Diablo 2 New Player Guide (24 Key Topics)

This is a cheat sheet i found years ago and edited to fit my needs back then.

Hi, and sorry for a long post, you asked for it

I really like that the sections can be toggled, which makes the article skimmable.

What hurt me the most as a beginner was that most guides I came across have an end game build in mind.

Hotkeys
- Oh my god: The "default" button does not reset to defaults (like on all the other options tabs), but allows you to load your custom configuration.

Maps
- New players get lost
- Make a separate point for map overviews and tips
- E.g. those awesome cartoon maps from youtuber evelyn of Destruction, or that awesome video from MrLlama

Belt
- 4, 8 or even 12 additional potion slots bring so much quality of life for a new player
- more slots = better than any magic attributes! (wow I didn't want to give up that rare 4 slot

Belt for a basic 8 slot for waaay to long)
- I would even go for 60 STR for a 12 slot

Belt, since you're going to respec anyway after the levelling phase, and as a beginner you drink sooo much.

Stats
- Especially the "put all stats in vitality" made my early life unnecessarily miserable.
- I would give a new player the opposite advice: Put your first 15-20 stats into energy, to ease your "mana hell".

Chipped Gems
- Guides made me save them and never use them. And they could have made my early life soo much easier
- I would give a new player the opposite advice: Immediately socket any

Ruby or

Sapphire into a

Helm or armor, for an equivalent of about 4 free levels of energy & vitality - amazing!
- you'll find plenty and better gems later

Skills
- Again, the guides made me really afraid to use my respecs and to go for end game skill trees, this made my early life miserable (i didn't use the strongest early game skills available)
- The Maxroll leveling guides do this pretty well, but amongst the sheer number of guides, it is very easy to miss for the beginner that these are the only guides they should look at first
- My advice to a new player: Watch a speedrun video and what skills the masters use to level from 1-11 and from 12 until respec.
- Tell new players to absolutely waste at least one respec for levelling from 1-20!
- The most powerful skills at an early level are very different from the most powerful skills in the end game!
- Sorceress: 1-11:

Charged Bolt, 12 to respec:

Nova, after respec: Blizzard/

Meteor
- And please tell young sorceresses about the devastating power of

Static Field against bosses in normal. Wow, just wow!
- Assassin: 1-11:

Fire Blast, 12 to respec:

Wake of Fire, after respec: lighting/

Death Sentry
- Barbarian: Warn beginners that this class is very dependent on good gear, which does not make it a good starter class in my opinion


I suggest to split your points into 2 sections: One for someone who is on her or his first character and has not completed normal difficulty yet, and another section for after level 30.

Of your 21 points, in my opinion only the following are relevant to a new player:

#1 respec: but don't scare them to use 1 at ~20-25
#2 stats: recommend 10-20 energy, and only then vitality
#4

Belt: more sockets > magic attributes
#6 shared stash: good to know
#8 cube: good to know
#9 farm runes: good to know, but don't go overboard, you'll find plenty later or can always come back
#10: Stealth: it's really satisfying to get your firsts runeword early on
#12: shop socketed gear (and combine with chipped gem advice above)
#19: don't kill every monster: or you'll never finish normal before giving up
#20: acronyms: good to know
#21: exploits: good to know what to expect

The rest I find already advanced:

#3 inventory: not a problem at the start
#5 FCR: an optimization for more experienced players
#7: drop shield: an optimization for speedrunners / more experienced players
#11: merc: starts becoming important only in NM/Hell for casting classes who might need help with immunes
#13: bossgroups: an optimization for your second and third character
#14: /players x: see #13
#15: resistances: relevant in NM/Hell. For normal my advice would be to farm 2

Ral runes for a helmet: Bam - 60% fire resist for Act 4 & 5 with limited time effort and luck.
#16: cannot be frozen: relevant in NM/Hell
#17: crushing blow: advanced concept
#18: magic finding: an end game concept, irrelevant on your first playthrough

Thanks again for a great guide with many hidden gems (Cheatsheet!)

@Zalumon hey man i really appreciate the detailed response! i will definitely make adjustments based on your recommendations. since i am a 20 year veteran its still difficult for me to look at things through a new players lens. so this helps a TON.

I definitely agree with a lot of your points and i already added some to the OP, however, i do disagree with a few:

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

#5 FCR: an optimization for more experienced players

You can easily find 10 FCR rings and amulets that dramatically improve casting speed. which rapidly improves killing speed early on. Many new players think 10 fcr means you cast 10% faster, when in reality in just a couple breakpoints you cast twice as fast.

