PoE 2 Gear Sockets

How to Fix Your Character's Resists in the Campaign

Sometimes your character has a small problem with it - you get a big gear upgrade but that item lacks a resistance modifier you need, or you want a small amount of damage of a particular element.

In Path of Exile 1, players solved these issues with Helena's crafting bench.

In Path of Exile 2, the crafting bench is not going to exist.

A new system, Runes & Sockets, replaces most early game crafting bench uses. These runes will add one additional modifier, often simple stats like +12% cold resistance, or a little more damage on weapons.

Runes tell you what they do on them.

This guide is based upon pre-release information (no leaks) and may change in the first few days as we learn more about Path of Exile 2.

Maximum Sockets

Ordinarily, chest armor and two-handed martial weapons can have up to two item sockets. One-handed martial weapons, gloves, helmets, and boots can have up to one. Before release, it was unclear whether shields could have item sockets, and it appears caster weapons could not.

Soul Cores

At the endgame, you will also be able to slot Soul Cores into those Item Sockets. Soul Cores function just like Runes, but they can have a wider range of modifiers, such as increases to Spirit or Item Rarity, and when they give a basic stat like adding elemental damage to attacks, they are often better than Runes.

You will only be able to acquire Soul Cores from the Trials of Chaos, which are based on Path of Exile 1's Ultimatum mechanic.

How to Add Sockets to Items

Most items will drop without item sockets. However, a few items will have them and you can break down items with sockets into Artificer's Shards at disenchanting NPCs. Ten of these shards become an Artificer's Orb.

Artificer's Orb

This Orb will allow you to improve an already good item by adding a socket, and then later a modifier of your choice to it. (With a Rune/Soul Core)

You can also sometimes add a socket to an item by applying a Vaal Orb, but this can also ruin the item. Vaal Orbs are always a risk. Vaal Orbs allow you to exceed the 1 or 2 socket maximum.

Final Words

Remember: As of launch day, putting a rune or soul core into an item is irrevocable. Not only do you have no way to retrieve the rune, but you also can't replace it with a better one. As you continue to modify and optimize your gear with Runes and Soul Cores, consider utilizing POE currency and PoE items for additional upgrades. Trading with other players can help you acquire high-quality items to a socket, making your Rune and Soul Core investment even more worthwhile.