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[[File:Legem-interface-live1.jpg|thumb|300px|Legendary Gem interface window.]]
 
[[File:Legem-interface-live1.jpg|thumb|300px|Legendary Gem interface window.]]
Legendary Gems (or LGems or LeGems) were added to [[Reaper of Souls]] in [[Patch 2.1]], after extensive testing on the [[PTR]]. There are 14 types of Legendary Gems, all of which add a special bonus when socketed in rings and amulets. The value of the bonus increases with each rank the gem is upgraded, up to a maximum of 25, and at that level a special secondary power is unlocked.
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Legendary Gems (or LGems or LeGems) were added to [[Reaper of Souls]] in [[Patch 2.1]], after extensive testing on the [[PTR]]. There were initially 14 types of Legendary Gems, with more added each [[Season]]. Most Legendary Gems have a function only when socketed in rings and amulets, this makes rings and amulets with sockets highly sought.  
 
 
While the developers are calling them "legendary gems" these socketables have nothing in common with regular [[gems]] in stats or appearance, and are more analogous to the {{iw|Unique_Jewels Rainbow Facet unique jewels}} of Diablo 2. The main difference in Diablo 3 is that these gems can only be socketed in jewelry, and the way the gems can be upgraded to improve their functions over time.
 
  
  
 
==Rules of Drop and Use==
 
==Rules of Drop and Use==
 +
Legendary Gems are only dropped from [[Greater Rift Guardians]], the final bosses of [[Greater Rifts.]] A Gem is guaranteed to drop if the player doesn't have on in his equipment, inventory or stash. This guarentees that a player will get all Legendary Gems without having to rely too much on the RNG. Duplicates are only possible if another character takes a Gem out of the stash.
  
Legendary Gems:
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All gems are dropped at rank 0 and must be socketed into a ring or amulet, making such rings and amulets valuable. Players can use the [[Mystic]] to add sockets to ring and amulets they like. Socketing and removing work the same as with normal Gems.
 
 
* Are dropped only at rank 0 and only by [[Greater Rift Guardians]], the final boss found in a [[Greater Rift]].
 
* Drop quite commonly (100% drop chance), but players will never find two of the same type of legendary gem if they have one already on that character or in their stash.
 
** To find more than one of the same gem, you need to put the first gem on another character.
 
** This is actually a benefit to players seeking a specific gem, since holding the other types you won't find any duplicates.
 
* Can only be socketed into rings and amulets - not any other item types.
 
* Only work when equipped on players. Do not function when equipped on [[followers]].
 
* Can only be upgraded with [[Urshi]], the NPC who appears only in [[Greater Rifts]].
 
** Upgrade odds are entirely based on the level of the Greater Rift and the level of the gem. 
 
** If the level of the Grift is more than 10 higher than the rank of the gem, the odds are 100%. If the Grift is more than 7 levels lower than the gem, the odds are 0%. Full odds listed below.
 
  
 +
Legendary Gems come with an effect with an upgradeable value in it. Each rank the gem gains increases the value by a set amount. Gems are upgraded by Urshi after completing a Greater Rift within 15 minutes. Players get 3 chances to upgrade gems for each rift. Upgrade odds are based on Gem Level and Greater Rift Level. When both are equal, the chance is 60%. When the Greater Rift is more than 6 level higher, the chances up, topping out at 100 % at 10 levels. If the Gem is higher, the chance is halved for each rank of difference. The max gem rank is 200, far beyond the highest Greater Rift Clear.
  
 
==Upgrade Odds==
 
==Upgrade Odds==
 
Upgrade odds are determined entirely by the difference in level between the Greater Rift in which Urshi appears, and the rank of the legendary gem.[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blizzard-tracker/devthread/us/14058816325] If the level of the Greater Rift is higher than that of the gem, the odds of the gem gaining a rank are increased. If the level of the Greater Rift is lower than the gem, the odds decrease rapidly.
 
  
 
{|
 
{|
Line 72: Line 60:
 
* Grift level 22, LGem level 24 = -2 = 15% chance of successful upgrade.
 
