Exceptional and Unique items
Exceptional drops, corruption outcomes, and Unique modifiers can grant sockets beyond the default limit. The item can never exceed the number of inventory grid spaces it occupies.
Equipment mechanic
Augment Sockets
Add sockets with Artificer's Orbs, fill them with Runes and other Augments, and check exactly what survives replacement or extraction.
Can you remove a rune?Replace it, or destroy the equipment to recover it
Placing a normal Augment into an occupied socket replaces and destroys the old Augment. An Orb of Extraction takes the opposite trade: it destroys the equipment and returns its non Socket-Bound Augments. It does not return Socket-Bound Augments.
Default socket limits
Before special exceptions| Equipment | Maximum | Artificer's Orb |
|---|---|---|
| Body armour | 2 | Can add sockets |
| Two-handed weapon | 2 | Can add sockets |
| Other armour, shield, focus, or weapon | 1 | Can add one socket |
| Quiver or jewellery | 0 | Cannot add a socket by default |
What happens to the item?
4 actions- Fill an empty socketThe augment adds its target-specific enchantment to the equipment.
- Replace a normal augmentThe new augment takes the socket and the previous augment is destroyed.
- Use an Orb of ExtractionThe equipment is destroyed and its non Socket-Bound augments are returned.
- Recover a Socket-Bound augmentAn Orb of Extraction does not return it. Read its current tooltip before socketing it.
Augment types
Equipment socketsEach item page lists the exact effect for every compatible target.
| Type | Where it comes from | Important rule |
|---|---|---|
| Runes | World drops, with additional exclusive sources | The effect changes with the equipment type. |
| Soul Cores | Trial of Chaos and Atziri's Temple | The effect changes with the equipment type. |
| Idols | Azmerian wisp-possessed monsters and other listed sources | Some Idols are Limited to 1. |
| Abyssal Eyes | Abyssal Depths | Ancient Augment and Limited to 1. |
Limits and exceptions
Check before spending currencyLimited and Ancient Augments
Some Augments are Limited to 1. Ancient Augments share a one-per-character restriction. An invalid equipped combination can disable the affected item.
Skill sockets are separate
Support sockets in the Skills menu use Jeweller's Orbs. They are not equipment Augment Sockets and do not accept Runes.
Connected items and mechanics
Artificer's OrbAdd an Augment Socket up to the item's applicable limit.Orb of ExtractionDestroy equipment and return non Socket-Bound Augments.Vaal OrbReview socket corruption outcomes and the consequences of corruption.Masterwork RuneUpgrade an eligible socketed Rune and check its Socket-Bound wording.Bonded ModifiersCompare Bonded effects and their Wisdom of the Maji requirement.RuneforgingUse the separate Runes of Aldur transformation system.
