How do people get gem sockets and links on gear while leveling up a character?

I'm somewhat a noob, so there's a lot I still don't understand about the game.

I'm at act 4, and the guide for my build asks for a couple of 3-links by this point. But I can barely sustain 1, even less several.

I'm in the process of trying to get enough Chaos Orbs for a Tabula Rasa, but even then this takes time.

How do people even manage to get so many 4, 5 or even 6-links while leveling up? Is there something I'm missing?

Typically you should be saving most of your socket currency and using them very wisely. For example, do not add sockets or links to bad items you will replace in short time. Pay attention to already linked items on the ground (set your filter to show relevant ones if you need to), it's easy to replace your gear at this point and Alchemy orbs shouldn't be too hard to come by. Also be aware that different base types have different weights for rolling socket colors with Chromatic Orbs, for example, an Int base will be more likely to roll blue sockets than red or green and a Str based item will be more likely to roll red sockets, etc.

EDIT: This is coming from a SSF perspective, in trade you can pretty much get whatever you need for next to nothing, if the person you whisper bothers to respond.

I guess that makes sense.

So while doing solo-stuff, I shuold try and spare stuff, so it can last as long as possible.

I'll try and keep this in mind. I still gotta understand how all the currency works, but I'm getting there. Sadly, link items have been very sparse for me. I think that I only got 3 in total so far (which I used in dumb stuff, sadly).

Keep in mind that item level (ilv) sets a limit on the max number of sockets an item has. See image below. So you can't drop 6 socket gear yet, nor can you craft on dropped gear to make it 6 socket. BTW, ilevel is determined by area lv, only difference being that rare or magic monsters can drop items slightly above area lv.

Here's a tip for crafting. Before you use jewellers or fusings on your item, improve the quality of your item first. Ideally to 20% (max). Use blacksmith's wetstones or armourer's scraps for this. Items with greater quality have higher odds of more sockets and links.

Also, as prev commenter mentioned, it's easy to get cheap gear with your desired sockets and links from trade. Just keep in mind the level requirement of the items you're buying (you can filter for this). I don't think you'll be able to buy 6 socket gear that's wearable yet.

Wow, I actually wasn't aware about any of this. Heck, this does put into perspective what I've been doing so far, and it doesn't look good on my end lol.

I'll try and be more active within trade then.

When you say to get cheap gear, do you mean to try and get a common item and then buff it up with the required currency?

Also, should I be trying to ask around the in-game chat, or see if people in the trade fuction in the website?

Thanks for answering my questions so far!

"

When you say to get cheap gear, do you mean to try and get a common item and then buff it up with the required currency?

No, I just mean cheap in the sense of costing little. You can easily find lots of good gear with good sockets for less than 5 chaos.

"

Also, should I be trying to ask around the in-game chat, or see if people in the trade fuction in the website?

I've never used the in-game chat for that purpose. But I doubt it would be too effective. Use the trade site. Have you used it before? Just asking because it's not obvious how to make trades. You first whisper the player, then wait for them to invite you to party, then travel to their hideout or town, then wait for them to invite to trade. It's common courtesy to let the seller both invite you to party and initiate the trade.

Also, I forgot to mention, there's a currency item that guarantees 4 links. Called Orb of Binding. See if you have any, but if you don't they are cheap to buy. Can only be used on a white item unfortunately though. But I tested, and it ignores ilv requirments for sockets, so an ilv 1 item can be 4 socketed with it for example. So if you plan on using these, find good white bases. You can scroll through all the item bases on the wiki (generally whatever is closest to your level will be best). https://www.poewiki.net/wiki/Equipment

I see I see. 5 chaos is still quite expensive in my eyes, since I still only got 4 haha. But I do get what you mean.

I have traded an item before. Managed to learn it the hard way lol.

"

Also, I forgot to mention, there's a currency item that guarantees 4 links. Called Orb of Binding. See if you have any, but if you don't they are cheap to buy. Can only be used on a white item unfortunately though. But I tested, and it ignores ilv requirments for sockets, so an ilv 1 item can be 4 socketed with it for example. So if you plan on using these, find good white bases. You can scroll through all the item bases on the wiki (generally whatever is closest to your level will be best).

Alright! I'll do some digging then. Thanks!

If you are still in the campaign, you don't really need to trade to get through it. Here's some things that will help:

1) For at least the first half of the campaign, play without a loot filter (or one that hides nothing but highlights things you want). You drop a LOT of 3 links right from the start and a loot filter (especially if set too strict) can hide most of them from you.

2) Know the socket colors you need for your build so you can look out for them specifically. Write it down on a piece of paper next to you if you need to.

3) Early in the campaign, mods on items (other than movement speed on boots) are fairly inconsequential. Always prioritize having the right links and colors over whatever mods you may find. It's fine for example to keep a chest piece from Act 1 if it's the only one that has the links you need.

4) For resistance, focus on getting that from your rings/amulets. Use the crafting bench in your hideout to craft resistance that you are short on.

5) As you get better items that have the links you need, focus on resistance and then life. Boots you should always try to get as much move speed as possible.

6) For your most critical 3/4 links, try to get those colors on gloves/hat first. Then chest piece. Then boots. And finally weapons/shield (that order of priority). This is because gloves and hat mods have the least impact on your character early on (and you therefore can afford to not upgrade them at all if it comes to it) whereas weapons/shield you are likely to keep upgrading.

7) Don't be afraid to check the vendor each time you level up because they can often have items with the links you need. It's fine if the items have no mods (once again, low level mods do very little anyway). The vendor in late Act 2/Act 3 starting (depends on your character level) can start selling 4-links.

Thanks for all those tips!

The resistances and life might be important, since I'm at level 48 in act 5, and I only have about 1.1k life, and I go down super easily haha.

Sometimes the most obvious things are right in front of us. If you want to have some fun. Trade "Orb of binding". This reads Up to 4 sockets. It will always roll the max number of sockets - "hence up to 4" based on the items Ilvl.

Sockets have a minimum ilevel for example you can't get a 6 socket on a ilevel 10 item. You can check into the specifics of what you are trying to do here with Google or w/e u use.

Since I assume you are new i want to tell you it's important thats you understand what colors roll on which gear and why. SO you can get your optimal sockets easy if you do prefer to craft your own gear this way.

Strength based gear will roll red.

Int Based gear will roll Blue.

Dex based gear will roll green(oops).

Now if you need only 1 off color for these gears The best way is to buy a pure base, meaning only requires all of 1 Stat.

If however you need 2 red and 2 green, then your ideal armor would be STR and Dex based.

For four or five of one color it will be very easy on the Pure bases to hit 4-5 very often.

This should be enough info to get you into simple methods of crafting your own gear and the start of any league for very cheap as Orb of Binding is a very cheap currency. I believe this is also the weird currency that can roll maps as well.