* Grift level 22, LGem level 24 = -2 = 15% chance of successful upgrade.
  
After players kill the Greater Rift Guardian they can use Urshi's interface to either upgrade the GRK (which will go up at least 1 level, and possibly more if they had a very fast run), or to upgrade a Legendary Gem. One or the other, but not both, so when players choose to upgrade a LGem, they can not upgrade a GRK and continue escalating that series of Greater Rifts.
+
Note that the odds recalculate with each successful upgrade, so a gem rolling successfully could be 100% on the first try, 90% on the second, and 80% on the third.
 
 
 
 
  
 
==Legendary Gems Catalog==
 
==Legendary Gems Catalog==
  
These stats changed several times during PTR testing. Here are the Legendary Gem stats as of [[Patch 2.1]], which went live in late August 2014.
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{|
 
+
!Effect
[[File:Legem-bane-of-the-powerful-icon.JPG|right]]
+
!Values
[[Bane of the Powerful]]
+
!Rank 25 Bonus
* '''Base effect: '''Gain 20% increased damage for 25 seconds after killing an elite pack.
+
!colspan="2"|Notes
* '''Increase rank grants: '''+1 second buff duration.
+
|-
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''15% [[Increased Damage to Elites]].
+
!colspan="4"|[[Bane of the Powerful]]
 
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Bane-of-the-Powerful-icon4.jpg|right]]
 
+
|-
[[File:Legem-bane-of-the-trapped-icon.JPG|right]]
+
|Gain 20% increased damage for {{c_blue|X}} seconds after killing an elite pack.
[[Bane of the Trapped]]
+
|Start:{{c_blue|30}} Increase:{{c_blue|1}}
* '''Base effect: '''Increase damage against enemies under control-impairing effects by 15%.
+
|15% Increased Damage to Elites
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' +0.3% damage.
+
|One of the most popular gems, this grants a big damage buff, works with every type of build, and enjoys around 100% up-time in Rifts, where Elites abound.
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Gain an aura that reduces the movement speed of enemies within 15 yards by 30%.
+
|-
 
+
!colspan="4"|[[Bane of the Stricken]]
 
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Bane-of-the-Stricken-icon4.jpg|right]]
[[Boon of the Hoarder]]
+
|-
* '''Base Effect:''' 25% chance to cause an explosion of gold when you kill an enemy.
+
|Each attack you make against an enemy increases the damage it takes from your attacks by {{c_blue|X%}}
* '''Upgrade rank grants: '''+1.5% chance on kill.
+
|Start: {{c_blue|0.8%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.01%}}
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Gain 30% increased movement speed for 2 seconds after picking up gold.
+
|Gain 25% increased damage against Rift Guardians and bosses
 
+
|This gem was added for Season 4
 
+
|-
 
+
!colspan="4"|[[Bane of the Trapped]]
[[File:Legem-enforcer-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Bane-of-the-Trapped-icon4.jpg|right]]
[[Enforcer]]
+
|-
* '''Base Effect:''' Increases the damage of your pets by 15%.
+
|Increase damage against enemies under control-impairing effects by {{c_blue|X%}}
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' 0.3% more pet damage per level.
+
|Start: {{c_blue|15%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.3%}}
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Your pets take 25% reduced damage.
+
|Gain an aura that reduces the movement speed of enemies within 15 yards by 30%.
 
+
|The Aura at Rank 25 has no visual display, but it does proc the gem itself; so monsters near the hero are slowed and thus take increased damage.
 
+
|-
 
+
!colspan="4"|[[Boon of the Hoarder]]
[[File:Legem-gem-of-efficacious-toxin-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Boon-of-the-Hoarder-icon4.jpg|right]]
[[Gem of Efficacious Toxin]]
+
|-
* '''Base Effect:''' Poison all enemies hit for 2000% weapon damage over 10 seconds.
+
|{{c_blue|X%}} chance to cause an explosion of gold when you kill an enemy
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' +50% weapon damage over 10 seconds.
+
|Start: {{c_blue|25%}} Increase: {{c_blue|1.5%}}
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''All enemies you poison take 10% increased damage from all sources.
+
|Gain 30% increased movement speed for 2 seconds after picking up gold.
 
