Skill gem

An overview of skills

Active skill gems and support skill gems are usually referred to as skill gems and support gem in in-game item mod and passive skills. In item filter and gaming community they are still refer as Skill gem.

Gems must be equipped in item sockets before their use. Active skill gems grant an active skill for the player to use and are further augmented by linked support skill gems. There are currently 276 different active skill gems and 177 support skill gems in the game, for a total of 453.

Skill gems are not to be confused with passive skills, which provide constant stats and are mainly earned through character levelling. To avoid confusion, some players simply refer to both types of these items as "gems". The "Skill gem" in in-game modifier also refer to Active skill gems exclusively.

Obtaining gems

There are several methods of obtaining skills and support gems:

Earned through a quest reward (see List of skill gems rewarded from quests).
Purchased from town vendors once a certain quest is complete (see List of skill gems rewarded from quests).
- Vendors in Acts 1-4 towns sell leveled skill gems. The available gems are based on the character's class and quest progression.
- Siosa in Act 3 sells all unleveled skill gems that can be received as quest rewards for quests you've completed, across all classes.
- Lilly Roth in Act 6, 10 and Epilogue sells all unleveled skill gems after completing the Act 6 quest Fallen from Grace.
Vendor recipes (see vendor recipe system).
Random drop from monsters, chests and strongboxes.
Vaal skill gems are obtained from Vaal Vessels in corrupted areas or by corrupting a regular skill gem.
As a reward for turning certain sets of divination cards.
beastcrafting recipe

Gem levels

Experience

Socketed gems gain 10% of the experience your character earns, calculated before any level penalties.
The number of gems you have equipped has no effect on the rate of experience gain.
Gems do not lose experience when you die.
Items with +experience% gain do affect gems.
Gems socketed in inactive weapon slots do gain experience.
Gems may be traded like normal items and they will retain their experience.

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.

Items that alter experience gain

Item	Base Item		Stats
Mutated Growth Mutated Growth Cobalt JewelLimited to: 110% increased Experience Gain for Corrupted Gems CorruptedFew living things survived the cleansing flames. Those that did thrived... And changed...Place into an allocated Jewel Socket on the Passive Skill Tree. Right click to remove from the Socket.	Cobalt Jewel	1	10% increased Experience Gain for Corrupted Gems Corrupted
Perandus Signet Perandus Signet Paua Ring+(20-30) to maximum Mana+(25-30) to maximum Mana (45-65)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate 2% increased Experience gain 2% increased Intelligence for each Unique Item Equipped 3% additional chance for Slain monsters to drop Scrolls of Wisdom"Our warehouses are bursting. Our vaults are full. But our minds are still hungry." - Medici Perandus, Prefect to the Treasury	Paua Ring	1	+(20-30) to maximum Mana+(25-30) to maximum Mana (45-65)% increased Mana Regeneration Rate 2% increased Experience gain 2% increased Intelligence for each Unique Item Equipped 3% additional chance for Slain monsters to drop Scrolls of Wisdom
Dialla's Malefaction Dialla's Malefaction Sage's RobeQuality: +20% Energy Shield: 88 Movement Speed: -3%Requires Level 37Gems can be Socketed in this Item ignoring Socket Colour Gems Socketed in Red Sockets have +1 to Level Gems Socketed in Green Sockets have +10% to Quality Gems Socketed in Blue Sockets gain 25% increased Experience Has no Attribute RequirementsHe took me by my hand, promised me power beyond compare. But i did not do it for power. I did it for love. And I'd do it again in an instant.	Sage's Robe	37	Gems can be Socketed in this Item ignoring Socket Colour Gems Socketed in Red Sockets have +1 to Level Gems Socketed in Green Sockets have +10% to Quality Gems Socketed in Blue Sockets gain 25% increased Experience Has no Attribute Requirements
The Supreme Truth The Supreme Truth Crystal SceptreSceptre Quality: +20% Physical Damage: (70-77) to (104-114.4) Critical Strike Chance: 6.50% Attacks per Second: (1.38-1.50) Weapon Range: 11Requires Level 41, 59 Str, 136 Int30% increased Elemental Damage+1 to Level of Socketed Gems 60% increased Intelligence Requirement (80-100)% increased Physical Damage (10-20)% increased Attack Speed 3% increased Experience gain 20% increased Elemental DamageKnowledge brings power, and with power you can grab truth by the throat and shape it as you wish.	Crystal Sceptre	41	30% increased Elemental Damage+1 to Level of Socketed Gems 60% increased Intelligence Requirement (80-100)% increased Physical Damage (10-20)% increased Attack Speed 3% increased Experience gain 20% increased Elemental Damage
Chitus' Apex Chitus' Apex Necromancer CircletQuality: +20% Energy Shield: 62Requires Level 54, 112 Int+(20-30) to Strength +(20-30) to maximum Mana 5% increased Experience gain +10% to all Elemental Resistances (10-20)% increased Elemental Damage"It takes true strength to hold power, and my grip grows tighter by the day." - Emperor Chitus	Necromancer Circlet	54	+(20-30) to Strength +(20-30) to maximum Mana 5% increased Experience gain +10% to all Elemental Resistances (10-20)% increased Elemental Damage
Voidhome Voidhome Dread MaulTwo Hand Mace Quality: +20% Physical Damage: 207.9-280.8 Critical Strike Chance: 5.00% Attacks per Second: 1.88 Weapon Range: 13Requires Level 54, 173 Str30% increased Stun Duration on Enemies150% increased Physical Damage 50% increased Attack Speed (50-30)% reduced Rarity of Items found (50-30)% reduced Experience gain 0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as ManaCursed is the star whence it came.	Dread Maul	54	30% increased Stun Duration on Enemies150% increased Physical Damage 50% increased Attack Speed (50-30)% reduced Rarity of Items found (50-30)% reduced Experience gain 0.4% of Physical Attack Damage Leeched as Mana

