Gems
Gems are the key and the main objective of the game, allowing you to advance upwards through the leagues. The higher the rating (seen below the gem), the more valuable it is, and the more it contributes to your gem score, and therefore help you beat the initial 10 leagues. In the four highest leagues, and in Guild Wars, your increase or decrease in total gem value (referred to as your "delta", which is used to describe change) is what determines your placement in the league.
Obtaining Gems
There are two ways to get gems: stealing from other players and harvesting the occasional gems from gem mines on the world map. Gems can be combined in Totems by performing the ritual, but this gives other players the opportunity to steal them.
When using Find A Match, use your break-in attempts wisely. Use the skip button to look for poorly-guarded totems with decent gems in them, or bases that can easily be crippled with potions. Don't be afraid to use your gold to find some raids!
A good method for merging decent gems is to get 1-2 gems from the gem mine (the best, of course) and then merge it with the cheapest gem that you have.
There also used to be an offer in which the player could purchase some gold-lined gems for real money.
A strategy for getting higher-value gems is to start the ritual with low-value gems and allow one of them to get stolen near the end of the ritual, and then to place a high-value gem in its place. By sacrificing a cheap gem, you are able to upgrade an expensive one without having to leave it exposed for very long. This method is called Bait-and-Switch.
Gem Colors
There are five different colors of gems in the game. They each have a distinctive shape that grows progressively intricate as they increase in value rating. Combining 3 gems of the same color (1 or 2 in the early dungeons) in a totem yields a Potion according to the color of those gems.
Blue
The Blue Gems are circular in shape, with four facets at Gem Class 1 (0-299), have four facets on their face. Combining Only Blue Gems will give you a Gang of Thieves potion.
Green
The Green Gem has a diamond shape with four facets at Class 1. Combining Only Green Gems will give you a Time Slow potion.
Purple
The Purple Gem is shaped as an upside-down triangle, and has three facets at Class 1. Combining Only Purple Gems will give you a Solver potion.
Red
The Red Gem is shaped like an upright triangle, with three facets at Class 1. Combining Only Red Gems will give you a Disable Trap potion.
Yellow
The Yellow Gems are square in shape, with four facets at Class 1. Combining Only Yellow Gems will give you a Double Gold potion.
Unique Gems
See Unique Gems for more info.
Gem Classes
Combining gems produces a gem with a value equal to the values of the gems used to make it added together (plus any bonuses from guilds or from the multiplicative totems from early in the game).
Class One: 0-299
Gems are simple shapes, with either 3 or 4 facets.
Class Two: 300-999
Gems now have indented centers in addition to the facets.
Class Three: 1000-2999
Gems now have both chipped corners and indented centers.
Class Four: 3000-9999
Gems have indented centers, chipped corners, and smooth, metallic gilding on the edges.
Class Five: 10,000-29,999
Gems have indented centers, gilded edges, and prongs extending inwards from the gilding.
Class Six: 30,000-99,999
Gems have indented centers, gilded edges and larger prongs on the corners. At this point, it can be noted that the indents and facets on the gem have changed shape and size considerably.
Class Seven: 100,000-299,999
The gems are now gilded with gold, and have corresponding shapes stamped into the prongs. The indented centers have the appearance of growing slightly deeper, and the indents appear to have grown smaller since the previous stage.
Class Eight: 300,000-999,999
The gems now have elaborate designs in the gilded edges, with the facets of previous stages being partly obscured with this stage's addition of another small gem chip inlaid with yet another gilded edge around the center of the gem.
Class Nine: 1,000,000-2,999,996
The gems are now gilded with dark purple crystal, and there are prongs and some triangular crystals on the edges. Each "class nine" gem appears to cover another gem with the same shape. These gems cannot be placed inside the totem, but can be sealed inside the Gem Vault for a price of Emeralds.
Class Ten: 2,999,997+
These are known as Perfect Gems and have a Unique Texture
These can only be made by combing 3 very high level gems (Around 999,999 range) and cannot be used in a totem ritual. These gems are for the peak players.
(WIP Gif of Perfect Ritual)