Wormskull

Wormskull is a unique Bone Helm in Diablo 2 Resurrected that served as a go-to early Necromancer helm before the Lord of Destruction expansion added superior options. This level 21 helmet combines +1 to Necromancer Skill Levels with life leech and modest defensive stats, but competes poorly against the easily-crafted Lore runeword.

Skill Bonus & Life Leech

Wormskull's main attraction is +1 to Necromancer Skill Levels, boosting all Necromancer skills including summons, curses, and damage abilities. The helm also provides 5% Life Stolen per Hit for melee-oriented Necromancers. Additional stats include +80 Poison Damage Over 8 Seconds, Poison Resist +25%, and +10 to Mana—a basic package that covers fundamental needs without excelling in any area.

Limited Practical Use

While Wormskull was popular in classic Diablo 2 before the expansion, it now faces stiff competition from runewords and better unique options. The poison damage addition is negligible even for Poison Necromancers, and the single resist type limits defensive value. The low strength requirement of 25 makes it easy to equip, but this convenience doesn't overcome its mediocre stat pool.

Lore Runeword Outperforms

The Lore runeword (Ort + Sol), available at level 27, provides identical +1 to All Skills along with +2 Mana After Each Kill, Lightning Resist +30%, and Damage Reduced by 7. Lore's runes drop commonly from Normal Countess, making it far more accessible and powerful than Wormskull. Most Necromancers should craft Lore instead of hunting for Wormskull, or immediately replace Wormskull with Lore once they reach level 27.

Brief Window of Use

Wormskull fills a narrow level 21-27 gap for Necromancers who find one while leveling and haven't yet crafted Lore. Beyond this brief window, it becomes vendor trash or a nostalgic collection piece for players who remember its glory days in classic D2.