Should I Pick Up Gems in Path of Exile? A Gem Expert’s Guide
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The short answer is a resounding yes, pick up gems in Path of Exile. Gems are a crucial component of your character’s power and progression, acting as your skills and offering significant customization. While some gems are more valuable than others, ignoring them entirely is a significant mistake that will hamper your effectiveness and progression. This guide will delve into the nuances of gem acquisition, leveling, quality, and more, ensuring you’re well-equipped to optimize your gem game in Path of Exile.
The Importance of Gems in Path of Exile
Gems are the lifeblood of your character in Path of Exile. They grant you access to your skills, determine your damage output, and offer defensive capabilities. Without gems, your character is fundamentally useless. Therefore, understanding how to acquire, level, and optimize your gems is paramount to success in Wraeclast. Early in the game, even seemingly useless gems can be beneficial for filling sockets or leveling up for later use.
Early Game Considerations
In the initial acts, prioritizing gems that directly enhance your chosen skills is essential. Don’t hesitate to pick up and experiment with different gem combinations to discover synergies. Early vendor recipes, such as selling a gem with combined quality of 40% or more for a Gemcutter’s Prism, can provide valuable currency for your build.
Mid to Late Game Strategies
As you progress, your focus will shift towards optimizing your gem setup. This involves acquiring higher-level gems, improving their quality, and potentially corrupting them for even greater power. Recognizing the value of different gems, particularly those that are difficult to obtain or are crucial for popular builds, becomes increasingly important. Additionally, you might want to keep extra copies of your main skill gems to Vaal them later in order to get a Vaal skill gem.
Gem Quality: A Critical Factor
Gem quality significantly impacts a skill’s effectiveness. A 20% quality gem can provide substantial bonuses, such as increased damage, duration, or area of effect. Investing in Gemcutter’s Prisms (GCPs) to enhance gem quality is almost always worthwhile. Remember the vendor recipe: a level 20 gem and a Gemcutter’s Prism can be vendored for a level 1 gem with 20% quality. This is a key method for obtaining high-quality gems.
When to Stop Leveling Gems
The decision to stop leveling a gem is primarily based on mana cost. Higher-level gems often require more mana to use, which can strain your mana pool and limit your ability to cast spells effectively. Right-clicking the red “+” icon when a gem is ready to level up will prevent it from doing so. Another reason to keep gems at a lower level is to save them for a new character you intend to create.
Gem Corruption: A Risky Gamble
Corrupting gems with Vaal Orbs is a high-risk, high-reward strategy. The potential outcomes include:
- Adding or removing a level (up to level 21)
- Adding or removing quality (up to 23%)
- Transforming the gem into its Vaal version
While the possibility of obtaining a level 21 or 23% quality gem is enticing, corruption can also brick your gem, making it unusable. This is why many people make lots of copies of their main skill before attempting to corrupt them.
Level 21 Gems: The Pinnacle of Power
Level 21 gems are highly sought after due to their significant power boost. The primary way to acquire them is through corruption. Leveling multiple gems to 20 and corrupting them simultaneously significantly increases your odds of obtaining a level 21 gem, especially with the help of gear that further improves gem levels.
Vendor Recipes and Gem Acquisition
Understanding vendor recipes is crucial for optimizing your gem acquisition. The most important recipe involves trading gems with a combined quality of 40% or more for a Gemcutter’s Prism. Additionally, trading a level 20 gem with a GCP yields a level 1 gem with 20% quality. These recipes provide valuable avenues for improving gem quality without relying solely on drops.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gems in Path of Exile
1. Is it worth leveling all gems I find?
Not necessarily. Leveling every gem can be time-consuming and inefficient. Focus on leveling gems that are relevant to your current build or that you anticipate using in the future. Low-level gems can be useful for new characters or for specific vendor recipes.
2. How do I maximize my chances of getting a level 21 gem?
Level multiple copies of the gem to level 20 and then corrupt them using Vaal Orbs. Having gear that grants +1 or +2 to gem levels in your gear pieces can further increase your chances.
3. What’s the best way to increase gem quality?
The most reliable method is to use Gemcutter’s Prisms. You can also vendor a level 20 gem with a GCP for a level 1 gem with 20% quality.
4. How do I stop a gem from leveling up?
When a gem is ready to level up, a red “+” icon will appear. Right-click this icon to disable automatic leveling. You can re-enable leveling later by clicking the “+” icon in your inventory.
5. Does gem order in sockets matter?
In most cases, the order of gems in sockets does not matter. However, it can be relevant for Cast when Damage Taken setups, where the top-left gem is cast first.
6. What is the best way to acquire Gemcutter’s Prisms?
Farming currency and buying them from other players is the most efficient method. Also look to vendor gems with a combined quality of 40 or higher.
7. What are the risks of corrupting gems?
Corruption can add or remove a level, add or remove quality, or transform the gem into its Vaal version. It can also render the gem unusable, so only corrupt gems you’re willing to lose.
8. How do I get a 20% quality gem without using Gemcutter’s Prisms?
The primary method is to level a gem to 20, then vendor it with a Gemcutter’s Prism.
9. Should I buy gems or level them myself?
This depends on your budget and preference. Buying gems can be faster but more expensive. Leveling them yourself is more economical but requires more time.
10. What are Awakened gems and how do they work?
Awakened gems are special gems that provide enhanced versions of existing skills. They have a maximum level of 5 (4 for exceptional gems) and unlock additional effects at their maximum level.
11. Which vendor sells gems in Act 2?
Yeena sells jewelry, flasks, and gems in Act 2.
12. Can corrupted gems be further corrupted?
No, corrupted gems cannot be corrupted again.
13. What should I do with duplicate gems?
Duplicate gems can be used for leveling, experimenting with different builds, or selling to other players. They’re also useful when attempting to corrupt gems for level 21.
14. Where can I find more information about Path of Exile and game-based learning?
Check out the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org or https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for insights into the intersection of games and education. The Games Learning Society explores how games can be used to improve learning outcomes.
15. Is there a way to reset a gem back to level 1 if I accidentally level it up?
If you accidentally level up a gem, you can trade the gem and a single orb of scouring to a vendor, you get the gem back with -1 level (so a level 10 gem becomes level 9, for example).
Conclusion: Gem Mastery for Path of Exile Success
Mastering gem acquisition, leveling, and optimization is essential for success in Path of Exile. By understanding the value of different gems, utilizing vendor recipes, and strategically corrupting your gems, you can significantly enhance your character’s power and effectiveness. Don’t underestimate the importance of this critical element of the game. Good luck, Exile, and may your gems be ever in your favor!