Diablo 2 Resurrected: Essential Guidance for Novices from TomRiva's blog

Delving into the dark and treacherous realms of Diablo 2 can be an intimidating endeavor for newcomers. The game is replete with menacing monsters, intriguing quests, and hidden treasures that will shape your odyssey through the troubled lands of Sanctuary. As you embark on your journey, these invaluable insights and strategies will help you become a more proficient player, ready to confront the challenges and reap the rewards that await you.

1. Embrace Loot Collection: From the moment you set foot in the eerie Blood Moor and beyond, make it a habit to pick up every item that drops. While you can disregard commonplace Items with plain white text, anything with a blue hue or better deserves your attention. Magic items often serve as upgrades, rares (items with yellow text) can provide substantial improvements, and unique items (bearing a distinctive tan text) are prized possessions. Even items you can't use can fetch a good price when sold for gold.
2. Sift Through Gray Items for Sockets: Keep an eye out for items labeled with gray text, as they may either possess sockets or be ethereal. Normal items with sockets are essential for creating potent Runewords, some of the game's most formidable items. Look for gear with two open sockets in helmets, two to three open sockets in body armor, and sockets that match your character's specific needs. Ethereal items, while more potent, cannot be repaired and are better suited for your trusty mercenaries, who are immune to durability loss.
3. The Early Runeword Advantage: Surprisingly, you can craft some of the most valuable Runewords in the game using low-level runes. For instance, the Steel Runeword (Tir + El) benefits physical damage classes early on, while the Stealth Runeword (Tal + Eth) is a versatile choice for characters of all types. If you're playing a Fire Sorceress or Druid, the Leaf Runeword (Tir + Ral) can be a dream come true. Start gathering runes from the beginning of your journey and save them for crafting Runewords that can potentially alter the course of your adventure.
4. Companions in Battle: Mercenaries: Sanctuary is a perilous place, and you'll face countless adversaries. Employing a mercenary is a wise choice, regardless of which one you choose—be it a Rogue Scout, Desert Mercenary, Iron Wolf, or Barbarian. Equip your chosen companion with the finest gear you can acquire and ensure they are revived promptly when they fall in battle. Mercenaries, despite their susceptibility to danger, become formidable allies as they level up and acquire better equipment.
5. Unlock Waypoints: Your journey will lead you to Waypoints scattered across the world of Sanctuary. Activating these waypoints allows for swift travel between locations. Once you discover a Waypoint, you can easily return to it from any other Waypoint, including those found in Act towns. While some Waypoints are more critical than others, it's wise to seek out and activate them all. Many quests and objectives will necessitate revisiting previous areas, and having access to Waypoints can save you valuable time.
6. Preserve Items for Diverse Characters: It's tempting to only keep items that suit your current character's class. However, even if you don't plan on creating characters of other classes, it's a good idea to hoard items that could be useful for different character types. For example, items like the Immortal King's Set can serve as valuable assets for mercenaries or trade currency with other players in online play.
7. Prioritize High-Value Targets: In the heat of battle, it's crucial to identify and eliminate the most dangerous enemies first. For instance, when confronting groups of Fallen, swiftly dispatch the Fallen Shaman before they can unleash their potent spells. By focusing your efforts on high-priority foes, you can efficiently neutralize the greatest threats and safeguard your progress.
8. Harvest Before Progressing: Advancing through quests without adequate preparation can leave you under-leveled for upcoming challenges. After completing an Act or unlocking a new difficulty level, consider revisiting previously cleared areas to grind for experience points and better equipment. Locations like Tristram in Act 1 or the Chaos Sanctuary in Act 4 can be ideal spots for gaining experience and acquiring valuable gear before facing tougher adversaries.

These insights and strategies will serve as your compass as you navigate the perilous terrain of Diablo 2 Resurrected, ensuring you emerge as a seasoned adventurer, ready to conquer the darkness that looms over Sanctuary. If you don’t have enough time to invest, you can Buy D2R Runes directly from rpgstash.com to equip your character. RPGStash provides all D2R Runes for sale. In the latest version, many players praise RPGStash for its update speed and service attitude.