Revel In The Horror Of Death With Diablo 4's Ultimate Necromancer

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 - SupernaturalUnliving Energy 3/3Hewed Flesh 3/3Imperfectly Balanced 2/3

Corpse & Macabre Skills

Corpse Explosion 5/5 - PlaguedGrim Harvest 3/3Fueled By Death 3/3Skeletal Warrior Mastery 3/3Blood Mist 1/5 - Enhanced

Curse Skills

NoneIron Maiden (Optional)

Corpse & Macabre Skills (2nd)

Serration 3/3Compound Fracture 3/3Evulsion 3/3

Ultimate Skills

None

Key Passive

Ossified Essence

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 - SupernaturalUnliving Energy 3/3Hewed Flesh ?/3Imperfectly Balanced ?/3

Corpse & Macabre Skills

Blood Mist 1/5Corpse Explosion 1/5Grim Harvest 3/3Necrotic Fortitude 3/3Titan’s Fall 1/3

Curse Skills

Death’s Embrace 3/3Iron Maiden 1/5 - EnhancedAmplify Damage 3/3Death’s Approach 3/3Precision Decay 3/3

Corpse & Macabre Skills (2nd)

Corpse Tendrils 1/5 - PlaguedSerration 1/3Compound Fracture 1/3Evulsion 1/3

Ultimate Skills

Stand Alone 3/3Memento Mori 3/3Soulrift 5/5 - Prime

Key Passive

Affliction

Book Of The Dead

Skeletal Warriors (Skirmisher) - SACRIFICEDSkeletal Mages (Cold) - SACRIFICEDGolems (Bone) - SACRIFICED

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