Horadric Cube
Item upgrade recipes
This page covers rune-plus-perfect-gem recipes that move a unique, rare, or set item's base from normal to exceptional or exceptional to elite; set items have been included since patch 2.4. The item keeps its mods, so only the base changes and defense or damage rises with requirements. Check the new requirements before upgrading, because they can increase sharply.
| Put in the cube | Result | Notes | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Normal Unique Weapon | Exceptional Version of Unique Weapon | This formula changes the base item type from the normal to exceptional version. This does NOT convert the item to the Exceptional Unique version of the Unique Item. Unique item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or runes and their mods will also remain. | 1.10 |
| 1 Tal Rune + 1 Shael Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Normal Unique Armor | Exceptional Version of Unique Armor | This formula changes the base item type from the normal to exceptional version. This does NOT convert the item to the Exceptional Unique version of the Unique Item. Unique item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or runes and their mods will also remain. Armor refers to any sort of armor, including helms, boots, belts, gloves and shields, not just Body Armor. | 1.10 |
| 1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Unique Weapon | Elite Version of Unique WeaponLadder / SP | Single-player and ladder characters only. This formula changes the base item type from the exceptional to elite version. This does NOT convert the item to the Elite Unique version of the Exceptional Unique Item. Unique item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or and their mods will also remain. | 1.10 |
| 1 Ko Rune + 1 Lem Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Exceptional Unique Armor | Elite Version of Unique ArmorLadder / SP | Single-player and ladder characters only. This formula changes the base item type from the exceptional to elite version. This does NOT convert the item to the Elite Unique version of the Exceptional Unique Item. Unique item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or and their mods will also remain. Armor refers to any sort of armor, including helms, boots, belts, gloves and shields, not just Body Armor. | 1.10 |
| 1 Ort Rune + 1 Amn Rune + 1 Perfect Sapphire + Normal Rare Weapon | Exceptional Rare Weapon | 1.10 | |
| 1 Ral Rune + 1 Thul Rune + 1 Perfect Amethyst + Normal Rare Armor | Exceptional Rare Armor | 1.10 | |
| 1 Fal Rune + 1 Um Rune + 1 Perfect Sapphire + Exceptional Rare Weapon | Elite Rare Weapon | 1.10 | |
| 1 Ko Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Amethyst + Exceptional Rare Armor | Elite Rare Armor | 1.10 | |
| 1 Ral Rune + 1 Sol Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Normal Set Weapon | Exceptional Version of Set Weapon | This formula changes the base item type from the normal to exceptional version. This does NOT convert the item to the Exceptional Set version of the Set Item. Set item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or runes and their mods will also remain. | 2.4 |
| 1 Tal Rune + 1 Shael Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Normal Set Armor | Exceptional Version of Set Armor | This formula changes the base item type from the normal to exceptional version. This does NOT convert the item to the Exceptional Set version of the Set Item. Set item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or runes and their mods will also remain. Armor refers to any sort of armor, including helms, boots, belts, gloves and shields, not just Body Armor. | 2.4 |
| 1 Lum Rune + 1 Pul Rune + 1 Perfect Emerald + Exceptional Set Weapon | Elite Version of Set Weapon | This formula changes the base item type from the exceptional to elite version. This does NOT convert the item to the Elite Set version of the Exceptional Set Item. Set item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or and their mods will also remain. | 2.4 |
| 1 Ko Rune + 1 Lem Rune + 1 Perfect Diamond + Exceptional Set Armor | Elite Version of Set Armor | This formula changes the base item type from the exceptional to elite version. This does NOT convert the item to the Elite Set version of the Exceptional Set Item. Set item bonuses remain the same; only the item it's based on is upgraded. This can be used to upgrade Ethereal Items also. They will continue to be Ethereal after they are upgraded. Also if the item is socketed, then jewels or and their mods will also remain. Armor refers to any sort of armor, including helms, boots, belts, gloves and shields, not just Body Armor. | 2.4 |
Recipe lines compiled from the Diablo Wiki (CC BY-SA 3.0) and checked against Blizzard's Arreat Summit; see data/SOURCES.md. Last verified patch 3.3, 2026-09-12.