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{{Item_navbox}}=Introduction=Some Diablo II [[items]] have '''sockets''', in which magically infused [[gem]]s, [[jewel]]s or [[rune]]s can be inserted to induce their magic powers to that item. These items will on themselves not provide any bonuses to a character.

==Introduction==Socketed Items can be complicated, mainly in the number of sockets and how to add sockets to existing items. There are two [[Cube recipes]] to add them, as well as the socket quest in [[Act IV]]. Also items can generate with a wide variety of sockets, and how many depends on the monster that drops them, the item type, and much more.  You can ''never add a socket to an item that already has one or more sockets'', with any recipe or the socketing quest reward. The only partial exception is the 3 chipped gems [[gem]]s + 1 sword recipe, which will create a magical sword with new properties and 3 sockets. This doesn't add sockets to the existing sword though, since it is rolling new mods on the weapon, so is essentially random. 

===How to Find Chippies===To find socketed items you want to kill a lot of normal monsters [[monster]]s (not bosses[[boss]]es), while wearing as little [[Magic Find ]] % as possible. Boss runs are exactly wrong for socketed items, since bosses always drop at least magical items, never normal or socketed. Therefore you want to do levels that have tons of monsters, and not a lot of bosses. The [[Bloody Foothills ]] or the Halls [[Hall of Valor|Valor]]/[[Hall of Anguish|Anguish]]/[[Hall of Vaught|Vaught ]] or the levels of the WorldStone [[Worldstone Keep ]] are good for these since they have no random bosses or champions[[champion]]s, which take longer to kill and never drop socketed items. The best place however is probably the [[Secret Cow Level]], since there are such enormous numbers of targets. There are random cow bosses and champions, but with hundreds of normal cows around, it's more than worth it.  The key is to not have any [[Magic Find]], since the more of that you have the more likely items dropped will be [[magic]]al or better ([[Rare]], [[Set]], [[Unique]]). Zero [[MF]] is best for finding socketed items, but if you can't avoid a small % bonus, it won't make much of a difference. The best characters for this are probably [[Sorc]]s for the [[Bloody Highlands]] and [[Javazons]] for the Cow level, where each can kill at a tremendous pace.

 '''Normal Items''': Normal items can have from 1-6 sockets. How many on a given item is random for most item types (circlets can only have 1 socket), but the maximum is limited by the [[mlvl ]] of the monster that drops the item, and the item type. Check our [[Armor ]] and Weapons [[Weapon]]s pages for info on how many sockets are possible on given item types. In terms of how many max, this is determined by the mlvl of the monster that drops the item. This max applies to sockets on socketed items they drop, and also on how many sockets you'll get if you socket quest a normal item they drop. 

<nowiki>*</nowiki> [[Druid ]] and [[Barbarian ]] class helms can have 3 sockets right from the start.<br><nowiki>**</nowiki> [[Paladin shield ]] shields can have 4 sockets at any time. Only three elite shields (Kite, Tower, Gothic) can have 4 sockets for other characters.  You need to check the [[item]]s pages for sockets possible in items, since these are just the maximum possible, and most items can't have the maximum. They are always limited by the inventory spaces an item takes up.  The number of sockets from the [[socket quest]] is not affected by the difficulty level, only by the [[qlvl]] of the item, which is based on the [[mlvl]] of the monster that drops it. '''Your [[Clvl]] and the difficulty level of the quest reward has nothing to do with the number of sockets you get.''' You can use the [[Normal]] quest reward on a Crystal Sword and get 6 sockets, or the [[Hell]] quest reward and get 3, depending on the qlvl of the swords used. 

You need to check There are rumours of the quest reward varying the items pages for number of sockets possible in items, since further but these rumours are just completely unfounded. Its likely that minions on a borderline area level dropped a white item that was thought to have a lower qlvl. The number of sockets from a quest reward is always the maximum possible, based on the qlvl and most items can't have the maximum. They are always limited by the inventory spaces an item takes uptype (assuming its a white item).

There are rumors of the quest reward varying the If you need a number of sockets further but these rumors are completely unfounded. Its that [[Lazurk]] won't provide (most likely 5), then you'll have to try and find that minions on a borderline area level dropped a white item that was thought to have a lower qlvl. The with the number of sockets from you want, for a specific [[RuneWord]], generally. Trade for it if you have to, or ask in games, most people don't save socketed items, so you might ask as soon as you join, say you'll make 100k for a 5-socket [[Ogre Maul]], for example, or trade more if someone drives a quest reward is always the maximum possible based on hard bargain. If they aren't keeping it, they'll only get 35k at most for the qlvl and item type (assuming its a white item)sale, so shouldn't be too greedy.

==Sockets by Number==