View source for Item socket

{{redirect|Socket|sockets in the passive skill tree|jewel socket}}
{{Redirect|Links|help with editing hyperlinks|Help:Links}}
{{Redirect|Links|active skills that create a bond between your character and a specific party member|Link skill}}

[[Image:socket.png|thumb|upright|An example of a bow with three linked sockets; two of which are occupied by skill gems.]]

'''Item sockets''' are slots on [[equipment]] or [[Delve Stackable Socketable Currency|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 gems]] to provide benefits to linked [[skill gems]].
* Abyss sockets in which [[Abyss Jewel]]s can be socketed
* [[delve socketable currency|Resonator]] sockets in which [[fossil]]s can be socketed

__TOC__

==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. {{il|Tainted Chromatic Orb}} ignores the item's stat requirements, so each socket has a roughly even chance of rolling any three colors.

White sockets can be obtained through [[corruption]] by using a {{il|Vaal Orb}} at a 25% chance.<ref name="WhiteChance"/> They can also be crafted into an item using [[Vorici, Silent Brother|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 {{il|Chromatic Orb}} reforging or by using the [[Crafting Bench]] in your [[hideout]] (with additional {{il|Vaal Orb}} cost equal to the number of Chromatic Orbs required if the item is [[corrupted]]).

===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 {{il|Jeweller's Orb}} reforging, using the [[Crafting Bench]] in your [[hideout]], or an {{il|Orb of Binding}}. Corrupted items can only be changed through the [[Crafting Bench]] and need an equivalent amount of {{il|Vaal Orb}} as the usual cost of {{il|Jeweller's Orb}}, {{il|Chromatic Orb}} and {{il|Orb of Fusing}} to change sockets on any corrupted item, or via the use of {{il|Tainted Jeweller's Orb}}, {{il|Tainted Chromatic Orb}}, and {{il|Tainted Orb of Fusing}}.

====Maximum number of sockets by equipment type====
* Most [[Belts]], [[amulets]], [[rings]] and [[quivers]] do not have sockets. Exceptions are {{il|Unset Ring}}, {{il|Unset Amulet}}, {{il|Black Maw Talisman}}, {{il|Stygian Vise}}, and {{il|Ornate Quiver}}.
* [[One-Handed|One-handed weapons]] and [[shield]]s can only have up to 3 sockets max
* [[Boots]], [[helmet]]s and [[glove]]s can have up to 4 sockets
* [[Body armour]]s and [[Two-Handed|Two-handed weapons]] can have up to 6 sockets
* Non-unique equipment can have up to 1 Abyssal Socket, with the appropriate modifier on the item.

Some items have exceptions to these rules, typically due to special modifiers or low-level base types with a different inventory size.

====Item level====
{| class = "wikitable"
! Number of<br>sockets
! Minimum ilvl
! {{abbr|Weight<br>(6S & 3S)|Applies to items that can have a maximum of 6 sockets such as two hand weapons and body armours or a maximum of 3 sockets such as one hand weapons and shields }}
! {{abbr|Weight<br>(4S)|Applies to items that can have a maximum of 4 sockets such as gloves, helmets and boots}}
! First [[vendor]]<br>availability
|-
| 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 6/7  
|}
<!-- Info can be sourced from:
4S: Metadata/Items/Armours/AbstractArmour.ot
6S: Metadata/Items/Armours/BodyArmours/AbstractBodyArmour.ot or Metadata/Items/Weapons/TwoHandWeapons/AbstractTwoHandWeapon.ot
3S: Metadata/Items/Armours/Shields/AbstractShield.ot or Metadata/Items/Weapons/AbstractWeapon.ot
-->

The item level item is generally applicable, but note that there are a few cases where these restrictions may be overridden or ignored:

* [[Hillock]], upon death, ''always'' drops a specific weapon with three unlinked RBG sockets, which is dependent on your class (identical basetype to starter weapon) (technically, this still respects the socket limit.)
* Unique items that override the socket mechanics, such as {{il|Tabula Rasa}} or {{il|Skin of the Loyal}}, which ''always'' have 6 (linked) sockets regardless of item level. Altering the socket count via crafting bench and attempting to use Jeweller's Orbs will cause it to respect item level again.
* Items from [[strongboxes]] with {{ml|ChestItemSockets|verbose}} affix can exceed the item level limit.
* A specific number of sockets can be crafted on an item using the [[Crafting Bench]] ignoring [[item level]] restrictions
* [[Monster modifier]]s that cause items to drop with maximum sockets appear to ignore item level.
* Certain [[heist enchantments]] can modify the number of sockets on an item when rolling with a {{il|Tailoring Orb}} or {{il|Tempering Orb}}.

===Links===
Sockets can be linked to other sockets in the same item. In order to provide their benefits support gems have to be placed in sockets linked to other sockets containing skill gems. 

Multiple support gems of the same type can only be applied once to an skill gem, however it is possible to apply a single support gem to multiple 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 {{il|Fireball}} and {{il|Freezing Pulse}} may be linked with {{il|Elemental Proliferation Support}} in a three linked item, or {{il|Freezing Pulse}} may be replaced by {{il|Chance to Ignite Support}} to enhance the {{il|Fireball}} even more. However linking two instances of {{il|Elemental Proliferation Support}} will only provide the bonus of the highest level one.''
:Spell Totem Support can be linked with most intelligence skills (Arc, SRS, Frostbolt, etc) in a 6 link armor/Tabula Rasa

The number of links can be reforged using an {{il|Orb of Fusing}}, the [[Crafting Bench]], or an {{il|Orb of Binding}}. 

