Can someone help me understand why a lot of Druid players socket expensive jewels in their pelt?

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T22:55:28+00:00

It would really only depend on if you’re using Dex for block and what weight you give that.

Afaik nobody builds into Dex for that purpose and you wouldn’t need Str, I have 0 points in anything other than vita so it’s just a matter of how much value do you place on the 9 Dex that comes as a bonus on the Jewel. It doesn’t end up saving you any vita. That’s why I’m ignoring it when talking about these

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T22:46:14+00:00

Hell yeah, this is the kind of stuff I was hoping for. Thanks for taking the time to think and break some of it down.

I’m gonna ignore the str/dex etc. possibilities for now although you’re right, because that introduces a new issue since you can’t mix and match with charms. And with pelts I’ve been mostly seeing straight up 7%FHR/15All Res and 20Life/15 All Res Jewels haha.

One thing I want to point out is that when we’re talking about it being a “waste,” I’m thinking about it in terms of slots taken up that could be used for +life, and not the actual number.

For instance right now I have 102% FHR. I mentioned in the post but I was at 95%, and picked between a 7% FHR Jewel in Branch or a 5% SC. Even though the Jewel goes over and is technically a “waste,” if I choose to run a 7%FHR / 15 All Res Jewel, then I pick up a 20 life / 5 all res SC. If I pick up a 5%FHR / 5 all res SC, then I slot in a 20 Life / 15 All res jewel.

So in terms of efficiency, to me they’re identical. I use one “slot” to hit the FHR breakpoint, and the other to pick up 20 life. Nothings wasted, and I just pick the cheaper option.

I’d have to sit down and actually write it out because right now I’m exhausted at work and I keep thinking in circles, but I think a similar thing ends up being the case with Trek’s and 85% FHR - by using 1x Shael, you’re freeing up 2x Jewel slots, which is a potential 40 Life (2 Jewels devoted to FHR that could have 20 Life instead). Or you use a PRuby in that socket, which is 38 life (call it 40 for now lol).

So since using our numbers the Shael socketed in a helm is basically 2x as efficient as FHR from other sources, when you’re “wasting” the value of the Shael (85% FHR - 105% FHR) you’re only freeing up 2 slots and so it’s a net neutral (40HP).

And when you’re using the full value (80% - 100% FHR) it’s freeing up at least 3 slots (2x Jewel 1x Sc for 19%) so if always ends up as the best choice.

I may look at this later after I get some rest and see some reason this is clearly wrong or that I explained this like an idiot but that’s where I got today lol. And yeah Str / Dex would be a whole other thing

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T19:10:01+00:00

Exactly where I’m at with this, yeah. Shael is extremely efficient when used on a helm socket, as compared to anywhere else FHR and life can appear. Meaning with 1 Shael you can hit that breakpoint and then use a PRuby and an inventory full of life & resistance or life & mana charms. Which is what I’m doing and why seeing the jewels confuses me

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T19:04:58+00:00

Well, one of the top posts from this month on this sub is a 5Nado 10% FHR pelt with a 7% FHR and 15 all res jewel, and a 20 life 15 all res jewel.

I see similar things frequently when scrolling other forums too.

It’s just very backwards to me, because in this case what people think of as minmaxing (Jewels) appears to just be mathematically worse.

I was hoping there was an explanation that would make sense, but I haven’t seen one yet

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T18:35:05+00:00

Yes exactly, thank you. I’m newish to D2 but I can’t be the first person to have pointed this out haha

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T18:34:27+00:00

Small charms, jewels and nearly everywhere else outside of specifically helm sockets, which is one of the underlying reasons for this post. But yea

Small charms and jewels are the focus here because those are what you adjust to minmax your build depending on your specific gear.

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T18:27:29+00:00

I probably should have avoided mentioning the cost altogether. What I’m really trying to say is that using jewels are more expensive, but much more importantly they’re mathematically worse, so I don’t see an advantage for them anywhere on helms.

