Faith

Faith is a premier endgame runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected that defines the high-end Bowazon experience. Created with Ohm + Jah + Lem + Eld in missile weapons, this powerful bow grants a Level 12-15 Fanaticism Aura When Equipped—transforming both player and mercenary builds with its attack speed and damage scaling.

Fanaticism's Game-Changing Impact

The Fanaticism aura is what elevates Faith from good to legendary. This paladin-exclusive aura provides massive attack speed, enhanced damage, and attack rating boosts that multiply your bow's effectiveness. Combined with +330% Enhanced Damage, Ignore Target's Defense, 300% Bonus to Attack Rating, and +1-2 to All Skills, Faith creates a complete offensive package that rivals—and in many scenarios surpasses—the legendary unique Windforce.

The math on Faith versus Windforce is surprisingly close. At level 99 with perfect gear, Windforce edges out Faith by approximately 2% in raw damage output. However, Faith dominates at lower character levels and offers better consistency thanks to its tighter damage range and Ignore Target's Defense. Where Windforce requires specific IAS breakpoints that force rigid gear choices, Faith's built-in Fanaticism provides the attack speed you need, opening up slots for utility items like Atma's Scarab or Razortail.

The Dual-Purpose Design

For Bowazons

When wielded by an Amazon, Faith turns any bow-based build into a high-speed killing machine. The combination of +120 Fire Damage, excellent attack rating, and life-sustaining capabilities creates a reliable platform for Multishot or Strafe builds. The quirky 10% Reanimate as Returned proc summons skeletal minions that provide additional meat shields alongside your Valkyrie, improving survivability in dense packs.

For Act 1 Mercenaries

Faith's most popular application is actually on Act 1 Rogue mercenaries, where it provides Fanaticism aura support to melee builds. Dream Paladins, throw barbarians, and even some assassin builds employ Faith rogues to gain attack speed without sacrificing their own weapon slots. However, the Act 1 mercenary AI has limitations—rogues tend to position poorly, sometimes standing too far away to share the aura effectively. This inconsistency has led many players to prefer Act 2 mercenaries with Pride or traditional setups.

Rune Investment Analysis

Faith requires a Jah rune, placing it firmly in expensive territory. The Ohm adds further cost, though Lem and Eld are relatively accessible. This rune cost sits below Infinity or Enigma but represents a significant investment nonetheless. For Bowazon players, the decision often comes down to Faith versus saving for a perfect Windforce—both approaches are viable, with Faith offering more flexibility and Windforce providing slightly higher top-end damage in optimized setups.

Optimal Bases

For Amazon Use

• Grand Matron Bow - Highest damage output, ideal for Multishot builds with strength investment
• Matriarchal Bow - Faster base speed, excellent for Freezing Arrow builds that value attack speed
• Shadow Bow or Diamond Bow - Mid-range options with lower strength requirements, Diamond Bow offers more consistent minimum damage

For Mercenary Use

• Matriarchal Bow - Top choice for Act 1 mercenaries since patch 2.4 enabled Amazon bow equipping. Fast attack speed and excellent damage make this the premier mercenary base
• Diamond Bow - Excellent non-Amazon option with tight damage range (33-40) and reasonable stat requirements at level 65
• Great Bow or Blade Bow - Solid alternatives with good damage and lower IAS requirements
• Crusader Bow or Ward Bow - Budget alternatives if you can't find elite bows with 4 sockets

Important Note: Since patch 2.4, Act 1 Rogue mercenaries can equip Amazon-specific bows and benefit from Amazon skill bonuses on gear. This makes Amazon bows like Matriarchal Bow and Grand Matron Bow viable choices for mercenary Faith, significantly expanding your base options.

Versatile Base Selection Strategy

Many players choose to make Faith in non-Amazon bows like Great Bow, Blade Bow, or Diamond Bow to maintain flexibility. While Amazon bows now work on mercenaries, non-class-specific bows can be used by any character class and easily swapped between your Amazon and mercenary as needed. This versatility comes at a minor damage cost compared to elite Amazon bows but offers excellent practical benefits for players running multiple builds.

The Faith Experience

Faith represents the pinnacle of bow-based gameplay in D2R. While it competes with Windforce for raw power, Faith edges ahead in versatility, consistency, and quality of life. The Fanaticism aura creates smoother gameplay with flexible gear requirements, the Ignore Target's Defense ensures high hit rates even against tough enemies, and the skill bonuses enhance your entire arsenal. Whether you're raining arrows across the Chaos Sanctuary or supporting builds that benefit from the aura, Faith delivers endgame performance worthy of its expensive rune cost.