Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2)

Gear Sockets Explained

Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: June 9, 2025 11:35 PM

Sockets Explained
Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) features sockets for slotting in runes on your equipment. Check out our guide to learn more about how sockets work, how to add more sockets, and see a list of all Runes, Soul cores, and Talismans here!

List of Contents

Sockets Explained
How to Add More Sockets
List of Socketables
Related Guides

What Are Gear Sockets For?

For Slotting Runes, Soul Cores, and Talisman in Equipment

For Slotting Runes

Gear sockets are special slots found on weapons, armor, or accessories that allow you to insert Runes, Soul Cores, and Talismans. These socketables grant additional stats, bonuses, or effects, letting you customize your gear to better suit your playstyle or build strategy.

Max Rune Slots for the Whole Set is 7

There are a total of 7 sockets you can have with 2 sockets for Weapons, 2 sockets for Body Armour, and 1 socket each for Gloves, Boots, and Helmet, though some unique items like Morior Invictus can exceed this limit.

How to Add More Sockets

Use Artificer's Orb

Use Artificer

In order to add more sockets to your equipment, you have to use an Artificer's Orb on each equipment. Artificer's Orb can be obtained by collecting 10 Artificer's Shard to automatically convert it into an orb.

Keep in mind that these can be randomly dropped from mobs and bosses.

How to Get Artificer's Orb

Use Vaal Orb

POE 2 - Vaal Orbs.png

Vaal Orbs can also add an extra socket to equipment, beyond what is normally allowed. This lets you insert an extra Rune or Soul Core to make your equipment even more potent.

These orbs can randomly drop from enemies at any point in the game.

Vaal Orb Outcomes and How to Get

List of All Socketables

All Socketables
Runes	Soul Cores	Talismans

List of All Runes

Item	Effect
Body Rune	・Weapon: Leeches 3% of Physical Damage as Life ・Armour: +25% to maximum Life
Desert Rune	・Weapon: Adds 7 to 11 Fire Damage ・Armour: +12% to Fire Resistance
Glacial Rune	・Weapon: Adds 6 to 10 Cold Damage ・Armour: +12% to Cold Resistance
Greater Body Rune	・Weapon: Leeches 3% of Physical Damage as Life ・Armour: +40 to maximum Life
Greater Desert Rune	・Weapon: Adds 13 to 16 Fire Damage ・Armour: +14% to Fire Resistance
Greater Glacial Rune	・Weapon: Adds 9 to 15 Cold Damage ・Armour: +14% to Cold Resistance
Greater Inspiration Rune	・Weapon: Gain 245 Mana per Enemy Killed ・Armour: 18% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
Greater Iron Rune	・Weapon: 25% increased Physical Damage ・Armour: 25% increased Armour, Evasion, and Energy Shield
Greater Mind Rune	・Weapon: Leeches 2.5% of Physical Damage as Mana ・Armour: +35 to maximum Mana
Greater Rebirth Rune	・Weapon: Gain 30 Life per Enemy Killed ・Armour: Regenerate 0.35% of maximum Life per second
Greater Rune of Alacrity	・Weapon: 8% increased Skill Speed ・Armour: Debuffs on you expire 8% faster
Greater Rune of Leadership	・Weapon: Minions gain 10% of their Physical Damage as extra Lightning Damage ・Armour: Minions take 10% of Physical Damage as Lightning Damage
Greater Rune of Nobility	・Weapon: Attacks with this Weapon have 10% chance to inflict Lightning Exposure ・Armour: 10% reduced Effect of Shock on you
Greater Rune of Tithing	・Weapon: Meta Skills gain 10% increased Energy ・Armour: 1 to 10 Lightning Thorns Damage
Greater Stone Rune	・Weapon: Causes 30% increased Stun Buildup ・Armour: +50 to Stun Threshold
Greater Storm Rune	・Weapon: Adds 1 to 30 Lightning Damage ・Armour: +14% to Lightning Resistance
Greater Vision Rune	・Weapon: +110 to Accuracy Rating ・Armour: 12% increased Life and Mana Recovery from Flasks
Inspiration Rune	・Weapon: Gain 10 Mana per Enemy Killed ・Armour: 15% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
Iron Rune	・Weapon: 20% increased Physical Damage ・Armour: 20% increased Armour, Evasion, and Energy Shield
Lesser Body Rune	・Weapon: Leeches 2% of Physical Damage as Life ・Armour: +20 to maximum Life
Lesser Desert Rune	・Weapon: Adds 4 to 6 Fire Damage ・Armour: +10% to Fire Resistance
Lesser Glacial Rune	・Weapon: Adds 3 to 5 Cold Damage ・Armour: +10% to Cold Resistance
Lesser Inspiration Rune	・Weapon: Gain 8 Mana per Enemy Killed ・Armour: 12% increased Mana Regeneration Rate
Lesser Iron Rune	・Weapon: 15% increased Physical Damage ・Armour: 15% increased Armour, Evasion, and Energy Shield
Lesser Mind Rune	・Weapon: 1.5% Physical Damage as Mana ・Armour: +15 to maximum Mana
Lesser Rebirth Rune	・Weapon: Gain 10 Life per Enemy Killed ・Armour: Regenerate 0.25% maximum Life per second
Lesser Stone Rune	・Weapon: Causes 20% increased Stun Buildup ・Armour: +30 to Stun Threshold
Lesser Storm Rune	・Weapon: Adds 1 to 10 Lightning Damage ・Armour: +10% to Lightning Resistance
Lesser Vision Rune	・Weapon: +50 to Accuracy Rating ・Armour: 8% increased Life and Mana Recovery from Flasks
Mind Rune	・Weapon: Leeches 2% of Physical Damage as Mana ・Armour: +20 to maximum Mana
Rebirth Rune	・Weapon: Gain 20 Life per Enemy Killed ・Armour: Regenerate 0.3% of Life per second
Stone Rune	・Weapon: Causes 25% increased Stun Buildup ・Armour: +40 to Stun Threshold
Storm Rune	・Weapon: Adds 1 to 20 Lightning Damage ・Armour: +12% to Lightning Resistance
Vision Rune	・Weapon: +100 to Accuracy Rating ・Armour: 10% increased Life and Mana recovery from Flasks

