This article is part of a directory: Path of Exile 2 Guide Hub: Tips, Builds, Quests, Bosses, & More
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One of the most straightforward ways to make a character stronger in Path of Exile 2 is to add Runes to their equipment. PoE 2 is significantly harder than PoE 1, and players will need all the help they can get to progress past some of the more troublesome bosses in the game. Increased combat difficulty was the biggest promise GGG made to their fanbase, and they more than delivered.

Unfortunately, most weapons and armor found as loot come without any sockets to slot runes into. Luckily, the process is fairly simple. Here’s what you need to do.

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Updated January 17, 2025, by Hamza Haq: With the release of Patch 0.1.1, Grinding Gear Games has reverted their initial decision to make socketed runes a permanent change to an item that cannot be revisited at a later date. Mistakenly adding the wrong rune to a socket and bricking an item was a very real concern, especially for players unfamiliar with the proper way to build a proper item. Additionally, with new leagues, nerfs, buffs, and random changes on the horizon for the foreseeable future, it's understandable why giving players a painless way to reroll some adjustable modifiers on their items was a good idea. Not only does this allow for some more build variety, but players are encouraged to experiment with their socketed equipment without fear of losing their investment or bricking an item.

How to Add Sockets to Items in PoE 2

adding a rune to an empty socket in path of exile 2

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 add a Rune socket to.

Large items, like armor and large martial weapons, can have up to two sockets added to them, whereas everything else can only have one socket. Charms, Belts, Rings, and Amulets cannot have sockets. Size is an easy indicator of an item’s socket capacity.

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

It’s possible to add a third (or second) socket to certain items using a Vaal Orb —a late-game crafting item—which results in corrupted items. Vaal Orbs can only be used on an item once, and the third socket is not a guarantee. Vaal Orbs only start appearing near the end-game.

In the late game, players will be able to use Soul Cores through the Trial of Chaos. Soul Cores can be placed in sockets just like Runes, and offer unique and very powerful effects.

How to Replace Socketed Runes

replacing a socketed rune with another rune in path of exile 2

Placing a rune or a Soul Core inside a Socket is not permanent and is something that players can change after the fact. Here’s how:

  1. Left-click on the rune or Soul Core you want to replace the currently socketed rune.
  2. Move it over to the filled socket and left-click.
  3. The previously equipped rune will be removed, and the new one will occupy the socket.

It’s important to note that while you are able to replace a rune in a socket with another rune or Soul Core, there is no way to get the rune itself back whole. If you replace a socketed rune with another rune, the first one will be permanently destroyed. This is not much of an issue for simple runes, but for valuable Soul Cores, this can be a hit to the wallet.

How to Get Artificer Orbs

obtaining an artificer orb in path of exile 2

Artificer Orbs are rare loot drops in Path of Exile 2. In the early game, the only reliable way to obtain this crafting item is to combine 10 Artificer Shards to form a single Artificer Orb. Artificer Shards are obtained by dismantling an item with sockets using the Salvage Bench. Each destroyed socket will give the player 1 Artificer Shard. When 10 Artificer Shards are gathered, they automatically combine to form a complete Artificer Orb. One Artificer Orb will create one socket.

Weapons and armor with empty sockets start dropping more frequently beginning from Act 2. Instead of selling the extra loot for a small sum of gold, salvage them for Artificer Shards.

It's possible to obtain Artificer Orbs directly via trade with other players.