The Countess, Where to Find and How to Farm
Who is the Countess?

The Countess can be found in the 5th level of the Forgotten Tower under the Black Marsh. The Countess is an interesting target because of her unique rune drop mechanics. Besides runes, she also drops the Key of Terror on Hell difficulty, used in the
The Pandemonium Event. The Countess in Diablo 2 Resurrected is a quest boss who needs to be killed for
The Forgotten Tower quest in Act 1.
How to find the Countess
Locating the Forgotten Tower

The easiest way to find the Forgotten Tower is to start from the Black Marsh waypoint and make your way to the perimeter of the map. Trace the perimeter of the map all the way round until you find the tower. If the tower is not near the perimeter, it can also spawn next to a map object like The Hole entrance, the waypoint, a bridge, etc...

Navigating the Forgotten Tower

The fastest way to find the Countess inside the tower is to go all the way left of the way your character enters the tower level, ignoring walls (assuming you can teleport). When you reach the end of the map turn left again and repeat.
When you start on a level and there is nothing to the left, you should go all the way to the bottom left corner of the map and repeat the above when necessary.


Drop mechanics
The Countess has 2 drop tables, her normal monster drop table and a special rune drop table. In total she can drop up to 6 items, taking into consideration player difficulty. Her normal monster drop table is rolled first, so increasing the player difficulty will increase the amount of items from the normal drop table and reduce the amount of rune rolls. That's why it is best to farm the Countess on player 1 difficulty, to get the best rune drop chances. Magic find on the other hand does not affect rune drops, because it only affects the rarity of her normal drop table, not the amount of items. This means that the amount of rune drop rolls remain the same.
The way the rune drops are calculated is as follows. First 5 rolls are made in her item drop table. Each roll has a 19/67 chance to roll nothing. Next, 3 rolls are made from her rune drop table, these have a 1/4 chance to roll nothing. If it does roll a rune, it will first roll the highest rune TC, for hell this is TC runes 12 (ist/mal), for nightmare TC runes 8 (io/hel), and for normal TC runes 4 (ral/tal). If the TC doesn't roll a rune, the next TC is rolled all the way down to TC runes 1, which guarantees an El or Eld rune.
This gives a total possible of 8 items, which is then capped at 6, giving priority to the item drop table. This means that each no-drop on the item drop table, opens up a slot for a rune from the rune drop table.
Countess (H)
2 picks equally dividedCountess Rune (H)
3 random picksCountess Rune Drops
Her special rune drop table can roll up to a Ral Rune on Normal difficulty,
Io Rune on Nightmare difficulty, and
Ist Rune on Hell difficulty.
Difficulty | Rune Drop (in addition to lower difficulty) |
---|---|
Normal | El, Eld, Tir, Nef, Eth, Ith, Tal and Ral |
Nightmare | Ort, Thul, Amn, Sol, Shael, Dol, Hel and Io |
Hell | Lum, Ko, Fal, Lem, Pul, Um, Mal and Ist |
Keep in mind that her normal monster drop table can also drop runes, albeit with a low drop chance for higher runes than her rune drop table. The highest rune the Countess can drop on Nightmare difficulty is a Ko Rune. The highest rune the Countess can drop on Hell difficulty is a
Lo Rune.
Rune | Drop Chance Normal | Drop Chance Nightmare | Drop Chance Hell |
---|---|---|---|
Lo | - | - | 1 in 45779* |
Ohm | - | - | 1 in 30519* |
Vex | - | - | 1 in 32150* |
Gul | - | - | 1 in 21434* |
Ist | - | - | 1 in 287 |
Mal | - | - | 1 in 191 |
