In the case of 4-socket shields, your options are limited. The maximum number of sockets an item can have is based on its Item Level (iLv) an invisible stat that’s usually the same as the mLv of the monster that dropped it (or the aLv of the container). Getting the socketed base item, however, can take much longer, depending on your luck. Since the highest rune requires is Amn, it’s also not unlikely that you’ll find one just by playing through Normal difficulty, but failing that, Nightmare will regularly drop them. With a relatively low level requirement of 25, you’re just not going to find anything better at the time, or in the cases of shields, perhaps not ever.

A Monarch shield can drop almost anywhere in Hell difficulty.īoth 4-socket one-handed swords and 4-socket shields are desirable early-game primarily for the Spirit runeword, which has similar properties when created in a sword or a shield, namely +2 to All Skills, +25%-35% Faster Cast Rate, +22 Vitality and +89-112 Mana.