How to add a socket to the Gear in PoE 2

One of the easiest ways to strengthen a character Path of Exile 2 is to add Runes to their equipment. PoE 2 is more difficult than PoE 1, and players will need all the help they can get to make it through some of the more challenging bosses in the game. The increase in the difficulty of the fights was the biggest promise that GGG made to his fans, and it more than delivered them.

Unfortunately, most weapons and armor found as loot come without sockets for runes. Fortunately, the process is simple. Here's what you should do.

How to install a socket on a PoE 2 device

Players can add sockets to weapons and armor using an item called the Artificer Orb. The process is very straightforward: Right-click on the Artificer Orb and then left-click on the item you want to insert a Rune socket into.

Large items, such as armor and heavy weapons, can have two sockets added to them, but everything else can only have one socket. Charms, belts, rings and amulets cannot have sockets. Size is an easy indicator of a socket's capacity.

To add runes to a socket, left click on the rune in your inventory to pick up and left click on the item you want to add it to. If there is an empty socket available, it is placed there.

When a Rune is inserted into a Socket, it is permanently attached to that item and cannot be removed in any way.

It is possible to add a third socket to some units using a Vaal Orb— a late-game creation element—that creates broken objects. Vaal Orbs can only be used on one item, and the third socket is not guaranteed. Vaal Orbs just start appearing near the end game.

In the late game, players can use Soul Cores through Trials of Chaos. Soul Cores can be placed in sockets like Runes, and offer unique and powerful effects.

How to get Artificer Orbs

Artificer Orbs are rare loot Path of Exile 2. In the early game, the only reliable way to get this crafting item is to combine 10 Artificer Shards to create a single Artificer Orb. Artificer Shards are obtained by destroying a socketed object using the Salvage Bench. Each destroyed socket will give the player 1 Artificer Shard. When 10 Artificer Shards are collected, they automatically combine to form a full Artificer Orb. An Artificer Orb will create a socket.

Weapons and armor with hollow sockets start dropping more frequently starting in Act 2. Instead of selling the extra loot for a small amount of gold, save it for Artificer Shards.