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Mechanic

Support

A Support Gem modifies one skill when socketed into that skill in the Skills Panel. Compatibility, Support Category, attribute capacity, socket count, and any cost or reservation multiplier all matter before the support can apply.
0.5.4d
Current data

Catalog version 0.5.4d

No direct 0.5 patch change is linked to this page. The displayed values are current for catalog version 0.5.4d.

What Support does

Current rules

Read the Supports line first, then check the target skill's tags and behavior. If the predicate matches, the support changes only the skill it is socketed into. The Support Finder lists explicit current compatibility in both directions without treating recommendations as proof of compatibility.

Socketed scope
A Support Gem normally applies only to the skill whose support socket contains it. Socketing the same support into another skill does not make its effect global unless the support explicitly grants a global effect while a Persistent skill is active.
Compatibility predicate
The Supports sentence is the rule. A support may require an Attack, Spell, Hit, Projectile, Minion, Duration, Channelling, or another exact behavior, and exclusions in the same sentence also apply.
Support sockets
A skill begins with two Support Gem sockets. Jeweller's Orbs can add up to three more sockets, for five Support Gem sockets on an eligible skill.
Attribute capacity
Every 5 points of Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence allows one additional Support Gem of the matching red, green, or blue attribute type across the character's equipped skills.
Support Categories
Every Support Gem belongs to one or more Support Categories. Two supports sharing a Category cannot be socketed into the same skill, although that Category can be used in a different skill.
Meta Gems
Skill Gems and Support Gems can be socketed into a Meta Gem. They are Connected through that Meta Gem, but each Support still applies only to socketed skills that satisfy its own predicate.
Cost and reservation
A support can change Mana cost, Life cost, or Spirit reservation through its explicit effect or multiplier. The modified skill shows the resulting cost in the Skills Panel.

What to check before socketing a Support Gem

5 cases
01
Supports sentence

Defines the eligible skill behavior and every exclusion. This is more precise than matching one visible tag.

Related: Attack, Spell, Hit
02
Support Category

Prevents two supports from the same Category being socketed into one skill, even when both are otherwise compatible.

03
Attribute requirement

Consumes one character-wide support allowance of its attribute colour for every 5 points of that attribute.

Related: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence
04
Skill sockets

The skill must have an open support socket. Eligible skills can grow from two to five Support Gem sockets.

Related: Skill Gems
05
Compatibility lookup

Use explicit source compatibility rather than guessing from popularity, recommendations, or a shared word in the description.

Related: Support Finder

Limits and exceptions

5 rules
  • A shared tag is not sufficient when the support requires a narrower behavior such as hitting, creating a Projectile, using the skill yourself, or summoning a specific Minion type.
  • A support can be socketable but provide no useful benefit to one component of a multi-part skill. Read which component actually satisfies the effect.
  • Recommendations and explicit compatibility are separate evidence. A recommended support is not automatically compatible, and a compatible support is not automatically useful for a build.
  • Disabled Support Gems may remain on existing permanent-league characters while no longer being engravable. Current acquisition and compatibility must be checked separately.
  • Variants with the same public name can have different tier, Lineage, or effect records. Keep variant identity when comparing or linking them.

Related pages

9 connections
mechanicAttack

An Attack is a skill with the Attack tag. It normally takes its base damage, attack speed, and base Critical Hit Chance from an equipped Martial Weapon, unless the skill states a different rule.

mechanicSpell

A Spell is a skill with the Spell tag. Any base damage, Cast Time, and base Critical Hit Chance it lists come from the skill rather than the inherent damage, Attack Speed, or base Critical Hit Chance on a weapon.

mechanicHit

A Hit is an instantaneous damage event. Any damage that is not damage over time is Hit damage, whether it comes from an Attack, a Spell, Thorns, or another effect.

mechanicProjectile

A Projectile is a moving entity created by an Attack or Spell. Projectile describes delivery, not the source type or damage type, so the Projectile can still be an Attack or Spell and can deal any supported damage type.

mechanicAoE

Area of Effect, usually shortened to AoE, describes a skill component that applies to targets inside an area instead of selecting only one target. The area can be a circle, cone, line, ring, or another shape defined by the skill.

mechanicDuration

Duration is the length of time a skill component, Buff, Debuff, Ailment, Curse, Mark, Minion, Totem, Flask effect, Charm effect, Hazard, or delayed event remains active. Each duration modifier applies only to the effect type it names.

mechanicPersistent

A Persistent skill is toggled in the Skills Panel and remains active until disabled or until its reservation or other requirement can no longer be met. Persistent Buffs, Meta skills, and Reviving Minions often reserve Spirit.

mechanicTrigger

A Trigger causes a skill to occur immediately when its stated condition is met. A Triggered skill has no attack or cast time for that activation, usually targets the cause of the Trigger, and does not count as a skill you used.

mechanicMinion

Minions are summoned Allies with their own offensive and defensive stats. Player modifiers do not apply to them unless the modifier explicitly affects Minions or Allies, and the player does not count as their own Ally.

