Various items in Diablo III will often appear with sockets. Sockets are holes in an item that can be fitted with [[gems]] (and only gems, at least in [[D3v]]), which add a wide-variety of bonuses to the item. There are 14 levels of gems, allowing the bonuses to grow quite large.

Sockets can be added to items by the [[Blacksmithjeweler]], one of the two (formerly [[Mystic|three]]) [[Artisans]], and gems placed into sockets can be removed, undamaged, by the [[Jeweler]]. Socketing was initially handled by the [[Blacksmith]], but the utility was transferred to the Jeweler during development, when the Jeweler lost his [[crafting]] abilities.

==Item SocketsSocketing in Diablo III==

There are Though item sockets are quite common in Diablo III. , the only thing that can be socketed are the four types of [[Runewordsgems]] , and there are not returning, but only two types of socket values with each gem sockets can be added to : [[helms]] and "other." This seemingly leaves a variety lot of items regardless of quality of item so a rare or legendary weapon could have sockets added to room for growth, and it. Items types such as Helm's expected that socket bonuses will be more varied, Bracers, Belts and Pants have been confirmedthat more socketable objects (perhaps [[jewels]] or even some new version of [[rune]]s) will be added in the game's expansion(s).

No {{iw|jewels jewels}} have been seen, and [[runes]] Runes are found in Diablo III (though this may yet change) but they are for socketing into [[skill]]sonly socketable in skills, not in items. Jay Wilson referred to sockets and "There are thus no runewords or any sort of hidden gem sockets" in -words, though the developers have said they like the Gamescom [[Artisan Presentation]] video in August 2010 so perhaps idea of that signals a definitive decision made as to what can be put into socketsconcept.

A gem provides different stats based into which item it is socketedAll qualities of items can have sockets in Diablo III, for exampleand sockets often appear on pre-made [[Set]] and [[Legendary]] items. They can also occur from bonus modifiers on [[Magical]] and [[Rare]] items as well. In addition, an emerald socketed into the Jeweler can add a shield will provide some Dexteritysocket to all qualities and most types of weapons and armor, whilst an emerald socketed to though nothing is yet known about the maximum number of sockets in a helm will provide Damage Returngiven item.[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-indiablo.de-part-two/]

<blue><font color===Items with "#FFFFFF">in.Diablo.d3: Can we socket everything in D3?</font><br>Jay Wilson: Not every single slot, but any item the [[blacksmith]] can add sockets to, about 6 different ones, he can do. It doesn’t matter the quality of the item. If you have legendary boots without a socket, he can add one. Also, sockets can appear on any type of items. On Diablo 2 they only appeared on white items. In Diablo 3 a legendary, rare, anything, can have them. Sockets===are treated like another affix.</blue>

* The full list of items that can have sockets has changed repeatedly during development. As of January 2012, Blizzard's game info page lists just [[Beltsshield]]* s, [[Body Armorhelm]]* s, [[Feet|Bootsbelt]]* s, and [[Helmspant]]* s, though [[Shieldsamulet]]* s were often said to be socketable during development. There is also some speculation[http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/the-fate-of-enchants-and-socketable-rings] that [[Weaponsring]]s may be socketable as well.

Other item types may be addedWeapons are not socketable, in something of a surprise. They were during much of development, but these are all the Diablo 3 team has yet confirmednot set to be socketable upon release. This may, of course, still change.

==Adding Sockets spawn naturally in items; magical, rare, set, and even unique items can drop with one (or more) sockets in them. The property is said to be much more common in Diablo III than it was in Diablo II; the team has said sockets are treated much like another [[affix]], rather than being something preset into items by the developers [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/jay-wilson-interview-indiablo.de-part-two/]==

::'''''inAdding sockets to items without them is a fairly simple process, one that merely requires gold.Diablo.d3: The [[jeweler]] offers socketing on his NPC interface, and for a price he'''Can we ll add a socket everything to any valid item. The only demonstration of this yet seen was in D3?::'''Jay Wilson: '''Not every single slotthe Gamescom 2010 Artistan movie, but any item when the [[blacksmithBlacksmith]] can add sockets to, about 6 different ones, handled socketing. In that video he can do. It doesn’t matter the quality of the item. If you have legendary boots without punched a socket, he can add oneinto a plain [[buckler]] for an exorbitant (according to Jay Wilson) price of 24424 gold.