+
|The first time found (on an account) it will only drop from [[Greed]], found in [[The Vault]].
 
+
|-
[[File:Legem-gogok-of-swiftness-icon.jpg|right]]
+
!colspan="4"|[[Enforcer]]
[[Gogok of Swiftness]]
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Enforcer-icon4.jpg|right]]
* '''Base Effect:''' 50% chance on hit to gain Swiftness, increasing your Attack Speed 1% for 4 seconds. This effect stacks up to 15 times.
+
|-
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' +1% chance.
+
|Increases the damage of your pets by {{c_blue|X%}}
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Gain 1% Cooldown Reduction per stack of Swiftness.
+
|Start: {{c_blue|15%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.3%}}
 
+
|Your pets take 25% reduced damage.
 
+
|The rank 25 bonus is irrelevant for pets that are not targeted and do not take damage, such as [[Hydras]] or [[Sentries]].
[[File:Legem-invigorating-gemstone-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|-
[[Invigorating Gemstone]]
+
!colspan="4"|[[Esoteric Alteration]]
* '''Base Effect:''' While under any control-impairing effects, reduce all damage taken by 30%.
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Esoteric-Alteration-icon4.jpg|right]]
* '''Upgrade rank grants: '''+0.4% damage reduction.
+
|-
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Heal for 20% of maximum life when hit by control-impairing effect.
+
|Gain {{c_blue|X%}} non-Physical damage reduction
 
+
|Start: {{c_blue|10%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.5%}}
 
+
|While below half Life, your resistances to Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison, and Arcane are increased by 75%.
 
+
|A very powerful defensive gem, added in [[Season Two]].
[[File:Legem-mirinae-teardrop-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|-
[[Mirinae, Teardrop of the Starweaver]]
+
!colspan="4"|[[Gem of Ease]]
*  '''Base Effect:''' 15% chance on hit to smite a nearby enemy for 2000% weapon damage as Holy.
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Gem-of-Ease-icon4.jpg|right]]
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' +40% weapon damage.
+
|-
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Smite a nearby enemy every 5 seconds.
+
|Monster kills grant +{{c_blue|X}} experience
 
+
|Start: {{c_blue|500}} Increase: {{c_blue|50}}
 
+
|Level requirement reduced to 1
[[File:Legem-moratorium-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|Sockets into Weapons rather than jewelry. Useful for [[twink]]ing
[[Moratorium]]
+
|-
*  '''Base Effect:''' 25% of all damage taken is instead staggered and dealt to you over 3 seconds.
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!colspan="4"|[[Gem of Efficacious Toxin]]
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' +0.1 second to the stagger duration.
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Efficacious-Toxin-icon4.jpg|right]]
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''10% chance on kill to clear all staggered damage.
+
|-
 
+
|Poison all enemies hit for {{c_blue|X%}} weapon damage over 10 seconds.
 
+
|Start: {{c_blue|1000%}} Increase: {{c_blue|50%}}
[[File:Legem-pain-enhancer-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|All enemies you poison take 10% increased damage from all sources.
[[Pain Enhancer]]
+
|A popular gem for big damage over time, but less useful for characters who kill enemies very quickly. One of the more powerul Rank 25 bonuses
*  '''Base Effect:''' Critical hits cause the enemy to bleed for 1200% weapon damage as Physical over 3 seconds.
+
|-
* '''Upgrade rank grants: '''+30% weapon damage.
+
!colspan="4"|[[Gogok of Swiftness]]
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Gain Blood Frenzy, granting you 3% increased Attack Speed for each bleeding enemy within 20 yards.
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Gorgok-icon4.jpg|right]]
 