Um | - | - | 1 in 195 |
Pul | - | - | 1 in 130 |
Lem | - | - | 1 in 99 |
Fal | - | - | 1 in 66 |
Ko | - | 1 in 3837* | 1 in 51 |
Lum | - | 1 in 2558* | 1 in 34 |
Io | - | 1 in 25.3 | 1 in 27 |
Hel | - | 1 in 17 | 1 in 18 |
Dol | - | 1 in 14 | 1 in 15 |
Shael | - | 1 in 9.4 | 1 in 10 |
Sol | - | 1 in 8.4 | 1 in 9 |
Amn | - | 1 in 5.6 | 1 in 6 |
Thul | - | 1 in 6.5 | 1 in 7 |
Ort | - | 1 in 4.5 | 1 in 4.6 |
Ral | 1 in 3.2 | 1 in 6.5 | 1 in 7 |
Tal | 1 in 2.2 | 1 in 4.4 | 1 in 4.6 |
Ith | 1 in 4.6 | 1 in 9.3 | 1 in 10 |
Eth | 1 in 3 | 1 in 6.2 | 1 in 6.6 |
Tir | 1 in 4.2 | 1 in 8.7 | 1 in 9.2 |
Nef | 1 in 6.3 | 1 in 13 | 1 in 14 |
Eld | 1 in 14.3 | 1 in 32.6 | 1 in 34.5 |
El | 1 in 9.5 | 1 in 21.7 | 1 in 23 |
What's the best rune you ever got from the Countess?
Drop simulator
Runewords you can farm from the Countess
Normal Countess
Stealth and Leaf are probably the most useful starter items in the game. It is therefore a good strategy for a new account to do a few Countess runs to obtain these runewords. Since it the Countess drops Ral runes very often, it is easy to cube up to an Ort rune. The list below will therefore also take into account Ort runes.
Runeword | Sockets | Allowed Bases | Runes | Level | Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nadir (original) | 2 Sockets | Helm | 13 | ||
Steel (original) | 2 Sockets | Sword, Axe, Mace | 13 | ||
Malice (original) | 3 Sockets | Melee Weapon | 15 | ||
Stealth (original) | 2 Sockets | Armor | 17 | ||
Leaf (original) | 2 Sockets | Staff | 19 | ||
Ancients' Pledge (original) | 3 Sockets | Any Shield | 21 | ||
Holy Thunder (original) | 4 Sockets | Scepter | 21 | ||
Zephyr (original) | 2 Sockets | Missile Weapon | 21 |
Nightmare Countess (in addition to Normal)
At the start of a new ladder season, some of the most sought-after runewords can be easily obtained from the Nightmare Countess. Runewords like Insight, Spirit, and Lore are very valuable for farming in early ladder season.
Runeword | Sockets | Allowed Bases | Runes | Level | Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pattern (2.4) | 3 Sockets | Hand to Hand | 23 | ||
Edge (1.10) | 3 Sockets | Missile Weapon | 25 | ||
King's Grace (original) | 3 Sockets | Sword, Scepter | 25 | ||
Spirit (1.10) | 4 Sockets | Sword, Any Shield | 25 | +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)ShieldsCold Resist +35% ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Strength (original) | 2 Sockets | Melee Weapon | 25 | ||
Honor (original) | 5 Sockets | Melee Weapon | 27 | ||
Insight (1.10) | 4 Sockets | Polearm, Staff, Missile Weapon | 27 | Level 12-17 Meditation Aura When Equipped (varies)+35% Faster Cast Rate+200-260% Enhanced Damage (varies)+9 To Minimum Damage ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Lore (original) | 2 Sockets | Helm | 27 | ||
Radiance (original) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 27 | ||
Peace (1.11) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 29 | ||
Rhyme (original) | 2 Sockets | Any Shield | 29 | ||
Myth (1.11) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 33 | ||
Black (original) | 3 Sockets | Club, Hammer, Mace | 35 | ||
White (original) | 2 Sockets | Wand | 35 | ||
Ground (2.6) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 35 | ||
Hearth (2.6) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 35 | ||
Temper (2.6) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 35 | ||
Bulwark (2.6) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 35 | ||
Cure (2.6) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 35 |
Hell Countess (in addition to Nightmare)
