High‑Level Gems Early: How to Get Level 19–20 Uncut Skill Gems

To get level 19–20 Uncut Skill Gems early in Path of Exile 2, the main strategy revolves around farming the highest-level content where the item level of loot is high enough to yield these gems:

• Farm Tier 16 Maps with Corrupted and Irradiated Modifiers:
  These map modifiers boost monster and loot level to 82 or higher, which is necessary for level 20 Uncut Skill Gems to drop. Running corrupted & irradiated Tier 16 maps ensures every monster and boss drops loot with the minimum item level required to have a chance at level 19 and 20 gems.

• Focus on Killing Rares and Bosses:
  Level 19–20 Uncut Gems mostly drop from rare monsters and bosses. Increasing pack size and monster rarity on maps adds more opportunities for these drops.

• Progress Character Level to 90:
  You can only equip level 20 gems once you reach character level 90, making this a natural endgame milestone.

• Be Prepared for Low Drop Rates:
  Even in ideal conditions, the chance for any single Uncut Skill Gem to be level 20 is relatively low (~1–5% depending on item level). Expect to farm many maps for a tail of luck.

• Optional Party Play:
  Grouping can boost overall loot quantity and rare/boss kills, increasing your chance of higher-level gem drops.

• Trading as a Shortcut:
  Because of their rarity, many players buy level 19–20 Uncut Skill Gems from others in the trade market instead of relying exclusively on drops.

The fastest and most reliable way to acquire early high-level Uncut Skill Gems is by running modified Tier 16 maps (especially corrupted and irradiated to boost monster and item levels), targeting rares and bosses, and either farming extensively or trading with other players. This approach aligns with peak endgame activities and the gear progression curve, making these gems a key investment soon after reaching high character levels.