Rattlecage

Rattlecage is a unique gothic plate in Diablo 2 Resurrected that provides crushing blow for boss killing. Available at level 29, this armor offers 25% Chance of Crushing Blow alongside high defense, though its fear-inducing property creates a significant drawback for many playstyles.

Crushing Blow Value

Rattlecage's primary strength is 25% Chance of Crushing Blow, which removes a percentage of enemy health per hit—exceptionally effective against high-HP bosses and champions. The +200 Defense provides fixed high defense (328-335), making it one of the better-defended normal unique armors. The +45 to Attack Rating adds modest accuracy improvement for melee characters.

The Fear Problem

The armor's Hit Causes Monster to Flee 40% creates serious gameplay issues. Fleeing enemies become difficult to hit consistently, as attacks against retreating monsters suffer accuracy penalties. This scatters mob groups and prolongs combat, contradicting the crushing blow's boss-killing purpose. For mercenaries, particularly Act 2 mercenaries using Insight, Rattlecage provides valuable crushing blow without the player suffering from the fear mechanic's inconvenience. The 70 strength requirement and medium armor classification are manageable for most builds. Rattlecage can be upgraded to Embossed Plate and Lacquered Plate for improved defense. While the crushing blow remains valuable, most players eventually prefer armors without the fear modifier or opt for crushing blow from other equipment slots.