Venom Ward

Venom Ward is a unique breast plate in Diablo 2 Resurrected that provides unmatched poison resistance for its level. Available at level 20, this specialized armor counters poison damage with +90% Poison Resistance and +15% to Maximum Poison Resist, reaching the 90% poison resistance cap on its own.

Poison Specialization

Venom Ward excels in its narrow niche: complete poison immunity for practical purposes. The +90% Poison Resistance combined with +15% to Maximum Poison Resist creates the highest single-item poison defense in early game. The Poison Length Reduced by 50% further diminishes any poison damage that does penetrate. With +60-100% Enhanced Defense, the armor provides respectable physical protection for a light armor piece.

Limited Application

The armor's usefulness is hampered by timing: most characters encounter the poison-heavy Andariel fight before reaching level 20. It can be equipped for Nightmare Andariel or used by mercenaries facing poison damage in Acts 2-3. However, poison damage is rarely threatening enough to justify dedicating an armor slot solely to resist it, especially when antidote potions provide temporary immunity. The armor can be upgraded to Cuirass and Great Hauberk for higher defense, but remains a situational piece. Most players prefer versatile options like Stealth runeword that provide balanced stats for general gameplay rather than hyper-specialized poison protection.