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Bases, sockets and runewords

A runeword is made from the humblest item in the game: a white item with sockets. That turns every white drop into a possible treasure, and makes the base itself a thing to hunt.

What makes a great base

  • Sockets: exactly as many as the runeword needs. White items drop socketed sometimes, and the item level caps the count: below ilvl 26 at most 3, below 41 at most 4. The Puzzle Box can add sockets to a white item that has none.
  • Superior: a white item with a rolled bonus to damage or defense. The bonus applies on top of the runeword. Items never wear out.
  • Staffmods: class items, staves and wands can roll up to three +1-3 bonuses to specific class skills, even when white. A white class item with high staffmods and the right sockets is the best base in the game (Affixes).
  • Tier: exceptional and elite bases have better base numbers. You can upgrade a finished runeword's base in the Puzzle Box (recipes).

Making a runeword

  1. Find a white (normal or superior) item of an allowed type, with exactly as many sockets as the runeword has runes.
  2. Socket the runes in order. Each rune also gives its own bonus, which depends on whether it's in a weapon, an armor or a shield (Runes and gems).
  3. When the last rune goes in, the runeword forms and its ranges roll, once. The required level is the highest rune's.

A wrong order, a magic item or an extra empty socket means no runeword: you just get an item with runes in it. Unsocketing destroys the runes, so check Runewords before you start.

Runes

There are 33 runes. Each is rarer than the one below, and the high ones only drop at sufficiently high dungeon levels. Three low runes make the next one in the Puzzle Box. From CRUG up they also need a gem, and from LEW up only two runes plus a flawless or perfect gem. That means every rune can be crafted, including GRAAL, if you are patient.

Gems and jewels

Gems give fixed bonuses by item kind and come in five grades. Three of a grade make the next. Jewels carry their own magic or rare affixes and give them in any item; a jewel's top affixes are magic-only, like everything else.

Socketing in a run

Open the hero screen and tap an item with sockets: its details show what's in it and a button for every rune, gem or jewel in your bag that fits. Sockets fill in order and can't be emptied, so plan the runeword before the first rune goes in. A completed runeword rolls its mods at once and enters your Grail.