TBC Classic Gems Guide
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TBC Classic Gems Guide
Gems let you customize gear in World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Classic by slotting them into item sockets. This guide covers how sockets and meta gems work, how to read gem cuts and colors, and which gems to use — with the exact per-spec setup linked at the bottom.
How sockets work
- Socket colors — sockets are Red, Yellow, or Blue. A gem gives its full stats in any socket, regardless of color.
- Socket bonus — items grant a small bonus (e.g. +4 stamina) only if you match each socket's color. Chase it only when the bonus beats gemming purely for your best stat.
- Hybrid gems match two colors: Orange = Red + Yellow, Purple = Red + Blue, Green = Yellow + Blue.
Meta gems
Each gear set has one meta socket (usually the helm) that only accepts a meta gem. Meta gems have an activation requirement counting how many Red, Yellow, and Blue gems you have equipped — every gem of that color counts whether or not it matches its socket, and a hybrid gem counts for both its colors (an Orange gem = 1 Red + 1 Yellow toward the requirement).
The most-used DPS meta gem is the Chaotic Skyfire Diamond — +12 critical strike rating and +3% critical strike damage — which requires at least 2 Blue gems equipped. Tanks, healers, and mana-based casters use different meta gems; see the full meta gem list on Wowhead.
Browse every TBC gem
Every gem in the game below — filter by quality, color, or stat, or switch to Top-used by spec to see what the best players actually socket (from our WarcraftLogs data). Hover any gem for its Wowhead tooltip.
Red gems
Bold Crimson Spinel+10 Strength
Bold Ornate Ruby+20 Attack PowerCrimson Sun+24 Attack Power Requires Jewelcrafting (360)Delicate Crimson Spinel+10 AgilityDon Julio's Heart+14 Spell Damage Requires Jewelcrafting (360)Kailee's Rose+26 Healing and +9 Spell Damage Requires Jewelcrafting (360)Runed Crimson Spinel+12 Spell DamageRuned Crimson Spinel+12 Spell Damage
Runed Ornate Ruby+12 Spell DamageRuned Ornate Ruby+12 Spell DamageTeardrop Crimson Spinel+22 Healing and +8 Spell DamageTeardrop Crimson Spinel+22 Healing and +8 Spell Damage
Bold Living Ruby+8 StrengthBright Living Ruby+16 Attack PowerDelicate Living Ruby+8 Agility
Don Rodrigo's Heart+8 StrengthRuned Living Ruby+9 Spell DamageStark Blood Garnet+8 Spell DamageTeardrop Living Ruby+18 Healing and +6 Spell Damage
Bright Blood Garnet+12 Attack PowerDelicate Blood Garnet+6 AgilityRuned Blood Garnet+7 Spell DamageTeardrop Blood Garnet+13 Healing and +5 Spell Damage
Bright Tourmaline+8 Attack PowerYellow gems
Blood of Amber+12 Spell Critical Rating Requires Jewelcrafting (360)Brilliant Lionseye+10 Intellect
Gleaming Ornate Dawnstone+10 Spell Critical Strike RatingGreat Lionseye+10 Spell Hit RatingMystic Lionseye+10 Resilience RatingQuick Lionseye+10 Spell Haste RatingRigid Lionseye+10 Hit RatingSmooth Lionseye+10 Critical Strike Rating
Smooth Ornate Dawnstone+10 Critical Strike RatingStone of Blades+12 Critical Strike Rating Requires Jewelcrafting (360)Sublime Mystic Dawnstone+10 Resilience RatingThick Lionseye+10 Defense Rating
Brilliant Dawnstone+8 IntellectGleaming Dawnstone+8 Spell Critical RatingGreat Dawnstone+8 Spell Hit RatingMystic Dawnstone+8 Resilience RatingRigid Dawnstone+8 Hit RatingSmooth Dawnstone+8 Critical Strike Rating
Great Golden Draenite+6 Spell Hit RatingRigid Golden Draenite+6 Hit RatingBlue gems
Falling Star+18 Stamina Requires Jewelcrafting (360)Solid Empyrean Sapphire+15 StaminaSparkling Empyrean Sapphire+10 Spirit
Eye of the Sea+15 Stamina
Solid Star of Elune+12 StaminaSparkling Star of Elune+8 SpiritStormy Star of Elune+10 Spell Penetration
Solid Azure Moonstone+9 StaminaStormy Azure Moonstone+8 Spell PenetrationOrange gems
Deadly Fire Opal+8 Attack Power and +5 Critical RatingDurable Fire Opal+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and +4 Resilience RatingEmpowered Fire Opal+8 Attack Power and +5 Resilience RatingEnscribed Fire Opal+5 Strength and +4 Critical RatingEtched Fire Opal+5 Strength and +4 Hit Rating
Forceful Seaspray Emerald+5 Spell Haste Rating and +7 StaminaGlinting Fire Opal+5 Agility and +4 Hit Rating
Glinting Pyrestone+5 Hit Rating and +5 Agility