+
|-
 
+
|50% chance on hit to gain Swiftness, increasing your Attack Speed by {{c_blue|X%}} for 4 seconds. This effect stacks up to 15 times.
[[File:Legem-simplicitys-strenght-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|Start: {{c_blue|1%}} Increase: {{c_blue|1%}}
[[Simplicity’s Strength]]
+
|Gain 1% Cooldown Reduction per stack of Swiftness
*  '''Base Effect:''' Increase the damage of primary skills by 25%.
+
|The Attack Speed increase is useful to some builds, but this gem is most valued for the massive [[CDR]] granted by the Rank 25 property.
* '''Upgrade rank grants: '''+0.5% damage.
+
|-
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''Primary skills heal you for 2% of maximum health on hit.
+
!colspan="4"|[[Iceblink]]
 
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Iceblink-icon4.jpg|right]]
 
+
|-
[[File:Legem-taeguk-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|Your Cold skills now apply Chill effects and your Chill effects now slow enemy movement speed by an additional {{c_blue|X%}}
[[Taeguk]]
+
|Start: {{c_blue|5%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.4%}}
*  '''Base Effect:''' Gain 0.5% increased damage for 3 seconds after spending primary resource. This effect stacks up to 20 times.  
+
|10% increased chance to critically strike Chilled or Frozen enemies
* Upgrade rank grants: +1 max stack.
+
|One of two gems added in Season Three
* Rank 25 unlocks: Gain 0.5% increased Armor for every stack.
+
|-
Bliz Note: This buff duration on this gem was chosen so that it’s easier to keep up with cheap spenders and not trivial with expensive spenders.
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!colspan="4"|[[Invigorating Gemstone]]
 
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Invigorating-icon4.jpg|right]]
 
+
|-
[[File:Legem-wreath-of-lightning-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|While under any control-impairing effects, reduce all damage taken by {{c_blue|X%}}
[[Wreath of Lightning]]
+
|Start: {{c_blue|30%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.4%}}
* '''Base Effect: '''15% chance on hit to gain a Wreath of Lightning, dealing 600% weapon damage as Lightning every second to nearby enemies. Lasts for 3 seconds.
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|Heal for 20% of maximum life when hit by a control-impairing effect.
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' +10% weapon damage per second.
+
|As with the other original batch of defensive gems, this is one of the least-used gems.
* '''Rank 25 unlocks: '''While under the effect of the Wreath of Lightning, gain 25% increased movement speed.
+
|-
 
+
!colspan="4"|[[Mirinae, Teardrop of the Starweaver]]
 
