Active Skills are abilities which an exile activates by using an equipped Skill Gem, they are controlled by mouse or keyboard events. They take mana and grant an immediate effect. They are not Passive Skills, constant effects which are mainly earned through character levelling.
All Active Skills are contained in portable gems which must be equipped in gem sockets before their use. Support Gems augment these skills when the gems are linked.
Gem Experience
Gems gain experience and levels alongside the character wearing them. For all the experience the exile receives, a gem gains its own additional experience at 10% of that amount. Additional gems do not share that experience, but gain their own 10%. Gem experience is not restricted by player level boundaries, so a high level characters might not gain experience from low level enemies, but the gem will continue to gain the 10% it normally would. The experience required for each gem level tracks the requirement for the corresponding character level closely until gem level 15, at which point the gem experience required begins to climb much more rapidly. Gems do not need to be utilized for them to gain experience, only equipped. Gems equipped in both weapons slots gain experience, though only the currently active weapon slot's skills can be used.
Once a gem has enough experience to level up, it will stop gaining experience and a level-up icon will appear on the right of the screen and in the inventory menu. Left-clicking it will level up the gem, right-clicking the icon will hide it on the side of the screen, but it will still be accessible in the inventory menu. Not levelling up a gem is useful in some situations.
As gems level up, the abilities they grant get better, but the requirements to equip them also increase, as well as the mana cost for active skills. Each gem level, the exile must have both the attribute corresponding to gem colour and a character level high enough to meet its increased requirements. If a gem gains enough experience to level up, but the exile currently does not meet the requirements, the level-up icon will appear greyed out and not be useable until the requirements are met. For specifics, see the lists of Active Skills and Support Gems below.
Gems may be traded like normal items and they will retain their experience.
Exceeding the level cap
Generally, level 20 is the maximum level a gem can get by gathering experience. There are, however, ways to increase the level of a gem beyond 20; either by placing them in certain items with the modifier +1 to Level of Gems in this item, corrupting them or linking them with the support gem Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Empower".
By combining these three methods, the level of a skill gem can get as high as level 28. To do this, you need an item, for example a bow, with the modifiers +1 to Level of Gems in this item and +2 to Level of Bow Gems in this item. Then, place a corrupted level 21 bow skill gem like Lightning Arrow in a socket of the bow. Lightning Arrow is now level 24. Now link it with a corrupted level 4 Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Empower". A level 4 Empower increases the level of linked skill gems by 3, but since Empower is affected by the +1 to Level of Gems in this item mod, is actually level 5. A level 5 Empower increased the level of linked skill gems by 4. So we get a level 28 Lighting Arrow. Note that it is not possible for every skill gem to get to level 28.
Lastly, there are three gems that only have three experience levels:
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Empower"
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Enhance"
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Enlighten"
Sockets
Each gem must be set in a socket corresponding to the gem's colour. Sockets can be found on all Armour and Weapons (except for Kaom's HeartKaom's Heart Glorious PlateQuality: +20% Armour: 931Requires Level 68, 191 StrHas no Sockets (20-40)% increased Fire Damage +500 to maximum LifeThe warrior who fears will fall., which has no sockets) and can hold either active skill gems or support gems.
Chromatic OrbChromatic OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the colour of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. Shift click to unstack. - Reforges the colour of sockets on an item.
Jeweller's OrbJeweller's OrbStack Size: 20Reforges the number of sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more sockets. Shift click to unstack. - Reforges the number of sockets on an item.
Orb of FusingOrb of FusingStack Size: 20Reforges the links between sockets on an itemRight click this item then left click a socketed item to apply it. The item's quality increases the chances of obtaining more links. Shift click to unstack. - Reforges the links between sockets on an item.
The random choice of colour for sockets is weighted based upon which attributes (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence) are required to use the item as well as how much of each attribute is required to use it. For example, a low strength requirement (low base-level) pure Strength armour has a higher probability of rolling off-color sockets than a high strength requirement (high base-level) pure Strength armour. This is also true for any Chromatic Orb reforging. The estimated probability of rolling an off-color socket color is roughly 10-20%, though this depends on the stat requirements of the item in question.
Support Gems are gems which modify the active skills they are linked to. To link support gems to active skill gems, they all need to be socketed in a segment of sockets which have lines between them. Many linked sockets can be used to give many skills a number of support bonuses.
For example, the two skills Fireball and Freezing Pulse may be linked with the support skill Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Elemental Proliferation" in a three linked item, or Freezing Pulse may be replaced by Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Chance to Ignite" to enhance the Fireball even more.
This is why rare maximum of "6L" or six-linked-socket items are so powerful, they can link up to 5 Support Gems to 1 Active Skill.
One-handed and Shields up to 3 gems;
Helmets, Gloves, Boots and Fishing rods can have up to 4 gems;
Chest armor up to 6 gems;
Two-handed weapons up to 6 gems.
