You’ve finally hit Hell difficulty. Your resistances are capped, your damage is decent, but you keep getting one-shot by a random pack of Extra Strong Moon Lords. It’s frustrating. You check your health pool and realize it’s sitting at a measly 900. In the endgame of Diablo 2 Resurrected, that’s basically a death sentence. This is exactly where the Call to Arms D2R runeword comes into play. It isn't just another weapon; for most players, it's the difference between farming safely and staring at a "You Have Died" screen every ten minutes.
Most people call it "CtA."
Honestly, it’s arguably the most important secondary item in the game. While Enigma gives you mobility and Infinity breaks immunities, CtA is what keeps you alive. It grants you the ability to use Barbarian warcries—specifically Battle Orders and Battle Command—on any character class. Suddenly, your Sorceress or Paladin has double the life and mana. It feels like cheating, but it’s just the meta.
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The Recipe and the "Big Roll" Anxiety
Making a Call to Arms is a rite of passage that comes with a lot of stress. You need five runes: Amn, Ral, Mal, Ist, and Ohm. The Ohm is the real gatekeeper here. It’s a high rune that doesn't drop often, and sinking it into a weapon that might "roll low" is enough to give any player heart palpitations.
The variable stats are what make or break the value.
- Battle Command: +2–6
- Battle Orders: +1–6
- Battle Cry: +1–4
Everyone is hunting for that elusive 6/6/4 roll. If you hit a +6 to Battle Orders, you’ve essentially struck gold. But let's be real: even a +1 Battle Orders CtA is significantly better than having none at all. Why? Because your "+All Skills" gear—like Harlequin Crest, Mara’s Kaleidoscope, and Spirit shields—all boost that base level. A "bad" +1 BO roll can easily become a +10 or higher once your gear is factored in.
Don't let the fear of a low roll stop you from making it. A 1 BO CtA still gives you a massive life cushion.
Choosing the Right Base (Don't Mess This Up)
You need a 5-socket weapon. Simple, right? Well, sort of. Most veterans will tell you to use a Crystal Sword or a Flail. There is a very specific reason for this that has nothing to do with damage. Since you’ll be keeping this on your weapon swap (the "W" key), you want the requirements to be as low as possible. A Crystal Sword only needs 43 Strength and no Dexterity.
But there is a trap.
If your main weapon is a Heart of the Oak (HOTO) in a Flail, don't make your CtA in a Flail. You will get confused. You’ll be teleporting around, think you're on your main set, and try to cast a spell only to realize you’re swinging a wet noodle because you never swapped back. Use a Crystal Sword for CtA if your main weapon is a Flail, and vice versa. Some people even use a Double Axe just because the sprite looks completely different in the inventory.
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The Paladin Exception
If you’re playing a Paladin, you have a "god-tier" option. You can make CtA in a 5-socket War Scepter, Divine Scepter, or Caduceus that already has +3 to Holy Shield as a base staff mod. This allows you to buff your Holy Shield and your Battle Orders at the same time on the same swap. These bases are incredibly rare and expensive, but they are the absolute pinnacle of min-maxing.
How to Use It Like a Pro
It isn't just about pressing the buttons. There is a sequence.
- Swap to your CtA set.
- Cast Battle Command first. This adds +1 to all your skills.
- Cast Battle Command a second time. Wait, what? Yes. The first cast increases the level of the second, which extends the duration.
- Cast Battle Orders. Since you have the +1 from Battle Command, your health buff is now stronger and lasts longer.
- Swap back to your main weapons.
If you’re playing a Druid, remember that you cannot cast these while in Werewolf or Werebear form. You have to buff in human form and then transform. It’s a bit of a chore, but having a 4,000-health tank of a Wolf makes it worth the three seconds of clicking.
Is It Worth the Ohm Rune?
Some players argue that if you’re already "clearing comfortably," you don't need it. They’d rather spend that Ohm on a Chaos runeword or save up for a Lo to make Grief.
That’s fine for softcore.
In Hardcore mode, Call to Arms D2R is mandatory. It isn't optional. It is the only thing standing between you and a permanent trip to the Hall of Heroes when a Stygian Doll decides to explode next to you. Even in Softcore, the mana boost alone is a massive quality-of-life upgrade. It means fewer trips to Malah for potions and more time actually killing monsters.
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Real World Farming Tips
If you're hunting for these runes, stop looking for the runes themselves. That's the quickest way to burn out. Instead, farm high-density areas.
- The Secret Cow Level: Great for finding the 5-socket bases and the occasional high rune.
- Chaos Sanctuary: The gold standard for rune farming.
- Lower Kurast (Single Player): If you're on PC/Console offline, "LK runs" are the fastest way to get an Ohm and Ist.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your stash for a 5-socket Crystal Sword or Flail today. If you don't have one, run the Hell Cow level without Magic Find gear; white or grey items drop more frequently when your MF is low. Once you have the base, prioritize trading for an Ohm rune over smaller upgrades like better boots or rings. The survivability jump from Call to Arms will allow you to farm higher-player difficulties (like /players 7), which in turn leads to even better loot drops in the long run.