How to Add Sockets to Items in Diablo 2 Resurrected

Diablo 2 Resurrected is a game that revolves around gearing out your characters with the best loot. To accomplish this, you will be utilizing various different recipes and methods, including adding sockets to items.

Adding sockets to items opens up the ability to make some powerful runewords, which in turn make some of the best items in the game. In this guide, we will show you how to add sockets to items in Diablo 2 Resurrected.

Related: All Diablo 2 Resurrected Runes and Effects

How to Add Sockets to Items in Diablo 2 Resurrected?

There are 2 different ways to add sockets to items in Diablo 2 Resurrected:

1. Larzuk Quest in Act V
2. Horadric Cube Recipe

Larzuk Quest in Act V

The first method you can use to add sockets to items in D2R is by completing the “Siege on Harrogath” quest for Larzuk in Act V. To finish this quest, you will need to search The Bloody Foothills for Shenk the Overseer and kill him. After that’s complete, return to Larzuk, and he will offer you the ability to socket an item. You can do this once per difficulty (Normal, Nightmare, Hell) for a total of three socket quests per character.

The number of sockets Larzuk puts in your items depends on the rarity and item level. 

• Unique, Set, and Rare items – 1 Socket
• Magic items – 1-2 Sockets (random)
• White/Grey items – Maximum amount of sockets based on item level

One of the more confusing aspects to understand about the number of sockets Larzuk grants is the item level for white and gray items. The item level is calculated based on the monster level that drops the item.

In short, a Crystal Sword found in the Blood Moor on Normal difficulty will get three sockets from Larzuk. One found in the Blood Moor on Nightmare will get four sockets. Once you get to the Frigid Highlands on Hell Difficulty, a Crystal Sword from there will roll six sockets from Larzuk.

I’d recommend referring to the iLvL Socket Chart on DiabloWiki for more information about each item. 

Socketing items with Cube Recipes

Another way to socket items in Diablo 2 Resurrected is by using a specific Horadric Cube recipe. These recipes are different depending on which type of item you want to roll sockets on, and the number of sockets is random. The recipes also only work on plain white or ethereal items.

Here are the socket recipes in D2R:

• Body Armor: Tal Rune + Thul Rune + Perfect Topaz + Normal Armor
• Weapon: Ral Tune + Amn Rune + Perfect Amethyst + Normal Weapon
• Helm: Ral Rune + Thul Rune + Perfect Sapphire + Normal Helm
• Shield: Tal Rune + Amn Rune + Perfect Ruby + Normal Shield

There is one more Horadic Cube end-game recipe for rare (yellow) items only. This recipe requires 3 Perfect Skulls and a Stone of Jordan, and once used, it can add one socket to a rare item.

Is Socketing Always Worth It?

Even though you’ll be finding some great and powerful rare items in the later stages of the game, socketing is definitely worth it since, as we described above, high-level items can receive as many as 3 sockets on Normal difficulty, 4 sockets on Nightmare difficulty and 6 sockets on Hell difficulty.

The normal items that are socketed can be used as a great base for runewords. Actually, runewords can only be inserted into these, as you can’t add them to Set items, Magic items, or Unique items.

How to Create Runewords in Diablo 2 Resurrected?

Keep in mind that in order to create runewords, you need to gather the right runes and insert them into a specific item in a particular order. For example, let’s talk about the Ancients’ Pledge shield. To create this runeword you must get a 3 socket shield and insert the 3 runes – Ral, Ort, and Tal rune in that order.

If you don’t put the runes in the correct order, or get a shield with more sockets, you won’t get the Ancients’ Pledge runeword.

We hope you found our guide helpful. For more content on Diablo 2 Resurrected, you can refer to our guide on how to remove gems from sockets in Diablo 2 Resurrected. For more exciting gaming news, follow our Facebook page.