Match the socket first, then plan the affix
Affix gems are not universal stat stones. They belong to four families and two tiers, while each equipment socket accepts a particular family and tier. The lab shows what each gem contributes and how several contributions combine into an affix level before you commit them to a loadout.
How gems, sockets and affix levels connect
A gem carries a family, a tier and one or more affix-level contributions. An equipment piece may have fixed affixes, one or more socket groups, or neither. Two pieces with the same name and base attributes can therefore offer different planning choices: a known fixed effect or flexible sockets that still require compatible gems.
Selecting several gems can raise the accumulated level of the same affix. The milestone list shows which recorded levels have descriptions, but the level itself is not a final damage, duration or cooldown calculation. Conditions, caps and calculation order can still change the final effect, so confirm the finished setup in the game before relying on it.
How to use this tool
- Start from the equipment socket
Open the equipment you intend to use and note every socket's family and tier. This is the legality check; a desirable effect cannot override an incompatible socket.
- Filter the gem catalog
Choose the matching family and tier, or search by the official gem or affix name. The counts update with the current filters so you can see whether a legal candidate exists.
- Build a comparison set
Select candidate gems and read the accumulated affix levels on the board. Compare the contribution of each gem instead of judging only the picture, rarity or name.
- Verify inside the full loadout
Use the loadout lab to assign candidates to actual sockets. Return here when you need to compare alternative gems or share the same selection with another player.
Example: improve one survival problem
Suppose a chosen armor variant has an open compatible socket and you want to address a specific survival weakness. Filter to that socket family and tier, then compare only gems that contribute an affix relevant to the weakness. Add candidates one at a time and watch whether they reach another recorded affix level. If they do not fit the socket, the plan is invalid no matter how attractive the effect text appears.
Common beginner mistakes
- Picking an effect first and checking socket family or tier only after spending materials.
- Assuming equal names, icons or rarity mean two equipment variants expose the same sockets.
- Reading an accumulated affix level as the exact final percentage shown in combat.
- Selecting a large list of gems here and assuming all of them fit the limited sockets in one loadout.