Item socket
Item sockets are slots on equipment or resonators into which other items can be placed. There are 3 types of sockets:
- Coloured sockets in which skill gems of a matching colour can be socketed
- Coloured sockets can be linked together, which is required for support skill gems to provide benefits to linked active skill gems.
- Abyss sockets in which Abyss Jewels can be socketed
- Resonator sockets in which fossils can be socketed
Coloured sockets
Colours
Each socket has one of four colours:
- red, associated with strength
- blue, associated with intelligence
- green, associated with dexterity
- white
Skill gems have to be placed into a socket with the corresponding colour with the exception of white gems and sockets, which can be placed into a socket of any colour or take a gem of any colour respectively.
The random choice of colour for sockets is weighted based upon the magnitude of the relevant attributes (strength, dexterity, intelligence) required to use the item. For example, a low strength requirement (low base-level) pure strength armour item has a higher probability of rolling off-color sockets than a high strength requirement (high base-level) pure strength armour.
White sockets can be obtained through corruption by using a Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Vaal Orb" at a 25% chance.[1] They can also be crafted into an item using an Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Encrusted Fossil" or Vorici's crafting bench in the Immortal Syndicate Research safehouse. The Altar of Corruption in the Temple of Atzoatl has a chance to corrupt an item to have all white sockets.
The colour of sockets can be changed by Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Chromatic Orb" reforging or by using the Crafting Bench in your hideout.
Number of sockets
The number of possible sockets on equipment is based on the item level as well as the type of the equipment being used.
The number of sockets can be changed by Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Jeweller's Orb" reforging, using the Crafting Bench in your hideout, an Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Orb of Binding" or a Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Encrusted Fossil". Corrupted items can only be changed through the Crafting Bench and need an equivalent amount of Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Vaal Orb" as the usual cost of Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Jeweller's Orb", Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Chromatic Orb" and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Orb of Fusing" to change sockets on any corrupted item.
Maximum number of sockets by equipment type
- Most Belts, amulets, rings and quivers do not have sockets. Exceptions are Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Unset Ring", Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Black Maw Talisman", Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Stygian Vise", and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = ornate quiver".
- One-handed weapons and shields can only have up to 3 sockets max
- Boots, helmets and gloves can have up to 4 sockets
- Body armours and Two-handed weapons can have up to 6 sockets
Some items have exceptions to these rules.
Item level
| Number of sockets | Minimum item level | Weight (6S & 3S) | Weight (4S) | First vendor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 50 | 100 | Act 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 120 | 90 | Act 1 |
| 3 | 2 | 100 | 80 | Act 1 |
| 4 | 25 | 30 | 30 | Act 3 |
| 5 | 35 | 5 | N/A | Act 4 |
| 6 | 50 | 1 | N/A | Act 6 |
The item level item is generally applicable, but note that there are a few cases where the restriction does not apply:
- Hillock, upon death, always drops a specific weapon with three differently coloured sockets, which is dependent on your class.
- Unique items that override the socket mechanics, such as Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Tabula Rasa" which always has 6 linked white sockets.
- Items from strongboxes with of Complexityof Complexity
Suffix
Contained Items have (1-2) additional Sockets affix - Sockets can be crafted to an item using the Crafting Bench ignoring item level restrictions
Links
Sockets can be linked to other sockets in the same item. In order to provide their benefits support skill gems have to be placed in sockets linked to other sockets containing active skill gems.
Multiple support skill gems of the same type can only be applied once to an active skill gem, however it is possible to apply a single support skill gem to multiple active skill gems at once. If multiple support gems of the same type are socketed in the same link, the highest level support is used.
- For example, the two skills Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Fireball" and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Freezing Pulse" may be linked with the support skill Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Elemental Proliferation" in a three linked item, or Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Freezing Pulse" may be replaced by Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Chance to Ignite" to enhance the Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Fireball" even more. However linking two instances of Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Elemental Proliferation" will only provide the bonus of the highest level one.
- Spell Totem Support can be linked with most blue Active skills (Arc, SRS, Frostbolt, etc) in a 6 link armor/Tabula Rasa
The number of links can be reforged using an Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Orb of Fusing", the Crafting Bench, an Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Orb of Binding" or a Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Encrusted Fossil".