::Also[[Bashiok]] added some more details about socketing in August 2010, sockets can appear on any type though this info may be well out of itemsdate by now. On Diablo 2 they only appeared on white items[http://diablo. In Diablo 3 a legendary, rare, anything, can have them. Sockets are treated like another affixincgamers.com/blog/comments/blue-posts-on-diablo-iii-gambling-and-socketing-info/]

Adding sockets to <font color="#FFFFFF">How do items without them is a fairly simple process, one that merely requires gold. The [[blacksmith]] offers socketing on his NPC interface, and for a price he'll add a socket take up 2 slots in the inventory have more than 2 sockets?</font><br>Bashiok: Requiring you to any valid equip the item.to gem?

The only demonstration of this yet seen was in the Gamescom 2010 Artistan movie<font color="#FFFFFF">Also, when he punched a socket into a pain [[buckler]] will they all looks visually appealing like for an exorbitant (according to Jay Wilson) price of 24424 gold pieces. Presumably, based on Jay's comment, the prices are way higherShield example, during this testing period, than or will they will just be in stuck to the center.</font><br>Bashiok: The shield one was stuck to the final gamecenter.</blue>

Bashiok added some more details in replies to fan questions in August 2010. [http://diablo.incgamers.com/blog/comments/blue-posts-on-diablo-iii-gambling-and-socketing-info/] ::'''Bashiok:''' As far as I last heard it (and this is subject to change of course) the blacksmith can add one extra socket (max) to specific items, up to the maximum allowable. So if (for example, I’m not claiming max socket numbers) a sword can have two sockets, but drops with none, you can add one socket to it. ::''How do items that take up 2 slots in the inventory have more than 2 sockets?''::'''Bashiok: '''Requiring you to equip the item to gem? ::''Also, will they all looks visually appealing like for the Shield example, or will they just be stuck to the center.''::'''Bashiok: '''The shield one was stuck to the center.==Socketing Bonuses==

[[File:Gem-emerald-l3.jpg|frame|L3 Emerald bonuses.]]The only confirmed first demonstration of gem socketing bonuses are from an "emerald" as seen was found in the [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNP8QiNbFmU Gamescom 2010 [Artisan videoVideo]]. The gem hoverIn that video, when a level three (out of 14) Emerald was viewed, the potential bonuses were shown as seen to the right, granted:

Normal is the third level These stats changed completely during later development, and as of gem (confirmed by the image shown January 2012 during the [[Crafting_Sanctuary_Panel_Blizzcon_2010|Crafting Sanctuary Panel]] at Blizzcon 2010beta test, see also [[Gems#Gem_Levels|Gem Levels]])a L3 Emerald grants: * Weapon: No longer spawn with sockets. It's tempting to imagine how high the bonuses might rise on their way to the maximum gem level * Helm: 9% Better Chance of Finding Magical Items* Other: +14. As long as it would take to create such a high level gem (more than 19,600 L5 gems are required to upgrade to a single L14), players expect to be impressed by the end result.Dexterity 

** [[Armor]] -- Most types can be socketed.** [[Weapon]]s -- No longer socketed.* [[Gem]]s - To be socketedFull gem stats.

** [[Blacksmith]] -- The socketeerFormerly the socket master.** [[Jeweler]] -- Removes New socketer. Also removes gems from sockets. For , for a fee.* [[Rune]]s - No longer used associated with item sockets.* [[Known Items Listing]] - Known items.