The best Runewords for Barbarian are as follows:
“Insight” (Ral + Tir +tal + Sol)
Polearms/Staves, 4 Sockets, Level 27
An early-mid level runeword that can be equipped on a polearm. While unorthodox, it’s mixture of faster cast rate and increased damage makes it ideal for Warcry/Singer Barbarians, and still pretty strong for any Barbarian willing to use Polearms.
Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies)
+35% Faster Cast Rate
+200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+9 To Minimum Damage
180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
+1-6 To Critical Strike (varies)
+5 To All Attributes
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Ral | 19 | Act 3 Normal | Normal | Normal | Ral |
| Tir | 13 | Act 2 Normal | Normal | Normal | Tir |
| Tal | 17 | Act 1 Normal | Nightmare | Nightmare | Tal |
| Sol | 15 | Act 4 Normal | Nightmare+ | Nightmare | Sol |
“Lore” (Ort + Sol)
Helm, 2 Sockets, Level 27
The only viable Runeword helm for Barbarian, especially for a Warcry/Singer Barbarian, this gives just enough mana and skill boosts to be worth it.
+1 To All Skill Levels
+10 To Energy
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
Lightning Resist +30%
Damage Reduced By 7
+2 To Light Radius
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Ort | 21 | Act 4 Normal | Nightmare+ | Normal | Ort |
| Sol | 15 | Act 4 Normal | Nightmare+ | Nightmare | Sol |
“Obedience” (Hel + Ko + Thul + Eth + Fal)
Polearms, 5 Sockets, Level 41
This fantastic Runeword is limited by having to be put onto a polearm, but even with that limitation, it still provides huge buffs in all the areas a Barbarian needs, from damage to defense to attributes.
30% Chance To Cast Level 21 Enchant When You Kill An Enemy
40% Faster Hit Recovery
+370% Enhanced Damage
-25% Target Defense
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage 3 Second Duration (Normal)
-25% To Enemy Fire Resistance
40% Chance of Crushing Blow
+200-300 Defense (varies)
+10 To Strength
+10 To Dexterity
All Resistances +20-30 (varies)
Requirements -20%
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Hel | 33 | Act 1 Nightmare | Nightmare+ | Nightmare+ | Hel |
| Ko | 39 | Act 2 Nightmare | Hell | Nightmare+ | Ko |
| Thul | 23 | Act 4 Normal | Nightmare+ | Normal | Thul |
| Eth | 15 | Act 3 Normal | Normal | Normal | Eth |
| Fal | 41 | Act 3 Nightmare | Hell | Nightmare+ | Fal |
“Duress” (Shael + Um + Thul)
Body Armor, 3 Sockets, Level 47
In addition to boosting many resists, this runeword also provides a number of other unique features and generally useful stats.
+40% Faster Hit Recovery
+10-20% Enhanced Damage (varies)
Adds 37-133 Cold Damage 2 sec. Duration (Normal)
15% Chance of Crushing Blow
33% Chance of Open Wounds
+150-200% Enhanced Defense (varies)
-20% Slower Stamina Drain
Cold Resist +45%
Lightning Resist +15%
Fire Resist +15%
Poison Resist +15%
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Shael | 29 | Act 4 Normal | Nightmare+ | Nightmare | Shael |
| Um | 47 | Act 4 Nightmare | Hell | Nightmare+ | Um |
| Thul | 23 | Act 4 Normal | Nightmare+ | Normal | Thul |
“Fortitude” (El + Sol + Dol + Lo)
Body Armor or Weapon, 4 Sockets, Level 59
The insane increase to both damage and defense make this a highly valuable piece of gear for Barbarian even before getting into the added Resists and other benefits. Best as body armor, but can be useful in a weapon as well.
20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Chilling Armor when Struck
+25% Faster Cast Rate
+300% Enhanced Damage
+200% Enhanced Defense
+15 Defense
+X To Life (Based on Character Level)*
Replenish Life +7
+5% To Maximum Lightning Resist
All Resistances +25-30 (varies)
Damage Reduced By 7
12% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
+1 To Light Radius
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| El | 11 | Act 1 Normal | Normal+ | Normal | – |
| Sol | 15 | Act 4 Normal | Nightmare+ | Nightmare | Sol |
| Dol | 31 | Act 5 Normal | Nightmare | Nightmare | Dol |
| Lo | 59 | Act 2 Hell | – | – | Lo |
“Grief” (Eth + Tir + Lo + Mal + Ral)
Axes/Swords, 5 Sockets, Level 59
The massive increase from to both Attack Speed and Damage make this an incredible Runeword for a weapon, found on many BiS lists for Barbarians.
