String of Ears

String of Ears, often abbreviated as SoE, has maintained its position as one of the most sought-after unique belts in Diablo 2 Resurrected for over two decades. This exceptional Demonhide Sash has earned legendary status among the melee combat community through its unmatched combination of physical damage reduction and life leech—two critical defensive mechanics that keep characters alive in Hell difficulty's most dangerous encounters.

The Power of Damage Reduction

String of Ears' defining feature is its Damage Reduced By 10-15% modifier, making it one of only three belts in the entire game offering percentage-based physical damage reduction. This stat dramatically reduces incoming physical damage from all sources, with perfect 15% rolls being highly prized by the community.

The damage reduction stacks additively with other sources, creating powerful defensive combinations:

• Stormshield provides 35% Damage Reduced (flat amount, not percentage)
• Shaftstop offers 30% Damage Reduced
• Together with a 15% String of Ears, characters can approach the theoretical damage reduction cap, transforming even fragile builds into surprisingly durable fighters

The belt also provides Magic Damage Reduced 10-15, further enhancing survivability against spell-casting enemies and elemental damage sources throughout Hell difficulty.

Life Leech for Sustained Combat

Beyond damage reduction, String of Ears offers 6-8% Life Stolen Per Hit—a massive life leech bonus that enables melee characters to sustain through extended combat without constantly chugging potions. For physical damage builds, this life leech keeps health pools topped off while the damage reduction prevents spike damage from overwhelming your character.

The +150-180% Enhanced Defense and +15 Defense push the belt's total defense above 100, providing respectable protection while the low strength requirement (only 20) makes it accessible to virtually every character class.

Best Builds & Uses

String of Ears excels on any melee build engaging in close-range physical combat:

• Whirlwind Barbarians - The combination of life leech and damage reduction is perfect for spinning through mob packs
• Frenzy Barbarians - Sustained melee combat benefits enormously from both defensive stats
• Zealot Paladins - Face-tanking enemies becomes significantly safer with 15% damage reduction
• Kicksins - Dragon Talon builds leverage the life leech while mitigating counter-attacks
• Smiter Paladins - Excellent for Uber Tristram when not using Verdungo's or Thundergod's Vigor

Farming & Trading

String of Ears can drop from Nightmare Andariel onwards, with Hell Mephisto and Hell Andariel offering the most efficient farming routes. The belt also has reasonable gambling odds at higher character levels, making it one of the more accessible exceptional unique items.

Trading value fluctuates based on roll quality. Perfect 15% DR / 8% LL rolls command premium prices (typically Pul to Um rune range), while low rolls trade for Lem or less. Despite the variability, even minimum-rolled String of Ears remains highly functional and sought-after throughout ladder seasons.

Legacy & Alternatives

String of Ears competes primarily with Verdungo's Hearty Cord for the best-in-slot melee belt position. Verdungo's offers superior life bonuses and comparable damage reduction but lacks life leech. The choice often comes down to build specifics—high-damage builds favor String of Ears for sustain, while builds with alternative life leech sources may prefer Verdungo's massive vitality boost.

For budget-conscious players, String of Ears represents exceptional value, providing endgame-quality defense at mid-tier pricing. Its reputation as a staple of melee builds has endured from original Diablo 2 through Resurrected, cementing its status as one of the most reliable and consistently useful unique items in the game.