+
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Mirinae-icon4.jpg‎|right]]
[[File:Legem-zeis-stone-of-vengeance-icon.jpg|right]]
+
|-
[[Zei’s Stone of Vengeance]]
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|15% chance on hit to smite a nearby enemy for {{c_blue|X%}} weapon damage as Holy.
* '''Base Effect: '''Damage you deal is increased by 4% for every 10 yards between you and the enemy hit. Maximum 20% increase at 50 yards.
+
|Start: {{c_blue|1000%}} Increase: {{c_blue|40%}}
* '''Upgrade rank grants:''' +0.05% damage +0.25 maximum distance in yards.
+
|Smite a nearby enemy every 5 seconds
* '''Rank 25 unlocks:''' 20% chance on hit to Stun the enemy for 1 second.
+
|The smite can hit virtually any enemy on the screen, making the "nearby" description fairly inaccurate. On the whole this adds huge damage to individual targets, but not as much to large groups compared to other gems
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Wildebeest-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|Regenerate {{c_blue|X}} Life per Second
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|10000}} Increase: {{c_blue|1000}}
 +
|After not taking damage for 4 seconds, gain an absorb shield for 200% of your total Life per Second.
 +
|Another powerful defensive gem added in [[Season Two]]. This gem synergizes well with defensive buffs that prevent the character from taking damage, and the Rank 25 power can fuel itself, as the shield keeps the player from taking damage.
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Moratorium]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Moratorium-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|35% of all damage taken is instead staggered and dealt to you over {{c_blue|X}} seconds.
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|3}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.1}}
 +
|20% chance on kill to clear all staggered damage.
 +
|Another of the initial batch of defensive gems that proved little-used.
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Mutilation Guard]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Mutilation-Guard-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|Gain {{c_blue|X}} melee damage reduction.
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|10%}} Increase: {{c_blue|1%}}
 +
|Below 50% life, you may move through enemies unhindered
 +
|A Defensive Gem added in Season 3
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Pain Enhancer]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Pain-Enhancer-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|Critical hits cause the enemy to bleed for {{c_blue|X%}} weapon damage as Physical over 3 seconds.
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|500%}} Increase: {{c_blue|30%}}
 +
|2% increased Attack Speed for each bleeding enemy within 20 yards.
 +
|Best used with character with high Crit chance and AOE attacks.
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Simplicity’s Strength]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Simplicity-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|Increase the damage of primary skills by {{c_blue|X%}}
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|25%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.5%}}
 +
|Primary skills heal you for 2% of maximum health on hit.
 +
|Probably the least used offensive gem from the initial batch, as primary skills are so weak compared to Spenders.
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Taeguk]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Taeguk-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|Gain 0.5% increased damage for 3 seconds after spending primary resource. This effect stacks up to {{c_blue|X}} times
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|20%}} Increase: {{c_blue|1}}
 +
|Gain 0.5% increased Armor for every stack.
 +
|This gem adds huge damage when fully stacked, but the stacks take quite a while to build up, and any lull of just 3 seconds resets them to zero. The Rank 25 property is a powerful defensive bonus, especially for melee characters who can keep it stacked and active.
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Wreath of Lightning]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|
 +
[[File:Wreath-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|15% chance on hit to gain a Wreath of Lightning, dealing {{c_blue|X%}} weapon damage as Lightning every second to nearby enemies. Lasts for 3 seconds.
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|600%}} Increase: {{c_blue|10%}}
 +
|While under the effect of the Wreath of Lightning, gain 25% increased movement speed.
 +
|A mini-[[Conduit Pylon]], this gem zaps all nearby enemies for considerable damage. Radius is limited so close proximity to enemies is preferred.
 +
|-
 +
!colspan="4"|[[Zei’s Stone of Vengeance]]
 +
|rowspan="2"|[[File:Zei-Stone-icon4.jpg|right]]
 +
|-
 +
|Damage you deal is increased by {{c_blue|X%}} for every 10 yards between you and the enemy hit. Maximum 20% increase at 50 yards
 +
|Start: {{c_blue|4%}} Increase: {{c_blue|0.05%}}
 +
|20% chance on hit to Stun the enemy for 1 second.
 +
|The damage boost is calculated when damage is dealt, so movement changes the amount.
 +
|}
  
 +
==LGem Popularity==
  
The stats of Legendary Gems changed constantly while they were undergoing development on the PTR. A major revision was created on July 15, 2014 with new or upgraded stats for almost every gem.<ref>[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/legendary-gems-ptr-placeholders Legendary Gem Updates] - John Yang, 15/07/2014</ref> More changes came August 5th with a patch that changed the [[Enforcer]] gem, and completely reworked the upgrading system, changing legendary gems from 50 to 200 ranks. <ref>[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/diablo-3-ptr-2-1-0-patch-notes-5-august/comment-page-1?cpage=1#comment-8649488 Legendary Gem changes] - August 5th PTR Patch  5/08/2014</ref> Another patch later in August reduced the total ranks, removed multi-level upgrades, gave 3 chances to upgrade, and changed the secondary property to unlock at rank 25.
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Legendary Gems were immediately embraced by players as a powerful new feature in the game, and sockets in jewelry became immediately sought after as mandatory [[end game]] affixes. Of all the gems, the offensive ones were the most popular and most used, since killing things faster is almost always the best and most fun strategy in Diablo III.
  
See the individual Legendary Gems pages for details on the evolution of their stats over the PTR testing period.
+
As for defensive legendary gems, even in [[Hardcore]] they were hardly used, which prompted much bigger defensive bonuses on the gems in the second batch, [[Esoteric Alteration]] and [[Molten Wildebeest’s Gizzard]], added in [[Season Two]].
  
