To create Grief, insert the runes Eth, Tir, Lo, Mal and Ral into a 5-socket Sword in the exact order listed above. The item must be a white (normal quality) or gray (ethereal) socketed item — magic, rare, set, or unique items cannot be used as runeword bases. Item level and the number of sockets must match exactly. Once inserted correctly, the runeword name will appear in the item's title.
Grief is a Patch 1.10 runeword designed primarily for spellcasting builds that rely on Faster Cast Rate, mana pool, and skill levels, melee builds focused on physical damage, attack speed, and life sustain, Necromancer builds, particularly Bone Spear, Poison, and Summoner specs. With a level requirement of 59, this runeword becomes available at a stage of the game where character builds are typically transitioning from leveling to endgame progression, making it a meaningful power upgrade or specialized tool for late-game content.
The 5-rune combination (Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral) grants a compelling mix of properties that distinguishes Grief from competing options at similar rune investment. With 12 distinct bonuses, this runeword provides exceptional value-per-rune compared to alternatives.
When evaluating Grief for your character, consider the synergies with your active skill tree. The multiple valid base types (Sword, Axe) give flexibility in base item selection — prioritize bases that complement your total Faster Cast Rate, Faster Hit Recovery, or breakpoint targets depending on your class. The Diablo II: Resurrected community maintains detailed breakpoint charts for each class that can help you calculate whether adding this runeword to your gear set pushes you to the next breakpoint tier.
For optimal results, socket Grief into swords (any 3-socket sword in Normal, Exceptional, or Elite tier) or axes (any 3+ socket axe). When selecting a base, consider the following priority order:
The runes required for Grief — Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral — can be found by farming high-monster-density areas on Hell difficulty, cubing up from lower runes, or trading with other players. The Rune Upgrade system in the Horadric Cube allows you to combine three of the same low-to-mid rune (or two of the same high rune from Pul upward) to create the next tier. D2R Rune Tracker's Rune Converter tool shows exactly which upgrade paths are available from your current inventory.
Recommended farming areas vary by rune tier. For common runes (El through Fal), Normal and Nightmare monster packs work fine. Mid runes (Lem through Pul) are most efficiently farmed in The Pit (Act 1 Hell) or Mausoleum. High runes (Um through Zod) are best hunted in Chaos Sanctuary, Travincal Council, or Baal's throne room runs on Hell difficulty. Terror Zones, introduced in Patch 2.6, provide hourly rotation bonuses that can significantly improve rune drop rates.