35% Chance to Cast Level 15 Venom on Striking
+30-40% Increased Attack Speed (varies)
Damage +340-400 (varies)
Ignore Target’s Defense
-25% Target Defense
+(1.875 per character level) 1.875-185.625% Damage to Demons (Based on Character Level)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
-20-25% To Enemy Poison Resistance (varies)
20% Deadly Strike
Prevent Monster Heal
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
+10-15 Life After Each Kill (varies)
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Eth | 15 | Act 3 Normal | Normal | Normal | Eth |
| Tir | 13 | Act 2 Normal | Normal | Normal | Tir |
| Lo | 59 | Act 2 Hell | Hell (Very Rare) | – | Lo |
| Mal | 49 | Act 5 Nightmare | Hell | Hell | Mal |
| Ral | 19 | Act 3 Normal | Normal | Normal | Ral |
“Chains of Honor” (Dol + Um + Ber + Ist)
Body Armor, 4 Sockets, Level 63
A boost to skills and to damage against some of the most common enemies is nice, but the Resists, Damage Reduction, and Magic Find are even nicer.
+2 To All Skills
+200% Damage To Demons
+100% Damage To Undead
8% Life Stolen Per Hit
+70% Enhanced Defense
+20 To Strength
Replenish Life +7
All Resistances +65
Damage Reduced By 8%
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Dol | 31 | Act 5 Normal | Nightmare | Nightmare | Dol |
| Um | 47 | Act 4 Nightmare | Hell | Nightmare | Um |
| Ber | 63 | Act 3 Hell | – | – | Ber |
| Ist | 51 | Act 5 Nightmare | Hell | Hell | Ist |
“Beast” (Ber + Tir + Um + Mal + Lum)
Axes/Hammers/Scepters, 5 Sockets, Level 63
Attack speed and damage up, with a great boost to Strength and some interesting effects, this is an all-around fun and functional Runeword.
+40% Increased Attack Speed
+240-270% Enhanced Damage (varies)
20% Chance of Crushing Blow
25% Chance of Open Wounds
+3 To Werebear
+3 To Lycanthropy
Prevent Monster Heal
+25-40 To Strength (varies)
+10 To Energy
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
Level 13 Summon Grizzly (5 Charges)
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Ber | 63 | Act 3 Hell | – | – | Ber |
| Tir | 13 | Act 1 Normal | Normal+ | Normal | Tir |
| Um | 47 | Act 4 Nightmare | Hell | Nightmare+ | Um |
| Mal | 47 | Act 5 Nightmare | Hell | Hell | Mal |
| Lum | 37 | Act 2 Nightmare | Hell | Nightmare+ | Lum |
“Enigma” (Jah + Ith + Ber)
Body Armor, 3 Sockets, Level 65
There is a reason Enigma is so widely used: the mobility offered by its Teleport and Faster Run/Walk, not to mention it’s amazing Defense improvement. Barbarian benefits even more from all that than most.
+2 To All Skills
+45% Faster Run/Walk
+1 To Teleport
+750-775 Defense (varies)
(0.75 Per Character Level) +0-74 To Strength (Based On Character Level)
Increase Maximum Life 5%
Damage Reduced By 8%
+14 Life After Each Kill
15% Damage Taken Goes To Mana
(1 Per Character Level) +1-99% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items (Based On Character Level)
| Rune Name | Level | Lowest Act | Countess | Hellforge | Recipe |
| Jah | 65 | Act 4 Hell | – | – | Jah |
| Ith | 15 | Act 1 Normal | Normal+ | Normal | Ith |
| Ber | 63 | Act 3 Hell | – | – | Ber |
“Breath of the Dying” (Vex + Hel + El + Eld + Zod + Eth)
Weapons, 6 Sockets, Level 69
More damage. Faster attacks. Reduced enemy defense. Better attack rating. Lifesteal. Manasteal. Attribute boost. There is a reason this is so expensive, and it’s worth every rune.
50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Poison Nova When You Kill An Enemy
Indestructible
+60% Increased Attack Speed
+350-400% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+200% Damage To Undead
-25% Target Defense
+50 To Attack Rating
+50 To Attack Rating Against Undead
7% Mana Stolen Per Hit
12-15% Life Stolen Per Hit (varies)
Prevent Monster Heal
+30 To All Attributes
+1 To Light Radius
Requirements -20%