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

#7: drop shield:

New players will not understand why they keep getting murdered and unable to escape because of all the lock-ups of having a shield early. your block chance/frames are so low its actually hurting you a lot when you get surrounded

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

#11: merc: starts becoming important only in NM/Hell for casting classes who might need help with immunes

A1 merc is a life saver and to your own point, if you put

Topaz gems inside a 3os bow you buy from

Charsi, your A1 merc will literally 1-shot mobs for most of normal. very helpful for new players.

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

#15: resistances:

lightning beetles in A2? fire spitters in A3? resistances matter a ton even in normal. But i will add more points about socketing Rals and gems to boost them early. thanks.

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

#17: crushing blow:

Another concept new players need to know. its basically the melee characters version of

Static Field.

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

#18: magic finding:

as my MF guide points out, the first 100 mf is by far the most important. if you stack even a tiny bit early on, you can find MUCH better gear much faster.

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

I suggest to split your points into 2 sections: One for someone who is on her or his first character and has not completed normal difficulty yet, and another section for after level 30.

This is actually something ive been really considering. Perhaps an "advanced player section" at the bottom and i move points down there?

FCR: I agree it doesn't hurt to know about it. Maybe I don't understand it correctly: Looking at the Cheatsheet, I see an improvement for sorceress from 13 to 12 frames at the first breakpoint at 9% FCR. I thought that means 1/13 = about 8% faster casting. For other classes even less.

Shield: Agreed, can't hurt to know about it.

Merc: Guess it's time to start researching mercenaries for this noob

Resistances: You are right, I take that one back, as they are very important to have. I solved it personally with Ancient's Pledge and a 2-socket helmet with

Ral &

Tal to max out fire & lightning resistances for normal. Both pieces only took some mild Tower farming and some shopping. I wouldn't recommend putting runes into armor or shields, because you will probably get Stealth and Ancient's Pledge - at least if you are the guide-reading type .

Crushing blow: Shows that I have no clue about melee characters

MF: I don't know, I guess if you enjoy farming early on. I haven't equipped a single MF piece so far. Stealth, Leaf, Ancient's Pledge, Spirit and Rune Helmet only leave Gloves +

Belt +

Boots + Jewelry open, and there I give priority to resistances and +Life (FCR on jewelry).

Zalumon wrote: 3 years ago

MF: I don't know, I guess if you enjoy farming early on.

MFing while i level my alts is my favorite thing to do. I actually hate traditional farming lol.

I always get partial Sigon, Angelic and Tancreds sets. All 3 partial bonuses combined is 228 MF right there. So not only is your alternate character twinked, they also find tons of uniques/sets/rares along the way! Sometimes a random rare or unique weapon can carry you through most of the game without ever needing to farm.

Great list, thanks for this info!

Just wanted to say thank you for all the great information everyone has contributed, been spending the last couple days slowly absorbing everything from this site.

ChaosRonin wrote: 3 years ago

Just wanted to say thank you for all the great information everyone has contributed, been spending the last couple days slowly absorbing everything from this site.

dragon_av3 wrote: 3 years ago

Great list, thanks for this info!

Always happy to help guys. Feel free to ask any questions, even just for clarification.


UPDATES:
11/18: Tooltips have been re-enabled! hooray! (^_^)
12/4: New Section #22. Map Reading Quick Guide (Credit: Rain)
12/6: New Section #23. Gearing Guides for Melee, Casters and Mercenaries

Melee Gear Options:

2-Handed Weapons:
Obedience

Hone Sundan

The Reaper's Toll

Arioc's Needle

Windhammer

Bonehew
Oath

1-Handed Weapons:
Lawbringer
Crescent Moon

Lightsabre

Baranar's Star

Azurewrath

Stormlash

Djinn Slayer

Horizon's Tornado
Grief
Oath

Armors:
Treachery
Smoke

Shaftstop

Hawkmail (cannot be frozen)

Rockfleece

Rattlecage

Duriel's Shell

Iceblink (freezes target)
Duress
Fortitude

Belts:

String of Ears

Verdungo's Hearty Cord

Goldwrap (for IAS)

Thundergod's Vigor

Death's Guard (cannot be frozen)

Boots:

Goblin Toe

Gore Rider

War Traveler

Infernostride

Immortal King's Pillar

Sandstorm Trek

Rings:

Angelic Halo (2 set bonus gives huge AR boost)

Raven Frost (cannot be frozen)

Carrion Wind

Wisp Projector

Amulets:

Angelic Wings (2 set bonus gives huge AR boost)

The Cat's Eye

Highlord's Wrath

Atma's Scarab

Gloves:

Lava Gout

Laying of Hands

Venom Grip

Soul Drainer

Steelrend

Hellmouth

Dracul's Grasp

Helms:

Guillaume's Face

Kira's Guardian (cannot be frozen)

Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest

Rockstopper

Vampire Gaze

Arreat's Face (barbs)

Crown of Thieves

Shields:

Stormshield

Tiamat's Rebuke

The Ward

Spike Thorn

Medusa's Gaze

Head Hunter's Glory

Caster Gear Options:

Weapons:
Spirit sword

The Oculus

Tal Rasha's Lidless Eye

Wizardspike

Armors:

Skin of the Vipermagi

Tal Rasha's Guardianship
Smoke

Shields:
Spirit

Lidless Wall

Wall of the Eyeless

Gloves:

Magefist

Chance Guards

Trang-Oul's Claws

Helms:

Harlequin Crest
Lore

Peasant Crown

Amulets:

The Rising Sun (fire)

Seraph's Hymn

Mara's Kaleidoscope

Tal Rasha's Adjudication

Rings:

Nagelring

Dwarf Star

Raven Frost (cannot be frozen)

Stone of Jordan

Belts:

Arachnid Mesh

Goldwrap

Tal Rasha's fine spun cloth

Boots:

War Traveler

Aldur's Advance

Waterwalk

Silkweave

Tearhaunch

Mercenary Gear Options:

Armor Choices for all Mercs:
17 = Stealth
28 =

Rockfleece
37 = Smoke
38 =

Shaftstop
43 = Treachery
45 =

Griswold's Heart (socket

Ral,

Ort,

Thul and/or

Tal)

Helm Choices for All Mercs:
31 =

Rockstopper
41 =

Vampire Gaze
49 =

Crown of Thieves
65 =

Tal Rasha's Horadric Crest
83 =

Andariel's Visage

A1 Merc Weapons:
1 = Gem 3os bow (buy from

Charsi)
21 = Zephyr
25 = Edge
39 = Harmony

A2 Merc Weapons:
15 = Malice - Use

Scythe or

Voulge
27 = Insight - Use

Halberd,

War Scythe or

Poleaxe (remake in elite polearm later)
41 = Obedience - Use

Battle Scythe then

Thresher or

Cryptic Axe

A3 Merc Gear: (benefits from FCR)
FCR Breakpoints: 8 > 15 > 26 > 39 > 58 > 86 > 138
20 =

Wall of the Eyeless
25 = Spirit Sword
29 =

Skin of the Vipermagi
41 =

Lidless Wall
54 = Spirit Shield

A5 Merc Weapons:
43 = Lawbringer
43 = Voice of Reason
47 = Crescent Moon
49 = Oath

Quick Guide To Get Spirit Sword & Shield

-Spirit (Tal + Thul + Ort + Amn) in a Sword and Shield can be extremely effective for any caster class, the sword being the best starting item.
-When trying to use

Larzuk Socket quest (A5) or

Horadric Cube you have to use the correct item level of

Crystal Sword /

Broad Sword or you'll either get too few sockets or too many. This guide will show you the safe spots to find a sword with 4os or make 4 sockets.

Finding Runes for Spirit:

Tal &

Ort: Awarded for A5 Quest 2. (free the barbs)

Thul &

Amn: Countess (NM)

Cube Recipes:
3

Ith =

Tal
3

Ral =

Ort
3

Ort =

Thul
3

Thul +

Chipped Topaz =

Amn

Finding 4 socket Crystal/Broad Sword Bases:
-Pick up any White & Grey (superior) Crystal/Broad Swords you see in these areas to socket them with

Larzuk Quest or Cube.
-Use the

Horadric Cube on White bases only: (

Ral +

Amn +

Perfect Amethyst) (WARNING: has a 50% chance at 4os)

Best Place To Find Both Swords:
1.

Secret Cow Level (N): Best & Fastest area to farm
2.

City of the Damned in A4 (N)
Crystal Sword:
1. ^ & Most Mob drops in A5 (N), BUT make sure monster level is not higher than 40: AmazonBasin Mob Info
Broad Sword:
1. Any mob from A5 Normal except

Bloody Foothills &

Frigid Highlands
2. Any Mob Nightmare through Hell

Finding 4 socket Monarch Shield for Spirit:
-lvl 54 required, Strength 156
1.

Secret Cow Level (H): best area to farm
2. Any mob in Hell but only in Hell.
note: for Paladins you can find 4os paladin-only shields that are usable at lvl 25.

Credit: Stratigery & Zalumon

Will be adding a few more sections in the near future
#24. Dealing With immunities (all classes) [Complete - adding soon]
#25. Crafting Quick Guide
#26. Questing Quick Guide

For point 11 on which vendors to shop for which items: I highly recommend

Drognan in Act 2 for getting a 2-socket

Fireball staff for Leaf instead of

Akara in Act 1. Also, I always get a Breastplate with 3 sockets from

Fara to put some gems in for leveling (

Sapphire (or 2) for mana,

Skull for regen,

Topaz for MF) and later a 2 socket Breastplate for Stealth at level 17. There's no point in putting it in the armors from Act 1, since it's easy enough to get 25 strength for a decent

Belt and

Chain Gloves, and you may as well get to 30 strength for the Breastplate for the defense increase while still being light armor (and progressing toward the 43 strength that you need for a Spirit

Crystal Sword at level 25).