Inscribed Ornate Topaz+10 Attack Power , +5 Critical Strike RatingInscribed Ornate Topaz+10 Attack Power , +5 Critical Strike RatingInscribed Pyrestone+5 Critical Strike Rating and +5 StrengthIridescent Fire Opal+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and +4 Spell Critical RatingLuminous Fire Opal+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and +4 IntellectLuminous Pyrestone+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and +5 IntellectMysterious Fire Opal+6 Spell Damage and +5 Spell PenetrationPotent Fire Opal+6 Spell Damage and +4 Spell Critical Rating
Potent Ornate Topaz+6 Spell Damage , +5 Spell Crit RatingPotent Pyrestone+5 Spell Critical Rating and +6 Spell DamageRadiant Seaspray Emerald+5 Spell Critical Rating and +6 Spell PenetrationReckless Pyrestone+5 Spell Haste Rating and +6 Spell DamageResplendent Fire Opal+5 Strength and +4 Resilience RatingShining Fire Opal+6 Spell Damage and +5 Spell Hit RatingVeiled Pyrestone+5 Spell Hit Rating and +6 Spell DamageWicked Pyrestone+5 Critical Strike Rating and +10 Attack PowerGlinting Noble Topaz+4 Hit Rating and +4 AgilityInscribed Noble Topaz+4 Critical Strike Rating and +4 StrengthLuminous Noble Topaz+9 Healing +3 Spell Damage and +4 IntellectPotent Noble Topaz+4 Spell Critical Rating and +5 Spell Damage
Radiant Talasite+4 Spell Critical Rating and +5 Spell PenetrationVeiled Noble Topaz+4 Spell Hit Rating and +5 Spell DamageWicked Noble Topaz+4 Critical Strike Rating and +8 Attack Power
Glinting Flame Spessarite+3 Hit Rating and +3 AgilityInscribed Flame Spessarite+3 Critical Strike Rating and +3 StrengthLuminous Flame Spessarite+7 Healing +3 Spell Damage and +3 IntellectWicked Flame Spessarite+3 Critical Strike Rating and +6 Attack PowerPurple gems
Brutal Tanzanite+10 Attack Power and +6 StaminaFluorescent Tanzanite+6 Spell Damage and +4 Spirit
Glowing Shadowsong Amethyst+6 Spell Damage and +7 StaminaGlowing Tanzanite+6 Spell Damage and +6 StaminaImperial Tanzanite+5 Spirit and +9 Healing +3 Spell DamageInfused Amethyst+6 Spell Damage and +6 StaminaInfused Shadowsong Amethyst+10 Attack Power & +2 Mana per 5 SecondsPurified Shadowsong Amethyst+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and +5 SpiritRoyal Shadowsong Amethyst+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and +2 Mana every 5 secondsRoyal Tanzanite+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and 2 mana per 5 sec.Shifting Shadowsong Amethyst+5 Agility and +7 StaminaShifting Tanzanite+5 Agility and +6 StaminaSoothing Amethyst+11 Healing +4 Spell Damage and +6 StaminaSovereign Shadowsong Amethyst+5 Strength and +7 StaminaSovereign Tanzanite+5 Strength and +6 StaminaBalanced Nightseye+8 Attack Power and +6 StaminaGlowing Nightseye+5 Spell Damage and +6 Stamina
Purified Shadow Pearl+9 Healing +3 Spell Damage and +4 SpiritRegal Nightseye+4 Dodge Rating and +6 StaminaRoyal Nightseye+9 Healing +3 Spell Damage and +2 Mana every 5 secondsShifting Nightseye+4 Agility and +6 StaminaSovereign Nightseye+4 Strength and +6 Stamina
Royal Shadow Draenite+7 Healing +3 Spell Damage and +1 Mana per 5 SecondsSovereign Shadow Draenite+3 Strength and +4 StaminaGreen gems
Dazzling Chrysoprase+5 Intellect and 2 mana per 5 sec.Enduring Seaspray Emerald+5 Defense Rating and +7 StaminaJagged Seaspray Emerald+5 Critical Strike Rating and +7 StaminaLambent Chrysoprase+5 Spell Hit Rating and 2 mana per 5 sec.Steady Chrysoprase+6 Stamina and +5 Resilience RatingSteady Seaspray Emerald+5 Resilience Rating and +7 StaminaSundered Chrysoprase+5 Critical Strike Rating and +2 mana per 5 sec.Vivid Chrysoprase+5 Spell Hit Rating and +6 StaminaDazzling Talasite+4 Intellect and +2 Mana every 5 secondsJagged Talasite+4 Critical Strike Rating and +6 StaminaSteady Talasite+4 Resilience Rating and +6 StaminaMeta gems
Bracing Earthstorm Diamond+26 Healing +9 Spell Damage and 2% Reduced Threat
Chaotic Skyfire Diamond+12 Spell Critical & 3% Increased Critical DamageEnigmatic Skyfire Diamond+12 Critical Strike Rating & 5% Snare and Root ResistEternal Earthstorm Diamond+12 Defense Rating & +10% Shield Block ValueInsightful Earthstorm Diamond+12 Intellect & Chance to restore mana on spellcastMystical Skyfire DiamondChance to Increase Spell Cast SpeedPowerful Earthstorm Diamond+18 Stamina & 5% Stun ResistRelentless Earthstorm Diamond+12 Agility & 3% Increased Critical DamageSwift Skyfire Diamond+24 Attack Power and Minor Run Speed IncreaseSwift Starfire Diamond+12 Spell Damage and Minor Run Speed IncreaseSwift Windfire Diamond+20 Attack Power and Minor Run Speed IncreaseThe right gems for your spec
The best gems depend on your spec, phase, and which caps you still need (hit, etc.). Our per-spec Best in Slot pages list the recommended gems for each phase, based on what top-parsing players actually use:
See also our TBC enchants guide.