Master Infinity Runeword: Diablo 2 Build Guide

Table of Contents

Unleashing the Power of Infinity: A Comprehensive Guide

The Infinity runeword is a legendary powerhouse in Diablo II, renowned for its ability to shatter enemy resistances. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to harness its full potential, from selecting the perfect base item to optimizing your character build. For maximizing a Necromancer’s damage output, see this guide on maxing strength.

Infinity’s Conviction Aura: The Key to Elemental Domination

At the core of the Infinity runeword lies its Level 12 Conviction aura. This aura drastically reduces enemy resistances to elemental damage (fire, lightning, and cold), significantly amplifying your damage output. This is essential for breaking immunities and inflicting substantial damage to even the most formidable monsters. It provides a supercharged boost to your elemental attacks, but remember that it only affects elemental resistances.

Base Item Selection: Choosing the Right Foundation

Selecting the right base item for your Infinity runeword is crucial for maximizing its overall effectiveness. Several exceptional options exist, each offering unique strengths and weaknesses:

Weapon Base	Pros	Cons	Best Suited For
Thresher/Giant Thresher	High damage output, especially when ethereal, enhances physical damage potential; faster attack speed compared to other polearms; widely traded.	Requires significant investment in Increased Attack Speed (IAS) to reach optimal breakpoints; ethereal versions can be expensive to repair	Barbarians (especially those focusing on Whirlwind or other physical damage skills), Paladins (for use on a mercenary supporting a Zeal or Hammerdin build), any build that benefits from high physical damage output and can afford the IAS investment.
Great Poleaxe	High damage range offers consistent damage output; can be easier to find with 4 sockets from Larzuk; good balance between damage and survivability.	Slower attack speed compared to Threshers; may require more Strength to equip, limiting gear choices.	Amazons (physical damage builds relying on a mercenary for support), Necromancers (using a mercenary to provide crowd control and damage), any build that needs a reliable damage source and doesn’t prioritize attack speed as much.
Mancatcher	Faster attack speed enhances leeching capabilities and Crushing Blow procs; lower stat requirements make it accessible earlier; often cheaper to acquire.	Lower damage and durability compared to other options; requires careful management of mercenary life leech to maintain survivability.	Builds that prioritize speed and survival, characters with lower damage output who rely on frequent attacks; useful for budget builds due to lower cost, especially early in a ladder season; good for characters who need more consistent application of Crushing Blow.
Cryptic Axe	Very high maximum damage.	Slower attack speed; high stat requirements.	Builds that benefit from very high individual hit damage and do not rely heavily on hitting breakpoints for attack speed; not generally recommended due to the high stat investment and slower attack speed compared to other excellent options.
Scythe	Fast attack speed.	Lower damage output.	Sorceresses who wish to wield Infinity themselves to make use of the massive enemy lightning resistance reduction, and to occasionally replenish Cyclone Armor charges.

The “best” base weapon is subjective and depends on your character build and playstyle (DPS vs. Survivability). Experiment to find what works best for your needs and budget.

Synergy and Build Considerations: Maximizing Your Damage Output

Infinity excels when combined with builds that emphasize elemental damage. The Conviction aura directly weakens enemy resistance to fire, lightning, and cold. Sorceresses employing fire or lightning spells will observe a considerable increase in damage. Paladins utilizing elemental attacks can also significantly benefit. However, remember that Infinity does not affect resistances to physical, poison, or magic damage.

Popular builds that synergize well with Infinity include:

Lightning Sorceress: Benefits immensely from reduced enemy lightning resistance.
Fire Sorceress: Can break fire immunities and significantly increase damage.
Cold Sorceress: Similar to fire sorceresses, breaking cold immunities.
Hammerdin Paladin: While primarily physical damage, benefits from the aura on a mercenary.
Trapsin Assassin: Elemental Traps will benefit from the aura.

Avoiding Common Mistakes: Preparing for Success

Crafting an Infinity is an expensive undertaking, requiring two Ber runes. Steer clear of these frequent pitfalls:

Insufficient Research: Conduct thorough research to identify the optimal base weapon for your specific build.
Inadequate Budgeting: Precisely calculate the total rune cost and base item expenses before beginning the rune gathering process.
Ignoring Updates: Stay informed about patch updates and balance changes, as these can significantly influence the effectiveness of Infinity and its ideal setup.

