Hellplague

Hellplague is a unique normal Long Sword with an unusual focus on elemental damage and fire skills in Diablo 2 Resurrected. While this creates interesting build possibilities, the weapon's narrow niche and low level requirement limit its practical application.

Fire Skill Synergy

The defining feature of Hellplague is +2 to Fire Skills, making it one of the few weapons available at level 22 that boosts elemental abilities. Combined with Adds 25-75 Fire Damage, this creates potential synergies for Paladins using Holy Fire aura or Sorceresses using Enchant builds.

The fire damage adds meaningful DPS against enemies not immune to fire, while the Adds 28-56 Poison Damage Over 6 Seconds provides additional damage over time. The 5% Life Stolen Per Hit and 5% Mana Stolen Per Hit address sustainability concerns for characters who actually melee with this weapon.

Limited Build Applications

The most viable use case is Holy Fire Paladins during Normal and early Nightmare difficulty. The fire skill bonus amplifies the aura's damage, while the fire damage on the weapon itself complements the build's theme. However, by the time Paladins reach level 22, better weapons are typically available.

Enchant Sorceresses can theoretically benefit from the fire skill bonus, but they rarely engage in melee combat where the weapon's stats would matter. The concept is more interesting than practical, as Enchantresses typically focus on casting rather than swinging swords.

Quickly Outclassed

The physical damage on Hellplague is notably low, with a minimum damage of only 5 despite the enhanced damage modifier. Against fire-immune enemies, the sword performs poorly compared to weapons focused purely on physical damage. The fast attack speed helps somewhat, but doesn't compensate for the anemic base damage.

By level 22, players have access to runewords like Strength, Malice, or Steel that provide better overall performance. The narrow focus on fire damage makes Hellplague a novelty rather than a serious weapon choice, and most players who find it either vendor it immediately or try it briefly before moving on to more practical options.