In fact, one easy way to get some of the gear is to join a Cows game and pick up socketed breastplates and staves (and White crystal swords for later socketing).

JoeElf wrote: 2 years ago

I highly recommend

Drognan in Act 2 for getting a 2-socket

Fireball staff for Leaf

Thanks for the suggestion JoeElf, added to the list.

Looked at this guide again after a long time and just here to say that wow, it's really fleshed out a lot since the beginning. So rich in detail! Good job Billy

Teebling wrote: 2 years ago

Looked at this guide again after a long time and just here to say that wow, it's really fleshed out a lot since the beginning. So rich in detail! Good job Billy

Thanks a lot man, ive updated it hundreds of times from suggestions from different forums and whenever i get an idea from someone asking something in our forums too.

Just added this new section:

23. Ways To Kill Immune Mobs:

1. Your Act 2 Mercenary will help a lot so focus on gearing them up for every class.
-Get the

Holy Freeze type from A2 Nightmare. This will chill/slow even cold immunes.

Gear: (use ethereal)

Vampire Gaze /

Crown of Ages /

Crown of Thieves
Fortitude /

Guardian Angel /

Shaftstop
Insight /

Tomb Reaver / Obedience

2. Lower Resist Wand from Vendors
1. Buy a

Wand with

Lower Resist Charges from

Akara or

Drognan in Nightmare. This will allow any class to cast

Lower Resist and break elemental immunities on mobs.
2. To Break Physical Immunes use the unique weapons

Spellsteel &

The Gavel Of Pain to cast

Decrepify or

Amplify Damage.
3. Restore Charges with

Ort + Chipped gem in Cube

Note: most immunities can be broken but some mobs res is so high it can't like the Fire Res on a Pit Lord.
See all mob Immunity levels here

3. Hybrid-Builds for all Classes:
Amazon:

Charged Strike /

Plague Javelin /

Valkyrie (Lightning, Poison & Physical)
Assassin:

Death Sentry /

Lightning Sentry /

Fire Blast /

Shadow Master (Lightning, Fire & Physical)
Druid:

Hurricane /

Tornado (Cold & Physical) or

Fissure /

Molten Boulder (Fire & Physical) (much weaker)
Necromancer:

Decrepify /

Raise Skeleton /

Corpse Explosion /

Revive (Physical & Fire + immune breaking)
Sorceress:

Static Field / Blizzard or

Frozen Orb with

Nova, Fire Ball,

Meteor or Fire Ball (2 elements)
Barbarian:

Frenzy or

Whirlwind with

Berserk. (Physical & Magic)
Paladin:

Blessed Hammer /

Concentration. (The Hammerdin needs no hybrid build. Not alot of Magic Immunes)

4. Infinity on A2 Merc (last because of rarity)
-There is a runeword called Infinity (very expensive) that you can give your A2 Mercenary that has a lvl 12

Conviction aura (paladin skill). This gives -85% to enemy resistances in a radius of 13.3y.
-To break mobs with extra higher immunities use Infinity + Lower Res

Wand charges. Although there are still a few mob types that still can't be broken even with both.
-Your dmg does not benefit from the additional -res affix on Infinity.

Still need to add a section on crafting and maybe PVP.

thanks for this. a ton of stuff i didnt know.

nyRo wrote: 3 years ago

I've been using this runewizard non-stop and it might be a good addition to the resources: https://d2runewizard.com/

It has AI-driven rune detection in screenshots too. Just copy a cropped inventory screenshot (windows: shift + windows

Key + s --> box in the runes in your inventory) and paste it into the "Scan Image" dialogue. "Find runes" and then add it to your selection

Thank you for the link. I find it vey helpful!

Wow! Lots of things I didn't know even though I am playing for 20 years...

knightfall1985 wrote: 2 years ago

Wow! Lots of things I didn't know even though I am playing for 20 years...

That was my inspiration for making this, while watching twitch streams for the first time of D2, the streamer, MrLlamaSC, kept teaching me so many things i never knew so i started making a list of everything and before i knew it the first version of this was created

One thing I just found out the other day:

Tal Rashas tombs (i.e. the symbols on them) are always in the same order. Twenty years I though they were random…

This is a great guide! I will definitely use this for reference for my characters.

BillyMaysed wrote: 3 years ago

<snip>

For the Maps section, a very useful tip for

Key farming that is 100% consistent is the following, please excuse my dear aunt sally my poor paint art, but this is a rad tip/trick for farming out keys.