Diablo II Resurrected: Runeword Infinity - Better for Sorcerers or Mercenaries? Which is More Cost-Effective?

Jan-16-2024

 

The "Infinite" runeword in Diablo II: Resurrected is a high-cost runeword that brings significant upgrades to many playstyles. It is often used as a weapon for mercenaries or mages, with different cost-effectiveness depending on the situation.

 

 

 

(1) Mercenary-exclusive Infinite

When creating an Infinity weapon for Mercenary, select a rare level invisible 4-hole long-handled weapon as the base material. Invisible quality weapons have higher base damage, and Mercenary equipment does not degrade over time. Common base materials include "Giant Contriver" (matched with Amulet of the Cat) or "Fin Spear" (matched with Jeweler's Coil of Ichor +3 Enhanced Damage Jewels).

 

The "Infinite" rune word grants the mercenary the 12th level "Conviction Aura" (Judgement), which reduces the resistance of non-elemental immune monsters to cold, fire, and lightning by 85 points, as well as their defense. However, for elemental immune monsters, it only has a 20% effect, meaning that for single-element immune monsters, it only reduces their resistance by 17 points (other elemental resistances are not affected). This aura's resistance reduction is directly applied to the monsters, and both the mercenary and the player can benefit from this active resistance reduction. However, the maximum -55% lightning resistance granted by "Infinite" is passive and does not affect the character or any teammates attacking the monsters. Additionally, the "prevent monster self-healing" and the maximum life attribute do not work when equipped on mercenaries. Therefore, for mercenary-exclusive "Infinite," only the damage increase is significant. In this case, the "Infinite" serves not only as a weapon for the mercenary's own damage output but also provides an upgrade for the player's character by way of the "Conviction Aura's" active resistance reduction.

 

This type of mercenary-exclusive "Infinite" is commonly used in conjunction with a sorcerer focusing on survival and lightning damage. It is easier to ensure both survivability and damage output with this setup. When possible, it is recommended to max out skills and passive lightning resistance attributes to maximize damage against non-immune monsters.

 

It is worth noting that the "Infinite" can be shared among characters using the Stash Tab patch (a shared storage patch). For example, characters like fire mages, trap assassins, summoning necromancers, and archery mages can all use the "Infinite" in conjunction with a mercenary. Since this high-cost rune word is less practical for everyone to have one than to share, it makes sense to swap it out for different characters.

 

(2) Character-exclusive Infinite

When a character like a sorceress wields the "Infinite," they can choose a low-requirement "scythe" as the base item. In this case, besides granting the character the "Conviction Aura," the maximum -55% passive reduction in monster lightning resistance (which is ineffective against lightning immune monsters) can greatly increase the character's lightning damage against non-immune monsters.

 

 

When facing lightning immune monsters, if the "Conviction Aura" active resistance reduction can reduce their resistance below 100 (breaking the immunity), then the -55% passive resistance reduction from the "Infinite" will also take effect. For example, if a monster with 116 lightning resistance is approached by a light;lning sorceress wielding the "Infinite," the "Conviction Aura" first reduces its resistance by 17 points (as explained earlier, immune monsters only have a 20% resistance reduction effect), leaving it with 99 resistance. At this point, since the monster's resistance is below 100, the -55% passive resistance reduction from the "Infinite" takes effect. When this character attacks the monster, its lightning resistance is further reduced by 55 points (or more if other passive resistances are present). This greatly increases the character's lightning damage against that monster. Therefore, for character-exclusive "Infinite," only the passive reduction in lightning resistance is significant.

 

Playing as a scythe-wielding female character requires specific equipment and skill investment. Since they cannot wear a shield, survival can be addressed by investing appropriate skill points into "Mind Over Matter" (aim for at least 16 points manually or more) and "Energy Shield." Additionally, attribute points are invested differently than in conventional builds. Both physical and mental attributes should be invested to ensure survival.

 

 

 

Sacrificing a main hand weapon and shield for significant damage boosts may seem counterintuitive, but the "Conviction Aura" and passive lightning resistance also significantly increase lightning damage. It also opens up more options for mercenary weapon builds, making it suitable for players who have a certain level of equipment and want to try out more builds.

 

When multiple characters (or both the character and mercenary) have the "Conviction Aura," only the higher level one will take effect, that means the level of Aura can not be added directly. So it’s not necessary to equip infinity for both mercenary and character.