Astreon's Iron Ward

Astreon's Iron Ward is an elite unique Caduceus in Diablo 2 Resurrected designed specifically for Zealot Paladins seeking a balanced melee weapon. This high-level scepter combines combat skill bonuses, Crushing Blow, and magic damage into a package that shines brightest in its ethereal form.

Zealot-Focused Design

The weapon delivers +2-4 to Combat Skills (Paladin Only), boosting Zeal, Sacrifice, and other physical damage abilities. With +200-280% Enhanced Damage, Damage +40-80, and 33% Chance of Crushing Blow, it provides everything a Zealot needs for consistent damage output. The 10% Increased Attack Speed and 150-200% Bonus to Attack Rating ensure rapid, accurate strikes.

Ethereal Advantage

Astreon's Iron Ward truly excels when found ethereal, as the 50% damage boost transforms it into a top-tier weapon. Since it cannot self-repair, an ethereal version requires a Zod rune to prevent breaking—a worthy investment for dedicated Zealots. The Adds 80-240 Magic Damage bypasses most physical immunities, while Damage Reduced by 5-7 improves survivability. Available at level 66, this weapon serves as an endgame option for Zealot builds, though it faces stiff competition from Grief and other elite runewords.