In Diablo II: Resurrected, the socket system plays a major role in customizing gear and creating powerful rune words. One weapon class that receives a lot of attention for socketing potential is the poleaxe. Whether you’re building a mercenary setup or creating a runeword like Insight or Infinity, understanding the max sockets for each poleaxe variant is crucial. This knowledge helps you avoid wasting valuable socket quests or runes, especially if you’re farming for the perfect base item. Let’s take a closer look at the poleaxe class, its socket limits, and how to identify the best bases for your builds.
Understanding Poleaxes in Diablo II
What Are Poleaxes?
Poleaxes are part of the polearm weapon class in Diablo II, commonly used by Act II mercenaries and some player builds. They have long reach and high damage, and they come in both normal and elite versions. Despite being called ‘poleaxes,’ they function similarly to other polearms in the game and are favored due to their compatibility with many rune words.
The poleaxe group includes several base types, ranging from early-game Normal items like the basic Poleaxe and Bardiche to high-level Elite versions like the Great Poleaxe and Giant Thresher. Each base type has a set number of maximum sockets depending on item level and rarity.
Max Sockets for Each Poleaxe Base
Normal Polearm Bases
Here are the basic poleaxe types and their max socket counts:
- Bardiche: Max 4 sockets
- Voulge: Max 4 sockets
- Scythe: Max 5 sockets
- Poleaxe: Max 5 sockets
- Halberd: Max 5 sockets
- War Scythe: Max 5 sockets
These items are typically found early in the game and are not often used for high-end rune words. However, some players use them for starter Insight runewords on low-level mercenaries.
Exceptional Polearm Bases
The Exceptional versions of poleaxes appear in Nightmare difficulty and can have higher socket limits:
- Lochaber Axe: Max 5 sockets
- Bill: Max 5 sockets
- Battle Scythe: Max 5 sockets
- Partizan: Max 5 sockets
- Bec-de-Corbin: Max 6 sockets
- Grim Scythe: Max 5 sockets
These items start becoming useful for certain rune words, depending on the number of sockets rolled or added using the cube recipe or Larzuk quest. The Bec-de-Corbin is especially notable for its potential to roll up to 6 sockets, making it a candidate for high-end rune words like Pride or Obedience.
Elite Polearm Bases
Elite poleaxe bases are the most desirable for late-game rune words:
- Ogre Axe: Max 6 sockets
- Thresher: Max 5 sockets
- Cryptic Axe: Max 5 sockets
- Great Poleaxe: Max 6 sockets
- Giant Thresher: Max 6 sockets
Among these, the Thresher and Cryptic Axe are especially popular for Insight due to their fast attack speed. The Great Poleaxe and Giant Thresher are prized for high damage combined with the ability to receive six sockets, making them ideal for powerful rune words like Breath of the Dying.
How Max Sockets Are Determined
Influence of Item Level
The maximum number of sockets a poleaxe can get depends on itsitem level (ilvl), which is tied to the level of the monster or area where it dropped. For example:
- ilvl 125: Lower socket maximums
- ilvl 2640: Medium socket limits
- ilvl 41+: Eligible for maximum socket count
If you find a Great Poleaxe from a monster in Hell Chaos Sanctuary (which has high area level), it’s likely to roll the full 6 sockets if socketed using the Horadric Cube or Larzuk’s reward. In contrast, the same item from an Act I Normal monster might only receive up to 3 sockets.
Socketing with Larzuk
Using Larzuk’s quest reward guarantees the maximum sockets for white (normal) items. For example, a white Thresher with ilvl 85 given to Larzuk will always receive 5 sockets its max. This is the most reliable method for targeting specific runeword setups.
However, if the item is magical (blue), rare (yellow), set (green), or unique (gold), Larzuk only adds 1 socket (or 2 if the item can accept it and is magical). This makes normal white items the best for planning rune word builds.
Best Poleaxe Bases for Rune Words
Ideal Choices for Insight
- Thresher (5 sockets) Fast attack speed, decent damage
- Cryptic Axe (5 sockets) High damage, but slower
Both of these are common choices for Insight, which requires 4 sockets. Many players farm for these base types in high-level areas and use the cube recipe to attempt a 4-socket roll. You can also save a Larzuk quest for guaranteed socket count.
Best for Obedience and Pride
- Cryptic Axe (5 sockets for Obedience)
- Bec-de-Corbin or Ogre Axe (6 sockets for Pride)
Obedience requires 5 sockets, and Pride requires 4. However, if you’re hunting for 6-socket poleaxes, consider elite versions dropped from high-level areas like The Pit, Chaos Sanctuary, or Worldstone Keep in Hell difficulty.
Top Choice for Breath of the Dying
- Great Poleaxe
- Giant Thresher
Breath of the Dying (BOTD) requires a 6-socket ethereal weapon. These two bases provide excellent damage and attack range, making them ideal if you find an ethereal version with no sockets. Use Larzuk’s quest or the cube recipe and hope for a 6-socket outcome.
Cube Recipes for Adding Sockets
How to Use the Horadric Cube
If you don’t want to use Larzuk’s quest, you can try your luck with the cube socketing recipe. For normal white polearms, the recipe is:
- 1x White Poleaxe (non-magical)
- 1x Tal Rune
- 1x Thul Rune
- 1x Perfect Topaz
This will add a random number of sockets up to the item’s max, depending on its ilvl. The randomness means you may not get the socket count you need, but it’s a good method for stockpiled items or lower-priority builds.
Understanding the max sockets for D2 poleaxe weapons can make a significant difference in how effectively you gear your mercenary or character. With so many powerful rune words requiring exact socket numbers, knowing which poleaxe base types can roll what and how to get the right socket count helps you avoid costly mistakes. Whether you’re crafting an Insight for early farming, a Pride for mercenary buffs, or a BOTD for a high-end build, choosing the correct poleaxe with the proper sockets is a fundamental part of Diablo II strategy.