Order
Generally the order in which skill gems are linked only holds importance for trigger gems and for rounding the mana cost. The order for sockets used is:
| 1 | ⇒ | 2 |
| ⇓ | ||
| 4 | ⇐ | 3 |
| ⇓ | ||
| 5 | ⇒ | 6 |
If multiple trigger gems are socketed in several equipped items the order will be:
- Main hand ⇒ Amulet ⇒ Helm ⇒ Off hand ⇒ Body armour ⇒ Gloves ⇒ Boots
Items with non-standard interactions
Base items
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Unset Ring" have 1 socket instead of none.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Black Maw Talisman" have 1 socket instead of none.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Gnarled Branch" can only have up to 3 sockets, despite being a two-handed weapon.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Fishing Rod" can only have up to 4 sockets, despite being a two-handed weapon.
Unique items
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = The Goddess Unleashed" and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Oni-Goroshi" always have 6 linked sockets. They are the only one-handed weapons that can have more than three sockets.
ActumActum
Butcher AxeOne Handed Axe
Physical Damage: (141-164.5) to (261-304.5)
Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
Attacks per Second: 1.30
Weapon Range: 1.1 metresRequires Level 63, 149 Str, 76 DexHas no Sockets
(200-250)% increased Physical Damage
You have no Intelligence
Critical Strike Chance is (20-30)% for Hits with this WeaponBetter to act without thought
than to think without action.
, Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Kaom's Heart", Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Replica Kaom's Heart", Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Kaom's Roots", and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = The Grey Spire" do not have any sockets.- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Malachai's Artifice" always has a white socket and grants stats based on the colour of the gem socketed into the item.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Prismatic Eclipse", Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Scaeva", and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Crown of the Tyrant" grant stats based on the colour of the sockets in the item.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Tabula Rasa" always has 6 white linked sockets.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Skin of the Loyal" and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Skin of the Lords" always come with six linked sockets that are randomly colored. These cannot be modified with the crafting bench.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Dialla's Malefaction" does not need to have the socketed gems match the socket colors, effectively functioning as white sockets.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Loreweave" always has 6 sockets.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Shadowstitch" always has 6 linked sockets.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Maloney's Mechanism" always has 3 sockets, one of which can be lost if replaced by a vaal implicit.
Unique items from races
All Descent: Champions unique items have three white, linked sockets (except for Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Slivers of Providence" and Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Chains of Time").
Related divination cards
There are divination cards that grant items with a high number of sockets and links.
| Item | Effect(s) |
|---|
Related Prophecies
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = The Jeweller's Touch" will cause the next Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Jeweller's Orb" used on an appropriate item to make that item become a fully-linked five-socket item.
- Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Fated Connections" will cause the next Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Jeweller's Orb" that resulted in an item having 6 sockets to also make those sockets fully linked.
Abyssal socket
Abyssal sockets are special types of sockets exclusively found on Abyss themed items. A single socket can be found on Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Stygian Vise" and between one and two sockets on Abyss-related uniques. Abyss sockets can also be crafted into an item using a Resonator with a Module Error: No results found for item using search term "item_name = Hollow Fossil".
The following uniques have abyss sockets:
Abyss sockets take the place of regular sockets, i.e. an item will have the number of maximum coloured sockets reduced by the amount of abyss sockets; for example, a glove with two abyss sockets can only have up to a maximum of 2 coloured sockets.
You can only socket abyss jewels into these sockets.
Resonator sockets
Resonators are a special currency item class which have sockets for fossils.
Developer Information
It has been suggested that this section be split into another article.
Reason: This article is about item sockets as a game mechanic. This information falls outside of that scope
This section contains development information and is intended for developers and not regular end users.
Relevant information about the sockets can be found in the "Sockets" section of .ot files (based on which files the item in question inherits).
The format used for sockets is
<number of sockets>:<item level requirement>:<spawn weighting>
The socket colours are commonly represented as:
| Colour | Letter Code | Numerical ID |
|---|---|---|
| red | R | 1 |
| green | G | 2 |
| blue | B | 3 |
| white | W |
References
- ↑ chris_wilson (July 16, 2015). "Chris Wilson on chances of corrupting White Sockets". Path of Exile Subreddit. Retrieved July 16, 2015.