Item socket

"Socket" redirects here. For sockets in the passive skill tree, see jewel socket.

An example of a bow with three linked sockets; two of which are occupied by skill gems.

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 Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 10Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again.
Shift click to unstack. at a 25% chance. They can also be crafted into an item using an Encrusted FossilEncrusted FossilStack Size: 10More sockets
Can have white socketsPlace in a Resonator to influence item crafting.
Shift click to unstack. 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 Chromatic OrbChromatic OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the colour of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack. 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 Jeweller's OrbJeweller's OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the number of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more sockets.
Shift click to unstack. reforging, using the Crafting Bench in your hideout, an Orb of BindingOrb of BindingStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four linked socketsRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack. or a Encrusted FossilEncrusted FossilStack Size: 10More sockets
Can have white socketsPlace in a Resonator to influence item crafting.
Shift click to unstack.. Corrupted items can only be changed through the Crafting Bench and need an equivalent amount of Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 10Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again.
Shift click to unstack. as the usual cost of Jeweller's OrbJeweller's OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the number of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more sockets.
Shift click to unstack., Chromatic OrbChromatic OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the colour of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack. and Orb of FusingOrb of FusingStack Size: 20Reforges the links between sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more links.
Shift click to unstack. 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 , , , and .
• 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 which always has 6 linked white sockets.
• Items from strongboxes with 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 FireballFireballProjectile, Spell, AoE, Fire
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (6-25) Mana
Cast Time: 0.75 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 240%
Projectile Speed: 1040
Radius: 9Unleashes a ball of fire towards a target which explodes, damaging nearby foes.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Projectile Speed2% reduced Projectile Speed
3% increased Area of Effect3% increased Effect of non-Damaging Ailments on Enemies
-2% more Damage with Ignite0.25% chance to Debilitate Enemies for 1 second on HitDeals (9-1095) to (14-1643) Fire Damage
(20-39)% chance to Ignite enemies
(50-88)% more Damage with Ignite
Projectiles gain Radius as they travel farther, up to +(0-9) RadiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. and Freezing PulseFreezing PulseSpell, Projectile, Cold
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (5-21) Mana
Cast Time: 0.65 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 200%
Projectile Speed: 1800An icy projectile which has a chance to freeze enemies it passes through. The projectile fades quickly, reducing damage and freezing chance until it dissipates.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent2% increased Projectile SpeedProjectiles gain Damage over time, dealing up to 3% more Damage by the time they dissipate
Deals 99% of DamageCannot Pierce EnemiesDeals (8-888) to (12-1332) Cold Damage
Projectiles Pierce all Targets
Projectiles lose Damage over time, dealing up to 50% less Damage by the time they dissipate
Projectiles have 25% chance to Freeze, which is lost over the first quarter of their flight
(0-19)% increased Projectile SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. may be linked with the support skill Elemental Proliferation SupportElemental Proliferation SupportCold, Fire, Lightning, Support, AoE
Icon: S
Level: (1-20)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Supports any skill that hits enemies, or could otherwise apply elemental ailments.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent0.5% increased Duration of Elemental Ailments on EnemiesSupported Skills have 1% increased Area of EffectSupported Skills deal 1% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments per Freeze, Shock or Ignite on EnemyElemental Ailments caused by Supported Skills spread to other enemies in a Radius of (12-15)
Supported Skills have 20% chance to Freeze, Shock and Ignite
(0-19)% increased Duration of Elemental Ailments on EnemiesThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket. in a three linked item, or Freezing PulseFreezing PulseSpell, Projectile, Cold
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (5-21) Mana
Cast Time: 0.65 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 200%
Projectile Speed: 1800An icy projectile which has a chance to freeze enemies it passes through. The projectile fades quickly, reducing damage and freezing chance until it dissipates.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent2% increased Projectile SpeedProjectiles gain Damage over time, dealing up to 3% more Damage by the time they dissipate
Deals 99% of DamageCannot Pierce EnemiesDeals (8-888) to (12-1332) Cold Damage
Projectiles Pierce all Targets
Projectiles lose Damage over time, dealing up to 50% less Damage by the time they dissipate
Projectiles have 25% chance to Freeze, which is lost over the first quarter of their flight
(0-19)% increased Projectile SpeedPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. may be replaced by Combustion SupportCombustion SupportFire, Support
Icon: i
Level: (1-20)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Requires Level 8Supports any skill that hits enemies.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3DivergentSupported Skills deal 0.5% increased Fire DamageIgnites from Supported Skills deal Damage 0.25% fasterIgnites from Supported Skills deal Damage 0.5% slower
Supported Skills deal 1% increased Fire DamageSupported Skills have (30-49)% chance to Ignite
Supported Skills deal (10-29)% more Fire Damage
Enemies Ignited by Supported Skills have -(10-19)% to Fire ResistanceThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket. to enhance the FireballFireballProjectile, Spell, AoE, Fire
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (6-25) Mana
Cast Time: 0.75 sec
Critical Strike Chance: 6.00%
Effectiveness of Added Damage: 240%
Projectile Speed: 1040
Radius: 9Unleashes a ball of fire towards a target which explodes, damaging nearby foes.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent4Phantasmal1% increased Projectile Speed2% reduced Projectile Speed
3% increased Area of Effect3% increased Effect of non-Damaging Ailments on Enemies
-2% more Damage with Ignite0.25% chance to Debilitate Enemies for 1 second on HitDeals (9-1095) to (14-1643) Fire Damage
(20-39)% chance to Ignite enemies
(50-88)% more Damage with Ignite
Projectiles gain Radius as they travel farther, up to +(0-9) RadiusPlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. even more. However linking two instances of Elemental Proliferation SupportElemental Proliferation SupportCold, Fire, Lightning, Support, AoE
Icon: S
Level: (1-20)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Supports any skill that hits enemies, or could otherwise apply elemental ailments.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent0.5% increased Duration of Elemental Ailments on EnemiesSupported Skills have 1% increased Area of EffectSupported Skills deal 1% increased Damage with Hits and Ailments per Freeze, Shock or Ignite on EnemyElemental Ailments caused by Supported Skills spread to other enemies in a Radius of (12-15)
Supported Skills have 20% chance to Freeze, Shock and Ignite
(0-19)% increased Duration of Elemental Ailments on EnemiesThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket. 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 Orb of FusingOrb of FusingStack Size: 20Reforges the links between sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more links.
Shift click to unstack., the Crafting Bench, an Orb of BindingOrb of BindingStack Size: 20Upgrades a normal item to a rare item with up to four linked socketsRight click this item then left click a normal item to apply it.
Shift click to unstack. or a Encrusted FossilEncrusted FossilStack Size: 10More sockets
Can have white socketsPlace in a Resonator to influence item crafting.
Shift click to unstack..

