What Are The Best Diablo 3 Legendary Gems?
Diablo builds are powerful enough in their own right but have you ever looked at a character tear through a pack of elites and just wonder how they do it?
It's all in the gems. Not just the regular gems though, even though they do help. Today we’re talking about the boss gems otherwise known as legendary gems but you already knew that because you can see the title of the article.
Alright, so there are a ton of legendary gems in the game and they seem to add more every few seasons. There 20 gems that come from greater rifts and 2 that drop from enemies, Greed and the Dark Lord. Both of those gems suck so don’t worry about it. Let’s take a look at the 10 best legendary gems in Diablo 3.
1. Simplicitys Strength
Simplicity's Strength Explained
This beautiful beast does exactly what it sounds like. Increasing the damage of your primary skills by a base of 25% and then .50% for each level the gem reaches. Once you make it to Gem level 25 each hit with your primary abilities heal you for 4% of your maximum life.
Simplicity’s strength is ideal for damage dealers with high attack speed and even better in conjunction when used with skills like the barbarians frenzy or the monks Shenlong’s fist. Seriously, just try it sometime, you won’t be disappointed.
2. Bane of the Powerful
Bane of the Powerful Explained
This gem boosts you characters damage by 20% for a base of 30 seconds and at level 25 you gain 15% increased damage against elites and 15% reduced damage from them as well.
This Gem is an absolute must have when trying to advance through greater rifts and it also helps a great deal for bounties. Outside of that there’s really no need to have it equipped, unless you really need that damage boost, in which case, combine this gem with Nemesis bracers so that you get an elite pack every time you touch a shrine.
3. Bane of the Stricken
Bane of the Stricken - How It Works
Easily one of the best gems in the game, Bane of the Stricken increases damage dealt to whatever enemy you’re attacking by a base of .8% per attack and stack infinitely. It should be noted that this buff restarts with each new enemy hit.
Like simplicity’s strength, bane of the stricken is best used with a high attack speed. Oddly enough, one of my favorite builds to have this gem attached to is the blessed hammer builder for the crusaders. DESPITE IT BEING RUINED! You know what you’ve done Blizzard.
4. Bane of the Trapped
Bane of the Trapped explained
Bane of the Trapped gives you a 15% damage boost to enemies that are affected by things like slow, chill, and other movement impairing effects. At level 25 the gem creates an aura that slows enemies by 30% within 15 yards.
This gem is only worthwhile if you’re into having a permanent damage boosts applied at all times assuming you have the gem equipped. Otherwise… it’s just okay.
5. Boyarsky’s Chip
Boyarsky’s chip adds a base of 16,000 to you thorn damage and adds 800 with each rank.
This one’s a bit hard to defend because the viability of thorn based builds fluctuates so rapidly these days. That being said, it exists mostly as a companion to the Thorn of the Invoker set which is best used on crusaders. If you aren’t familiar with the set up it basically relies on your ability to jump from pack to pack in the shortest amount of time using steed charge and punishing enemies for attacking you.
6. Enforcer
The enforcer increases the damage from you pets (Zombie dogs, Skeletal mages, sentries, Hydras) by 15% and increases the damage further by .3% for each level.
This gem is useful for any build of any class that relies heavily on pets. My favorite use of said gem is for the Witch Doctor and Necromancer but you can always find new ways to apply its usefulness.
7. Gem of Ease
Adds a base of 500 experience per monster kill and adds on an additional 50 per level. Most importantly, at level 25 you can place this gem into a weapon and reduce its level requirement to 1. Note that this gem can only be placed in weapons.
Boost this gem to level 60, place it into a level 70 weapon that also adds an experience bonus and throw it on a fresh character. You’ll be level 70 within two hours, on your own. This makes leveling fresh characters so easy that it almost becomes pointless to try other than to see it happen, which is always fun to watch.
8. Moratorium
This gem is one of five defensive rather than offensive gems in the game. 35% of all your damage is instead staggered of a base of 3 seconds and this time is increased by .1% per level. At level 25 the gem has a 20% chance of clearing all accumulated damage which honestly happens way more than it should statistically speaking. Not that I’m complaining, it’s just very inconsistent.
If you’re planning on tanking a ton of damage, either as part of a group using taunt or just because you can, this gem is all but a necessity. Seriously though, try running a greater rift above 100 solo without using this gem.
9. Molten Wildebeest’s Gizzard
Molten Wildebeest’s Gizzard explained
The stinky stanky gizzard gives a base life regeneration of 10,000 and adds 1000 per level. At level 25 you will gain an absorb shield for 200% your total life per second after not taking damage for four seconds.
This glorious gem is a staple of the tank builds for any class when used in conjunction with the moratorium gem and unity ring for you and your companion. Doing so will make you more or less unkillable as long as your companion has an item that prevents them from dying.
10. Mirinae, Teardrop of the Starweaver
Mirinae, Teardrop of the Starweave explained
This tiny monster brings destruction from the heavens by granting you a 15% chance of smiting a nearby enemy for a base of 3000% damage as holy while also healing you for 3% of you maximum life. At level 25 however, the gem will smite a nearby enemy every 3 seconds.
Again, this is one of those gems that’s only worth using if you’re super into having a constant damage dealer that also heals you while doing so.
