Gems are the single biggest lever for power in Diablo Immortal. I’ve played this game since 2022 and, in my experience, getting your gems right changes everything: survivability, burst, and even how a build feels under pressure. Here I’ll explain what to prioritize, why it matters, and how to farm smartly (this doesn’t always work the same for every player; depends on your niche).
Quick reality: normal gems go into your armor sockets, legendary gems go into jewelry. Normal gems are predictable and cheap to push. Legendary gems are the wild card — they can carry a build, but they’re expensive to upgrade and often depend on star rating and awakening. Surprise: chasing only high-star legendaries isn’t always the best path.
💎 Normal vs Legendary — short and useful
Normal gems: red, blue, yellow. They give clear stats — life, armor, resistance, damage, etc. You combine lower ranks into higher ones up to rank 10. I recommend pushing every slot to rank 5 first; why? Because a balanced boost beats one overleveled slot in most content. Why does that work? Because Diablo Immortal rewards steady stat gains across defensive and offensive lines — it’s like compound interest for your character.
Legendary gems: socket into rings, amulet, and some off-hands. They have star tiers (1–5) and can be awakened for extra effects. A 5-star at low rank can outperform a 2-star at high rank — so star priority matters. There are exceptions, of course. Ever had a 3-star gem that perfectly matched your build? It can punch above its weight (honestly).
🔍 Where gems come from (as of November 25, 2025)
Elder Rifts are the main source for legendaries. Use Legendary Crests when you want guaranteed legendary drops. Rare Crests give low chances. Daily systems — Shadow Lottery, daily quests, weekly activities — and the Hilts Trader also add gems or materials. The Battle Pass (free and premium) regularly hands out gem materials, so don’t ignore it.
| Source | Normal Gems | Legendary Gems | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elder Rifts (no crest) | Yes | Unlikely | Unlimited runs |
| Elder Rifts (Rare Crest) | Yes | Small chance | Limited daily use |
| Elder Rifts (Legendary Crest) | Yes | Guaranteed | Use for targeting |
| Hilts Trader / Shadow Lottery | Yes | Occasionally | Check weekly offers |
Build a daily routine: rifts with crests if you can, then lottery, then dailies. Weekend boosts often help. Consistency beats one-off grinds.
⚡ Which normal gems to upgrade first
Barbarian: push Life and Damage on red slots; survivability matters more than flashy numbers. I’ve noticed barbarians die less when Life is prioritized.
DPS (Demon Hunter, Wizard): damage and potency matter, but don’t ignore resistance. You’ll lose runs fast otherwise. Sounds obvious, but a lot of players skip the basics.
Hybrid classes (Crusader, Monk): balance. Fortitude or Potency — choose depending on the role you play in groups.
“Start by getting all your normal gems to rank 5 before you obsess over single-slot rank 10 upgrades.” — practical advice, from me.
🌟 Legendary gems you’ll see everywhere
Blood-Soaked Jade is widely useful: it scales with damage and adds sustain. Blessing of the Worthy is another staple; the damage explosion + temporary protection can save runs. But: these gems only shine if their star and awakening levels match your progression. Prioritize high-star sockets first (controversial, I know — some will say farm low-star and upgrade; okay, that’s a valid playstyle too!).
| Gem | Good For | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Blood-Soaked Jade | Most classes | Damage + life steal |
| Blessing of the Worthy | PvE & PvP | Explosive defensive trigger |
| Chip of Stoned Flesh | Tanks | Damage reduction |
Oddly enough, sometimes a mid-star gem that fits your build beats a meta gem at the wrong moment. Counterintuitive? Yes, but true.
🛠️ Upgrading: ranks, awakening, and resonance
Rank upgrades need duplicate gems and powder; costs climb fast. Awakening needs duplicate legendaries and special materials (you get some from repeat drops). Resonance is your total gem power — it raises combat rating and unlocks bonus tiers. I’ve seen players waste resources pushing one gem too far; don’t be that player. Plan.
// Example simple plan
equip core legendary gems -> rank to 3
push two primary gems to 5 -> start awakening on highest-star
keep all normal gems at rank 5 before 10
Why this order? Because rank gains are linear early and give consistent returns across content types. Awakening gives step changes but costs more. So prioritize steady improvements first.
📊 Combination tips and real trade-offs
Synergy matters. Pair life-steal with damage multipliers to create a sustain loop — it amplifies as you get stronger. But keep a caveat in mind: swapping gems for a single encounter can be worth it, yet gem removal costs may not justify tiny gains.
- F2P: collect guaranteed legendaries and focus on rank 3–5 upgrades.
- Light spender: target 2–3 star legendaries with selective crest use.
- Heavy spender: chase 4–5 star gems and awakenings aggressively.
Question: should you cash out for a last-minute star upgrade? Sometimes yes, sometimes no — depends on your goals and wallet (between us, don’t feel pressured to match others!).
Final practical notes (short)
Be consistent. Make a 6-month gem plan with clear goals. I found that slow, steady upgrades got me further than frantic rerolls. Also, developers tend to tweak the meta; one patch can make a gem worse or stronger (watch patch notes on exact dates). For reference, check official patch updates up to November 25, 2025.
Controversial take: the game feels pay-to-progress if you chase perfect awakenings — but skill and smart planning keep you competitive without spending huge sums. Another hot take: some meta gems should be nerfed — they trivialize content when combined a certain way. There, I said it!
To sum up (oops—well, almost): know where gems drop, prioritize balanced normal gem ranks, pick legendaries that fit your build, and plan upgrades based on star value and awakening potential. Be patient. Farming is a marathon — but a smart marathon beats a desperate sprint every time.
Want a quick checklist I use? Here:
- Daily Elder Rifts with crests available
- Push all normal gems to rank 5
- Rank legendaries to 3, pick two core to 5
- Awaken highest-star gems first
- Adapt gems for content, but don’t flip constantly
Good luck — and if you want, tell me your class and current gem situation; I’ll give a targeted plan (I enjoy that part!).
