Runeword
Breath of the Dying
VexHelElEldZodEth
- Sockets
- 6
- Required level
- 69
- Item types
- Weapons
- Ladder
- All modes
Properties
- 50% Chance To Cast Level 20 Poison Nova When You Kill An Enemy
- Indestructible
- +60% Increased Attack Speed
- +350-400% Enhanced Damage (varies)
- +200% Damage To Undead
- -25% Target Defense
- +50 To Attack Rating
- +50 To Attack Rating Against Undead
- 7% Mana Stolen per Hit
- 12-15% Life Stolen per Hit
- Prevent Monster Heal
- +30 To All Attributes
- +1 To Light Radius
- Requirements -20%
Who uses Breath of the Dying
Breath of the Dying is a six-socket weapon runeword that requires a Zod rune, making it expensive to craft. It is among the most powerful melee weapon runewords outside of ladder play, offering high damage, attack speed, and the Indestructible property. Because of that property, it is best used in an ethereal base, with an ethereal Berserker Axe being a common one-handed choice for its damage per second. Other viable bases include War Spike, Colossus Blade, Thunder Maul, and two-handed options like War Pike or Great Poleaxe.
FAQ
- What runes make Breath of the Dying?
- Vex, Hel, El, Eld, Zod, Eth in that order, in a 6-socket item.
- What items can Breath of the Dying be made in?
- Weapons.
- Is Breath of the Dying ladder only?
- No, it can be made in any game mode.
Introduced in patch 1.10. Names and numbers compiled from the Diablo Wiki (CC BY-SA 3.0); sources: fandom-runewords. Last verified patch 3.3, 2026-09-12.