You cannot support skill with more than one copy of each support gem. If you place more than one of any support gem linked to skill gem, only top-level will work.
Level Requirement for Sockets
The maximum amount of sockets (and therefore also the amount of links) possible on an item is determined by its item level. The higher the item level is, more sockets can be added. The ilevel required for a number of sockets is [1]:
Starting weapons are an exception; they are item level 1 with three sockets (always three different colours). Tabula RasaTabula Rasa Simple RobeQuality: +20% Movement Speed: -3%Item has no level requirement and Energy Shield (Hidden) Item has 6 White Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden) always has 6 linked white sockets. Items from Strongboxes with the "additional socket" suffix can also exceed these limitations.
Corrupted Gems
Like most items, gems can be corrupted using a Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 10Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again. Shift click to unstack.. Corruption on gems can potentially lift the level or quality percentage of a gem above the maximum of 20.
These skill gems can be acquired in corrupted areas or by using a Vaal OrbVaal OrbStack Size: 10Corrupts an item, modifying it unpredictablyRight click this item then left click an item to corrupt it. Corrupted items cannot be modified again. Shift click to unstack. on a normal skill gem. These skills are similar to their uncorrupted versions but have new effects that radically change their utility in combat.
Vaal skills must be charged before each use by collecting souls. Each slain enemy gives one soul to each equipped gem, similar to the flask system. Collected souls do not transfer between zone instances - changing zones or resetting the instance will start a new soul counter, but returning to a prior instance will restore the souls you left with. Vaal skill gems in a second weapon set do not receive souls.
Sorted By Attribute
Vaal Skills have requirements based on each of the three main attributes, and can be easily identified by the attribute colour.
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Warlord's Mark". Please choose only one of the following ids: WarlordsMark - Base duration is (6-9.8) seconds, Hits against Cursed Enemies have (40-59)% chance to double Stun Duration, Cursed Enemies grant 20 Rage Regenerated over 1 second when Stunned, Cursed enemies grant 2% Life Leech when Hit by Attacks, Cursed enemies grant 2% Mana Leech when Hit by Attacks, Cursed enemies have a 100% chance to grant an Endurance Charge when slain (page) WarlordsMarkTriggered - Base duration is (7.4-8.2) seconds, Trigger this Skill when you Hit a Rare or Unique Enemy (page)
19
Dexterity Skills
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Animate Weapon". Please choose only one of the following ids: AnimateWeapon - Base duration is 40 seconds, Can use Items requiring up to Level (9-100), Minions deal (10-48)% more Damage, Minions have (10-48)% more Attack Speed, Minions' Attacks deal (5-126) to (8-184) additional Physical Damage, Maximum (5-14) Animated Weapons, Animated Lingering Blades deal (1-17) to (2-80) Added Attack Physical Damage (page) TriggeredAnimateWeapon - Base duration is 40 seconds, Can use Items requiring up to Level 100, Minions deal 148% of Damage, 126 to 184 Added Attack Physical Damage, Maximum 14 Animated Weapons, 25% chance to Trigger this Spell on Kill, You cannot Cast this Spell directly (page)
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Blood Rage". Please choose only one of the following ids: BloodRage - (5-15)% increased Attack Speed, 1.2% of Attack Physical Damage Leeched as Life, You take 4% of your Maximum Life per second as Physical Damage, You take 4% of your Maximum Energy Shield per second as Physical Damage, 25% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Kill, Base duration is (7-10.8) seconds (page) JunTriggeredBloodRage - 5% increased Attack Speed, 1.2% of Attack Physical Damage Leeched as Life, You take 4% of your Maximum Life per second as Physical Damage, You take 4% of your Maximum Energy Shield per second as Physical Damage, 25% chance to gain a Frenzy Charge on Kill, Base duration is 7 seconds, 10% chance to Trigger this Spell on Kill (page)
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Rain of Arrows". Please choose only one of the following ids: RainOfArrows - Deals (48-60)% of Base Attack Damage, Fires (17-21) additional Arrows (page) RainOfArrowsOnAttackingWithBow - Deals 42.1% of Base Attack Damage, Fires 18 additional Arrows, Trigger this Attack when you Attack with a Bow (page)
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Bone Offering". Please choose only one of the following ids: BoneOffering - Base duration is 5 seconds, Grants Minions +(25-35)% Chance to Block Attack Damage, Grants Minions +(25-34)% Chance to Block Spell Damage, Additional 1 seconds Base Duration per extra corpse Consumed, Minions recover (11-594) Life when they Block (page) BoneOfferingTriggeredUnique - Base duration is 5 seconds, Grants Minions +35% Chance to Block Attack Damage, Grants Minions +34% Chance to Block Spell Damage, Additional 1 seconds Base Duration per extra corpse Consumed, Minions recover 594 Life when they Block, Your Offering Skills also affect you, This Skill is Triggered by the Item granting it, You cannot Cast this Spell directly (page)
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Flame Surge". Please choose only one of the following ids: FlameWhip - Deals (27-563) to (40-844) Fire Damage, (50-88)% more Damage with Hits against Burning enemies, Cannot Ignite, +(0-9) to Area of Effect length (page) SlavedriverFlameWhip - Deals 5 to 15 Lightning Damage, 65% reduced Cast Speed (page)
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Flesh Offering". Please choose only one of the following ids: FleshOffering - Base duration is 5 seconds, Grants Minions (20-30)% increased Attack Speed, Grants Minions (20-29)% increased Movement Speed, Grants Minions (20-30)% increased Cast Speed, Additional 1 seconds Base Duration per extra corpse Consumed (page) FleshOfferingTriggeredUnique - Base duration is 5 seconds, Grants Minions 30% increased Attack Speed, Grants Minions 29% increased Movement Speed, Grants Minions 30% increased Cast Speed, Additional 1 seconds Base Duration per extra corpse Consumed, Your Offering Skills also affect you, This Skill is Triggered by the Item granting it, You cannot Cast this Spell directly (page)