Related mechanics

6
MechanicLineage

Lineage Supports are powerful Support Gems obtained as drops or encounter rewards. They cannot be engraved from an Uncut Support Gem, and each named Lineage Support normally has a character-wide socket limit of one.

MechanicTrigger

A Trigger causes a skill to occur immediately when its stated condition is met. A Triggered skill has no attack or cast time for that activation, usually targets the cause of the Trigger, and does not count as a skill you used.

MechanicStrength

Strength is a primary Attribute used for equipment and gem requirements, especially Armour and melee-aligned equipment. Each point of Strength inherently grants 2 maximum Life.

MechanicDexterity

Dexterity is a primary Attribute used for equipment and gem requirements, especially Evasion and range-aligned equipment. Each point of Dexterity inherently grants 8 Accuracy Rating.

MechanicIntelligence

Intelligence is a primary Attribute used for equipment and gem requirements, especially Energy Shield and spell-aligned equipment. Each point of Intelligence inherently grants 2 maximum Mana.

MechanicMeta

A Meta Gem is a Skill Gem that accepts other Skill Gems and Support Gems in its own sockets, then uses, Triggers, or otherwise applies those socketed skills according to the Meta Gem's rules.

Guides using this page

1

Items and gems using this mechanic

24 connections
Direct relationBleed I

Supports any skill that Hits enemies, giving it a chance to inflict Bleeding.

Direct relationBleed II

Supports any skill that Hits enemies, giving it a chance to inflict Bleeding.

Direct relationBleed III

Supports any skill that Hits enemies, causing it to inflict Bleeding.

Direct relationBleed IV

Supports any skill that Hits enemies, causing it to deal more Melee Physical Damage to Bleeding Enemies, but be unable to inflict Bleeding itself. Supported Skills also inflict Incision on Hit.

Direct relationBloodlust

Supports Melee Attacks, causing them to deal more damage against Bleeding enemies, but preventing them from inflicting Bleeding.

Direct relationBrutality I

Supports any skill that deals damage, boosting its Physical damage at the expense of all other Damage Types.

Direct relationBrutality II

Supports any skill that deals damage, boosting its Physical damage at the expense of all other Damage Types.

Direct relationBrutality III

Supports any skill that deals damage, boosting its Physical damage at the expense of all other Damage Types, as well as giving Hits from that skill a chance to ignore Physical Damage reduction.

Direct relationEfficiency I

Supports any skill, making it cost less to use. Cannot support skills which reserve Spirit.

Direct relationEfficiency II

Supports any skill, making it cost less to use. Cannot support skills which reserve Spirit.

Direct relationFire Attunement

Supports any skill that deals damage, causing them to Gain Fire Damage but deal less Cold and Lightning Damage.

Direct relationFire Penetration I

Supports any skill that Hits enemies, making those Hits Penetrate enemy Fire resistance.

Direct relationFire Penetration II

Supports any skill that Hits enemies, making those Hits ignore enemy Fire resistance.

Direct relationHeavy Swing

Supports Melee Attacks, boosting their Physical damage at the cost of Attack Speed.

Direct relationImmolate

Supports Attacks, granting them extra Fire damage against Ignited enemies but making them unable to Ignite enemies themselves.

Direct relationKnockback

Supports any skill that Hits enemies, causing it to Knock Back enemies.

Direct relationLife Leech I

Supports Attacks, causing their Physical damage to Leech Life.

Direct relationLife Leech II

Supports Attacks, causing their Physical damage to Leech Life.

Direct relationLife Leech III

Supports Attacks, causing their Physical damage to Leech Life and preventing Leech gained this way from being removed at full Life.

Direct relationMeat Shield I

Supports skills which create Minions, granting them less damage taken but making them deal less damage. Cannot support skills which create undamageable Minions.

Direct relationRage I

Supports Melee Attacks, causing them to grant Rage on Hit.

Direct relationRage II

Supports Melee Attacks, causing them to grant Rage on Hit.

Direct relationRage III

Supports Melee Attacks, causing them to grant Rage on Hit. Supported Skills have signficantly higher Attack speed while you or supported minion are not at maximum Rage.

Direct relationSolus Ipse

(150-200)% increased Armour, Evasion and Energy Shield