Exceeding the level cap

Each gem has a cap beyond which it can not gain any further experience and can not advance any more levels through experience; for most gems this cap is at 20. There are, however, ways to increase the level of a gem beyond 20.

They can be placed in items with modifiers such as the Paragon's - +1 to Level of Socketed Gems (Prefix) or certain Corruptions, or certain unique items such as FrostfernoFrostferno
Leather HoodQuality: +20%
Evasion: (575-626)Requires Level 60, 46 Dex+2 to Level of Socketed Fire Gems
+2 to Level of Socketed Cold Gems
Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Cold to Fire
(450-500)% increased Evasion Rating
60% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
+(20-30)% to Fire and Cold ResistancesEmbrace your burning ambition.
Embrace your frozen heart.
You will be transformed.. They can also be linked with the support gems Empower SupportEmpower SupportSupport
Icon: +
Level: (1-3)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 140%Supports any skill gem. Once this gem reaches level 2 or above, will raise the level of supported gems. Cannot support skills that don't come from gems.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2AnomalousThis Gem gains 5% increased Experience3% reduced Strength Requirement+(0-2) to Level of Supported Active Skill GemsThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Awakened Added Fire Damage SupportAwakened Added Fire Damage SupportFire, Physical, Support
Icon: F
Level: (1-5)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 120%Requires Level 72Supports any skill that hits enemies.Per 1% Quality:1SuperiorSupported Skills deal 1% increased Fire DamageSupported Skills gain (45-49)% of Physical Damage as Extra Fire Damage
+(0-1) to Level of Supported Fire Skill GemsThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Awakened Added Cold Damage SupportAwakened Added Cold Damage SupportCold, Support
Icon: C
Level: (1-5)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 72Supports any skill that hits enemies.Per 1% Quality:1SuperiorSupported Skills deal 0.5% increased Cold DamageSupported Skills have (187-227) to (280-341) added Cold Damage
+(0-1) to Level of Supported Cold Skill GemsThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Awakened Added Lightning Damage SupportAwakened Added Lightning Damage SupportLightning, Support
Icon: L
Level: (1-5)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 72Supports any skill that hits enemies.Per 1% Quality:1SuperiorSupported Skills deal 0.5% increased Lightning DamageSupported Skills have (23-29) to (445-543) added Lightning Damage
+(0-1) to Level of Supported Lightning Skill GemsThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Awakened Added Chaos Damage SupportAwakened Added Chaos Damage SupportChaos, Support
Icon: H
Level: (1-5)
Cost & Reservation Multiplier: 130%Requires Level 72Supports any skill that hits enemies.Per 1% Quality:1SuperiorSupported Skills deal 0.5% increased Chaos DamageSupported Skills have (190-234) to (284-352) added Chaos Damage
+(0-1) to Level of Supported Active Skill GemsThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., Awakened Blasphemy SupportAwakened Blasphemy SupportSupport, Hex, Aura
Icon: A
Level: (1-5)
Cooldown Time: 1.20 sec
Can Store 1 Use(s)Requires Level 72Supports hex curse skills, turning them into auras that will apply their effect to all enemies in an area around you.Per 1% Quality:1Superior0.5% increased Effect of Supported Curses
