Diablo II: Resurrected

Breath of the Dying runeword in D2R: Vex + Hel + El + Eld + Zod + Eth (6 sockets, All Weapons). +60% Increased Attack Speed. +200% Damage To Undead. A-Tier.

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Breath of the Dying

A-Tier — Excellent, Widely Used

6 Sockets All Weapons Patch Patch 1.10

Rune Recipe

Vex

Hel

Eld

Zod

Eth

Insert in order: Vex → Hel → El → Eld → Zod → Eth

Get These Runes

Need runes for this runeword? Find them on Traderie — D2R's most active trading marketplace.

Vex Trade for Vex on Traderie ↗

Zod Trade for Zod on Traderie ↗

Stats & Properties

+60% Increased Attack Speed

+200% Damage To Undead

12-15% Life Stolen Per Hit

Prevent Monster Heal

50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Poison Nova When You Kill An Enemy

+350-400% Enhanced Damage

+30 To All Attributes

7% Mana Stolen Per Hit

Indestructible

Requirements -20%

--- Rune Bonuses ---

Vex: 7% Mana Leech

Hel: -20% Requirements

El: +50 AR

El: +1 Light Radius

Eld: +75% Damage vs. Undead

Eld: +50 AR vs. Undead

Zod: Indestructible

Eth: -25% Target Defense

How to Socket Your Base

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Larzuk Quest Reward — Gives max sockets on normal items. Best way to guarantee exactly 6 sockets on the right base.

Socket Guide (Max Sockets by Base) → · Cube Recipes →

Best Base Items for Breath of the Dying

Colossus Blade

Find on Traderie ↗

Highest damage two-handed sword. Pair with Zod for a truly indestructible, massive damage weapon. Best for Whirlwind Barbs.

Budget: Berserker Axe — Slightly lower damage ceiling but axes have native mastery synergy for Barbarians. Also excellent.

📍

Where it drops Hell difficulty only (elite swords/axes).

⚙️

Socket ilvl Colossus Blade: ilvl 26–40 = 4 sockets, ilvl 41+ = 6 sockets. Breath of the Dying needs 6 sockets — Larzuk on any Hell-dropped Colossus Blade (ilvl 79+) gives exactly 6. Berserker Axe: ilvl 26–40 = 5, ilvl 41+ = 6. Larzuk on any Hell-dropped Berserker Axe gives 6 sockets — perfect for 6os BoTD.

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How to socket Larzuk gives 6 sockets on any Hell-dropped Colossus Blade or Berserker Axe — ideal for Breath of the Dying (6os). Cube recipe gives random 1–6 sockets. Use Larzuk.

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Best farming spots Hell Mephisto (Act 3) · Chaos Sanctuary (Act 4 Hell) · Worldstone Keep (Act 5 Hell) · The Pit (Act 1 Hell)

⚡ Terror Zones scale monster levels to your character level (up to 99), so any terrorized area can drop elite bases — great supplemental farming.

Phase Blade

Find on Traderie ↗

Indestructible base — Zod rune is technically wasted here (already indestructible), but Phase Blade's speed (WSM −30) and one-handed nature make it a valid choice for sword-and-board builds.

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Where it drops Hell difficulty only.

⚙️

Socket ilvl Phase Blade: max 6 sockets. Larzuk gives 6. For 5os: find a natural 5-socket drop or cube recipe.

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How to socket Phase Blade: Larzuk gives 6os (too many). Find a 5-socket drop or cube recipe (Ral+Amn+Perfect Amethyst).

🗺️

Best farming spots Hell Mephisto · Chaos Sanctuary · The Pit (Act 1 Hell)

⚡ Terror Zones scale monster levels to your character level (up to 99), so any terrorized area can drop elite bases — great supplemental farming.