Why Monarch? or All About the Runeword "Spirit"
Quite often, questions about Spirit Monarch (aka "Spirit" in the Russian version) come up on streams. Why Monarch, where to get it in Diablo 2, and are there any alternatives? I'll try to answer these questions.
Let's take things one step at a time.
Who needs Spirit Monarch? Spirit Shield is practically the only choice for all casters. It provides everything a caster could ever want. Namely, cast speed (which can vary from 25 to 35), +2 to all skills, resistances, HP (due to vitality), and mana.
Why is Monarch needed for Runeword Spirit?
There are only three shields in the game (unless you're a Paladin), which can have four sockets. These are Monarch, Ward, and Aegis. Of these three, Monarch requires the least strength – 156. The others require 185 and 219, respectively.
Yes, 156 Strength is a lot, but you have to choose the lesser of three evils. Things are much more interesting for paladins. ALL paladin shields can have 4 sockets. But there's a nuance you need to keep in mind: not all shields are suitable, only those dropped starting in Act 4 of Normal.
Spirit can also be collected in swords. The sword's stats will be similar to the shield's. I recommend using one of two blanks: a Crystal Sword or a Broad Sword.
Where can I get a Monarch? Dropping a Monarch, as it's a hell base, is difficult only at the last level, level 3, specifically on Hell. It simply won't drop in the first two levels. If your goal is to get a White Monarch, I recommend farming the Barn on Hell difficulty with minimal MF. This will increase the chance of getting a White Monarch, rather than a Blue or Yellow one.
Now let's talk about how to socket an item. Or I'll try to answer the question of why your Crystal Sword has 6 sockets instead of 4. And why your Paladin's Shield has 3 sockets instead of 4.
https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Area_L... - Area levels in the game
http://www.diablo1.ru/diablo2game/ite... - Item database
https://diablo2.diablowiki.net/Sockets - Number of sockets
https://www.donationalerts.com/r/trelin - Channel support