How to use the 5th act socketing quest effectively in Diablo II: Resurrected? It's all about your first Spirit/Insight runeword.

Dec-06-2023

 

In Diablo II: Resurrected, after completing the first quest of the 5th act, the blacksmith Larzuk will reward you with an opportunity to socket items, also known as the socketing quest. This quest rewards you with one socketing chance for each difficulty level: normal, nightmare, and hell. Therefore, each player has a total of three chances to socket items, and once used, you can only rely on other characters to help you socket.

 

 

The number of sockets obtained for different quality items varies greatly. In summary, white/gray quality items have the maximum number of sockets for that items, blue quality items have randomly 1 to 2 sockets, and green/bright gold/dark gold quality items have 1 socket. However, different types of white/gray quality equipment have different maximum socket counts, and sometimes the maximum socket count for the same white/gray quality equipment at different item levels is also different!

 

Certain white/gray quality equipment with specific socket counts can be used to create corresponding runewords, so this type of equipment that meets the conditions is also called "runeword base item." The socketing quest for white/gray quality equipment gives you the maximum number of sockets for that weapon, and the maximum socket count may not be the same for different item levels (monster levels that drop the equipment). Furthermore, when socketing white/gray quality weapon, you don't need to worry about whether it is ethereal or superior (with enhanced damage or increased durability).

 

Taking the example of the most commonly used "Spirit Sword" base item, a white/gray crystal sword with 4 sockets, the maximum socket count for white/gray crystal swords without sockets is divided into three item level stages:

 

1. For items with an item level of 25 or lower, the maximum socket count is 3 sockets. Usually, in the normal difficulty, the boss "Mephisto" in the third act and the scenes of the first and second acts before that are at or below level 25. If you encounter a white/gray crystal sword without sockets (Broad Sword at this level also has a maximum of 3 sockets) in these scenes without knowing the specific item level, it is highly likely to get 3 sockets from the socketing quest.

 

2. For items with an item level between 26 and 40, the maximum socket count is 4 sockets. From the 4th act in normal difficulty to the second floor of the "Worldstone Keep" in the 5th act, all monsters and the Cow Level (level 28 scene) in normal difficulty that drop white/gray crystal swords without sockets mostly have a maximum socket count of 4. If you encounter one and get 4 sockets directly from the socketing quest, it is the base item for making the "Spirit Sword." However, the bosses and elite monsters in the "Worldstone Keep" on the first and second floors drop base items higher than level 39, so if you're unsure of the specific item level, it's better not to use the base items from those scenes. Additionally, white/gray broad swords above level 26 also have a maximum socket count of 4, which can also be used to make the "Spirit Sword."

 

 

3. For items with an item level higher than 40,  the maximum socket count is 6 sockets. In normal difficulty, the scenes from the third floor of the "Worldstone Keep" and onwards, as well as nightmare and hell difficulties, unless you encounter naturally 4-socketed crystal sword base materials, any white/gray crystal sword without sockets obtained from these scenes will have a maximum socket count of 6 when socketed through the quest. However, white/gray broad swords dropped in these scenes still have a maximum socket count of 4, which can also be used as base materials for making the "Spirit Sword."

 

The differences in the maximum socket counts of most base items are divided into these three item level stages. Here are a few more examples of polearm weapons in normal difficulty that can be used as base materials for making the "Insight" runeword, with item levels between 26 and 40: "Feral Spear," "Scythe," "Great Poleaxe," "War Spear," "Giant Thresher" (the names may have changed in the remastered version, compare with the old version's styles). The maximum socket count for all of these polearm weapons is 4 sockets. This means that ordinary monsters in the scenes from the 4th act to the first floor of the "Worldstone Keep" in normal difficulty, as well as the Cow Level (level 28 scene), drop these socketless polearm weapons that can be socketed through the quest and used as base materials for making the "Insight" runeword.

 

In hell difficulty, if you come across a white quality "Monarch" shield without sockets, you can socket it through the quest and use it as the base item for making the “Spirit Shield”. So, taking one of the three opportunities that socketing your items through Larzuk’s reward for making a “Spirit Shield” can also be a nice choice especially if you are a Sorcerer or Necromancer player.