Ever since Runewords have been introduced in Diablo 2, Set and even Unique items took a backseat and gave way to the more powerful endgame tools. True enough, they're the most expensive and rarest items in the game. Still, that doesn't mean Unique weapons have gone out of style completely. In fact, certain Unique items even enable some of the top builds in the game.
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Some of them are simply too universal not to have for most characters. As a result, these Unique items are also in-demand and their trading prices can range from the rarest mid-runes to high runes, depending on who's selling or who's buying. So stay awhile and listen because these Unique items are something that shouldn't be missed or sold to Charsi.
Mara's Kaleidoscope
- +2 To All Skills
- All Resistances +20-30
- +5 To All Attributes
It doesn't present players with a wall of text but that's enough for some since Mara's Kaleidoscope is almost mandatory for Hell difficulty thanks to its generosity. Its most valuable stat, of course, is the resistance bonus which is the most important defensive stat for Hell.
Meanwhile, it also serves as a great placeholder skill amulet for any class or build until players get their class-specific crafted or rare skill amulets. The only caveat is the wasted stat bonus for the attributes but players can consider that a freebie.
Arachnid Mesh
- +90-120% Enhanced Defense
- Slows Target By 10%
- +1 To All Skills
- +20% Faster Cast Rate
- Increases Maximum Mana 5%
- Level 3 Venom (11 Charges)
Speaking of skill additions, they're often sought-after because they're a direct way to increase a build's damage. Hence, Arachnid Mesh fits perfectly for most builds. It's one of the few belts that actually give a bonus to all skills, making it viable for any class.
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Granted, it's a caster-focused armor piece but some non-caster classes will still benefit from that Faster Cast Rate especially if they run an Enigma armor. One also can't sleep on that target debuff since combined with cold damage and Decrepify, it can turn bosses into slow-burn jokes.
Harlequin Crest
- +2 To All Skills
- +1-148 To Life (+1.5 Per Character Level)
- +1-148 To Mana (+1.5 Per Character Level)
- Damage Reduced By 10%
- 50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
- +2 To All Attributes
There's already an emerging pattern here. The most sought-after Unique items are the ones that give out hefty bonuses to all skills. Harlequin Crest is the best in the helm department for that matter. Truth be told, it's quite hard to replace, making it one of the most expensive helms in the game.
Apart from the skill bonus, it also presents players with valuable defensive options the meatiest of which is the damage reduction. One also can't say no to that additional Magic Find bonus, making the "Shako" an ultimate versatile Unique.
Crown Of Ages
- +50% Enhanced Defense
- +100-150 Defense
- +1 To All Skills
- Damage Reduced By 10-15%
- All Resistances +20-30
- +30% Faster Hit Recovery
- Socketed (1-2)
- Indestructible
If there was one helm that might give ole Shako a run for its gold, then Crown of Ages is a worthy contender. It lags a bit behind on the skill bonus but more than makes up for it when it comes to defensive buffs. Damage reduction, hit recovery, resistances, and some additional sockets for an Um rune in case one needs more resists.
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In any case, Crown of Ages is something that will significantly boost any class or any build's survivability. The fact that one doesn't really expect something like that from a helm makes Crown of Ages quite irreplaceable.
War Traveler
- +150-190% Enhanced Defense
- 25% Faster Run/Walk
- +10 To Vitality
- +10 To Strength
- Adds 15-25 Damage
- 40% Slower Stamina Drain
- Attacker Takes Damage Of 5-10
- 30-50% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
It's a bit tamer compared to the previous stellar options but War Traveler has its own strengths and uses. Moreover, boots don't usually get a stat combination this good. The run and walk speed bonus is a little too average but the attribute addition can prove to be valuable.
For one, it can fill in for other items' Strength requirements. The slower Stamina drain is somewhat unneeded especially late-game when Stamina isn't really a problem anymore but it's still appreciated nonetheless. For Magic Find? It's one of the best boots available.
Skin Of The Vipermagi
- +120% Enhanced Defense
- +1 To All Skills
- 30% Faster Cast Rate
- Magic Damage Reduced By 9-13
- All Resistances +20-35
Skin of the Vipermagi is one of the least expensive weapons here and for some, it might not even be endgame material. However, its stats and perks make it difficult to replace as it can even compete with good Runewords.
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That also makes this caster-focused armor the next logical step once players are ready to graduate from their Stealth Runeword body armor. The low-level requirement certainly helps and the Defense isn't too bad. For casters, this one is likely mandatory until they can get Chains of Honor or Enigma.
Magefist
- +20-30% Enhanced Defense
- +10 Defense
- +1 To Fire Skills
- +20% Faster Cast Rate
- Regenerate Mana 25%
- Adds 1-6 Fire Damage
Probably the cheapest item here since players can buy it for some fairly common mid-runes, Magefist is a caster's best-in-slot weapon. Why it's here is due to the fact that not playing a caster class is a handicap in Diablo 2 since they make for the most efficient item and Runeword farmers.
The first step in making them viable is grabbing a pair of these gloves. It's the Faster Cast Rate that sells it well and not much else. The Fire Skills bonus works only for a few caster builds such as Holy Fire Paladin, Fireball Sorceress, and Corpse Explosion Necromancer. Those are three of the most overpowered starter builds though so having a Magefist is good for posterity's sake.
Arkaine's Valor
- +150-180% Enhanced Defense
- +1-2 To All Skills
- + (0.5 Per Character Level) 0-49 To Vitality (Based On Character Level)
- 30% Faster Hit Recovery
- Damage Reduced By 10-15
If players are looking to graduate from their Vipermagi leather but aren't rich enough to afford some top armor Runewords, then Arkain's Valor might be a good investment. It's also one of the few body armors in the game that grant skill bonuses.
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The Defense stat is also huge and can add up to more than 1,400 points, which is higher than some Runewords. As a cherry on top, the damage reduction bonus is simply stellar. Add it up with a belt-like String of Ears along with Crown of Ages and one can expect a melee character to be more unkillable than someone wearing the Immortal King set.
Raven Frost
- +150-250 to Attack Rating
- +15-45 Cold Damage
- +15-20 to Dexterity
- +40 to Mana
- Cold Absorb 20%
- Cannot Be Frozen
At first glance, Raven Frost might look like a ring more suited for bow or melee builds thanks to the huge chunk of Attack Rating boost. But it has one of the most life-saving perks one can fit in a ring: Cannot Be Frozen.
Because getting inflicted with a cold status and then Decrepified (in Chaos Sanctuary, among many places) will almost always at least lead to a useless character and at worst, death. The Dexterity bonus is also great for those looking to maximize their Block Chance or Amazon builds eager for their weapons.
Stone Of Jordan
- +1 to All Skills
- +25% Mana
- +1-12 Lightning Damage
- +20 Mana
Stone of Jordan; SoJ for some, unicorn for many as it's a rare ring that Mephisto doesn't want to give players until they've killed him several hundreds of times. Rings don't usually give universal skill bonuses so Stone of Jordan is one of the best ways to squeeze more damage out of a build.
It's a min-maxers special tool, for that matter. Everything else is a good addition for any caster build or character. Moreover, Stone of Jordan has many uses, such as putting holes or sockets in already overpowered items.