The Necromancer has long been a staple of the Diablo games, and if you want to wield death and decay as your chosen elements in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, this build guide will help you, whether you’re starting out or getting ready to tackle the endgame.
The Necromancer is a hero who revels in death because it’s the source of their power. Raise skeletal minions to fight for you, fashion bones and blood into weapons, and embrace the macabre to destroy the demonic forces that stand against you.
Beginner Leveling Build – Necromancer
As with the other classes, there are tons of options for the Necromancer to level up with. I typically go for “minion” builds, but their power seems a bit under-baked in Diablo IV, so I went back to my Diablo II standard: Bone Spear. Always a classic, that build sacrifices your minions to increase your solo damage capabilities, and I’ve listed it below as the “Endgame” build since it is very similar to what you’ll use once you begin Torment difficulties.
As for the minion build, a good starting point is this beginner build right here. Keep in mind you’ll need to be careful when engaging bosses, making sure to keep raising new minions (they will die often, even when buffed) and keep yourself healed.
Basic Skills
- Bone Splinters 1/5 – Enhanced
Core Skills
- Bone Spear 5/5 – Supernatural
- Unliving Energy 3/3
- Hewed Flesh 3/3
- Imperfectly Balanced 2/3
Corpse & Macabre Skills
- Corpse Explosion 5/5 – Plagued
- Grim Harvest 3/3
- Fueled By Death 3/3
- Skeletal Warrior Mastery 3/3
- Blood Mist 1/5 – Enhanced
Curse Skills
- None
- Iron Maiden (Optional)
Corpse & Macabre Skills (2nd)
- Serration 3/3
- Compound Fracture 3/3
- Evulsion 3/3
Ultimate Skills
Key Passive
Book Of The Dead
- Skeletal Warriors (Reaper)
- Skeletal Mages (Cold)
- Golems (Blood)
Beginner Endgame Build – Necromancer
The endgame build is very similar to the leveling build I ended up using, so this is absolutely another option for you if you want to avoid dealing with how underpowered minion builds currently are in Diablo IV.
Otherwise, use this as a launching point for your endgame activities, as it scales very well with better gear. The basic idea is to cast Corpse Tendrils to gather enemies up, then cast Iron Maiden on them and spend your Essence on Bone Spear. Use Bone Splinters to gain Essence back, use Soulrift when you are getting overwhelmed (or are facing Elites), and repeat as necessary.
Basic Skills
- Bone Splinters 1/5 – Enhanced
Core Skills
- Bone Spear 5/5 – Supernatural
- Unliving Energy 3/3
- Hewed Flesh ?/3
- Imperfectly Balanced ?/3
Corpse & Macabre Skills
- Blood Mist 1/5
- Corpse Explosion 1/5
- Grim Harvest 3/3
- Necrotic Fortitude 3/3
- Titan’s Fall 1/3
Curse Skills
- Death’s Embrace 3/3
- Iron Maiden 1/5 – Enhanced
- Amplify Damage 3/3
- Death’s Approach 3/3
- Precision Decay 3/3
Corpse & Macabre Skills (2nd)
- Corpse Tendrils 1/5 – Plagued
- Serration 1/3
- Compound Fracture 1/3
- Evulsion 1/3
Ultimate Skills
- Stand Alone 3/3
- Memento Mori 3/3
- Soulrift 5/5 – Prime
Key Passive
Book Of The Dead
- Skeletal Warriors (Skirmisher) – SACRIFICED
- Skeletal Mages (Cold) – SACRIFICED
- Golems (Bone) – SACRIFICED
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