Beginner Rune Words in Diablo 2
This page contains a list of all the beginner Rune Words in Diablo 2 as well as a little bit of information about why they're on this list to begin with. Every Rune Word on this list is meant for characters who are level 30 or under, if you'd like to check out my other lists of Rune Words then follow the links below.
List of Armor Rune Words
List of Helm Rune Words
List of Shield Rune Words
List of Weapon Rune Words
List of Intermediate Rune Words
Runeword: Steel
TirEl
Required Runes: 
Tir -- 
El
Level Req: 13
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Swords, Axes and Maces
+25% Increased Attack Speed
+20% Enhanced Damage
+3 to Minimum Damage
+3 to Maximum Damage
+50 to Attack Rating
50% Chance of Open Wounds
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+1 to Light Radius
This Runeword works best in a fast weapon like a Crystal Sword or Sabre.
Runeword: Stealth
TalEth
Required Runes: 
Tal -- 
Eth
Level Req: 17
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Chest Armor
+25% Faster Run/Walk
+25% Faster Casting Rate
+25% Faster Hit Recovery
+6 to Dexterity
Regenerate Mana 15%
+15 Maximum Stamina
Poison Resist +30%
Magic Damage Reduced by 3
Out of all the early chest armor Rune Words that you can make, Stealth stands above them all. You can find a Tal and Eth Rune by farming The Countess on Normal (as well as any other difficulty) very early on in the game and make this armor right after entering Act 2.
Runeword: Malice
IthElEth
Required Runes: 
Ith -- El -- Eth
Level Req: 15
Other Req: N/A
Slots: All Melee Weapons
+33% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Maximum Damage
-25% Target Defense
+50 to Attack Rating
100% Chance of Open Wounds
Prevent Monster Heal
-100 to Monster Defense Per Hit
Drain Life -5
The biggest downside to this Rune Word is the -5 Drain Life. You can make up for this with Replenish Life on any piece of gear.
Runeword: Strength
AmnTir
Required Runes: 
Amn -- Tir
Level Req: 25
Other Req: N/A
Slots: All Melee Weapons
+35% Enhanced Damage
7% Life Stolen per hit
25% Chance of Crushing Blow
+20 to Strength
+10 to Vitality
+2 to Mana after each Kill
Much like the Steel Rune Word before it, this goes best in any fast weapons like a Sabre or Crystal Sword. Assasin Claws work well too or Scepters for Paladins.
Runeword: Rhyme
ShaelEth
Required Runes: 
Shael -- Eth
Level Req: 29
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Shield
+40% Faster Block Rate
20% Increased Chance of Blocking
Regenerate Mana 15%
All Resistances +25
Cannot be Frozen
50% Extra Gold from Monsters
25% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
Rhyme is the second best Rune Word for this level range with Spirit being by far the best. The down side with Spirit though is it requires a 4 open Socket Shield which you can't find until Monarch's start dropping late Nightmare/Hell. Only Paladin Shields have 4 open Sockets and drop before in Normal/Early Nightmare.
Runeword: Leaf
TirRal
Required Runes: Tir -- 
Ral
Level Req: 19
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Staves Only
+3 to Fire Skills
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+3 to Inferno (Sorceress Only)
+3 to Warmth (Sorceress Only)
+3 to Fire Bolt (Sorceress Only)
+(2*Clvl) Defense (Based on Character Level)
Cold Resist +33%
+2 to Mana after each Kill
Leaf is a great early Rune Word for Sorceress' or Elemental Druids which are currently fire spec. You sacrifice a shield when you decide to use Leaf but that isn't too big of an issue until level 30+ at which point you'll probably want to replace Leaf with something better.
Runeword: Holy Thunder
EthRalOrtTal
Required Runes: Eth -- Ral -- 
Ort -- Tal
Level Req: 23
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Scepters Only
+60% Enhanced Damage
+10 to Maximum Damage
-25% Target Defense
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
Adds 21-110 Lightning Damage
+75 Poison Damage over 5 secs
+3 to Holy Shock (Paladin Only)
+5% to Maximum Lightning Resist
Lightning Resist +60%
Level 7 Chain Lightning (60 charges)
Holy Thunder is one of the best Rune Words for low level Paladins in the game. Like Spirit mentioned earlier, usually you won't be able to use this Rune Word unless you have a twink hand me down weapon. It requires a Scepter with 4 open Sockets which is hard to come by on Normal.
Runeword: Lore
OrtSol
Required Runes: Ort -- 
Sol
Level Req: 27
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Helm
+1 to All Skills
+10 to Energy
Lightning Resist +30%
Damage Reduced by 7
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+2 to Light Radius
One of the best and easiest to make Helm Rune Words in the game is Lore. It is useful to all characters not just for the +1 to Skills and Mana bonuses but because of the 30% Lightning Resist which is insanely useful in Act 4 and 5 when you encounter powerful Lightning based enemies.
