Cheack out some Tips for Creating a Spirit Sword Early in the D2R Ladder
For any caster class, creating a Spirit Runeword sword has a huge impact on killing speed early in a Ladder season. The stats are amazing for the cheap cost, and the level requirement is absurd at 25. For my caster characters at the beginning of any Ladder season, one of my first main goals is creating a Spirit sword toward the end of normal difficulty or as early as possible in Nightmare difficulty.
Finding the Runes is usually straightforward. Tal and Ort runes will be awarded for completing Act 5 Quest 2. Thul and Amn runes are fairly common, and if you do not have them by the end of Normal difficulty, Act 1 Nightmare Countess runs can be a good way to find them. Keep in mind you can use cube recipes for upgrading runes to Thul and Amn if you find yourself with extra Ort runes.
Often times, finding the 4 socket base sword is the more difficult part of the process. Crystal Swords, Broad Swords, and Long Swords can all have 4 sockets, but Long Swords are often not a good option due to higher dexterity requirements, so I'll focus on Crystal Swords and Broad Swords. First and foremost, pick up all grey Crystal Swords and Broad Swords starting in Act 1 Nightmare difficulty to check for 4 sockets. Items cannot drop with 4 sockets in normal difficulty. Ethereal items are acceptable, because you'll never swing the sword.
If you gather the runes before you've found a 4 socket sword, you can use Act 5 Quest 1, the " Larzuk quest" to create a 4 socket sword from a normal or superior Crystal Sword or Broad Sword. Going this route will allow you to create a 4 socket sword in Normal difficulty, even though they cannot drop naturally until Nightmare difficulty. If you choose to use your Larzuk quest to add sockets to a sword for a Spirit, it is important to use a sword found in the correct area to ensure 4 sockets. If the item level is too low, it will result in 3 sockets, and if the item level is too high, it will result in 6 sockets (in the case of the Crystal Sword only).
To ensure 4 sockets in a Crystal Sword from the Larzuk quest, the item level must be between 26 and 40 (inclusive). Monsters in the following areas will drop Crystal Swords in this range:
| Act and Difficulty | Areas |
|---|---|
| Act 4 Normal Difficulty | City of the Damned |
| Act 5 Normal Difficulty | Arreat Plateau, Pit of Acheron, Crystalline Passage, Frozen River, Glacial Trail, Drifter Cavern, |
Secret Cow Level Normal Difficulty | |
| Act 1 Nightmare | All areas up to and including the Barracks, except Tower Cellar levels 4 and 5 |
To ensure 4 sockets in a Broad Sword from the Larzuk quest, the item level must be 26 or above. Monsters in the following areas will drop Broad Swords in this range:
| Act and Difficulty | Areas |
|---|---|
| Act 4 Normal Difficulty | City of the Damned |
| Act 5 Normal Difficulty | All areas except, Bloody Foothills, and Frigid Highlands |
| Secret Cow Level Normal Difficulty | |
| All Acts Nightmare and Hell | All areas |
You can also use the Cube recipe to add sockets to a Crystal Sword or Broad Sword if you'd prefer to save your Larzuk quest. Using base swords found the areas described in the tables will provide a 50% chance of 4 sockets using the add sockets Cube recipe.
Hopefully these tables will be helpful as you search for your first Spirit in D2R.
Don't forget to follow our website, LOLGA.COM. You can buy D2R items and D2R ladder items from us, safe and fast!