up. As a rule:

1. Three of the same low rune make one of the next rune (three El make an Eld, and so on up the ladder).
2. The middle runes want a gem tossed in as well, so three Thul plus a chipped topaz yield an Amn.
3. Above Pul the count drops to two runes plus a gem, which is why the road to Ber and Jah runs so long.

Save every rune you pull, trade smart, and socket wisely. The market on the Zone never sleeps. See you in the realms.