In Path of Exile, Skill Gems and Support Gems are vital components that bring depth to character customization and combat strategies. Understanding their mechanics is essential for optimizing your character’s abilities and effectiveness in the game.

Skill Gems

– Function: Skill Gems are active gems that provide your character with unique abilities or spells when socketed into gear. Examples include elemental attacks like Fireball or physical skills like shooting Arrows.
– Color: Each Skill Gem occupies a colored socket—red, blue, or green—corresponding to its type.
– Requirements: To use a Skill Gem, players must meet certain level and attribute requirements (Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence). These statistics determine your character’s competency to wield certain skills.

Support Gems

– Function: Support Gems do not grant abilities on their own; instead, they enhance or modify the behavior of linked Skill Gems. For instance, a Support Gem might allow a Fireball to split into multiple projectiles or add elemental damage types, transforming basic capabilities into potent skills.
– Linking Mechanics: To have any effect, Support Gems must be socketed in linked sockets next to the specific Skill Gem they are designed to enhance.
– Requirements: Like Skill Gems, Support Gems also have their own level and attribute requirements. When linking multiple Support Gems to a Skill Gem, the overall attribute requirements increase, often necessitating an additional +5 Dexterity per Support Gem.

Linking Gems

To successfully link Skill Gems with Support Gems:

1. Socket Placement: Place your Skill Gem in one socket. Ensure that the sockets are connected (linked) directly by visible lines to allow Support Gems to affect it.
2. Socket Color: Pay attention to the color of the sockets, as Support Gems need to match or be compatible with the Skill Gem in use to function correctly.
3. Customization: Players can stack various Support Gems to a single Skill Gem, which allows for crafting diverse skill sets and optimizing combat performance by combining different enhancements.

Summary Table

| Gem Type | Function | How to Link |
|—————-|———————————-|—————————————————-|
| Skill Gem | Grants active abilities | Socket into gear in colored sockets |
| Support Gem | Modifies/enhances Skill Gems | Socket into linked sockets adjacent to Skill Gem |

In summary, mastering the use of Skill and Support Gems is crucial for maximizing your character’s effectiveness in Path of Exile. Experimenting with different combinations can uncover powerful synergies that greatly enhance gameplay. Make sure to strategize based on your intended playstyle, available gems, and the overall build you are aiming for to create a compelling and powerful character.