Loot guide

Attack rating and damage per level

Key modifiers

• +300% Enhanced Damage ·
• +0.5 Maximum Damage / Level ·
• +16.5 Attack Rating / Level

Preferred extra modifiers

• Increased Attack Speed
• Sockets (within the base limit)
• Durability repair for ethereal items

Other useful modifiers

• Maximum Damage
• Minimum Damage
• Strength
• Life Stolen per Hit

For physical PvP, consider damage, level-based attack rating, attack speed and sockets together. Ethereal swords must be upgraded from Crystal Sword or Dimensional Blade to Phase Blade to remove the durability limitation.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

High physical damage

Key modifiers

• +450% Enhanced Damage

Preferred extra modifiers

• Increased Attack Speed
• Sockets (within the base limit)
• Durability repair for ethereal items

Other useful modifiers

• Maximum Damage
• Minimum Damage
• Strength
• Life Stolen per Hit

450% combines two damage prefixes. It cannot spawn with the level-based attack-rating prefix.

Representative high-value combinations

Two-handed physical damage

Key modifiers

• +450% Enhanced Damage ·
• +40% Increased Attack Speed

Preferred extra modifiers

• Sockets
• Repairs Durability

Other useful modifiers

• Attack Rating / Level
• Maximum Damage
• Life Stolen per Hit
• Maul Strength

Consider a two-handed base's damage, speed and range. 450% damage and level-based attack rating are alternatives. Prioritize durability repair for self-used ethereal weapons and life leech for mercenaries.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Physical bows / crossbows

Key modifiers

• +450% Enhanced Damage ·
• +20% Increased Attack Speed

Preferred extra modifiers

• Sockets
• Level 1 Amplify Damage on Striking

Other useful modifiers

• Attack Rating per Level
• Maximum Damage
• Bow Skills

Bows and crossbows have an affix cap of 20% attack speed and cannot be ethereal. Amazon bow skill automods cannot appear on ordinary bows or crossbows.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Elemental javelins

Key modifiers

• +4 Javelin and Spear Skills ·
• +40% Increased Attack Speed

Preferred extra modifiers

• Replenishes Quantity
• Increased Stack Size

Other useful modifiers

• Mana Stolen per Hit
• Enhanced Damage

Amazon javelins prioritize total skills and attack speed. Magic 6-skill / 40-IAS javelins use both the prefix and suffix, leaving no slot for Replenishes Quantity.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Physical throwing weapons

Key modifiers

• +450% Enhanced Damage ·
• +40% Increased Attack Speed

Preferred extra modifiers

• Replenishes Quantity
• Attack Rating / Level

Other useful modifiers

• Increased Stack Size
• Level 1 Amplify Damage on Striking
• Mana Stolen per Hit

Consider ethereal damage, attack rating and stack sustain together. Replenishes Quantity is different from automatic durability repair. Javelins and throwing weapons cannot receive sockets naturally or from Larzuk.

Representative high-value combinations

Trap / Hybrid claws

Key modifiers

• +2 Assassin Skills ·
• +3 Lightning Sentry ·
• +40% Increased Attack Speed

Preferred extra modifiers

• 2 sockets

Other useful modifiers

• Attack Rating for physical hybrid use
• Damage for physical hybrid use
• Strength

Prioritize Lightning Sentry and a fast base. Trap-laying speed uses attack speed, not cast rate; damage and attack rating become more valuable when also using physical attacks.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Physical claws

Key modifiers

• +300% Enhanced Damage ·
• +40% Increased Attack Speed

Preferred extra modifiers

• Attack Rating per Level
• 2 sockets
• Durability repair for ethereal items

Other useful modifiers

• Maximum Damage
• Strength

Prioritize ethereal damage, attack rating and 2 sockets. Combined 450% damage and level-based attack rating are different prefix choices.