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

• have 1 socket instead of none.
• have 1 socket instead of none.
• can only have up to 3 sockets, despite being a two-handed weapon.
• Fishing RodFishing RodFishing Rod
  Physical Damage: 7-13
  Critical Strike Chance: 5.00%
  Attacks per Second: 1.20
  Weapon Range: 13 can only have up to 4 sockets, despite being a two-handed weapon.

Unique items

• and always have 6 linked sockets. They are the only one-handed weapons that can have more than three sockets.
• , , , , and do not have any sockets.
• always has a white socket and grants stats based on the colour of the gem socketed into the item.
• , , and grant stats based on the colour of the sockets in the item.
• always has 6 white linked sockets.
• and always come with six linked sockets that are randomly colored. These cannot be modified with the crafting bench.
• does not need to have the socketed gems match the socket colors, effectively functioning as white sockets.
• always has 6 sockets.
• always has 6 linked sockets.
• 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 and ).

Related divination cards

There are divination cards that grant items with a high number of sockets and links.

Item	Effect(s)
Bowyer's DreamBowyer's Dream6Six-Link Harbinger Bow Item Level: 91If this is my dream, I don't wish to wake.	Six-Link Harbinger Bow Item Level: 91
Draped in DreamsDraped in Dreams5Six-Linked Body Armour Item Level: 100 Influenced ItemThe suit I wear, Is heavy and bare. A canvas, it seems, breathing life into dreams.	Six-Linked Body Armour Item Level: 100 Influenced Item

Related Prophecies

• will cause the next Jeweller's OrbJeweller's OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the number of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more sockets.
  Shift click to unstack. used on an appropriate item to make that item become a fully-linked five-socket item.
• will cause the next Jeweller's OrbJeweller's OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the number of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more sockets.
  Shift click to unstack. that resulted in an item having 6 sockets to also make those sockets fully linked.

Abyssal socket

Main page: Abyssal socket

Abyssal sockets are special types of sockets exclusively found on Abyss themed items. A single socket can be found on and between one and two sockets on Abyss-related uniques. Abyss sockets can also be crafted into an item using a Resonator with a Hollow FossilHollow FossilStack Size: 10Has an Abyssal socketPlace in a Resonator to influence item crafting.
Shift click to unstack..

The following uniques have abyss sockets:

• Bubonic Trail
• Command of the Pit
• Hale Negator
• Lightpoacher
• Shroud of the Lightless
• Tombfist

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

Main page: Resonator

Resonators are a special currency item class which have sockets for fossils.

Developer Information

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