Also, be aware of the Conviction aura persistence bug, where the aura can continue to lower enemy resistances even after removing the weapon. This is inconsistent, so don’t depend on it.

Advanced Strategies: Leveling Up Your Gameplay

Mastering Infinity involves understanding these intricate details:

Optimize IAS: Meticulously optimize Increased Attack Speed (IAS), particularly with slower weapons, to attain crucial breakpoints for your mercenary’s attack animation.
Enemy Resistance Study: Thoroughly study enemy resistances within various game areas to tailor your attacks effectively, targeting vulnerable monsters and circumventing highly resistant foes.
Synergy and Skill Usage: Fully grasp build synergies and skill usage, synergizing Infinity’s aura with specific skills and equipment to further maximize damage potential and overall character effectiveness.

Conclusion: Embracing Experimentation

The Infinity runeword is a potent asset, and its effectiveness hinges on your comprehension and skill. Experiment with diverse builds and base items to unlock its full potential and tailor it to your distinctive playstyle.

Best Diablo 2 Infinity Runeword Base Item for Mercenary

Mastering the Mercenary: Choosing the Right Base

Selecting the best Diablo 2 Infinity Runeword base item for your mercenary is vital for maximizing their effectiveness and your overall gameplay efficiency. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

Base Item	Pros	Cons	Ideal Mercenary Type
Giant Thresher	High damage, especially when ethereal; relatively easy to find with 4 sockets; good weapon range for mercenary positioning; widely considered the standard choice for damage-focused mercenary builds.	Lower attack speed compared to Mancatcher; can be expensive to acquire an ethereal version with good stats; requires careful attention to mercenary survivability due to the focus on maximizing damage output.	Physical/Elemental
Mancatcher	Exceptional attack speed enhances leeching capabilities and allows for more frequent Crushing Blow procs; lower stat requirements make it usable at lower levels; can be a good option for budget builds or when maximizing mercenary survivability is paramount.	Lower damage output compared to Giant Thresher; finding an ethereal 4-socket base can be challenging; requires careful management of mercenary life leech and positioning to compensate for lower overall damage.	Elemental
Great Poleaxe	High damage range offers consistent damage output; can be easier to find with 4 sockets using Larzuk; a solid choice for builds that prioritize consistent damage over maximizing attack speed or Crushing Blow procs.	Slower attack speed compared to Thresher/Mancatcher; can be slightly harder to find an ethereal version with desirable stats; not generally recommended as the optimal choice due to the availability of superior options.	Physical
Thresher	Good balance of damage and attack speed; readily available and offers a decent compromise between the Giant Thresher and Mancatcher; suitable for players who want a balanced approach without focusing solely on damage or attack speed.	Lower damage compared to Giant Thresher/Mancatcher; does not excel in any particular area compared to the specialized options; often seen as a budget-friendly choice when ethereal Giant Threshers are unavailable or too expensive.	All, especially Budget
Cryptic Axe	Very high maximum damage, particularly if ethereal, useful for builds focusing on individual hit damage and less concerned with attack frequency, can be effective for specific high-level farming scenarios.	Slower attack speed and typically requires higher strength, making faster breakpoints more difficult to achieve, not generally recommended for general use because of the slowness and the stat investment requirements	High Damage Builds

The ideal choice depends on your playstyle, budget, and specific needs of your mercenary’s support role.

Attack Speed & Ethereal Debate: Key Considerations

Reaching attack speed breakpoints significantly boosts your mercenary’s DPS, allowing them to apply Crushing Blow, life leech, and other on-hit effects more frequently. Ethereal weapons offer increased damage, but cannot be repaired (unless using a Zod rune). Therefore, ethereal weapons are best used on mercenaries, as their durability does not decrease.

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Yaride Tsuga

Yaride Tsuga, known widely by his gaming pseudonym, is a passionate gamer and aspiring technical guide writer with a mission to simplify gaming for enthusiasts worldwide. From a young age, Yaride immersed himself in the digital realms of consoles, PCs, and mobile games, cultivating a deep understanding of both mainstream and niche titles. Over the years, his curiosity evolved beyond gameplay into solving technical challenges—whether fixing bugs, optimizing performance, or troubleshooting glitches—that often hinder the gaming experience.