Achieving 20% Quality Gems in Path of Exile: A Comprehensive Guide
The pursuit of powerful characters in Path of Exile (PoE) often leads players down the path of optimizing their gems, and a crucial aspect of gem optimization is quality. A 20% quality gem is a significant upgrade, enhancing the gem’s effects and making your build more potent. But how do you actually get a gem to this desired level?
The most straightforward way to get a 20% quality gem in Path of Exile involves using Gemcutter’s Prisms (GCPs). There are three main methods, each with its pros and cons:
- Direct Application of Gemcutter’s Prisms: You can directly apply Gemcutter’s Prisms to a skill gem to increase its quality by 1% per GCP. This is the most intuitive method, but can become quite costly as you’ll need to spend 20 GCPs to get a gem from 0% to 20% quality.
- Vendor Recipe: The most common method involves leveling a gem to level 20, and then using a specific vendor recipe. When you sell a level 20 gem along with a Gemcutter’s Prism to a vendor, you receive a level 1 version of that same gem but with 20% quality. This method is often preferred for its cost-effectiveness. You only need one GCP, and some effort, to obtain the desired quality.
- Trading: If you’re short on time or have surplus currency, you can always buy level 1/20% quality gems from other players on trade websites such as poe.trade or the official trade site. While this might come at a premium cost, it is a convenient method, particularly for more meta builds.
No matter which approach you take, the end result is a gem with 20% quality, ready to significantly boost your character’s abilities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gem Quality in Path of Exile
What is the maximum quality a gem can have in Path of Exile?
The maximum quality a gem can have is 20%. Any further increase to quality above this is generally not possible except through certain very rare modifiers like those found on unique items.
How do Gemcutter’s Prisms work?
Gemcutter’s Prisms (GCPs) are currency items that can increase a gem’s quality. Using one GCP on a gem will increase the gem’s quality by 1%. GCPs can be used on a variety of gems, including active skill gems, support gems and even the Vaal versions of those gems (which are treated differently).
Can you increase gem quality past 20%?
Normally, you cannot increase gem quality past 20%. However, specific items and modifiers, though exceedingly rare, can provide additional quality.
Why is gem quality important?
Gem quality directly improves a gem’s effectiveness. The specific bonus will vary depending on the gem; it may increase damage, cast speed, duration, area of effect, etc. A 20% quality gem is always significantly better than its 0% quality counterpart.
How do you get a level 21 gem with 20% quality?
Achieving a level 21 gem with 20% quality is a more involved process. Level 21 gems are acquired through corrupting level 20 gems with a Vaal Orb, which can either increase the gem level to 21, decrease the level to 1, or change the gem completely to a different one. Since Vaal orbs also corrupt the gem and remove the ability to add quality via GCPs directly, this requires a bit of gambling. The process is:
1. Get a 20% quality level 20 gem.
2. Use a Vaal orb on that gem.
3. If you get a level 21 gem, you’ve succeeded! If you don’t, try again on a new gem.
A common strategy is to level and prepare multiple level 20 gems, and then corrupt them all at once hoping to get a level 21 with a good outcome. This is due to the random nature of corruption.
What happens when you corrupt a gem?
Corrupting a gem with a Vaal Orb modifies it in unpredictable ways. The possible outcomes include:
- Increasing the gem’s level to 21
- Decreasing the gem’s level to 1
- Adding or changing quality
- Changing the gem to a completely different gem, or a vaal version.
- Doing nothing at all
Corrupted gems cannot have their quality changed using Gemcutter’s Prisms, making it important to obtain quality beforehand. They also cannot be traded with other players.
What are Vaal Gems and how are they related to Quality?
Vaal Gems are corrupted versions of regular gems that have a secondary, more powerful skill that is used when you have filled the gems soul meter. They must either drop corrupted (with potentially 0% or 20% quality), or be created via the corruption of a regular gem. GCPs cannot be used on corrupted gems to change their quality directly. Getting a high quality Vaal gem requires some luck through dropping it or corrupting an already high-quality regular gem.
Can you double corrupt a gem?
Yes, you can double corrupt a gem in the Temple of Atzoatl using a device called the Lapidary Lens in Doryani’s Institute. This device applies two corruption effects to a gem successively, doubling your chances of a positive outcome, but also doubling the chance of negative effects.
When is the best time to corrupt gems?
The best time to corrupt a gem is when you are aiming for a level 21 gem or need to use a Vaal version of a gem. It’s important to note that corruption is generally a risk, but it’s the only way to get certain powerful benefits. Because corrupting a gem removes your ability to add quality, it is best to get a 20% quality gem to start with before corrupting.
Is it better to level a gem to 20 or buy a level 20 gem?
Whether to level a gem to 20 or buy one depends on your personal preferences and the state of the in game economy. Buying level 20 gems can be faster and easier than leveling them yourself, but you’ll likely pay a premium. If you have the time and patience, leveling your own gems is more cost-effective.
Do support gems stack on the same skill?
Support gems do not stack on the same skill. For example, linking two Added Fire Damage support gems to a skill won’t apply the bonus twice. The stronger of the linked support gems will take precedence. Both gems will still gain experience.
Are there gems you should NOT level?
Yes, some gems are better left at lower levels. Examples include:
- Cast When Damage Taken (CWDT): It often performs better at a lower level as the damage threshold is more manageable.
- Arcane Surge: The mana cost for the buff it provides increases with gem level. At lower levels, it’s easier to trigger.
How do you get a Gemcutter’s Prism?
Gemcutter’s Prisms (GCPs) can be obtained by:
* Vendor Recipes: You can vendor gems totaling 40% quality for one GCP
* Drops: GCPs can drop from monsters, chests, and strongboxes.
* Trading: You can trade with other players for GCPs.
Can you add quality to Vaal gems?
You cannot add quality to Vaal gems using Gemcutter’s Prisms directly. Vaal gems must either drop with quality or a regular gem with quality must be corrupted into a Vaal Gem. This is an important distinction that makes obtaining high quality Vaal gems significantly more difficult than regular gems.
How do gem levels scale in Path of Exile?
Gem levels improve the base effects of the skill or support that they empower. At each level, the gem typically gains either damage, increased range, or a decrease in the mana cost or cool down. Skill gems are limited to level 20 unless corrupted to level 21, while support gems do not typically scale past level 20. The level of the character does not affect the scaling of gems.
Conclusion
Achieving a 20% quality gem in Path of Exile is essential for optimizing your character’s power. By understanding the methods available for acquiring them, and the ways corruption modifies them, players can efficiently improve their character’s overall strength and performance. Whether you choose to grind for GCPs, level gems, trade, or corrupt for that elusive level 21 gem, this knowledge forms a crucial part of your Path of Exile journey.