 
==Gem Upgrade Development==
 
==Gem Upgrade Development==

Latest revision as of 05:14, 18 April 2017

Legendary Gem interface window.

Legendary Gems (or LGems or LeGems) were added to Reaper of Souls in Patch 2.1, after extensive testing on the PTR. There were initially 14 types of Legendary Gems, with more added each Season. Most Legendary Gems have a function only when socketed in rings and amulets, this makes rings and amulets with sockets highly sought.


Rules of Drop and Use[edit | edit source]

Legendary Gems are only dropped from Greater Rift Guardians, the final bosses of Greater Rifts. A Gem is guaranteed to drop if the player doesn't have on in his equipment, inventory or stash. This guarentees that a player will get all Legendary Gems without having to rely too much on the RNG. Duplicates are only possible if another character takes a Gem out of the stash.

All gems are dropped at rank 0 and must be socketed into a ring or amulet, making such rings and amulets valuable. Players can use the Mystic to add sockets to ring and amulets they like. Socketing and removing work the same as with normal Gems.

Legendary Gems come with an effect with an upgradeable value in it. Each rank the gem gains increases the value by a set amount. Gems are upgraded by Urshi after completing a Greater Rift within 15 minutes. Players get 3 chances to upgrade gems for each rift. Upgrade odds are based on Gem Level and Greater Rift Level. When both are equal, the chance is 60%. When the Greater Rift is more than 6 level higher, the chances up, topping out at 100 % at 10 levels. If the Gem is higher, the chance is halved for each rank of difference. The max gem rank is 200, far beyond the highest Greater Rift Clear.

Upgrade Odds[edit | edit source]

GRift level vs. Gem Level +10 +9 +8 +7 +6 +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7
LGem Upgrade Chance 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 60% 30% 15% 8% 4% 2% 1% 0%


Examples:

  • GRift level 17, LGem level 5 = +12 = 100% chance of successful upgrade.
  • GRift level 22, LGem level 14 = +8 = 80% chance of successful upgrade.
  • Grift level 22, LGem level 24 = -2 = 15% chance of successful upgrade.

Note that the odds recalculate with each successful upgrade, so a gem rolling successfully could be 100% on the first try, 90% on the second, and 80% on the third.

Legendary Gems Catalog[edit | edit source]

