Death

Death is a devastating melee runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected that rivals Breath of the Dying while costing significantly less. Created with Hel + El + Vex + Ort + Gul in 5-socket swords or axes, Death delivers massive physical damage through a lethal combination of enhanced damage, crushing blow, and scaling deadly strike.

The Deadly Strike Advantage

Death's signature mechanic is +(0.5 per Character Level) Deadly Strike, reaching 49.5% at level 99. Combined with 50% Crushing Blow and +300-385% Enhanced Damage, this creates damage output that often exceeds Breath of the Dying in practical scenarios. The Indestructible modifier makes ethereal bases ideal—superior ethereal weapons gain 50% more base damage, amplifying the enhanced damage multiplier dramatically.

Why Death Competes with Grief

Unlike Grief's flat damage addition, Death scales with weapon base damage through enhanced damage percentages. In high-damage ethereal bases like Berserker Axe or Colossus Blade, Death can match or exceed Grief's output, especially when deadly strike procs double your damage. The 25% Chance to Cast Level 18 Glacial Spike on Attack provides crowd control by freezing enemies, preventing swarming—a survivability benefit Grief lacks.

Optimal Builds and Bases

Best Weapon Bases

• Ethereal Berserker Axe - The gold standard for Zealot Paladins. High base damage with manageable speed when paired with Fanaticism aura
• Ethereal Colossus Blade - Maximum damage potential for characters who can afford slower swing speeds
• Ethereal War Spike - Niche option for specific attack speed breakpoints but generally outclassed by Berserker Axe

Character Synergies

Frenzy Barbarians are Death's premier users, often dual-wielding Death with Grief for a lethal combination. Zealot Paladins benefit from Fanaticism offsetting Death's lack of IAS, using Highlord's Wrath and 20% IAS gloves to reach max attack speed. Fury Druids wielding Death in ethereal elite bases deal more DPS than Breath of the Dying in many gear configurations, especially post-Werewolf buffs.

The Missing Piece

Death's critical weakness is zero Increased Attack Speed. This forces builds to stack IAS from other slots—Highlord's Wrath, Laying of Hands, Fanaticism aura, or 15 IAS jewels in helm. Without proper IAS breakpoints, Death feels sluggish. The 7% Mana Stolen Per Hit provides sustain, while +50 Attack Rating and 20% Bonus to AR help land hits, but pale compared to Grief's overwhelming AR bonuses.

Value Proposition

Death costs one Vex and one Gul—expensive but achievable through Hell Travincal and Lower Kurast farming. Compared to Breath of the Dying's Zod requirement, Death offers 90% of the performance at 30% of the cost. For Ubers and boss hunting, the 50% Crushing Blow shreds high HP pools efficiently. Death remains a top-tier choice for physical damage dealers who understand breakpoints and build around its strengths.