Crescent Moon

Crescent Moon is a powerful lightning-focused runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected created with Shael + Um + Tir in any 3-socket axe, sword, or polearm. Its defining feature is -35% to enemy lightning resistance, making it essential for lightning builds that need to break immunities or maximize damage against resistant enemies.

Lightning Resistance Shredding

The core strength of Crescent Moon is its massive -35% to enemy lightning resistance reduction, which becomes critical when paired with Infinity's Conviction aura. When Conviction breaks lightning immunity, it only applies at 20% effectiveness, reducing resistances by roughly 17%. Once the immunity is broken, Crescent Moon's resistance reduction applies at full effectiveness, essentially tripling your damage output against previously immune monsters. This mechanic makes it the best-in-slot weapon for mid-to-high budget Lightning Sorceresses farming areas with lightning immunes.

Offensive Synergies

Beyond resistance shredding, Crescent Moon offers excellent combat stats: +180-220% enhanced damage, +20% increased attack speed, and ignore target's defense. The 10% chance to cast level 17 Chain Lightning on striking and 7% chance to cast level 13 Static Field on striking add significant area damage for melee attackers. The Static Field proc is particularly valuable for quickly reducing boss health, with an 11.3-yard radius that triggers frequently on fast-attacking builds.

Best Uses & Builds

Lightning Sorceress

Crescent Moon is the premier weapon for Lightning Sorceresses who can't afford Infinity on their mercenary or who want to maximize damage once immunity is broken. It's especially effective for Nova and Lightning builds farming Cow Level, Chaos Sanctuary, or anywhere with lightning-resistant enemies.

Holy Shock Paladin (Tesladin)

Tesladins benefit enormously from the resistance reduction and fast attack speed. When combined with dual Dream runewords and ignore target's defense, Crescent Moon creates a devastating melee lightning build that can reach final IAS breakpoints with just 20 IAS gloves and Treachery.

Dream Sorceress

Dual-Dream Sorceresses leverage Crescent Moon's resistance reduction and attack speed to create a powerful melee-caster hybrid that benefits from both the Holy Shock aura and lightning spell damage.

Best Bases

Choose fast base weapons with low strength requirements for optimal attack speed breakpoints. Popular choices include Phase Blade (no strength requirement, indestructible), Berserker Axe (moderate speed, good damage), and Cryptic Sword (low requirements). For casters who only need the resistance reduction, any lightweight base works.

Budget & Progression

Crescent Moon is remarkably affordable—Shael and Tir are common, while Um drops from Nightmare Act 4 onwards and Hell Countess. This makes it accessible long before Infinity, which requires two Ber runes. For lightning builds, Crescent Moon often remains equipped even after acquiring Infinity, as the resistance reduction stacks multiplicatively with Conviction to devastate lightning-resistant enemies. The combination of affordability and endgame viability makes it one of the best value runewords in the game.