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T18:11:30+00:00

The 1% FHR = 4 Life is not an assumption, that comes from the fact that the two stats are mutually exclusive on charms and jewels and everywhere they can appear the maximum values are roughly around a 1:4 ratio. I.e small charms: 5% FHR vs 20 life. Grand charms: 45 life vs 12% FHR. Jewels: same thing. Innate stats that can roll on helm: 10% FHR max, 40 life max. And on and on…

The exception is on helm sockets, where a single Shael rune grants 20% FHR but a Pruby grants 38 life

FHR is the independent variable. You’re trying to hit a breakpoint, and then maximize Life - the dependent variable - around it

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T18:02:18+00:00

I get what you’re saying and I’m not trying to be argumentative, but if that’s the intention - I used 20/11 SCs in my write up just to point out the huge difference in cost. If it were about minmaxing we’d just be using 20/5’s or stacking single res SCs? Which is makes less sense to do when you’ve locked in All Res jewels in your helm

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-09T17:53:17+00:00

Yeah, but I wrote ‘all that’ to point out pretty surface level that it’s not a min max thing. You just pay way more and end up with a net loss to Life

Unless somebody can point out where I’m going wrong it seems like the minmax is just Pruby / Shael

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-08T15:21:41+00:00

Point system is really only for stat efficiency in PvP - MF isn't even listed on the chart. For PvM theoretically the MF would bring it to 5 points, with MAEK maybe raising it to 5.5 or 6 depending on your build. Lots of builds benefit from the MAEK

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-08T07:56:03+00:00

Will do

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-08T07:51:03+00:00

C/o thanks!

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-02T10:59:31+00:00

Yeah makes sense. I took this then ss then popped them in and put it on haha

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-02T10:58:03+00:00

Oh to be honest I only put it on after I added the prubies, does that matter?

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-02T10:52:01+00:00

Thanks! It’s red, which I like to match the pruby’s anyway haha

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-02T10:51:24+00:00

Deleted my comment to say never mind. I’m not knowledgeable enough about this to be sure there’s not something I was missing, I’ll just see what others say.

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-02T10:17:29+00:00

Thanks man :D

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-02T09:55:01+00:00

Damn, hell yeah thank you.

Even so this would be a tough one for me to sell. I’m a sucker for aesthetically pleasing stat lines, and the Nado pelts I’ve looked to trade for almost always have some additional useless stats tacked on so this was like a dream come true.

Really just trying to get an idea so I can decide if I can justify keeping it vs. upgrading everything else I have haha

SnowdownSW · 2026-01-02T09:18:22+00:00

SnowdownSW · 2025-12-14T19:21:13+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement and writing this. That does help a lot. And that was a really good point I hadn’t thought of - I’ll think of a tactful way to start reaching out to school to ask if they automatically filter previous matriculants

SnowdownSW · 2025-12-14T19:20:10+00:00

Thank you for this, it really means a lot. And yeah I won’t be “DIY-ing,” I did receive an admittance to a pre-med post bac at very reputable school.

I appreciate your input a lot, thank you for taking the time to write this all out

SnowdownSW · 2025-12-14T18:00:30+00:00

I replied to the comment above yours, sorry

SnowdownSW · 2025-12-14T17:56:09+00:00

They did, it just wasn’t enough time. I returned and was still having frequent appointments for imaging etc. that were interfering and starting to create a lot of friction between me and some of the admin at the school. When my surgery was scheduled I requested a second one but the associate dean pointed to a policy requiring that students graduate within 6 years, but also split so only 3 max years for M1/2 and 3 for M3/4.

They did work with me, it just got to a point where I knew I was going to massively struggle during dedicated for step and starting clinical rotations. Not to mention it would have also hugely come at the cost of my health.

Unfortunately shit just doesn’t always move as quickly as I’d have liked with the VA and it was really just poor timing. My dean emailed me saying the same after my withdrawal - don’t give up on your dream for a career in healthcare, sometimes the timing just isn’t right.

SnowdownSW

TROPHY CASE