As with previous Diablo games, gems play a critical role in Diablo 4's character customization and itemization systems. Gems are small, colorful stones imbued with magical properties, and they can be socketed into weapons, armor, and other equipment to provide a variety of bonuses and effects. In Diablo 4, there are several different types of gems with unique attributes. Each gem is categorized by its color: red gems provide bonuses to physical damage, green gems increase critical hit chance, yellow gems enhance resource regeneration, purple gems increase life steal, and blue gems increase damage reduction. Each gem has its own rarity as well, with common, rare, and legendary gems available in the game. Higher rarity gems provide more powerful bonuses and effects but are also much harder to find.

Diablo 4 Gems Guide: Socketing, Upgrading, Removal, and More

1. Socketing Gems in Equipment

To socket a gem in your equipment, you need to find an item that has sockets available. Some items naturally have sockets, such as rings or amulets, while others can be modified to have sockets added through the crafting system. Once you have an item with a socket available, you can simply drag and drop the gem onto the socket to socket it in place. Once the gem is socketed, the bonus it provides will be active as long as the item is equipped.

2. Legendary Gems

In addition to the basic gems, Diablo 4 also introduces legendary gems, which are even rarer and more powerful than regular gems. Legendary gems can only be obtained by completing certain high-level challenges, such as defeating powerful bosses or clearing certain rifts. Legendary gems provide unique bonuses and effects that can help push your character's power to new heights. For example, the Gem of Ease drastically reduces the level requirement of any item that it's socketed in, allowing you to use powerful items much earlier than you normally would. Other legendary gems provide bonuses like increased damage against elites, reduced incoming damage after a critical hit, and faster cooldowns on abilities. Legendary gems can only be socketed in jewelry, such as rings or amulets, and can only be socketed in one item at a time. This means that you'll need to choose carefully which item to socket your legendary gem in, based on your current build and playstyle.

3. Jewelcrafting

To create gems in Diablo 4, you'll need to engage in the game's crafting system. Jewelcrafting is the skill that allows you to create gems, as well as socket them into items. To begin crafting gems, you'll need to acquire raw materials like ore and crystals. These materials can be obtained by mining veins throughout the game world or completing certain quests. Once you have the required materials, you can take them to a jewelcrafter vendor and begin the crafting process. You'll need to select the type of gem you want to create, as well as the quality level (common, rare, or legendary). The crafting process for gems is random, with each attempt having a chance to produce a gem of varying quality. This means that you may need to craft multiple gems to get the one you're looking for. Once you have your gem, you can take it to a socketable item and socket it in place. You can also remove a gem from an item by using a socketing tool, which is available from the same vendor as jewel-crafting materials.

4. Gem Upgrading

Another way to obtain more powerful gems in Diablo 4 is by upgrading them. Upgrading gems allows you to increase the quality of an existing gem, potentially turning a rare gem into a legendary one. To upgrade a gem, you'll need to acquire the required materials from the jeweler vendor, as well as a specific recipe for the gem you want to upgrade. Once you have the recipe and materials, you can take your gem to the jeweler and begin the upgrading process. This process involves sacrificing other gems to increase the quality of the gem you want to upgrade. Upgrading gems is a great way to improve your character's gear without having to constantly farm for new items. It also provides a good opportunity to use up any lower-quality gems you may have lying around.

5. Gem Removal

If you want to remove a gem from an item, you can use a socketing tool to do so. Socketing tools are available from the jeweler vendor, and allow you to remove a gem from an item without destroying either the gem or the item. This is useful if you want to move a gem from one item to another, or if you want to sell an item without losing the gem that's socketed in it.

6. Gem Attributes and Builds

Choosing the right gems for your character build is crucial for maximizing your potential in Diablo 4. To create the most effective build, you'll need to carefully consider which gems to socket in which items. For example, if you're playing a wizard who relies heavily on mana, you might want to socket topaz gems in your armor to increase your mana regeneration rate. If you're playing a barbarian who focuses on dealing massive damage, you might want to socket rubies in your weapon to increase physical damage. The specific gems you choose for your build will depend on your playstyle and the abilities of your character. Experimenting with different combinations of gems is a great way to find the build that works best for you. 

In Diablo 4, gems serve as an important component of character customization and gear enhancement. By socketing gems into your gear, you can drastically improve your character's abilities and power. Whether you're looking to increase your damage output, reduce incoming damage, or gain other beneficial effects, there's a gem out there that can help you achieve your goals. By mastering the art of gem crafting and selection, you can create a build that's perfectly tailored to your playstyle, and become a force to be reckoned with in the world of Sanctuary.