ilevel , sockets, unique, how does it work ?

Hi, so here's something i do not understand, how do ilvl , uniques and the number of possible sockets interact ?

as far as i know there are different versions of the same kind of item for like 3-4 levels then there'll be a new base item etc, each of this base have a static ilvl which define the min-max numeric values they can get and the max number of sockets.

but here's what i don't get, let's take a cloak of flame, it's supposed to be a scholar robe, which is low level but when it's rolled as a unique it becomes ilvl 63 (at least for mine) so it can up to 6 sockets; now let's take a searing touch it's a long staff ilvl 13 , when i check mine it's ilvl 28 so supposedly it can't get more than 4 sockets yet i've seen 5 socket searing touch

why ? does the ilvl of an unique is random ? do all uniques can get max sockets ?

ILVL is not random at all, its always the lvl of the monster that dropped it, never gets changed.

If base item can drop, unique version can drop.

Unique dont change base item ever.

Base Item can always drop, anywhere, as long as monster level is equal or higher then base item min level req.

Edit: Max socket is based on item level, don't remember the exact number, but they can be found in the forum if you look.

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Blackened wrote:

If base item can drop, unique version can drop.

Unique dont change base item ever.

scholar robe : ilvl 18
Cloak of flame scholar robe : ilvl63

so if it doesn't change the the base item it means there's another scholar's robe that is lvl 63 which is kind is weird since they change the name when it's not the same ilvl

and i'm going to guess the wiki is wrong when it says "item level 28 - max. 4 sockets" then since searing touch is ilvl 28

You are confusing ilvl and req level

Item level is what you get when you put the item on the cursor and type /itemlevel

Scholar robe can drop in a lvl 63 area which will make its ilvl 63

Same with searing staff, if it drops in a lvl 60 zone, it will have a ilvl 60, which in turn can have 6 sockets.

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Blackened wrote:

You are confusing ilvl and req level

i'm not confusing these at all and scholar robe isn't supposed to drop in high level maps, it's supposed to have a different name when it's higher level

take the tribal maul for exemple, it's a low level maul that high base dmg and low attack speed, the higher version of this item that you'll loot (with the same skin and same kind of stats) will be called a totemic maul than at even higher level a karui maul.

at least that's how it works in every arpg i've played these past 10 years.

The fact that Karui Maul can drop doesn't change the fact that a Totemic Maul can still drop.

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i'm not confusing these at all and scholar robe isn't supposed to drop in high level maps, it's supposed to have a different name when it's higher level

You are confusing these, scholar robe is supposed to drop in higher level maps. Higher level required items with different names also drop, from higher level monsters. It's possible to get an ilvl 73 rusty casque with ~6 armor from level 70+ maps.

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Ronney wrote:

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i'm not confusing these at all and scholar robe isn't supposed to drop in high level maps, it's supposed to have a different name when it's higher level

You are confusing these, scholar robe is supposed to drop in higher level maps. Higher level required items with different names also drop, from higher level monsters. It's possible to get an ilvl 73 rusty casque with ~6 armor from level 70+ maps.

no i'm not, i know the difference, what i don't know is that a 6 armor helm can be tagged as being ilvl 73 when it should not be; it seriously doesn't make any sense to loot a base item obviously made to be lile ilvl 4 with ilvl 73 mods on it, especially when there's a higher version of it with the exact same type of stats and graphisms.

and i have yet to see a tribal maul in fellshrine merciless but i understand how it works even though it's unecessarily counter intuitive

Wtf man, read what people are telling you.

The hidden item level (seen by clicking on the item and typing /itemlevel) determines the number of max sockets on the item. The item level is equal to the level of the monster that dropped it.

You mentioned there being multiple version of the same item type (like Majestic Plate is a lower version of Glorious Plate). That's true but it has nothing to do with how many sockets can appear on the item. I actually had a 6 socket Tribal Maul (a required level 8 item) that had an item level of 68.

Lets try to simplify this a bit.
Go here and look at the Armors of the game. http://www.pathofexile.com/item-data/armour

First Armour you see is a Plate Vest. It's Level displayed on that page is the Level Requirement to wear a normal (white) item of that kind. the Level requirement is level 1. It Can drop in Any Area Above Level 1. It can drop in a lv 68 area as well. If it Drops in a Lv 68 Area then the Item Level (iLvl) is ilvl 68. Unless Dropped from a Rare/Unique monster then it can go up to 3 iLevels Higher, Or Magical it's up to 2 levels. Wile Glorious Plate is req Level of 68 It can Not Drop on lower levels then 68. so it's Minimum ilevel is lv 68. Glorious late can still reach higher ilevel as there are higher level areas.

The Item Level you can not see Unless you Click on a Item Then Open chat & Typing /itemlevel.
Item Level Have nothing to do with the Required Level to wear it as long as it is a 'Normal' (White) Item. If the Item Is Magical (Blue) Or Rare (Yellow) then the Item Gets modifications wich depends on the iLevel of the item. Depending on the Mods you get the Required Level to Equip it changes.

The ilevel is what defines what prefix/Suffix modifications you get on an item. if you have a ilevel 68 it can get mods UP to ones displayed as level 68. It can also gain lower level modifications. Even a req level 1 item of ilvl68 can get modifications for ilvl 68.

Prefix mods can be found here: http://www.pathofexile.com/item-data/prefixmod
Suffix Mods can be found here: http://www.pathofexile.com/item-data/suffixmod
The Level you can see on mods there are the lowest ilevel you need to gain those mods on items. you can always gain something of lower level then the ilevel of your items.

to recap. The Required Level to equip it is the one seen on the items stat display. Wile Item Level is ALWAYS hidden. unless you click the Item so that it is on the cursor & Type /itemlevel in the chat. Item Level Have Nothing to do with the Required Level of an item unless it holds modifications wich are of a higher level the Required Level of the item.

Scholar's Robe = Required Level of 18. (Req level)