Effect Values Rank 25 Bonus Notes
Bane of the Powerful
Bane-of-the-Powerful-icon4.jpg
Gain 20% increased damage for X seconds after killing an elite pack. Start:30 Increase:1 15% Increased Damage to Elites One of the most popular gems, this grants a big damage buff, works with every type of build, and enjoys around 100% up-time in Rifts, where Elites abound.
Bane of the Stricken
Bane-of-the-Stricken-icon4.jpg
Each attack you make against an enemy increases the damage it takes from your attacks by X% Start: 0.8% Increase: 0.01% Gain 25% increased damage against Rift Guardians and bosses This gem was added for Season 4
Bane of the Trapped
Bane-of-the-Trapped-icon4.jpg
Increase damage against enemies under control-impairing effects by X% Start: 15% Increase: 0.3% Gain an aura that reduces the movement speed of enemies within 15 yards by 30%. The Aura at Rank 25 has no visual display, but it does proc the gem itself; so monsters near the hero are slowed and thus take increased damage.
Boon of the Hoarder
Boon-of-the-Hoarder-icon4.jpg
X% chance to cause an explosion of gold when you kill an enemy Start: 25% Increase: 1.5% Gain 30% increased movement speed for 2 seconds after picking up gold. The first time found (on an account) it will only drop from Greed, found in The Vault.
Enforcer
Enforcer-icon4.jpg
Increases the damage of your pets by X% Start: 15% Increase: 0.3% Your pets take 25% reduced damage. The rank 25 bonus is irrelevant for pets that are not targeted and do not take damage, such as Hydras or Sentries.
Esoteric Alteration
Esoteric-Alteration-icon4.jpg
Gain X% non-Physical damage reduction Start: 10% Increase: 0.5% While below half Life, your resistances to Cold, Fire, Lightning, Poison, and Arcane are increased by 75%. A very powerful defensive gem, added in Season Two.
Gem of Ease
Gem-of-Ease-icon4.jpg
Monster kills grant +X experience Start: 500 Increase: 50 Level requirement reduced to 1 Sockets into Weapons rather than jewelry. Useful for twinking
Gem of Efficacious Toxin
Efficacious-Toxin-icon4.jpg
Poison all enemies hit for X% weapon damage over 10 seconds. Start: 1000% Increase: 50% All enemies you poison take 10% increased damage from all sources. A popular gem for big damage over time, but less useful for characters who kill enemies very quickly. One of the more powerul Rank 25 bonuses
Gogok of Swiftness
Gorgok-icon4.jpg
50% chance on hit to gain Swiftness, increasing your Attack Speed by X% for 4 seconds. This effect stacks up to 15 times. Start: 1% Increase: 1% Gain 1% Cooldown Reduction per stack of Swiftness The Attack Speed increase is useful to some builds, but this gem is most valued for the massive CDR granted by the Rank 25 property.
Iceblink
Iceblink-icon4.jpg
Your Cold skills now apply Chill effects and your Chill effects now slow enemy movement speed by an additional X% Start: 5% Increase: 0.4% 10% increased chance to critically strike Chilled or Frozen enemies One of two gems added in Season Three
Invigorating Gemstone
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While under any control-impairing effects, reduce all damage taken by X% Start: 30% Increase: 0.4% Heal for 20% of maximum life when hit by a control-impairing effect. As with the other original batch of defensive gems, this is one of the least-used gems.
Mirinae, Teardrop of the Starweaver
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15% chance on hit to smite a nearby enemy for X% weapon damage as Holy. Start: 1000% Increase: 40% Smite a nearby enemy every 5 seconds The smite can hit virtually any enemy on the screen, making the "nearby" description fairly inaccurate. On the whole this adds huge damage to individual targets, but not as much to large groups compared to other gems
Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard
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Regenerate X Life per Second Start: 10000 Increase: 1000 After not taking damage for 4 seconds, gain an absorb shield for 200% of your total Life per Second. Another powerful defensive gem added in Season Two. This gem synergizes well with defensive buffs that prevent the character from taking damage, and the Rank 25 power can fuel itself, as the shield keeps the player from taking damage.
Moratorium
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35% of all damage taken is instead staggered and dealt to you over X seconds. Start: 3 Increase: 0.1 20% chance on kill to clear all staggered damage. Another of the initial batch of defensive gems that proved little-used.
Mutilation Guard
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Gain X melee damage reduction. Start: 10% Increase: 1% Below 50% life, you may move through enemies unhindered A Defensive Gem added in Season 3
Pain Enhancer
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Critical hits cause the enemy to bleed for X% weapon damage as Physical over 3 seconds. Start: 500% Increase: 30% 2% increased Attack Speed for each bleeding enemy within 20 yards. Best used with character with high Crit chance and AOE attacks.
Simplicity’s Strength
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Increase the damage of primary skills by X% Start: 25% Increase: 0.5% Primary skills heal you for 2% of maximum health on hit. Probably the least used offensive gem from the initial batch, as primary skills are so weak compared to Spenders.
Taeguk
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Gain 0.5% increased damage for 3 seconds after spending primary resource. This effect stacks up to X times Start: 20% Increase: 1 Gain 0.5% increased Armor for every stack. This gem adds huge damage when fully stacked, but the stacks take quite a while to build up, and any lull of just 3 seconds resets them to zero. The Rank 25 property is a powerful defensive bonus, especially for melee characters who can keep it stacked and active.
Wreath of Lightning
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15% chance on hit to gain a Wreath of Lightning, dealing X% weapon damage as Lightning every second to nearby enemies. Lasts for 3 seconds. Start: 600% Increase: 10% While under the effect of the Wreath of Lightning, gain 25% increased movement speed. A mini-Conduit Pylon, this gem zaps all nearby enemies for considerable damage. Radius is limited so close proximity to enemies is preferred.
Zei’s Stone of Vengeance
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Damage you deal is increased by X% for every 10 yards between you and the enemy hit. Maximum 20% increase at 50 yards Start: 4% Increase: 0.05% 20% chance on hit to Stun the enemy for 1 second. The damage boost is calculated when damage is dealt, so movement changes the amount.

