Summary
- Utilize the Necromancer's AoE skills like Corpse Explosion and Blood Mist for maximum damage and survivability in Diablo 4.
- Consider using a shield as a Necromancer to improve damage reduction and bulk up your character's defense.
- Sacrifice underpowered minions for buffs with the Book of the Dead mechanic to optimize your Necromancer build in the endgame.
One of Diablo 4's most consistently strong classes is the Necromancer, a macabre magic user that relies on the dark arts and their minions for dealing death to foes across Sanctuary. Although the Necromancer's minions have gone through highs and lows between the Diablo 4 beta and its three post-launch seasons, the class itself remains one of the better picks for players starting their Diablo 4 journey. In order to get the best results when playing the Necromancer class, there are a few community-developed rules that players will want to follow as they venture through Diablo 4's unforgiving world.
The main draw of the Necromancer in Diablo 4 is the class' ability to summon minions like Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and Golems to support the player in battle. Aside from these minions, the Necromancer also has access to a variety of sinister skills that can drain the health of enemies while restoring the player's own, making the Necromancer a difficult class to kill. While the combination of these elements makes the Necromancer a solid pick on its own, following these unwritten rules will help the class reach its full potential by the time players reach Diablo 4's endgame.
Unwritten Rules for Success When Playing a Necromancer in Diablo 4
Utilize the Necromancer's Wide Pool of AoE Skills
One of the ways the Necromancer stands out from the rest of Diablo 4's classes is its great AoE skills that help the player deal with Sanctuary's demon hordes. Skills like Blight, Corpse Explosion, Decrepify, and Iron Maiden all allow the Necromancer to weaken enemies in a wide area, leaving them to be finished off by another of the Necromancer's skills or minions. As such, most players will want to ensure they have at least one AoE skill on their Necromancer build to maximize the amount of coverage their skills have against Diablo 4's monsters.
Corpse Explosion and Blood Mist are Must-Use Skills
A fantastic AoE skill for any Diablo 4 Necromancer build is Corpse Explosion since players will naturally be creating corpses as a Necromancer. Not only can these corpses be used to summon minions, but Corpse Explosion also allows them to be the source of significant damage with no cooldown. Additionally, Blood Mist is a must-use skill since it allows the Necromancer to become immune for a brief window and absorb incoming damage as health restored, which can be an incredibly helpful skill for escaping tough situations as a class with limited mobility options.
Don't Discount the Value of the Necromancer's Shield
The Necromancer is already a tough class to kill thanks to the support of its minions and the health that can be restored from skills like Blood Mist, but it is also the only class in Diablo 4 with the ability to wield a shield in the player's off-hand. While Necromancers can wield a two-handed weapon or one-handed weapon with a focus, it's worth considering a one-handed weapon with a shield for a build, since shields can improve the Necromancer's damage reduction and make them even more bulky. Lucky players might even be able to use the Necromancer's rare Lidless Wall unique shield.
Sacrificing Minions for their Buffs is Usually for the Best
Although the Necromancer's claim to fame is their ability to summon minions to fight alongside them, these minions have been pretty underpowered in Diablo 4 so far, making a full summoner build less than ideal. Luckily, Diablo 4 introduced the Book of the Dead mechanic that allows Necromancers to customize their minions, including sacrificing them entirely to gain different buffs. Given how underwhelming the Necromancer's minions generally are in Diablo 4, it's best to sacrifice them for an increased damage or resistance buff, especially as players approach the endgame.
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
- Franchise
- Diablo
- Number of Players
- 1-2 players
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- Metascore
- 88
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 players (console only)
