Socket

"Socket" refers to a functionality in an item that will allow this item to be imbued with a magical gem. The mechanic in the game allows the player a limited control of what powers a weapon will grant him. These are usually associated with the main attributes.

Item Sockets

Sockets for gold

There are item sockets in Diablo III. Runewords are not returning, but gem sockets can be added to a variety of items regardless of quality of item so a rare or legendary weapon could have sockets added to it. Items types such as Helsm, Bracers, Belts and Pants have been confirmed.

No jewels have been seen, and runes in Diablo III are for socketing into skills, not items. Jay Wilson referred to sockets and "gem sockets" in the Gamescom Artisan Presentation video in August 2010 so perhaps that signals a definitive decision made as to what can be put into sockets.

Socketing

Sockets are created in items by the Blacksmith Artisan in return for gold, providing another gold sink. Socketing was seen in the Gamescom 2010 Artistan presentation video where the Blacksmith socketed a simple buckler for 24424 gold pieces.

Official Comments

Bashiok commented briefly on item sockets in February, 2009.[1]

We haven't released any information on our site, but it was possible to collect socketed items as well as gems in the BlizzCon demo... The gem stats at this point are more or less just the basics yanked from Diablo II to get the system running and have something to play around with.

Further Reading

• Items - The main article.
• Gems - To be socketed.
• Runes - No longer used with sockets.
• Known Items Listing - Known items.

Gallery

<gallery> File:A bucker socketed File:A bucker with a normal emarald socketed