When does Spell Echo start to drop?

Since it is a minimum level 31, does that mean it starts to drop at the end of Act 3 Normal? Does the chances of drop increase with every area level over 31?
Does the level penalty factor into gem drops as it does currency drops?

Yes, you need a level 31 area to drop it.
All gems that are able to drop in the area have equal chance of dropping, so if you want to farm for multistrike you have a better chance for it in a level 24 area than level 31, less other gems can drop.
No, level penalty affects only experience gained and currency drops.

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raics wrote:

Yes, you need a level 31 area to drop it.
All gems that are able to drop in the area have equal chance of dropping, so if you want to farm for multistrike you have a better chance for it in a level 24 area than level 31, less other gems can drop.
No, level penalty affects only experience gained and currency drops.

Actually, you need a level 31 MONSTER. This is easiest in level 31 areas, but it could drop from a rare or boss in a level 29 zone.

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raics wrote:

Yes, you need a level 31 area to drop it.
All gems that are able to drop in the area have equal chance of dropping, so if you want to farm for multistrike you have a better chance for it in a level 24 area than level 31, less other gems can drop.
No, level penalty affects only experience gained and currency drops.

Am I correct in assuming that this means if I want the Empower, Enhance, and/or Enlighten gems, the best place for me to farm for them would be The Coast?

By the same token, the Portal gem would be best obtained in the Upper Prison area?

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raics wrote:

Yes, you need a level 31 area to drop it.
All gems that are able to drop in the area have equal chance of dropping, so if you want to farm for multistrike you have a better chance for it in a level 24 area than level 31, less other gems can drop.
No, level penalty affects only experience gained and currency drops.

Are you sure this is how it works? I mean it's possible the drop chances are dynamically generated based on the number/type of gems that can drop in any given area.

Personally, I feel like I've seen far more increased duration gems drop than reduced duration gems. And empower/enhance/enlighten and portel also feel especially rare compared to other gems.

Did I miss a comment by GGG somewhere? :(

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Mokihiki wrote:

Did I miss a comment by GGG somewhere? :(

Nah, can't remember if I saw a comment like that but I personally haven't seen or heard anything that would lead me to a conclusion that higher level gems are more rare, all regular gems most likely have same drop chance.

Yeah, I meant regular gems, drop-only like portal and empower are much more rare, of course.

Once you look at level 31 gems, I think all gem drops are then possible and it doesnt matter what zone you farm.

However, Empower and Enlighten are NOT level 31 gems.



I dont know if these can drop in level 10 zones or not - might be farming Merrivail is the best plan if they do drop as low as that. You'd want as few other competing gem drops possible to maximize your odds.

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Nemmerle wrote:

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raics wrote:

Nemmerle, do you remember where your gem dropped, if it was from a drop?

I've gotten two as world drops, both in Merciless act three, so not much help narrowing down your options.

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Nemmerle wrote:

I've gotten two as world drops, both in Merciless act three, so not much help narrowing down your options.

Was this before or after the Garden? I only ask because I was thinking it did not drop until after it becomes a quest reward.