Should I socket Shael into my Bartucs Cutthroat/Natalyas Mark?
Socketing things into Claws is a rough proposition. Even if you socket an Ohm rune, or a 40% ED/+15 Max Dam jewel, into either of these claws, you’re not going to get as dramatic an increase in damage as you do on some other weapon types, since claws, even the Elite versions, have fairly low base damage. Bartuc’s Cutthroat is a Greater Talon, which has a base of 21 to 35 damage. An Ohm, with 50% ED, will only give you a boost of 10 or 11 minimum damage, and 17 Max damage. On a Natalya’s Mark (or any Scissors Suwayyah), the base damage is 40 to 51, so 50% ED will get you 20 Min damage and 25 Max damage gain. This isn’t a lot, but then again, every little bit helps. Probably the BEST thing to socket into either claw would be an extremely hard to find, very costly, 40% ED/+12 Min Damage jewel. Prismatic resistance jewels (Resist All) are also perhaps a good idea, as one means of compensating for losing resistances from a shield if you’re playing a Claw/Claw Assassin.
