Popularity Contest - The Most Used Runes in Diablo III
A breakdown of the top three runes for every class, in patch 1.0.4
The charts list every single rune in the game, and how much it is currently used on active level 60 characters in patch 1.0.4. There are also links below to the most popular builds, active skills, and passive skills. Click through to see all the details!
- Barbarian #1 Rune: War Cry - Impunity is easily the most popular rune across the board for level 60 Barbarians, used by 86% of softcore Barbarians, and over 90% of those in hardcore. It is easy to see why this will be one of the major runes nerfed in patch 1.0.5.
- Barbarian #2 Rune: For the second most popular rune, there is a split between hardcore and softcore characters. In softcore, Battle Rage - Into the Fray and Sprint - Run Like the Wind are nearly tied for the second spot, with over 50% of softcore Barbarians using them both, usually in a standard Whirlwind build. On the hardcore side, Revenge - Provocation takes the second place spot with 72% of Barbarians using it.
- Barbarian #3 Rune: After the previously two tied runes, the next most popular softcore Barbarian rune is Wrath of the Berserker - Thrive on Chaos, used by 46% of softcore Barbarians, also in the regular Whirlwind builds. The hardcore side has a different rune for the same skill, as Wrath of the Berserker - Insanity is used by 68%.
- See the full chart of all the Most Popular Barbarian Runes for the rest of the list. You can also view any Barbarian Active Skill, such as Whirlwind, to see how much each of the runes for that skill are used.
Demon Hunter
- Demon Hunter #1 Rune: Smoke Screen - Lingering Fog is the top rune for all level 60 Demon Hunters; it is used by 51% of them in softcore and 72% of those in hardcore.
- Demon Hunter #2 Rune: There is a split between hardcore and softcore for the number 2 slot. On the softcore side, the spot is held by the high damage rune Vault - Trail of Cinders with 51%; it has already been announced that this bugged rune will be fixed (and therefor nerfed) in patch 1.0.5. The second most popular pick for hardcore Demon Hunters is Preparation - Battle Scars, used by 66%.
- Demon Hunter #3 Rune:Vault - Trail of Cinders is also popular with hardcore Demon Hunters, used by 50% of them. On the softcore side, Shadow Power - Gloom takes the third spot, used by 46%.
- See the full chart of all the Most Popular Demon Hunter Runes for the rest of the list. You can also view any Demon Hunter Active Skill, such as Hungering Arrow, to see how much each of the runes for that skill are used.
- Monk #1 Rune: Breath of Heaven - Blazing Wrath is the most popular rune for level 60 Monks by a wide margin, being used by 72% of those in softcore and 71% in hardcore. The combination of a heal with a long-term damage buff makes for a potent skill and rune combination that is hard to pass up.
- Monk #2 Rune: The second most popular rune for all level 60 Monks is the Spirit Generator Fists of Thunder - Thunderclap. The teleport and small AOE damage effect on this fast-hitting skill is utilized by 63% of softcore and 50% of hardcore Monks.
- Monk #3 Rune: For the third most popular Monk rune, there is finally a split between hardcore and softcore. Sweeping Wind - Cyclone is used by 57% on the softcore side, providing a consistent damage AOE. On the hardcore side, both the third and fourth most popular runes are from the same defensive skill: 48% use Serenity - Peaceful Repose, while 36% use Serenity - Ascension.
- See the full chart of all the Most Popular Monk Runes for the rest of the list. You can also view any Monk Active Skill, such as Blinding Flash, to see how much each of the runes for that skill are used.
Witch Doctor
- The most used runes by level 60 Witch Doctors are the same three runes for both hardcore and softcore, but not in the same positions. Even with those common choices, the runes shows the great diversity of the Most Popular Witch Doctor Builds; the most used rune on either the hardcore or softcore side is barely over 50%.
- Witch Doctor #1 Rune: On the softcore side, the ever-popular Zombie Charger - Zombie Bears is on top, used by 45% of level 60 softcore Witch Doctors. The hardcore ones instead use the defensive skill Spirit Walk - Jaunt the most, with 51% of them picking it.
- Witch Doctor #2 Rune: Both softcore and hardcore Witch Doctors choose Summon Zombie Dogs - Leeching Beasts as the second most used rune; it is utilized by 38% of softcore and 46% of hardcore Witch Doctors.
- Witch Doctor #3 Rune: The third place runes is a swap of the first place: 29% of softcore Witch Doctors use Spirit Walk - Jaunt, while 34% of hardcore ones use Zombie Charger - Zombie Bears.
- See the full chart of all the Most Popular Witch Doctor Runes for the rest of the list. You can also view any Witch Doctor Active Skill, such as Gargantuan, to see how much each of the runes for that skill are used.
- Two solid defensive runes are the name of the game for the top two level 60 Wizard rune slots, on both the softcore and hardcore side. Not surprisingly, they are used very heavily by hardcore Wizards.
- Wizard #1 Rune: Diamond Skin - Crystal Shell is the most popular softcore rune, used by 60% of level 60 softcore Wizards. Hardcore Wizards pick Energy Armor - Prismatic Shell the most, with over 85% of them utilizing it.
- Wizard #2 Rune: The second place runes are just a swap of the first: 58% of softcore Wizards use Energy Armor - Prismatic Shell, and 73% of hardcore Wizards choose Diamond Skin - Crystal Shell. This will likely change somewhat once Energy Armor - Prismatic Shell is nerfed in patch 1.0.5.
- Wizard #3 Rune: The third most popular Wizard runes are different for softcore and hardcore. Softcore heroes use Magic Weapon - Force Weapon 42% of the time, while 53% of hardcore Wizards pick Teleport - Wormhole.
- See the full chart of all the Most Popular Wizard Runes for the rest of the list. You can also view any Wizard Active Skill, such as Archon, to see how much each of the runes for that skill are used.
That makes up the most popular runes used by the level 60 characters, as of right now in patch 1.0.4. The data for the Most Popular Builds and Skills section is updated daily, so these numbers will likely change a little over time; they will certainly shift once patch 1.0.5 lands, with various rune and skill adjustments. Check back with us regularly to see all the changes!