The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right.. ifra

[Jack Carael]

The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

Hello everyone,

I found an Ethereal, unsocketed Crystal Sword just now, from one of those casting Demons in act 5, Frigid Highlands.
I read all the information I could find on the subject, and these are my conclusions:
1. Larzuk will always put as many sockets into an item as possible
2. The maximum amount of sockets depends on the item type and item level
3. Those demons, in whatever form, are all between levels 31-38.
4. In order to get 4 sockets in my Crystal Sword, it would have to have an Ilvl between 26 and 40.

My question is: Is the Ilvl of the item dropped equal to the Mlvl of the monster that dropped it? If yes, abovementioned Crystal Sword will always get 4 sockets, right?

Answers are much appreciated.
-Jack

 

[lionheartthebrave]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

The compendium says that the Frigid Highlands are ilvl25, so you will get 3os

EDIT: hmm, can't remember which matters in Normal, Mlvl or ilvl

 

[Jack Carael]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

So the Area level matters, not the Monster level?

Edit: I found a second CS in the Arreat Plateau. According to that Strategy Compendium, the Ilvl of the area is 26. Should be in the clear with this one, right?

 

[sirpoopsalot]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

Area Level generally determines mlvl (with an exception for superuniques). Monster level is determined by 4 things:

- 'normal' quality monster? mlvl = area level
- 'champion' quality monster? mlvl = area level +2
- 'random unique' quality monster? mlvl = area level +3 (applies to random boss monsters and their minion packs)
- 'superunique' quality monster? mlvl = specifically coded and never varies (applies to the specific monsters linked here and their minion packs).

Mlvl determines Ilvl. Mlvl equals Ilvl. Ilvl determines the maximum number of sockets for an item. Plain & simple.



... if the strategy compendium is correct, then yes, you should get 4 sockets... I think. I didn't check the sockets list and I'm going from memory about the socket numbers for crystal swords.

Edit: yes, according to the sockets list, Larzuk will give 4 sockets to a CS found on the Arreat Plateau in normal difficulty.

 

[Jack Carael]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

Thank you very much, sir! Exactly the kind of post I was hoping for =)

 

[Orphan]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

It should be noted that the monster level will only equal the area level on nightmare and hell. On normal difficulty the monsters use their own mlvl, which is usually pretty close to the area level anyway, but not always.

As an example, the monsters in the river of flame on normal (area level 27) will have the following mlvls:

Blood Maggot: mlvl 27
Urdar: mlvl 32
Abyss Knight: mlvl 27
Maw Fiend: mlvl 30
Pit Lord: mlvl 27
Grotesque: mlvl 30

It's also possible for monsters on normal to have an mlvl less than their area level (and subsequently possibly be in a lower socket bracket), such as in the plains of despair (area level 26):

Corpulent: mlvl 24
Doom Knight: mlvl 24
Venom Lord: mlvl 30
Flesh Spawner: mlvl 24


Arreat Plateau on normal does indeed have an area level of 26, but the monsters that spawn there have a significantly higher mlvl (not that it'll affect the socket chance, as it's still within the right brackets):

Lasher: mlvl 34
Slayer: mlvl 33

 

[DudSpud]

Lazuk sucks

But what of Magic items? I just had Larzuk give ONE socket :steam: using the Normal quest reward to 2 different Cunning claws both of which had very high ilvls ( 1 clvl 65, other 83 clvl):

Cunning Scissors Katar
One-Hand Damage: 9 to 17
Durability: 68 of 68
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 55
Required Strength: 55
Required Level: 45
Claw Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 89
Fingerprint: 0xe7a099fd
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
Socketed (1: 0 used)

Cunning Scissors Katar of Slaughter
One-Hand Damage: 9 to 32
Durability: 68 of 68
(Assassin Only)
Required Dexterity: 55
Required Strength: 55
Required Level: 45
Claw Class - Fast Attack Speed
Item Version: 1.10+ Expansion
Item Level: 77
Fingerprint: 0x2c463679
+15 to Maximum Damage
+3 to Trap Skills (Assassin Only)
Socketed (1: 0 used)

Boy, am I pissed. Is it because I used Normal quests?

Thanks,
TehSpud

 

[Oscuro]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

50/50 chance of getting 1/2 sockets on magical items. If the item cannot possibly get two sockets due to item level or type, it will always get one socket. The difficulty level in which you use the quest has no bearing.

 

[mephiztophelez]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

50/50 chance of getting 1/2 sockets on magical items. If the item cannot possibly get two sockets due to item level or type, it will always get one socket. The difficulty level in which you use the quest has no bearing.

without being bothered to look it up, i'll take a wild guess and say that any +3 traps claw is of a high enough ilvl to get 2sox.

socketing magic items is ALWAYS a gamble. sometimes you get 2 sox and go YIPEE!! sometimes you get one socky and go D'OH, LARZUK U ***'TARD!!!

 

[krischan]

Re: The Socketing Quest - let's see if I got this right..

without being bothered to look it up, i'll take a wild guess and say that any +3 traps claw is of a high enough ilvl to get 2sox.

Only a very few items have a maximum of just one socket, it's only possible for a few wand, dagger and circlet type items and in some cases it needs a low ilvl as well.

Socket list

Regarding the original question (it might be a bit late for an answer, however): Monsters in normal mode don't get their level replaced by the area level, they use their original level, as Orphan already said.

I don't know what's meant with "casting demons", are those meant which shoot spikes into the ground which impale you from the bottom ? Or the ones with the whips which produse suicide minions ? Or the imps ? Anyway, all the monsters in the normal Frigid Highlands are between 25 and 40, so the CS should receive 4 sockets and be a nice candidate for Spirit. See the act 5 monsters section on Arreat Summit (remember, only for normal mode !). The level of bosses and their minions is higher by 3, for champions it's 2.