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Diablo 2: Resurrectedmight have updated visuals and some slight gameplay tweaks, but its systems work the same way as the original version. This includes the rules surrounding socketed items and drop rates.
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Finding a four-socket shield inDiablo 2: Resurrectedis needed to create a Spirit Shield. This very useful piece of equipment adds a multitude of perks that can help out most classes and builds in a big way. This guide will help players find a four-socket shield as early as possible.
Updated on December 16th, 2021 by Hodey Johns:The four-socket Monarch shield is something almost every build will be trying to farm up at some point. With a whole community frantically looking, it often seems like a matter of luck to get one to drop. But, frankly, many players are farming in areas that will never yield the shield at all. That problem has persisted and made this guide more important than ever. This update to the guide has made the information easier to find by placing the specific answer to the question up front and moving the exposition about the shield to the end.
Prerequisites
There are special circumstances that must be met for the shield to ever drop.
or
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Aside from the Paladin, anybody farming for a four-socket shield is making a mistake if they aren’t 54 and aren’t playing on Hell difficulty. This is the absolute minimum level needed and odds will go up as the level grows. If Hell seems too difficult, graba great hirelingto help carry the character through to maps.
Where To Get A Four-Socket Shield
There are a few ways to get one. Most players will farm for one, but Paladins who knowall of the Horadric Cuberecipes might be able to make one.
Farming For A Shield
Keeping in mind the previous prerequisites, there are a few places that have a higher-than-average chance to get a four-socket shield to drop.
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Making A Four-Socket Shield
This will only work for Paladins, but putting this in the Horadric Cube can get a jump start toward beingthe best Hammerdin possible.
1 Perfect Ruby
1 Normal Paladin Shield
The result will always be some variation of a four-socket shield.
Why is a 4-Socket Shield Needed in Diablo 2?
Making the Spirit Runewordis core to most character builds. This can be done with either the Monarch, Aegis, or Ward shields, but Monarch is preferable since it has the lowest strength requirement.
Players need four sockets to insert the runes Tal, Thul, Ort, and Amn to make the Spirit Runeword. A Normal white shield or sword with 4 sockets is required to hold the runes. The Spirit Shield has stats that speak for themselves.
Spirit Shield Stats
The Spirit Shield is favored over the Spirit Sword as it’s an off-hand piece of equipment that doesn’t need to be actively used to reap the most benefits. Having the shield instead of the sword means other classes can get better attack bonuses with other weapons. Players must be at least Level 25 to make Spirit.
Diablo 2: Resurrectedwas released on September 23rd, 2021, and is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
