Grief

Grief is widely considered the most powerful melee weapon runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected—so dominant it's often called "broken." Created with Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral in 5-socket swords or axes, Grief delivers staggering physical damage through its unique +340-400 Damage modifier that functions unlike any other stat in the game.

The Flat Damage Revolution

Grief's +340-400 Damage is pure flat damage added to both minimum and maximum weapon damage before any percentage modifiers apply. This means a Phase Blade with 31-35 base damage becomes 371-435 damage, then gets multiplied by all your enhanced damage from other gear, auras, and skills. The genius: this works identically on fast, low-damage weapons as it does on slow, high-damage weapons. The character sheet doesn't display this damage correctly, showing only base weapon values, but the actual combat damage is astronomical.

Phase Blade Supremacy

The optimal base is Phase Blade for most builds. Phase Blades have the fastest base attack speed in the game (-30), are naturally indestructible (never need repairs), and require minimal strength (25) and dexterity (136). Since Grief's damage is flat rather than percentage-based, the Phase Blade's low base damage (31-35) is irrelevant—you're adding 340-400 damage regardless. This creates the highest DPS weapon in the game when attack speed is maximized.

Berserker Axe Alternative

Berserker Axe serves as the alternative base for Barbarians with Axe Mastery or builds needing slightly higher raw damage. The higher base damage (30-80) provides marginal gains when percentage modifiers stack, but the slower attack speed (-10 vs Phase Blade's -30) often results in lower overall DPS. Berserker Axes require repairs unless ethereal, adding maintenance costs. For Frenzy Barbarians, dual Griefs in Berserker Axes with proper IAS breakpoints rival or exceed Phase Blade setups.

Supporting Stats That Matter

Beyond the absurd damage, Grief provides +30-40% Increased Attack Speed (aim for 40%), Ignore Target's Defense, -25% Target Defense, 20% Deadly Strike, Prevent Monster Heal, and 35% Chance to Cast Level 15 Venom on Striking. The +(1.875 per Character Level) Damage to Demons reaches 185% at level 99. The -20-25% Enemy Poison Resistance, +10-15 Life After Each Kill, and +2 Mana After Each Kill provide excellent sustain.

Universal Best-in-Slot

Dominant Across Builds

• Smiter Paladins - One of few weapons affecting Smite damage; Grief is mandatory for Uber Tristram
• Zealot Paladins - Best-in-slot for pure damage, no competition
• Frenzy Barbarians - Dual Grief setup defines the build
• Whirlwind Barbarians - Top choice for physical WW builds
• Fury Druids - Maximizes attack speed and damage
• Kicksins - Dragon Talon benefits from Grief's massive damage boost

Builds That Don't Use Grief

Certain specialized builds skip Grief despite its power. Blade Fury Assassins prefer Beast or Last Wish for aura support since Blade Fury already has built-in flat damage. Vengeance Paladins add elemental damage after Grief's flat damage applies, diluting effectiveness. Fire Claws Druids use weapons as skill damage vectors, favoring Phoenix or Hustle. Auradin builds need specific weapons like Hand of Justice or Dream.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Grief requires a Lo rune—expensive but dramatically more accessible than Ber or Jah. For the investment, Grief delivers unmatched cost-to-power ratio among melee weapons. A single Lo rune creates the weapon that will carry you through all content. The only "weakness" is lack of life leech, requiring it from other gear slots like Dracul's Grasp or rings. Phase Blades are common drops in Chaos Sanctuary and Worldstone Keep, making bases readily available. Grief isn't just the best melee weapon—it's so far ahead of alternatives that it defines modern D2R melee meta.