Upping items socketed with uber ancients jewels

I have a Wizendraw that I socketed with a Protector's Frost jewel, which has a min level requirement of 75. Since double upping Wizendraw to an elite Crusader Bow increases the level requirement from 26 to 69 (which is still less than 75), I figured I might as well just up it to elite. However, I was surprised to see that after upping it twice, the level requirement is now 87.

I wouldn't expect that dropping a LV75req jewel in a LV69req bow would increase the level requirement, so did the level requirement increase because I upped the bow after putting the jewel in it?

Wizendraw ( Crusader Bow base): Required Level 63

Protector's Frost Jewel: Required Level 75

The Math: max(63, 75) + 12 = 87

I have no idea why the difference between 63 and 75 (12) is added to make 87 lvl requirement.


https://www.reddit.com/r/Diablo_2_Resur ... d_lvl_req/

D2Veteran wrote: 2 hours ago

Spider-Dan wrote: 3 hours ago

so did the level requirement increase because I upped the bow after putting the jewel in it?

The jewel when socketed sets the base weapon level requirement to 75, if you upgrade the weapon to exceptional, you incur a +5 penalty, and then +7 for elite. 75 + 12 = 87

The order doesn't matter, the upgraded weapon would end up having a level requirement of 87 either way because the game performs a recalculation when socketing.

I understood this "There is a +5 modifier to the base level requirement when transmuting a normal rare/unique to the exceptional item type. There is a +7 modifier when a rare or unique is upgraded from exceptional to elite." and the math, what I don't understand is the reasoning. A Crusader Bow has a user requirement of 57, the elite unique version an Eaglehorn has a user requirement of 69. A Windforce which is the top unique bow in the game has a user requirement of only 73, and though I understand the math and accept the result, I still have no idea why the difference is added, but then why and Blizzard rarely makes sense.