+0.05 to Level of Supported Curse Skill Gems(80-88)% increased Area of Effect of Supported Curse Skills
Supported Skills apply their Curse as an Auras
Supported Curse Skills also count as Aura Skills
Using Supported Skills is InstantThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., and Awakened Generosity SupportAwakened Generosity SupportSupport, Aura
Icon: G
Level: (1-5)Requires Level 72Supports aura skills that affect you and allies, increasing the aura's effect on allies, but preventing it from affecting you at all. Cannot support curse auras, or other auras that only affect enemies. Cannot support skills used by totems.Per 1% Quality:1SuperiorSupported Skills have 2% increased Aura Area of Effect
+0.05 to Level of Supported Aura Skill GemsNon-Curse Auras from Supported Skills have (41-49)% increased Effect
Supported Auras do not affect youThis is a Support Gem. It does not grant a bonus to your character, but to skills in sockets connected to it. Place into an item socket connected to a socket containing the Active Skill Gem you wish to augment. Right click to remove from a socket., and corrupting a gem can raise its level permanently (ignores level cap, suggest corrupting when the gem is at level 20).

Attribute and level requirements no longer increase when using any of those methods with the exception of corrupting the gem itself.

For example, by combining these three methods, the level of a skill gem can get as high as level 32. One way to do this is to have a FrostfernoFrostferno
Leather HoodQuality: +20%
Evasion: (575-626)Requires Level 60, 46 Dex+2 to Level of Socketed Fire Gems
+2 to Level of Socketed Cold Gems
Socketed Gems are Supported by Level 30 Cold to Fire
(450-500)% increased Evasion Rating
60% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
+(20-30)% to Fire and Cold ResistancesEmbrace your burning ambition.
Embrace your frozen heart.
You will be transformed. with two additional instances of the +2 to Level of Socketed Fire Gems and +2 to Level of Socketed Cold Gems modifiers via corruption, then socket a corrupted level 21 Elemental HitElemental HitAttack, Projectile, Melee, Strike, Fire, Cold, Lightning, AoE, Bow
Level: (1-20)
Cost: (7-11) Mana
Radius: 10Requires Level 12Each attack with this skill will choose an element at random, and will only be able to deal damage of that element. If the attack hits an enemy, it will also deal damage in an area around them, with the radius being larger if that enemy is suffering from an ailment of the chosen element. It will avoid choosing the same element twice in a row.Per 1% Quality:1Superior2Anomalous3Divergent1% increased Elemental Damage0.5% increased Area of Effect1% increased Effect of non-Damaging Ailments on Enemies(22-480) to (40-891) Added Fire Damage
(18-392) to (33-729) Added Cold Damage
(4-77) to (67-1465) Added Lightning Damage
(30-49)% chance to Freeze, Shock and Ignite
10% more Damage per Elemental Ailment on the Enemy
80% more Area Radius against Enemies affected by an Ailment of the chosen Element
Only Deals Damage of the chosen Element
Deals no Damage of other Damage Types
+(0-2) to Melee Strike RangePlace into an item socket of the right colour to gain this skill. Right click to remove from a socket. gem in to the Frostferno item. This is now a level 29 Elemental Hit. Now support it with a corrupted level 4 Empower Support, increasing the Elemental Hit's level by 3 to bring it to level 32.