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Righteous Fire". Please choose only one of the following ids: MonsterRighteousFireWhileSpectred - Deals 1.6 Base Fire Damage per second (page) MonsterRighteousFire - Deals 1.8 Base Fire Damage per second (page)
Module Error: Too many skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Summon Raging Spirit". Please choose only one of the following ids: AshwakerSummonRagingSpiritOnKill - Base duration is 5 seconds, Maximum 20 Summoned Raging Spirits, 10% chance to Trigger this Spell on Kill, You cannot Cast this Spell directly (page) SummonRagingSpirit - Base duration is 5 seconds, Maximum 20 Summoned Raging Spirits, Minions gain 15% less Added Damage, Minions cannot Taunt Enemies (page)
You cannot support skill with more than one copy of each support gem.
If you place more than one of any support gem linked to skill gem, only top-level will work.
For more information on Support Gems, refer to the full page.
Strength Support Gems
MCM
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Added Fire Damage"
12
130%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Blood Magic"
24
245%*
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cast on Melee Kill"
19
✓
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cast when Damage Taken"
31
✓
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cold to Fire"
19
✓
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Empower"
1
125%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Endurance Charge on Melee Stun"
24
110%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Fire Penetration"
24
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Increased Burning Damage"
31
✓
120%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Increased Duration"
24
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Iron Grip"
24
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Iron Will"
15
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Item Quantity"
24
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Knockback"
31
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Life Gain on Hit"
12
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Life Leech"
31
130%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Melee Damage on Full Life"
19
130%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Melee Physical Damage"
31
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Melee Splash"
19
160%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Multistrike"
19
✓
180%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Ranged Attack Totem"
31
✓
250%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Reduced Duration"
24
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Reduced Mana"
31
90%*
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Spell Totem"
31
✓
250%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Stun"
24
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Weapon Elemental Damage"
12
✓
150%
Dexterity Support Gems
MCM
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Added Cold Damage"
12
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Additional Accuracy"
12
✓
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Blind"
24
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cast On Critical Strike"
31
✓
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cast on Death"
19
✓
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Chain"
31
200%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Chance to Flee"
15
✓
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cold Penetration"
24
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Culling Strike"
24
110%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Enhance"
1
125%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Faster Attacks"
31
115%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Faster Projectiles"
12
110%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Fork"
12
125%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Greater Multiple Projectiles"
31
200%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Lesser Multiple Projectiles"
19
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Mana Leech"
31
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Multiple Traps"
24
✓
160%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Physical Projectile Attack Damage"
31
120%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Pierce"
19
110%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Point Blank"
24
120%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Slower Projectiles"
24
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Trap"
24
✓
140%
Intelligence Support Gems
MCM
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Added Chaos Damage"
31
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Added Lightning Damage"
12
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Cast when Stunned"
24
✓
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Chance to Ignite"
19
110%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Concentrated Effect"
31
160%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Curse on Hit"
24
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Elemental Proliferation"
24
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Enlighten"
1
125%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Faster Casting"
31
120%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Increased Area of Effect"
31
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Increased Critical Damage"
12
130%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Increased Critical Strikes"
31
115%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Item Rarity"
24
N/A
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Lightning Penetration"
24
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Minion and Totem Elemental Resistance"
19
✓
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Minion Damage"
19
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Minion Life"
12
140%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Minion Speed"
24
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Power Charge On Critical"
19
110%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Remote Mine"
31
✓
150%
Module Error: No skills found with q_where = skill.active_skill_name="Spell Echo"
31
130%
*Decreases with higher gem levels
For a list of skills not separated by attribute, see List of skills