u003cstrongu003eWith the expansion Curse of the Allflame, Path of Exile will revise its socket system on July 24, 2026. The colors of skill gems and sockets are no longer mandatory but bring benefits. We explain all the changes at a glance.u003c/strongu003e
How does the socket system in Path of Exile work so far?
In Path of Exile, you equip your active skills with skill gems that you place into the sockets of your equipment. Until now, the colors had to match. A red gem like Heavy Strike needed a red socket, while a magician’s Fireball required a blue one.
If you wanted to play with your desired skills, you needed equipment with the appropriate socket colors and connections. Especially at the start of a league or with fresh items, this often meant long crafting sessions until all skills were equipped as planned.
How the socket system changes with Curse of the Allflame
In the livestream for the new expansion, the developers at Grinding Gear Games announced that the color requirement will be abolished. Starting from July 24, 2026, new rules for sockets and skill gems will apply.
You will be able to place skill gems into any socket regardless of their color. A blue gem will also work in a red slot. However, colors will not completely disappear from the game. If you place a gem in a color-matching socket, the respective skill will receive a buff and become stronger.
Did this tip help you? On page 1, you can also find the related story and what players think about the changes! More about Path of Exile can be found here: Path of Exile is currently a celebration for solo players, but soon there will be nothing left
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