Phoenix Runeword - D2R 2.6

Phoenix

Runes: Vex + Vex + Lo + Jah

4 Socket Weapons / Shields

Ladder Only Runeword

Weapons

100% Chance To Cast level 40 Blaze When You Level-up

40% Chance To Cast Level 22 Firestorm On Striking

Level 10-15 Redemption Aura When Equipped (varies)

+350-400% Enhanced Damage (varies)

Ignores Target's Defense

14% Mana Stolen Per Hit

-28% To Enemy Fire Resistance

20% Deadly Strike

+350-400 Defense Vs. Missile (varies)

+15-21 Fire Absorb (varies)

Shields

100% Chance To Cast level 40 Blaze When You Level-up

40% Chance To Cast Level 22 Firestorm On Striking

Level 10-15 Redemption Aura When Equipped (varies)

+350-400 Defense Vs. Missile (varies)

+350-400% Enhanced Damage (varies)

-28% To Enemy Fire Resistance

+50 To Life

+5% To Maximum Lightning Resist

+10% To Maximum Fire Resist

+15-21 Fire Absorb (varies)

Phoenix is primarily made in shields and is either used for its huge bonus to off-weapon enhanced damage or for the built-in Redemption Aura. Redemption Aura consumes nearby corpses to restore both mana and life. It is occasionally used on characters who have mana problems but do not wish to use Insight on their mercenary (especially Javazons). It can also be used in place of Spirit on the weapon switch.

Phoenix’s more interesting bonus is the +400% Enhanced Damage which is by far the biggest bonus of its type on any off-weapon item slot. While it is a very desirable stat on almost any physical damage class, the benefits are almost entirely cancelled by the 40% Chance to Cast Firestorm On Striking. Unfortunately, the Firestorm cast by Phoenix is not Diablo’s Firestorm (on Annihilus) and is subject to a 15 frame Cast Delay. This will prevent you from casting another spell or initiating another attack until the delay ends and often results in a very significant damage loss. This means that Phoenix can only be effectively used in combination with uninterruptible skills that have a long animation to minimise the percentage of frames lost to Cast Delay.

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