Unique items: See List of unique items increasing socketed gem level

Gems with a level cap below 20

These gems don't follow the regular experience curve.

Quality

A Gemcutter's PrismGemcutter's PrismStack Size: 20Improves the quality of a gemRight click this item then left click a gem to apply it. The maximum quality is 20%.
Shift click to unstack. can be used to upgrade a gem's quality. Adding quality to a gem will add an additional effect to the skill. The exact modifications quality gives to the gem are displayed in the detailed view (hover over the item and hold Alt).

The effect of quality scales with the base quality effect, however, only whole numbers will be granted (and thus the effect will always be rounded down); for example 3% quality on a gem with 0.5% effect will only grant 1% effect and not 1.5% effect. Effects that have some degree of fractions naturally are rounded to their natural bases (i.e. seconds will be rounded to milliseconds, etc.).

Gems with alternate quality effects can be found in Grand Heists. They are prefaced as "Anomalous", "Divergent", or "Phantasmal" instead of "Superior".

Corruption

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. Corruption can also convert a gem into its Vaal skill equivalent, if one exists.

It's suggested that you apply Corruption to a Skill Gem when the Skill gem is at level 20, 20% quality or both in order for corruption to potentially exceed the cap.

Gem types

Active Skills

Active skills have requirements based on each of the three main attributes, and can be easily identified by the attribute colour.

For a list of active skill gem, read List of active skill gems excluding vaal skills

Support Gems

Support skill gem, most commonly known as support gem in-game, can argument the supported active skill gem.

You cannot support active skill gems with more than one copy of each support gem. If you place more than one of any support gem linked to skill gem, only the support gam with the highest level will work. Note that Awakened support gems cannot stack with their non-Awakened variant. While gems such as LMP and GMP are effectively two gems which they can stack.

For more information on support gems, please refer to that wiki article. For a list of support gems, read List of support skill gems

Vaal Skill Gems

These skill gems can be acquired in vaal side 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.

Vaal Skills have requirements based on each of the three main attributes, and can be easily identified by the attribute colour.

For a list of vaal skill gems, read List of active skill gems granting vaal skills

Related divination cards

The following divination cards can be exchanged for gem:

Item	Stack Size	Effect(s)
Deathly DesignsDeathly Designs7Level 21 Trap Gem Quality: +23% Corrupted"The Karui was correct; there is virtue in honouring my ancestors."	7	Level 21 Trap Gem Quality: +23% Corrupted
Desecrated VirtueDesecrated Virtue9Level 6 Awakened Support Gem Quality: +23% CorruptedAwoken virtuous slivers of the void, defiled by the avaricious, seized by the tyrannical.	9	Level 6 Awakened Support Gem Quality: +23% Corrupted
Dialla's SubjugationDialla's Subjugation7Superior Support Gem Quality: +23% CorruptedA symbol of beauty and innocence The gems corrupted her mind Malachai corrupted her gems All but a glimmer of greatness lost in madness	7	Superior Support Gem Quality: +23% Corrupted
Dying AnguishDying Anguish8Level 19 Gem Alternative Quality: +19%Moribund, he gazed upon the journey taken as blood trickled down his chin. His eye closed on the city ahead that he would never call home.	8	Level 19 Gem Alternative Quality: +19%
Gemcutter's PromiseGemcutter's Promise3Superior Gem Quality: +20%"I swore to use my position to help the people. What good is power when it just accumulates on the already-powerful?" - Erasmus, Imperial Gemcutter	3	Superior Gem Quality: +20%
Gift of the Gemling QueenGift of the Gemling Queen9Level 20 Support GemOur Lady Dialla, as a symbol of our progress, shines greater than all the gems.	9	Level 20 Support Gem
Grave KnowledgeGrave Knowledge6Summon Raging Spirit Quality: +20%The dead tell me great insights. They've had nothing but time to sit and think.	6	Summon Raging Spirit Quality: +20%
The ArtistThe Artist11Level 4 Enhance Corrupted"Paint, metal, flesh... A true artist does not limit himself." - Malachai the Soulless	11	Level 4 Enhance Corrupted
The Bitter BlossomThe Bitter Blossom3Level 21 Chaos Gem Quality: +23% CorruptedThe pain you feel is of no consequence, it is evolution, to be made whole within something greater.	3	Level 21 Chaos Gem Quality: +23% Corrupted
The BonesThe Bones6Level 21 Vaal Summon Skeletons CorruptedThe flesh is a prison, and we are finally free.	6	Level 21 Vaal Summon Skeletons Corrupted
The CataclysmThe Cataclysm13Level 21 Spell Gem CorruptedThe mighty warriors traded in blows, the nimble archers in arrows, yet it was the brazen thaumaturgists who would bring catastrophe to all.	13	Level 21 Spell Gem Corrupted
The CheaterThe Cheater3Level 6 Awakened Support Gem Quality: +20% CorruptedSometimes the best way to achieve greatness is to use a shortcut.	3	Level 6 Awakened Support Gem Quality: +20% Corrupted
The DoppelgangerThe Doppelganger2Superior Mirror Arrow Quality: +20%Upon seeing her face, I am terrified—the moon shows me my own form!	2	Superior Mirror Arrow Quality: +20%
The Dragon's HeartThe Dragon's Heart11Level 4 Empower CorruptedThey say when a dragon dies, the flesh smoulders and burns until all that remains is the still, white-hot, heart.	11	Level 4 Empower Corrupted
The EnlightenedThe Enlightened6Level 3 EnlightenWeaving the six, a serpent stands tall. Wearing a crown, the thousand petals call.	6	Level 3 Enlighten
The FoxThe Fox6Level 20 Gem"Masters of wit, strength and cunning. To survive the harsh winters, you must be like the fox." - Ezomyte Proverb	6	Level 20 Gem
The RealmThe Realm5Portal Quality: +1-20%If you wish to rush into strange places, be prepared to face strange things.	5	Portal Quality: +1-20%
The Rite of ElementsThe Rite of Elements5Level 21 Golem Gem CorruptedA mind as quick as lightning, fists as hard as stone, a heart that burns with fury, and eyes that chill to the bone.	5	Level 21 Golem Gem Corrupted
The SkeletonThe Skeleton6Level 1 Summon Skeletons Quality: +23% CorruptedThey stand among us, and within us.	6	Level 1 Summon Skeletons Quality: +23% Corrupted
The SummonerThe Summoner6Superior Minion Gem Quality: +20%To own a piece of the Nightmare, you must first belong to the Nightmare.	6	Superior Minion Gem Quality: +20%
The Wilted RoseThe Wilted Rose7Level 21 Aura Gem CorruptedThough the path to divinity is fraught with peril, hope may bloom from within.	7	Level 21 Aura Gem Corrupted
Volatile PowerVolatile Power9Superior Vaal Gem Quality: +20% CorruptedUnlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it.	9	Superior Vaal Gem Quality: +20% Corrupted
Wealth and PowerWealth and Power11Level 4 Enlighten CorruptedThe greatness of a man is not in how much wealth or power he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to positively affect those around him.	11	Level 4 Enlighten Corrupted

References

Path of Exile Wiki