Does Item Level matter on equipment?

[Auditore]

When looking at gear on PoE trade, I notice that on every piece of equipment has different item levels. For example when looking at a unique axe that has a required level of 65 to equip, the item levels vary from 65 to 85. I was wondering if this meant anything special and if when trying to trade for gear to upgrade your build, you should always aim for a higher item level?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[Morkonan]

Item level matters a great deal due to the socket number and affixes it can have.

https://pathofexile.fandom.com/wiki/Item_level

"Level Required" only matters for equipping it and is mostly just the level at which it can be dropped and the item base-type.

To get the best high Tier affixes, you need very high item level items. (85, IIRC, for most? Some have very desirable affixes Tiers at lower ilevels.)

[The_Driver]

It matters even on uniques for certain modifiers they can get through other means.
Corruption modifiers for example are limited by itemlevel, so it can be required to get a minimum itemlevel or benefitial to get a certain low range of itemlevels.

I suspect from data on poedb that Cruicible modifiers are also itemlevel restricted like that.

[Shoobflops]

None of it really matters until level 70 anyway.

[simon]

Originally posted by Flopmewf the Indicated:

None of it really matters until level 70 anyway.

Not entirely true. Some modifiers which are desirable are low level, like renewal and rotten claws (cluster jewel for minion builds) which are item level 50 and above. If you want them then if you stay below item level 68 you cant hit anything else because the next passive skills dont start until item level 68.

[სულიკო]

Originally posted by სულიკო:

item level determines what modifiers you can get so yes it does