D2R 2.4 New Plague Runeword Guide: Stats, Bonus, Changes, Build Tips and More

Even though the information of new D2R runewords in 2.4 and Ladder leaked very early, the actual use of them is not very long due to the delay of Ladder. Now, let’s take an overview of the new D2R 2.4 Plague Runeword, featuring its changes, stats, bonus, runes, and more importantly, how to build with Plague in Diablo 2 Resurrected. 

Changes of Plague Runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected 2.4 Patch

Plague is a Ladder-only runeword that was added through the Patch 2.4, it is only be available to players with characters in the Ladder Season 1. They have made some minor changes to the Plague runeword in D2R 2.4. Below is the list of the main differences between the old Plague and the new Plague in Diablo 2. 

1. Old Plague runes: Cham, Fal, and Um, new Plague runes: Cham, Shael, and Um.

2. Old Plague: +260-380% damage to demons, new Plague: +220-320% enhanced damage.

3. Old Plague: 0.3% (0-29.7) Deadly Strike, new Plague: 0.375-37.125% Deadly Strike. 

4. 20% Increased Attack Speed added in new Plague.

5. Adds 5-30 Fire Damage and +10 to Strength are removed in the new Plague. 

D2R 2.4 Plague Runeword Stats and Bonuses & How to Get Plague in D2

How to get D2R Plague runeword? To farm the Plague runeword in D2R, you need to acquire these three Diablo 2 runes first and then place them in order, the Cham can be found in Act 4 Hell, the Shael can be found in Act 5 Normal, Nightmare Hellforge, Countess (Nightmare & Hell), and Um can be found in Act 4 Nightmare, Nightmare & Hell Hellforge, Countess (Hell). Cham is the highest level rune to get and they are trying to make it more viable in the game. 

The complete stats and bonuses according to the information on diablo2.wiki.fextralife.com. Lower Resist and Poison Nova are both Necromancer skills, the Deadly Strike and Open Wounds are combat mechanics. 

Plague

Plague

                               

                           20% Chance to cast level 12 Lower Resist when struck
               25% Chance to cast level 15 Poison Nova on striking
               Level 13-17 Cleansing Aura When Equipped (varies)
               +1-2 All Skills
               +20% Increased Attack Speed
               +220-320% Enhanced Damage (varies)
               -23% To Enemy Poison Resistance
               0.3% (0-29.7) Deadly Strike (Based on Character Level)
               +25% Chance of Open Wounds
               Freezes Target +3                        

20% Chance to cast level 12 Lower Resist when struck

25% Chance to cast level 15 Poison Nova on striking

Level 13-17 Cleansing Aura When Equipped (varies)

+1-2 All Skills

+20% Increased Attack Speed

+220-320% Enhanced Damage (varies)

-23% To Enemy Poison Resistance

+(0.375 per Character Level) 0.375-37.125% Deadly Strike (Based on Character Level)

+25% Chance of Open Wounds

Freezes Target +3 

How to Use Plague Runeword in Diablo 2 Resurrected 2.4 & Build Tips

This is a strong and solid weapon, what are we using Plague for and what build is it suitable for? You can put it into 3 socket swords, claws, and D2R daggers. 

You're getting those lower resist procs out there, you're getting the cleansing aura, which is just nice for the curses and all of that stuff so that could be in Hell, you're getting enhanced damage, the deadly strike, the open wounds, and the freeze's target, Plague has good physical damage and suitable for builds based on poison damage skills. 

When you put it into claws, this is great for that martial arts assassin maybe running the Venom and Phoenix strike, all that stuff you get a lot of physical damage from this to really help out that, minus poison resistance would be super solid there, this would have been a best-in-slot claw in certain builds. 

You can also pair this in a sword with a rabies druid to improve the effectiveness of the poison damage, the best base would be an Elite sword, which offers high damage. And put it into a Diablo 2 Resurrected rare dagger when you are building a poison necromancer. 

When it comes to the mercenary, it is probably not good for an Act 3 mercenary, use it on Act 5 Barbarian mercenary would be effective, just make it in a one-handed sword.