How to Upgrade Skill Gems in Path of Exile

Upgrading skill gems in Path of Exile is how you make your character stronger, unlocking higher-level versions of your active skills and support gems. You do this by gaining experience on the gem itself, which happens automatically when the gem is equipped and you kill monsters. This guide covers the two ways to level gems — through play and through the vendor recipe — and explains the requirements, common mistakes, and troubleshooting.

What You’ll Need

• A skill gem (active or support) that is not already at its maximum level (level 20 for normal gems, level 5 for awakened gems).
• Character level: the gem cannot exceed your character’s level. Check the gem’s level requirement on its tooltip.
• Attribute requirements: each gem needs a certain amount of Strength, Dexterity, or Intelligence. If you don’t meet them, the gem won’t function.
• For the vendor recipe: a Gemcutter’s Prism (optional, but recommended) and a vendor who sells gems (any town vendor).

Step-by-Step

1. Equip the gem in a socket on your gear. The gem gains experience from kills made by you or your minions/totems/traps that are supported by that gem. The gem does not need to be in your active skill bar, but it must be socketed in an item you are wearing.
2. Kill monsters while the gem is equipped. The gem’s experience bar fills up as you gain experience. You can see the progress on the gem icon in your inventory or on the skill bar.
3. When the bar is full, the gem levels up automatically. A notification appears in the chat log, and the gem’s level increases by one. The gem’s stat requirements and effects update immediately.
4. Check the gem’s level by hovering over it. The tooltip shows the current level and the experience progress. If the gem is greyed out, it means you don’t meet its attribute requirements.
5. To level a gem faster, use the vendor recipe: sell a gem that is at level 20 (or level 5 for awakened gems) to any vendor, and you’ll receive a Gemcutter’s Prism. Then, sell that gem plus a Gemcutter’s Prism to the vendor, and you’ll get a level 1 version of the same gem with 1% quality. Quality increases the gem’s power (e.g., 1% increased effect per 1% quality).
6. To get a level 21 gem (or level 6 awakened), you need to corrupt a level 20 gem with a Vaal Orb. This is a risky process: it might give you a level 21 gem, but it could also change the gem’s quality, add a socket, or turn it into a Vaal gem. Only do this if you have a spare gem.
7. For support gems, the same rules apply. They gain experience when they are linked to an active skill that you use. Ensure the support gem is socketed in the same item and linked to the active skill.

Common Mistakes

• Not meeting attribute requirements: If your Strength/Dex/Int is too low, the gem will be greyed out and won’t function. Check the tooltip and adjust your gear/passives.
• Gem level exceeding character level: A gem cannot be higher level than your character. If you see a red level requirement on the gem, you need to level up first.
• Forgetting to socket the gem: A gem that is in your inventory but not socketed gains no experience.
• Using the vendor recipe incorrectly: The recipe requires a gem at exactly level 20 (or 5 for awakened). Selling a level 19 gem will not work.
• Corrupting a gem you need: Vaal Orbs can ruin a gem. Always use a duplicate or a gem you can afford to lose.

Tips

• Use the off-hand trick: If you have a weapon swap, you can put a gem in your off-hand and it will gain experience even if you don’t use it, as long as you kill monsters with the other hand.
• Level multiple gems at once: Put gems in unused sockets (e.g., in your helmet or boots) to level them for later use or to sell.
• Buy quality gems: A gem with 20% quality levels up faster because it gains increased experience (1% per 1% quality). You can buy quality gems from other players or use Gemcutter’s Prisms.
• Use the crafting bench: You can add quality to a gem with a Gemcutter’s Prism via the crafting bench, but this consumes the prism and doesn’t give the vendor recipe benefit.
• Plan your gem links: Support gems only affect the active skill they are linked to. Make sure the links are correct (the support gem is connected by a line to the active skill).

Troubleshooting

• Gem is not gaining experience: Check that the gem is socketed in an equipped item. Also, ensure you are actually killing monsters (not just using the skill in town). If you are in a party, you still gain experience for kills, but if you are too far away from the kill, you might not get credit.
• Gem is greyed out: This means you don’t meet the attribute requirements. Look at the gem’s tooltip to see the required stats, then adjust your gear or passive tree.
• Gem level is stuck at 20: Normal gems cap at level 20. To go beyond, you need to corrupt it with a Vaal Orb (see step 6). If you want a level 21 gem, you must corrupt a level 20 gem and hope for the +1 level outcome.
• Vendor recipe not working: Make sure you are selling a gem that is exactly level 20 (or 5 for awakened). Also, the gem must be in your inventory, not equipped. If you are selling a gem with quality, it still works, but you only get one prism regardless of quality.
• Support gem not affecting skill: Check the link. The support gem must be in a socket that is connected to the active skill’s socket (by a line on the item). Also, some supports have restrictions (e.g., a melee support won’t work on a spell).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I level a gem without equipping it?
A: No, the gem must be socketed in an item you are wearing. However, you can put it in a weapon swap slot and still gain experience as long as you are killing monsters.

Q: What is the maximum level for a skill gem?
A: Normal gems go up to level 20. Awakened gems go up to level 5. You can exceed this by corrupting with a Vaal Orb, which can give +1 level (so 21 or 6).

Q: How do I get a Gemcutter’s Prism?
A: You can get them from selling a level 20 gem to a vendor, or as a drop from strongboxes, monsters, or divination cards. You can also buy them from other players.

Q: Does gem quality affect experience gain?
A: Yes, each 1% quality gives 1% increased experience gain. So a 20% quality gem levels 20% faster.

Q: Can I level a gem in my off-hand if I don’t use it?
A: Yes, as long as you are killing monsters with your main hand, the off-hand gem will gain experience. This is a common way to level extra gems.

Q: What happens if I fail to meet attribute requirements after leveling?
A: The gem will become greyed out and stop working. You need to increase your attributes via gear, passives, or items to use it again.

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