It’s best to carry around a flawless gem of whatever type you want upgraded and be sure it’s the only gem in your inventory when you click the shrine. Gem shrines are found only rarely, but they are worth preparing for and using, as they’ll upgrade one gem from your inventory one level.

Three gems of the same type and quality combine in the Horadric Cube to upgrade one level of quality. This does not damage the item, but destroys whatever was socketed in it. In the Diablo 2 expansion, gems can be removed from sockets by destroying them with a Horadric cube recipe. Once a gem is inserted into a socket, it is there forever in Diablo 2 Classic, and can’t be removed or upgraded in quality. Full details elsewhere in the Items section. Helms can have from 1-3, Body armor 1-4, weapons 1-6, and shields 1-4. Items can vary in their number of sockets, depending on type and quality. No boots, gloves, belts, or jewelry will ever be socketed, and this includes Uniques. Only weapons, helms, shields and body armor can have sockets, with body armor being the new addition to the list with the release of the Expansion. Perfect gems are never dropped, though one may be found as a reward for the Hellforge Quest.

Better quality gems are found as you progress in the game. “ruby”)ĭiablo 2 Gems can not be bought, only found from monster drops, chests, and as a reward for some quests.

Normal (simply called by the gem type in the game, i.e.

There are five levels of quality for Diablo 2 gems, from worst to best they are: All have different effects depending on the item in which they are “socketed”.

Diablo 2 armor appearance