Runewords and creating stuff from them

[Teknical]

I have a question that I've looked over briefly but can't find what I am looking for exactly ... so here goes.

If I have all the runes for an item and insert them into the sockets in the correct order does the item increase in def/atk to what the runeword item is?

Example - I would like to create an 'Insight' so I am hunting for a spear with the right amount of sockets. Should I look for the highest dmg spear I can find or should I just insert the runes into it and the dmg sorts itself out?

[ffejrxx]

isnight is fairly cheap, best to look for a superior (15%ed) ethernal (use larz to socket it, if its going on your merc) and keep rolling it til you get good aura, ed and ar stats

if your char is going to use it, find normal ones, superior ones cost alot more gold to repair

just find a polearm and roll it for sockets hoping for 4, it wont have higher dmg but wont take nearly as much time to find/make

[stephan]

It also should be said that a spear is not a polearm or staff.

[thegiantturtle]

Runewords don't have inherent defense or damage. Their defense/damage is based upon whatever base item you put them in.

[thisisacat]

and only put it in a nonmagic(grey) item.

[Garisdacar]

for a merc, best is to find a ethereal Voulge (for low lvl) or eth Colossus Voulge (for high lvl) and socket it with larzuk, it'll get exactly 4 every time. with higher damage polearms you have to use the cube recipe and hope you hit the 1/6 chance for 4 sockets.

[Rattari]

I prefer low damage on Insight. Just made one for polearm wich had base damage of 6-22.
I dont need killer merc for h:din, just that mana regen.
With low damage my merc wont die on first hit when he gets Iron Maiden cast on him.

[krischan]

It also should be said that a spear is not a polearm or staff.

Which means that Insight won't work in a spear-class weapon.

[admante]

Which means that Insight won't work in a spear-class weapon.

I've tried that before :grin: thank god the runes are cheap.
If you're a caster build, then you most likely will need your merc to tank, and he can only do that with leech. The more damage he does, the more he leechs. Melee builds don't rely on them as much. I gave up ressurecting my lvl 84 merc on my smiter a long time ago :laugh: