D2R Horadric Cube Upgrade Recipes: Gem, Rune & Runeword Crafting Guide

In Diablo II: Resurrected, the Horadric Cube is vital for all players. Beyond its quest role, it unlocks powerful crafting mechanics to upgrade items via specialized recipes. 

This guide covers gems, runes, rejuvenation potions, socketing, and transmutation formulas—including upgrades introduced in version 1.10 and later.

Gem Upgrading Recipes

All gem types (including skulls) can be upgraded through the cube by combining three of the same quality:

3 Chipped [Gem] → 1 Flawed [Gem]

3 Flawed [Gem] → 1 Normal [Gem]

3 Normal [Gem] → 1 Flawless [Gem]

3 Flawless [Gem] → 1 Perfect [Gem]

This process applies to all seven gem types.

Rune Upgrading Recipes

Low-Level Rune Upgrades (El to Thul)

3 El Runes → 1 Eld Rune

3 Eld Runes → 1 Tir Rune

3 Tir Runes → 1 Nef Rune

3 Nef Runes → 1 Eth Rune

3 Eth Runes → 1 Ith Rune

3 Ith Runes → 1 Tal Rune

3 Tal Runes → 1 Ral Rune

3 Ral Runes → 1 Ort Rune

3 Ort Runes → 1 Thul Rune

High-Level Rune Upgrades (v1.10+)

These recipes are available only in v1.10+ and for Ladder, Realm, or Single Player characters.

3 Dol Runes + 1 Chipped Emerald → 1 Hel Rune 

3 Hel Runes + 1 Chipped Diamond → 1 Io Rune

3 Io Runes + 1 Flawed Topaz → 1 Lum Rune

3 Lum Runes + 1 Flawed Amethyst → 1 Ko Rune

3 Ko Runes + 1 Flawed Sapphire → 1 Fal Rune

3 Fal Runes + 1 Flawed Ruby → 1 Lem Rune

3 Lem Runes + 1 Flawed Emerald → 1 Pul Rune

2 Pul Runes + 1 Flawed Diamond → 1 Um Rune

2 Um Runes + 1 Topaz → Mal Rune

2 Mal Runes + 1 Amethyst → Ist Rune

2 Ist Runes + 1 Sapphire → Gul Rune

2 Gul Runes + 1 Ruby → Vex Rune

2 Vex Runes + 1 Emerald → Ohm Rune

2 Ohm Runes + 1 Diamond → Lo Rune

2 Lo Runes + 1 Flawless Topaz → Sur Rune

2 Sur Runes + 1 Flawless Amethyst → Ber Rune

2 Ber Runes + 1 Flawless Sapphire → Jah Rune

2 Jah Runes + 1 Flawless Ruby → Cham Rune

2 Cham Runes + 1 Flawless Emerald → Zod Rune

Tip: Use the acronym TASRED to remember the gem order: Topaz, Amethyst, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond.

Potion Crafting Recipes

3 Health Potions + 3 Mana Potions + 1 Chipped Gem → 1 Partial Rejuvenation Potion

3 Health Potions + 3 Mana Potions + 1 Normal Quality Gem → 1 Full Rejuvenation Potion

3 Partial Rejuvenation Potions → 1 Full Rejuvenation Potion

Runeword Preparation & Socket Recipes

Remove Socketed Items

1 Hel Rune + 1 Scroll of Town Portal + Any Socketed Item → Same item with empty sockets

Removes the jewels, gems, or runes from the sockets in an item. The items in the sockets are destroyed, and all bonuses granted by those items are removed.

Fix Low Quality Items (ilvl = 1, ilvl = item level)

1 Eld Rune + 1 Chipped Gem + Low-Quality Weapon → Normal Quality Weapon

1 El Rune + 1 Chipped Gem + Low-Quality Armor → Normal Quality Armor

This recipe is useful to upgrade a low quality weapon or armor to normal quality. It can then be used in other recipes to add sockets, in preparation for turning it into a runeword. Any sockets and items in those sockets will be lost after using this recipe.

Add Sockets to Normal Items

⚠ The game rolls up to 6 sockets, capped by item limits. Below recipes add 1-6 sockets to the items, making it potentially useful for a runeword.

1 Tal Rune + 1 Thul Rune + 1 Perfect Topaz + Normal Body Armor → Socketed Body Armor of same type (1–4 Sockets)

1 Ral Rune + 1 Amn Rune + 1 Perfect Amethyst + Normal Weapon → Socketed Weapon of same type (1–6 Sockets)

1 Ral Rune + 1 Thul Rune + 1 Perfect Sapphire + Normal Helm → Socketed Helm of same type (1–3 Sockets)

1 Tal Rune + 1 Amn Rune + 1 Perfect Ruby + Normal Shield → Socketed Shield of same type (1–4 Sockets)

Socket roll chances follow a 1/6, 1/6, 4/6 rule where applicable, depending on max socket capacity.

Ending

The Horadric Cube is more than just a relic—it's a cornerstone of item crafting. By mastering its recipes, you can turn every rune, gem, and even seemingly useless potion into valuable assets. With countless recipes at its disposal, we'll dive deeper into its mechanics in the next guide. Stay tuned for our detailed breakdown!