# Support Skill Gems **Support Skill Gems**, more commonly referred to as support gems or just supports are an item class used to augment [[active skill gem]]s (or known as "skill gem"). They are socketed in the same way as [[active skill gem]]s, with the difference that they do not give access to another active skill. Instead, they modify any active skill gems in sockets linked to the support gem, while also typically increasing the [[mana]] cost of the skill. The modifications vary based on both the active skill being altered and the support gem, and certain skill gem - support gem combinations will leave the skill unmodified. For instance a [[Clarity]] gem linked with [[Added Fire Damage Support]] remains unchanged. Please note that gem tags do not determine the supportability. Multiple skill gems may be linked to a support gem, in which case it will modify all of the skills, and multiple support gems may be linked to a skill gem, in which case it will be modified by all of them. However, if two copies of a support gem are linked to the same skill, only the higher level gem will be used. If a [[body armour]] contains two copies of a skill gem linked to different sets of support gems, two separate versions of the skill will be available, each with their own modifications. This may be desirable if for instance one version has been modified for single target damage, while another has been modified for [[area of effect]] damage. Support Gems add an icon in the form of a coloured letter or symbol to any supported skills' icons on the [[Skill Bar]]. In terms of modifiers, support gems with # gem tag (e.g. fire/minion) DOES NOT benefit from mod such as +1 to Level of all # (e.g. Fire/Minion) Skill Gems, since support [skill] gems is not a [active] skill gem. Lastly, the "base" Support Skill Gems and [Awakened Support Skill Gems](Awakened_Support_Skill_Gems) are considered the same gem. If socketing Awakened and non-Awakened gems together, only the Awakened gem has effects. This also applies to supporting the active skill with two copies of the same Support Skill Gems. In that case, only the higher level Support Skill Gem has effects.