Starting a new melee character in Diablo 2: Resurrected? Don't overlook Malice. This cheap three-rune Runeword can be equipped at Level 15, requires only Ith + El + Eth, and gives you 100% Open Wounds—a powerful effect for leveling and dealing with enemies that constantly regenerate health.
If you're trying to push through the early game faster, you don't need expensive gear. Buying D2R Runes and useful buy D2R Items through MMOexp can help you upgrade your character faster and spend more time progressing instead of farming basic gear.
How to Make Malice
The recipe is extremely simple:
Ith + El + Eth → 3-Socket Melee Weapon
The rune order is mandatory. Put them in the wrong order and you won't get Malice.
All three runes are low-level and can be farmed early, with The Countess in Normal Act 1 being one of the easiest sources. For the base, look for a 3-socket melee weapon with decent attack speed rather than wasting an expensive base.
Why Malice Is So Good Early
Malice isn't designed to win through huge raw damage. Its real strength is consistent damage and utility.
The key effect is 100% chance to inflict Open Wounds, allowing you to keep pressure on enemies even after you stop attacking. It also provides -25% Target Defense, -100 Monster Defense per Hit, and Prevent Monster Heal.
That combination makes Malice particularly useful against tough enemies and high-regeneration targets.
There is one major downside: -5 Life. It's manageable while leveling, but you'll eventually want a stronger weapon without the drawback.
Best Weapon Bases
For most players, Flail is an excellent choice. It has fast attacks, low requirements, and can be relatively easy to shop for in Act 2.
Other options include Long Sword for Barbarians and Paladins, Blade Talons for Assassins, and Halberds for an Act 2 Mercenary.
The golden rule is simple: use a cheap base. Malice itself costs almost nothing, so there is little reason to sacrifice a valuable endgame base for it.
Best Builds for Malice
Malice works best with builds that attack rapidly and repeatedly.
Frenzy Barbarians can constantly trigger its hit-based effects, while Zeal Paladins can quickly apply Open Wounds through repeated attacks. Smiters can also make good use of Open Wounds when dealing with difficult bosses.
Kicksins can benefit from the rapid attack pattern as well, although Malice's weapon damage isn't directly applied to kick damage.
When Should You Replace Malice?
Think of Malice as an early-game power spike, not an endgame weapon. It can comfortably carry many melee characters through the early leveling process before you move into stronger Runewords or uniques.
If you're missing the basic runes or a decent weapon base, getting the needed D2R Runes and D2R Ladder Items from MMOexp can save farming time and help you reach your next upgrade breakpoint sooner.
But if you already have a stronger weapon, are playing a caster, or are being heavily power-leveled, there's little reason to craft Malice.
For a fresh melee character, though, Ith + El + Eth is one of the cheapest ways to turn a mediocre weapon into a genuinely useful leveling tool.