LGem Popularity[edit | edit source]

Legendary Gems were immediately embraced by players as a powerful new feature in the game, and sockets in jewelry became immediately sought after as mandatory end game affixes. Of all the gems, the offensive ones were the most popular and most used, since killing things faster is almost always the best and most fun strategy in Diablo III.

As for defensive legendary gems, even in Hardcore they were hardly used, which prompted much bigger defensive bonuses on the gems in the second batch, Esoteric Alteration and Molten Wildebeest’s Gizzard, added in Season Two.

Gem Upgrade Development[edit | edit source]

The system was under construction all throughout the PTR and saw major changes during July and August, 2014.

Gems initially had 50 ranks, with the odds to upgrade[1] increasing on higher Greater Rift levels. This was reworked after a few weeks, and a patch on August 5, 2014 changed the maximum level from 50 to 200 and greatly increased the odds for multiple rank boosts per upgrade, as well as granting multiple upgrade opportunities on higher level greater rifts. [1]

Legendary gems now start at rank 0
  • Changes have been made to the frequency at which Legendary gems are upgraded
    • Note: Because of this change the power of each upgrade has been reduced, but the overall rate at which gem power is gained through upgrades should remain roughly the same

That system was changed again late in the PTR, with the ranks cut from 200 to 25, and a whole new system of upgrade odds implemented, based on the difference in level between the gem and the Grift. Those odds were the final system which went live a few weeks later.


Legendary Gem Design Theory[edit | edit source]

Legendary Gem upgrade interface.

Blizzard's John Yang explained the design theory behind Legendary Gems while they were being tested on the PTR, July 15, 2014. [2]

Hi everyone. I wanted to pop in here while discussion on Legendary gems is ongoing.


First off, our philosophy on Legendary gems is that, when you pick one up for the first time, you should immediately want to use it, assuming it’s for your build, since some gems don’t apply to all builds/needs. This puts a minimum bar on the starting power level. After that, the power increase per upgrade is directly related to the frequency of upgrading, which is closely tied to the Greater Rift reward scheme and is still being iterated on. In the end, we’d like gems to be infinitely upgradeable when it makes sense, but not be outrageous.

Additionally, all Legendary gems have been disabled for followers. These powers were not designed for followers in mind, and this way we can ensure the gems are of a high power level because you can only have 3 equipped. In the future, if followers need avenues of advancement we would likely make Legendary gems specifically designed for them.

Now for the details. The existing stats you see on Legendary gems on the PTR today are somewhat placeholder. So, to steer further discussion in a direction that’s more in line with the next PTR build, here are the freshly tuned numbers (with some of my notes) for each gem.


Official Reveal[edit | edit source]

Legendary Gems were first revealed in June 2014 and the first official info came from Blizzard's Patch 2.1 preview blog. [3]

Legendary Gems are still undergoing significant iteration at this time, so you won’t see them available on the PTR right away. The gist is that these gems are infinitely upgradeable, and provide special Legendary powers when socketed into the appropriate gear slot. They can only be socketed into Rings and Amulets, and can be upgraded by completing additional Greater Rifts. The higher you place in a Greater Rift, the more likely your gem will be successfully upgraded. We’ll have more details in the future as we continue development on these powerful baubles, so stay tuned!


Media[edit | edit source]

Images of Legendary Gems, from the initial 50 rank system on the PTR.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Legendary Gem changes - August 5th PTR Patch 5/08/2014
  2. Legendary Gem Updates - John Yang, 15/07/2014
  3. Patch 2.1 preview blog - Diablo3.com, 18/06/2014