List of All Soul Cores

Item	Effect
Atmohua's Soul Core of Retreat	Body Armours: 30% faster start of Energy Shield Recharge
Cholotl's Soul Core of War	Bows: 20% increased Projectile Speed
Citaqualotl's Soul Core of Foulness	Martial Weapons: Adds 13 to 19 Chaos Damage
Estazunti's Soul Core of Convalescence	Boots: 10% increased Speed of Recoup Effects;Helmets: 6% of Damage taken Recouped as Life
Guatelitzi's Soul Core of Endurance	Martial Weapon: 50% Chance when you gain an Endurance Charge to gain an additional Endurance Charge; Wand or Staff: 50% Chance when you gain an Endurance Charge to gain an additional Endurance Charge
Hayoxi's Soul Core of Heatproofing	Body Armours: 20% of Armour also applies to Cold Damage taken from Hits
Opiloti's Soul Core of Assault	Martial Weapon: 50% Chance when you gain an Frenzy Charge to gain an additional Frenzy Charge;Wand or Staff: 50% Chance when you gain an Frenzy Charge to gain an additional Frenzy Charge
Quipolatl's Soul Core of Flow	Helmets: 8% increased Skill Effect Duration, 8% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
Soul Core of Atmohua	・Weapon: Convert 20% of requirements to Strength ・Armour: Convert 20% of requirements to Strength
Soul Core of Azcapa	・Weapon: +15 to Spirit ・Armour: 10% increased Rarity of items found
Soul Core of Cholotl	・Weapon: Convert 20% of requirements to Dexterity ・Armour: Convert 20% of requirements to Dexterity
Soul Core of Citaqualotl	・Weapon: 30% increased Elemental Damage with Attacks ・Armour: +5% to all Elemental Resistances
Soul Core of Jiquani	・Weapon: Recover 2% of Life on Kill ・Armour: 2% increased Maximum Life
Soul Core of Opiloti	・Weapon: 15% chance to cause Bleeding on Hit ・Armour: 10% increased Charm Charges gained
Soul Core of Puhuarte	・Weapon: 30% increased chance to Ignite ・Armour: +1% to Maximum Fire Resistance
Soul Core of Quipolatl	・Weapon: 5% increased Attack Speed ・Armour: 10% reduced slowing potency of debuffs on you
Soul Core of Tacati	・Weapon: 15% chance to Poison on Hit ・Armour: +7% Chaos Resistance
Soul Core of Ticaba	・Weapon: +12% to Critical Damage Bonus ・Armour: Hits against you have 10% reduced Critical Damage Bonus
Soul Core of Topotante	・Weapon: Attacks with this Weapon Penetrate 15% Elemental Resistances ・Armour: 15% increased Elemental Ailment Threshold
Soul Core of Tzamoto	・Weapon: 20% increased Freeze Buildup ・Armour: +1% to Maximum Cold Resistance
Soul Core of Xopec	・Weapon: 30% increased chance to Shock ・Armour: +1% to Maximum Lightning Resistance
Soul Core of Zalatl	・Weapon: Recover 2% of Mana on Kill ・Armour: 2% increased Maximum Mana
Soul Core of Zantipi	・Weapon: Convert 20% of requirements to Intelligence ・Armour: Convert 20% of requirements to Intelligence
Tacati's Soul Core of Affliction	Helmets: Enemies you Curse have -4% to Chaos Resistance
Topotante's Soul Core of Dampening	Body Armours: 20% of Armour also applies to Fire damage taken from Hits
Tzamoto's Soul Core of Ferocity	Helmets: +4 to Maximum Rage
Uromoti's Soul Core of Attenuation	Boots: 15% increased Curse Duration, 15% increased Poison Duration
Xipocado's Soul Core of Dominion	Wand or Staff: Minions deal 40% increased damage with Command skills; Sceptres: Minions deal 40% increased damage with Command skills
Xopec's Soul Core of Power	Martial Weapon: 50% Chance when you gain an Power Charge to gain an additional Power Charge;Wand or Staff: 50% Chance when you gain an Power Charge to gain an additional Power Charge
Zalatl's Soul Core of Insulation	Body Armours: 20% of Armour also applies to Lightning Damage taken from Hits

