Changes

'''Runewords ''' were a feature added to [[Diablo II ]] in the expansion pack, which used a combination of runes in [[socket]]ed items to "craft" a completely new set of stats for it. They This feature will not return in [[Diablo III]], and [[rune]]s now have a [[skill]]-related functionality.  ==Diablo II Runewords==These {{iw|Runewords runewords}} allowed players to socket certain sequences of runes into weapons, armor, helms, or shields, to create new items with massive stats, unique-style stats. More powerful, higher level, rarer runes made items with better stats, and over time most of the best equipment in the game became runewords, thanks to [[mudflation]] and various [[duping]] exploits making the ultra-rare {{iw|runes runes}} common enough for most players to obtain them.

Runewords will '''not ''' be returning in Diablo III, since the [[D3 Team]] thought they were overpowered and resulted in lacking character equipment variety. The designers have promised that we'll see a wide array of item variety, and that there will be new ways to customize and craft items, but details have not yet been released. All that's known about [[Items#Item Sockets|item socketing]] so far is that gems are returning.