# Gems and sockets

Canonical: https://splugins.net/docs/executablegems/player-guide/gems-and-sockets

# 💎 Gems and sockets

A **gem** is an item that gives a power to another item. To work, it must be put in a **socket** of that item.

## Reading a gem

![The tooltip of a gem, with numbered parts](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-annotated-gem.png)

1. **Name and level** of the gem, in Roman numerals.
2. **Tier and level.** See below.
3. **Category**, and the items it goes on.
4. **What it does**, with the numbers at its current level.
5. **XP bar.** The XP it needs for the next level.
6. **How to socket it**, and the chance of success.

## Tiers

Most gems have 10 levels. Levels are grouped in 4 tiers. A gem looks better at each tier: rough at first, then clean, then glowing, then surrounded by a halo.

| Tier | Most gems | Supports and relics |
|---|---|---|
| Chipped | Levels 1 to 3 | Level 1 |
| Flawless | Levels 4 to 6 | Level 2 |
| Perfect | Levels 7 to 9 | Levels 3 and 4 |
| Radiant | Level 10 | Level 5 |

![The same gem at the 4 tiers](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-tiers-tooltips.png)

## Sockets

An item can hold as many gems as it has sockets. New items start with:

| Item | Sockets |
|---|---|
| Swords, axes, maces, tridents, spears | 1 |
| Bows, crossbows | 1 |
| Pickaxes, shovels, hoes | 1 |
| Armour | 0 |
| Anything else | 0 |

Use a **Socket Drill** to add a socket, up to **3** per item. Your server may have changed these numbers.

## Reading a socketed item

![The tooltip of a sword with two gems and an empty socket](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-annotated-host.png)

1. **Sockets**, as icons, and how many are used.
2. **Each gem**, with what it does at its level. `(+2)` means a support gem is boosting it.
3. **A support gem**, and the gems it is linked to.
4. **An empty socket.**

When you hold a socketed item, its gems also show at the top of the screen, with a ring for their XP:

![The sockets of the held item at the top of the screen](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-socket-wheel.jpg)

## Inspecting an item

**Sneak + press F** (swap hands) with a socketed item in your hand. It floats in front of you with its gems around it. Press F again to stop.

![Inspecting a sword: its name, its gems orbiting it and the list of sockets](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-inspect-trailer.jpg)

## Rules between gems

- A gem only goes on some items. Hold it on your cursor over an item to see if it fits.
- An item cannot hold the same gem twice, unless the server allows it.
- Some gems cannot share an item. Right-click abilities are limited to one per item, so two abilities never share a button. An item can hold only one relic.