List of All Talismans

Item	Effect
Bear Talisman	Helmets: 8% increased Area of Effect
Boar Talisman	Gloves: Gain 1 Rage on Melee Hit
Cat Talisman	Boots: Hits against you have 15% reduced Critical Damage Bonus
Fox Talisman	Body Armours: +2% to Quality of all Skills
Owl Talisman	Boots: 5% increased Cooldown Recovery Rate
Ox Talisman	Boots: 20% increased Presence Area of Effect
Primate Talisman	Helmets: Minions have 12% increased maximum Life
Rabbit Talisman	Body Armours: 8% increased Rarity of Items found
Serpent Talisman	Gloves: 5% increased Curse Magnitudes
Stag Talisman	Helmets: 8% increased Exposure effect
Talisman of Eeshta	Helmets: 6% reduced cost of Skills
Talisman of Egrin	Helmets: Enemies you Curse take 5% increased Damage
Talisman of Grold	Gloves: Skills which Empower an Attack have 15% chance to not count that Attack
Talisman of Maxarius	Body Armours: +1 Charm Slot
Talisman of Ralakesh	Helmets: Minions have 5% reduced Reservation
Talisman of Sirrius	Gloves: 8% increased Attack Speed
Talisman of Thruldana	Martial Weapons: 25% reduced Poison duration, Targets can be affected by +1 of your Poisons at the same time
Wolf Talisman	Gloves: 10% increased Magnitude of Bleeding you inflict

Path of Exile 2 (PoE 2) Related Guides

Path of Exile 2 Tips and Tricks

Beginner's Guide

Gameplay Mechanics

Game and Character Progression

Best Ways to Farm and Spend Gold	Endgame Guide: What to Do After the Campaign?
Hardcore Guide	Hideout Location and How to Unlock
How to Ascend Classes	How to Farm Uniques
How to Increase Damage	How to Increase Defense
How to Make a Good Build	How to Power Level Alts
Leveling Guide: How to Get XP Fast	List of Permanent Buffs from the Campaign
Missables and One-Time Events Guide	Chaos Statue Location
How to Respec Ascendancy	-

Gear and Crafting

Are There Vendor Recipes?	Crafting Guide
How to Always Show Items on Ground	How to Get Corrupted Items
How to Hide Your Helmet	How to Identify Items and Equipment
How to Increase Inventory Size	How to Use Corruption Altars
How to Use Reforging Benches	Item Rarity Explained
Sell, Salvage, or Disenchant Equipment?	Sockets Explained
Recombinator Guide	Desecrated Modifiers and Abyss Crafting

Stats and Skills Guides

Best Defensive Stat	How to Get and Use Persistent Buffs
How to Get Ascendancy Skill Points	How to Get More Skill Slots
How to Increase Charm Slots	How to Increase Support Gem Slots
How to Level Up Skills	How to Respec Passives
How to Use Jewel Sockets	Weapon Set Skill Points Explained
Weapon Specialization Guide: How to Swap Weapons	-

Settings and Multiplayer

Can You Adjust Game Difficulty?	Best PC Settings and Keyboard Bindings
Gateway Guide	Guild Features and How to Join
How to Change Your Character's Name	How to Change Voice and Text Language
How to Get Loot Filters on Console	How to Get More Character Slots
How to Link Items in Chat	How to Revive Party Members
How to Use and Customize Chat Box	List of All Chat Commands
Is There Controller Support?	Multiplayer Guide: How to Play Coop
Party Bonuses and Group Scaling Explained	Stash Tab Sale Schedule and Prices
Should You Choose Mouse or WASD?	-

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Gear Sockets Explained

What Are Gear Sockets For?

For Slotting Runes, Soul Cores, and Talisman in Equipment

Max Rune Slots for the Whole Set is 7

How to Add More Sockets

Use Artificer's Orb

Use Vaal Orb

List of All Socketables

List of All Runes

List of All Soul Cores

List of All Talismans