Representative high-value combinations

Main-skill orbs

Key modifiers

• +2 Sorceress Skills ·
• +3 Primary staffmod ·
• +20% Faster Cast Rate

Preferred extra modifiers

• Matching elemental mastery
• 2 sockets
• Inherent Life
• Mana

Other useful modifiers

• High single resistance

Consider the combined bonus to your main skill, such as Blizzard, and its mastery. An orb can have either inherent life or inherent mana, not both.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Fist of the Heavens

Key modifiers

• +2 Paladin Skills ·
• +3 Fist of the Heavens

Preferred extra modifiers

• Conviction
• Sockets
• Faster Cast Rate

Other useful modifiers

• Mana
• Lightning Resist
• Strength

Class skills and Combat Skills are alternatives within the same prefix group. Individual Fist of the Heavens and Conviction bonuses are staffmods. Scepters have a cast-rate cap of 10%.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Bone skills

Key modifiers

• +2 Necromancer Skills ·
• +3 Bone Spear ·
• +20% Faster Cast Rate

Preferred extra modifiers

• Bone Spirit
• Sockets (Bone Wand and similar bases)

Other useful modifiers

• Mana
• Lightning Resist

Distinguish class skills, Poison and Bone Skills and individual bone staffmods. White and unique alternatives are strong, so skill totals alone do not establish high value.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Barbarian Warcries / Physical helms

Key modifiers

• +2 Barbarian Skills ·
• +3 Battle Orders

Preferred extra modifiers

• Attack Rating per Level
• 2 sockets
• Life

Other useful modifiers

• Faster Hit Recovery
• High single resistance
• Enhanced Defense
• Durability repair for ethereal items

For Battle Orders swaps, prioritize total skills. For physical PvP, check attack rating, defense and 2 sockets. Generic and class-specific helms have different life caps.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Druid elemental helms

Key modifiers

• +2 Druid Skills ·
• +3 Tornado

Preferred extra modifiers

• 2 sockets
• Life
• Faster Hit Recovery

Other useful modifiers

• High single resistance
• Enhanced Defense

Prioritize the total Tornado bonus. Adding 2 sockets, life and hit recovery enables setups different from unique helms.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Attack rating / Defense

Key modifiers

• +1% Attack Rating / Level ·
• 2 Sockets

Preferred extra modifiers

• Enhanced Defense
• Repairs Durability
• Life

Other useful modifiers

• Faster Hit Recovery
• Lightning Resist

Generic helms lack class-helm staffmods. Some skill-tab affixes are possible, but physical PvP attack rating, defense and sockets for jewels are the main considerations.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Bone / Poison skills

Key modifiers

• +2 Necromancer Skills ·
• +3 Primary individual skill

Preferred extra modifiers

• Supporting skill in the same tree
• Sockets
• Life
• Block chance / Speed

Other useful modifiers

• All Resistances
• Faster Hit Recovery
• Poison Length Reduced

Consider main staffmods, sockets and blocking on Necromancer heads together. Poison setups choose Poison Nova instead of Bone Spear.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Summon / Bind prebuff

Key modifiers

• +2 Warlock Skills ·
• +3 Summon Tainted ·
• +3 Bind Demon

Preferred extra modifiers

• Sockets
• Life

Other useful modifiers

• All Resistances
• Increased Chance of Blocking
• Faster Hit Recovery

Consider combined bonuses to Summon Tainted and Bind Demon. Skills take priority over blocking on swap gear; for equipped use, compare defensive modifiers and unique alternatives as well.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Paladin blocking / resistance shields

Key modifiers

• +2 Paladin Skills ·
• 2 Sockets

Preferred extra modifiers

• High resistances
• Chance to Block
• Faster Block Rate
• Life

Other useful modifiers

• Faster Hit Recovery
• Strength
• Damage / Attack Rating for physical builds

Consider the base's block chance and requirements together. Inherent all resistances and inherent damage / attack rating are mutually exclusive.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.

Blocking / Defense

Key modifiers

• 2 Sockets ·
• +20% Increased Chance of Blocking ·
• +30% Faster Block Rate

Preferred extra modifiers

• Enhanced Defense
• Repairs Durability
• Life

Other useful modifiers

• All Resistances
• Faster Hit Recovery
• Strength

Generic shields prioritize base blocking, requirements, defense and sockets. Class-shield staffmods and inherent resistances do not apply.

Representative high-value combinations

These examples use the maximum roll for each modifier.
Items can still have value with only some of the key or useful modifiers.