# Supports and runewords

Canonical: https://splugins.net/docs/executablegems/player-guide/supports-and-runewords

# ✨ Supports and runewords

## Support gems

A support gem does nothing alone. It boosts the gems in the sockets **right next to it**.

![Socket 1 Vampire Rune, socket 2 Empower Support, socket 3 Storm Rune, linked in a row](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-diagram-links.png)

Here Empower boosts both runes. With Empower in socket 3 instead, it would only boost the gem in socket 2.

| Support | Effect on linked gems |
|---|---|
| [Empower](/docs/executablegems/gems/supports) | They act as if they had more levels (never above their maximum) |
| [Precision](/docs/executablegems/gems/supports) | Their chance to trigger goes up |
| [Twin](/docs/executablegems/gems/supports) | They can trigger twice |
| [Growth](/docs/executablegems/gems/supports) | They gain more XP |

In the tooltip, a boosted gem shows its bonus, such as `VII (+2)`:

![A Vampire Rune boosted by an Empower Support](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-host-linked.png)

## Runewords

A **runeword** is a sequence of gems. Socket those gems **in that order** in one item and it awakens: the item gains a new power and an aura.

The rules:

- The gems must be in the exact order of the sequence.
- Empty sockets don't matter.
- Any other gem in the item breaks the runeword.
- The level of the gems doesn't matter.

![An awakened sword with the Frostfire runeword](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-host-runeword.png)

An awakening is an event. A pillar of light rises, a sigil turns in the sky, and the players around are told who awakened what.

![The sigil of a runeword in the sky](https://media.ssomar.com/m/docs-img-eg-awakening-pillar.jpg)

The first awakening of each runeword is announced to the whole server. Until then, it shows as `???` in the Codex. See the [list of runewords](/docs/executablegems/gems/runewords), or search for yourself.

Players can use `/eg cinematic on` to make the camera turn around the weapon during an awakening. It is off by default.