Call to Arms

Call to Arms (often abbreviated as CTA) is an essential weapon runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected created with Amn + Ral + Mal + Ist + Ohm in any 5-socket weapon. Universally considered one of the most important runewords in the game, it grants non-Barbarian characters access to the powerful Battle Orders skill, providing massive survivability boosts.

Battle Orders Supremacy

Call to Arms' primary value lies in +2-6 to Battle Orders, which increases maximum life, mana, and stamina by a percentage based on skill level. When combined with +1 to all skills and additional +skills gear (Annihilus, Mara's Kaleidoscope, Spirit shield), players can easily reach level 10+ Battle Orders, granting approximately 60-86% increased life and mana. This translates to thousands of additional hit points and mana for endgame characters. The +2-6 to Battle Command provides an additional +1 to all skills, further boosting character power.

Universal Utility

Every class benefits from Call to Arms, making it one of the few truly universal runewords. Casters gain enormous mana pools for sustained casting. Melee characters gain survivability to survive deadly encounters. The buffs last approximately 2 minutes, and most players keep CTA on weapon swap, switching to cast buffs then swapping back to their primary weapon. This mechanic makes Call to Arms essential for virtually all endgame builds.

Additional Stats

Beyond the critical Barbarian skills, CTA provides solid combat stats: +250-290% enhanced damage, +40% increased attack speed, 7% life stolen per hit, and adds 5-30 fire damage. While these make it usable as a primary weapon in early Hell difficulty, CTA is almost exclusively used for buffing. The 30% better chance of getting magic items and 50% extra gold from monsters add minor quality-of-life benefits.

Roll Variance

Call to Arms has significant roll variance on its most important stats. The Battle Orders roll ranges from +1 to +6, with +6 being highly sought after and exponentially more expensive. A "perfect" 6/6/4 CTA (6 Battle Orders, 6 Battle Command, 4 Battle Cry) commands premium prices. Many players settle for 3/3/1 or better rolls to save runes. For Barbarians, oskills are capped at +3, so the displayed values will show 3/3/3 maximum regardless of the actual roll.

Best Bases

Create Call to Arms in low-requirement 5-socket weapons to maximize accessibility across characters. Popular choices include Flail (41 strength, 35 dexterity), Crystal Sword (43 strength), or Double Axe (43 strength). These weapons ensure any character can equip CTA for buffing without excessive stat investment. Phase Blades work but are better reserved for other runewords.

Budget & Priority

Call to Arms requires an Ohm rune, making it expensive but achievable. It typically ranks as the second or third highest-priority runeword after Enigma and sometimes Infinity. The survivability boost is so significant that many players prioritize CTA before perfect gear in other slots. Due to roll variance, buying a pre-made CTA with acceptable rolls is often cheaper than making one yourself.