Because Ist runes are still a very rare drop from the Countess, it will still take a long time to find these. On the other hand, the Countess does drop more regularly runes for other good runewords like Treachery and Obedience. Both very good runewords for your Mercenary.
Runeword | Sockets | Allowed Bases | Runes | Level | Stats |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Memory (original) | 4 Sockets | Staff | 37 | ||
Smoke (original) | 2 Sockets | Armor | 37 | ||
Splendor (1.10) | 2 Sockets | Any Shield | 37 | ||
Harmony (1.10) | 4 Sockets | Missile Weapon | 39 | Level 10 Vigor Aura When Equipped+200-275% Enhanced Damage (varies)+9 To Minimum Damage ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Melody (original) | 3 Sockets | Missile Weapon | 39 | ||
Hustle (armor) (2.6) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 39 | ||
Hustle (weapon) (2.6) | 3 Sockets | Weapon | 39 | ||
Lionheart (original) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 41 | ||
Obedience (1.10) | 5 Sockets | Polearm, Spear | 41 | 30% Chance To Cast Level 21 Enchant When You Kill An Enemy+40% Faster Hit Recovery+370% Enhanced Damage-25% Target Defense ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Unbending Will (2.4) | 6 Sockets | Sword | 41 | 18% Chance To Cast Level 18 Taunt On Striking+3 to Combat Skills (Barbarian Only)+20-30% Increased Attack Speed (varies)+300-350% Enhanced Damage+9 to Maximum Damage ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Lawbringer (1.10) | 3 Sockets | Sword, Hammer, Scepter | 43 | 20% Chance To Cast Level 15 Decrepify On StrikingLevel 16-18 Sanctuary Aura When Equipped (varies)-50% Target DefenseAdds 150-210 Fire DamageAdds 130-180 Cold Damage7% Life Stolen Per Hit ( ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Passion (1.10) | 4 Sockets | Weapon | 43 | +25% Increased Attack Speed+160-210% Enhanced Damage (varies)50-80% Bonus To Attack Rating (varies)+75% Damage To Undead ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Treachery (1.11) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 43 | ||
Voice of Reason (1.10) | 4 Sockets | Sword, Mace | 43 | 15% Chance To Cast Level 13 Frozen Orb On Striking18% Chance To Cast Level 20 Ice Blast On Striking+50 To Attack Rating ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Wealth (original) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 43 | ||
Enlightenment (1.11) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 45 | ||
Wisdom (2.4) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 45 | ||
Bone (1.11) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 47 | ||
Crescent Moon (1.10) | 3 Sockets | Axe, Sword, Polearm | 47 | 10% Chance To Cast Level 17 Chain Lightning On Striking7% Chance To Cast Level 13 Static Field On Striking+20% Increased Attack Speed ( ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Duress (1.10) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 47 | ||
Gloom (1.10) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 47 | ||
Stone (1.10) | 4 Sockets | Armor | 47 | ||
Oath (1.10) | 4 Sockets | Sword, Axe, Mace | 49 | Indestructible30% Chance To Cast Level 20 Bone Spirit On Striking+50% Increased Attack Speed ( ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Prudence (1.10) | 2 Sockets | Armor | 49 | ||
Rain (1.11) | 3 Sockets | Armor | 49 | ||
Sanctuary (1.10) | 3 Sockets | Any Shield | 49 | ||
Venom (original) | 3 Sockets | Weapon | 49 | ||
Delirium (1.10) | 3 Sockets | Helm | 51 | 1% Chance To Cast level 50 Delirium When Struck6% Chance To Cast level 14 Mind Blast When Struck14% Chance To Cast level 13 Terror When Struck11% Chance To Cast level 18 Confuse On Striking+2 To All Skills+261 Defense+10 To Vitality ( ![]() ![]() ![]() |