Unlocking the Power of White Sockets: A Comprehensive Guide to Obtaining Them in Path of Exile
So, you’re chasing the elusive white sockets in Path of Exile (PoE)? Excellent! These versatile sockets are a game-changer, allowing you to slot any gem regardless of its color requirement. This guide will delve into exactly how you can acquire them, along with a host of related information to help you maximize your gearing potential.
The Primary Method: Corruption via the Altar of Corruption
The main, and essentially only, method to obtain white sockets in Path of Exile is through corruption using the Altar of Corruption within the Temple of Atzoatl. To access the Temple, you must engage in Alva Valai’s temporal incursions during your maps.
Here’s a breakdown of the process:
- Encounter Alva Valai: As you map, Alva will appear, offering you a portal to a temporal incursion.
- Complete the Incursion: Clear the incursion, focusing on opening pathways to higher-tier rooms within the temple. This often involves killing the architect of a specific room and choosing which architect to replace them with.
- Navigate the Temple: Once you’ve run enough incursions, Alva will allow you to enter the completed Temple of Atzoatl. Navigate through the temple, prioritizing rooms that lead to the Corruption Chamber.
- The Corruption Chamber (Tier 3): The Tier 3 version of the Corruption Chamber, the Locus of Corruption, contains the Altar of Corruption. This altar allows you to corrupt an item twice. The outcome of each corruption is unpredictable, but one possible outcome is transforming sockets into white sockets.
- Sacrifice and Pray: Place your desired item on the altar. Understand that the process will corrupt the item. Corruption prevents you from using any further currency on the item except Vaal Orbs.
- Cross your fingers: The altar will corrupt the item, potentially modifying its stats, adding implicit mods, or, ideally, transforming some or all of its sockets into white sockets.
Important Considerations:
- Rarity: Obtaining all white sockets is rare, making this a gamble. You might only get one or two, or none at all.
- Item Choice: Choose wisely which item to corrupt. Items with already desirable stats and affixes are a good choice, as the risk of bricking them can be offset by the potential reward of white sockets.
- Planning: Plan which item you’ll corrupt BEFORE you start running the Incursions with Alva.
The Altar of Corruption is the only way to transform existing sockets into white sockets. The process is random and risky, but the payoff is often worth the effort for min-maxing builds or creating highly specialized gear. This element of risk and reward, as with many aspects of PoE, offers players a chance to engage in strategic thinking and decision-making. Exploring how games like Path of Exile can foster these kinds of skills falls within the realm of Games Learning Society, a community dedicated to understanding the educational potential of games. You can find more about this at GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about White Sockets in Path of Exile
What exactly are white sockets and why are they desirable?
White sockets are special sockets that can accept any color of gem. This provides extreme flexibility in gem setup, allowing players to ignore color restrictions on their gear. This is especially valuable when building off-meta builds or trying to achieve difficult color combinations.
Are there any other ways to get white sockets besides the Altar of Corruption?
No. Currently, the Altar of Corruption is the only method for adding white sockets to an item.
What are the chances of getting white sockets from the Altar of Corruption?
The exact chances are unknown and subject to change with game updates. However, the probability of achieving a full set of white sockets is considered low, making it a desirable and valuable outcome.
Does the item level of the item I corrupt affect the chances of getting white sockets?
No, the item level does not affect the probability of obtaining white sockets. The corruption outcome is independent of the item’s level or base type.
Can I use currency to change the colors of white sockets?
No. Once a socket is white, its color is fixed. It will always be a white socket and can accept any gem color.
Can I change the number of sockets on an item with white sockets?
You cannot use conventional methods like Jeweller’s Orbs. The item is corrupted, which prevents using currency except for Vaal Orbs. Vaal Orbs have a chance to change the number of sockets, but this is random and can also have other unpredictable outcomes.
What happens if I corrupt an item with already corrupted sockets?
The Altar of Corruption works on both uncorrupted and corrupted items. If the item already has corrupted properties, applying it to the Altar of Corruption will result in the item being corrupted twice, allowing for a second chance at getting white sockets (or other corruption outcomes).
Can I use the crafting bench to add or remove sockets on an item with white sockets?
No. Due to the item being corrupted, you cannot use the crafting bench for any modifications.
Is it possible to target specific white socket arrangements (e.g., all sockets white)?
No. The process is entirely random. You cannot influence the specific arrangement of white sockets.
What is the best strategy for maximizing my chances of getting white sockets?
The “best” strategy is to farm as many Temples of Atzoatl as possible and prioritize upgrading the Corruption Chamber to Tier 3. Beyond that, it’s a matter of persistence and luck.
Can I trade for items with white sockets?
Yes! Items with white sockets are tradeable, and their value reflects the number and arrangement of the white sockets.
What other corruption outcomes are possible from the Altar of Corruption?
Besides white sockets, the Altar of Corruption can:
- Change existing affixes: Randomly rerolls the item’s mods.
- Add an implicit modifier: Grants a special implicit mod that cannot be changed with regular methods.
- Transform the item into a different base type: Completely changes the item to a different item of the same type (e.g., a Leather Belt might become a Rustic Sash).
- Do nothing: The item remains the same except for being corrupted.
- Destroy the item: The item is lost completely.
Are items with white sockets always more valuable?
Not always. The value depends on the number of white sockets, the item’s other stats, and the current meta. An item with perfectly rolled stats and all six sockets as white sockets will command a very high price.
Does quality affect the white sockets?
No, the quality of the item does not affect the outcome of the Altar of Corruption or the likelihood of getting white sockets. However, it’s generally a good idea to maximize the quality of the item before corrupting it, as you won’t be able to use regular currency to do so afterward.
What are some builds that greatly benefit from white sockets?
Builds that require very specific gem color combinations that are difficult to achieve on regular gear benefit the most. Some examples include builds utilizing multiple off-color auras, hybrid damage scaling builds, or builds utilizing niche support gems that require specific color setups.
By understanding the intricacies of obtaining white sockets, you can significantly enhance your character’s power and flexibility in Path of Exile. Good luck with your temple runs!