Runeword: Honor
AmnElIthTirSol
Required Runes: Amn -- El -- Ith -- Tir -- Sol
Level Req: 27
Other Req: N/A
Slots: All Melee Weapons
+1 to all Skills
+160% Enhanced Damage
+9 to Minimum Damage
+9 to Maximum Damage
+250 Attack Rating
7% Life Stolen per Hit
25% Deadly Strike
+10 to Strength
Replenish Life +10
+2 to Mana after each Kill
+1 to Light Radius
This is another good Rune Word for fast attacking melee weapons. Nagas, Knouts, War Scepters and Divine Scepters are all good choices for this Rune Word. Since this weapon doesn't come with any Improved Attack Speed (IAS) it's usually best if you try to find some IAS on your gear to make up for it.
Runeword: Peace
ShaelThulAmn
Required Runes: Shael -- 
Thul -- Amn
Level Req: 29
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Chest Armor
4% Chance To Cast Level 5 Slow Missiles When Struck
2% Chance To Cast Level 15 Valkyrie On Striking
+2 To Amazon Skill Levels
+20% Faster Hit Recovery
+2 To Critical Strike
Cold Resist +30%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Great Rune Word for Amazons that are low level. This is the lowest level class specific Rune Word armor in the game.
Runeword: Insight
RalTirTalSol
Required Runes: Ral -- Tir -- Tal -- Sol
Level Req: 27
Other Req: Ladder Only
Slots: Polearms & Staves
Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies)
+35% Faster Cast Rate
+200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies)
+9 To Minimum Damage
180-250% Bonus to Attack Rating (varies)
Adds 5-30 Fire Damage
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
+1-6 To Critical Strike (varies)
+5 To All Attributes
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
23% Better Chance of Getting Magic Items
This weapon makes every Rune Word list whether it be beginner, intermediate or the best Rune Words in the game. The reason for this is because Insight comes with Meditation Aura which gives you insanely good mana regeneration. When put into a Polearm and equipped onto an Act 2 Mercenary you'll share the Meditation Aura with him. Extra tip: Use an Ethereal Polearm as it can't break when your Mercenary is using it, you'll be able to boost his damage this way!
Runeword: Spirit
TalThulOrtAmn
Required Runes: Tal -- Thul -- Ort -- Amn
Level Req: 25
Other Req: Ladder Only
Slots: Shields and Swords
Both
+2 To All Skills
+25-35% Faster Cast Rate (varies)
+55% Faster Hit Recovery
+250 Defense Vs. Missile
+22 To Vitality
+89-112 To Mana (varies)
+3-8 Magic Absorb (varies)
Shields
Cold Resist +35%
Lightning Resist +35%
Poison Resist +35%
Attacker Takes Damage of 14
Swords
Adds 1-50 Lightning Damage
Adds 3-14 Cold Damage (3 Sec,Normal)
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
This is a weapon or shield Rune Word that is popular amongst Casters. You can find a Crystal Sword in late Normal/Nightmare with 4 open Sockets if you wish to make it into a weapon. The first available shield you can use this Rune Word in is a Monarch which requires level 54.
Runeword: Edge
TirTalAmn
Required Runes: Tir -- Tal -- Amn
Level Req: 23
Other Req: Ladder Only
Slots: Missile Weapons (Bows & Crossbows)
Level 15 Thorns Aura When Equipped
+35% Increased Attack Speed
+320-380% Damage To Demons (varies)
+280% Damage To Undead
+75 Poison Damage Over 5 Seconds
7% Life Stolen Per Hit
Prevent Monster Heal
+5-10 To All Attributes (varies)
+2 To Mana After Each Kill
Reduces All Vendor Prices 15%
This bow is generally used as a mule weapon since it comes with Reduces All Vendor Prices by 15% but it's also useful for low level Necromancers who are Summon spec. The Thorns Aura will be very powerful for the low level minions and the bow will also allow the Necromancer to keep a distance from his enemies.
While this weapon has no raw Enhanced Damage it has a lot of Damage to Demons which is useful in certain areas of the game, like Chaos Sanctuary Farming during Act 4.
Runeword: Zephyr
OrtEth
Required Runes: Ort -- Eth
Level Req: 21
Other Req: N/A
Slots: Missile Weapons Only (Bows & Crossbows)
7% Chance to Cast Level 1 Twister When Struck
+25% Faster Run/Walk
+25% Increased Attack Speed
+33% Enhanced Damage
-25% Target Defense
+66 to Attack Rating
Adds 1-50 Lightning damage
+25 Defense