==== Order ====
<section begin=skill_gem_order />Generally the order in which skill gems are linked only holds importance for [[trigger gem]]s and for rounding the mana cost. The order for sockets used is:
{|style="text-align:center;"
|-
  | 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<section end=skill_gem_order />

===Items with non-standard interactions===

====Base items====
* {{il|Unset Ring|Unset Rings}} have 1 socket instead of none.
* {{il|Black Maw Talisman|Black Maw Talismans}} have 1 socket instead of none.
* {{il|Gnarled Branch}} can only have up to 3 sockets, despite being a two-handed weapon.
* {{il|Fishing Rod}} can only have up to 4 sockets, despite being a two-handed weapon.

====Unique items====
* {{il|The Goddess Unleashed}} and {{il|Oni-Goroshi}} always have 6 linked sockets. They are the only one-handed weapons that can have more than three sockets.
* {{il|Actum}}, {{il|Kaom's Heart}}, {{il|Replica Kaom's Heart}}, {{il|Kaom's Roots}}, and {{il|The Grey Spire}} do not have any sockets.
* {{il|Malachai's Artifice}} always has a white socket and grants stats based on the colour of the gem socketed into the item.
* {{il|Prismatic Eclipse}}, {{il|Scaeva}}, and {{il|Crown of the Tyrant}} grant stats based on the colour of the sockets in the item.
* {{il|Tabula Rasa}} always has 6 white linked sockets.
* {{il|Skin of the Loyal}} and {{il|Skin of the Lords}} always come with six linked sockets that are randomly colored. These cannot be modified with the crafting bench.
* {{il|Dialla's Malefaction}} does not need to have the socketed gems match the socket colors, effectively functioning as white sockets.
* {{il|Loreweave}} always has 6 sockets.
* {{il|Shadowstitch}} always has 6 linked sockets.
* {{il|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 Chests#Unique item chests|Descent: Champions unique items]] have three white, linked sockets (except for {{il|Slivers of Providence}} and {{il|Chains of Time}}).

===Related divination cards===
There are [[divination card]]s that grant items with a high number of sockets and links.

{{Query base items
|where=
  items.class_id="DivinationCard"
  AND items.description LIKE "%-link%"
|description=1
}}

==Passive skills==
===Passive Masteries===
{{#cargo_query: 
 |tables=mastery_groups,mastery_effects=m_e
 |join on= mastery_groups.mastery_effects HOLDS m_e.id
 |fields= 
     mastery_groups._pageName=Mastery, 
     GROUP_CONCAT( CONCAT('* ', m_e.stat_text) 
         SEPARATOR "\n")=Effects
 |where= m_e.stat_text LIKE "%socket%"
 |order by=mastery_groups._pageName
 |group by=mastery_groups._pageName
}}

==Abyssal socket==
{{Main|Abyssal socket}}

Abyssal sockets are special types of sockets exclusively found on [[Abyss]] themed items. A single socket can be found on {{il|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 {{il|Hollow Fossil}}.

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 jewel]]s into these sockets.

==Resonator sockets==
{{main|Resonator}}
Resonators are a special [[currency]] [[item class]] which have sockets for [[fossil]]s.

==Developer Information==
{{Split|section=yes|reason=This article is about item sockets as a game mechanic. This information falls outside of that scope}}
{{development information|section=yes}}

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:
{| class="wikitable"
! Colour
! Letter Code
! Numerical ID
|-
| red
| R
| 1
|-
| green
| G
| 2
|- 
| blue
| B
| 3
|- 
| white
| W
| 
|}
==Version history==
{{Version history table header}}
{{Version history table row|3.21.0|
* Ruthless no longer has alternative levels for when you start finding four, five, and six socket items.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/pathofexile/comments/11r1qfp/comment/jc675mi/</ref>
}}
{{Version history table row|0.9.3|
* It's now much easier to get appropriate socket configurations on items. The average number of sockets and links is a lot higher.
* Changed the art for item sockets to make them easier to distinguish for colourblind players.
}}
{{Version history table row|0.8.6|
* Changed off-colour socket spawning on items so that it's flatter at low levels and now more common at high levels.
}}
{{Version history table row|0.8.4|
* It's now more common to find two linked sockets on items. It's less common to find three-six linked sockets..
}}
{{Version history table row|0.8.3|
* Increased chance of off-colour sockets spawning on items, slightly.
}}
{{Version history table row|0.8.0|
* It's now slightly more likely to generate an off-colour socket.
}}
{{Version history table row|0.6.8|
* Allowed three sockets to spawn on the highest weapons/armours.
}}
{{Version history table row|0.6.7|
* Made larger socket groups slightly more common.
}}
{{Version history table end}}

==References==
{{reflist|refs=
<ref name="WhiteChance">{{cite web|author=chris_wilson|date=July 16, 2015|title=Chris Wilson on chances of corrupting White Sockets|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/pathofexile/comments/3dgggv/chris_wilson_on_chances_of_corrupting_white/ct54drb|publisher=Path of Exile Subreddit|accessdate=July 16, 2015}}</ref>
}}

[[Category:Item mechanics]]
[[de:Sockel]]
[[ru:Гнездо предмета]]