Necromancer

The Necromancer was the fifth and final class to be revealed for the release of Diablo 4. The reveal was part of Microsoft's showcase in June 2022.

The Necromancer has been a fan favourite since Diablo 2 and returned to Sanctuary in Diablo 3.

Necromancer Resources

The Necromancer has two resources. Essence and Corpses.

Essence

Essence is the primary resource that recharges slowly over time. Essence can also be obtained using basic skills allowing players to cast their skills more often.

Corpses

Corpses are literally the left over remains of fallen enemy. These remains can be used to summon minions or power other skill such as Corpse Explosion.

Diablo 4 Class
The Necromancer
Skills:	Necromancer Skills
Resources:	Essence / Corpses
Background
Origin:	Hawezar
Affiliation:	Cult of Rathma.

Necromancer Weapons

Necromancers are proficient with:

• Swords
• Daggers
• Wands
• Focuses
• Shields
• Scythes

Necromancer Skills and Talents

• View the Necromancer Skill Tree
• Skills Only
• Talents Only

Skills in Action

Darkness Skills

These skills use Shadow magic and tend to be damage over time (DOT). These skill can also have debuffs and crowd control elements.

Blood Skills

Blood skill are used to siphon life from the enemy.

The Army

The Necromancers summoning skills which includes skeletons and golem. Blizzard explains their approach to summoning in Diablo 4:

We went through a lot of iteration on how we want the experience of summoning the undead to feel for the player, and how much of their skill bar should be dedicated to this part of the class. To that end, we’ve come up with what we feel is the best possible version to ensure that players have as much customization as possible over not only their army itself, but also in which other skills they want to use to support their own unique playstyle.

If a player wants to have the maximum number of summoned units possible then they will only have to dedicate two buttons to their skill bar: one to raising Skeletons and the other for their Golem. The Raise Skeleton button is a one-stop shop to raise all the different Skeletons a player can summon, and the Golem button is used to command the Golem to use a unique effect that is dependent on the type of Golem that is currently active. With this setup, we’ve found a great balance between having the necessary tools for raising and commanding a Necromancer army while also leaving room for player expression in what additional skills they want to put on their bar.

Book of the Dead - Class Mechanic

The Book of the Dead is the Necromancer's unique class mechanic.

The book allows players to customise how their summoned Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and Golems will react while playing. There are three specialisations:

• Skirmishers - Increased damage but reduced health.
• Defenders - Bonus health
• Reapers - Slow attacks but AOE damage and increase damage with a "wind-up" attack.

As well as the above, each unit in the "army" can be customised although it's still a little vague how this will function. Blizzard states:

Each specialized unit in the army has unique upgrades available to them, giving you even more customization over how each unit in their army functions in their overall playstyle. These units and upgrades will have synergies with the various playstyles mentioned above, as well as add other potential ways to play.

A player can use the Book of the Dead to "sacrifice the ability to summon that unit" in exchange for a personal permanent buff.

• Book of the Dead
• 
• 

Items and Weapons

Necromancer Legendary Aspects

The Necromancer has a whole heap of Legendary Aspects that are tailored to his particular set of skills. As well as those he can also make use of the general aspects useful to all classes. Use the drop-down below to see the full details of the Necromancer Aspects.

Expand drop-down for all Necromancer Aspect Statistics.

Name Category Description Dungeon Zone Class Aspect of Bursting Bones Offensive When a segment of Bone Prison is destroyed or expires, it deals [] damage in an area around itself. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Path of the Blind (Map) Dry Steppes Necromancer Aspect of Decay Offensive Each time the Shadowblight Key Passive deals damage to enemies, it increases the next Shadowblight's damage within [10.0] seconds by [20-40%], stacking up to [5.0] times. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Empowering Reaper Offensive Critical Strikes from Sever have a [10-20%] chance to spawn a pool of Blight under the target that deals [20-60%] bonus damage. This effect can only happen once every [3.0] seconds. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Flooded Depths Scosglen Necromancer Aspect of Explosive Mist Utility Blood Mist triggers Corpse Explosion on surrounding Corpses. When Blood Mist detonates a Corpse, its Cooldown is reduced by [.2-.5] seconds. Helm, Chest, Gloves, Boots, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Exposed Flesh Resource Lucky Hit: Up to a [10.0%] chance to generate [30-50] Essence when hitting a Vulnerable enemy with your Bone Skills. Ring Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Frenzied Dead Offensive Each time one of your Summoning Minions damages an enemy, they gain [10-14%] Attack Speed for [3.0] seconds, up to [30-42%]. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Grasping Veins Offensive Gain [10-20%] increased Critical Strike Chance for [6.0] seconds when you cast Corpse Tendrils. You deal [30-60%] bonus Critical Strike Damage to enemies damaged by Corpse Tendrils. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Corrupted Grotto (Map) Kehjistan Necromancer Aspect of Hardened Bones Defensive While you have [7.0] or more Minions, your Minions gain [15-20%] increased Damage Reduction. Helm, Chest, Pants, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Hungry Blood Offensive When Blood Lance hits an enemy that is already lanced, it has a [10-20%] chance to fire a Blood Lance at a Nearby enemy. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Plunging Darkness Offensive Bone Prison spawns a pool of Blight that deals [50-100%] bonus damage over [6.0] seconds. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Rimescar Cavern (Map) Fractured Peaks Necromancer Aspect of Potent Blood Resource While at full Life, Blood Orbs grant [10-20] Essence. Ring Betrayer's Row (Map) Dry Steppes Necromancer Aspect of Rathma’s Chosen Offensive Whenever your Blood Skills Overpower you gain [20-50%] Attack Speed for [4.0] seconds. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Reanimation Offensive Your Skeletons gain increased damage while alive, up to [20-30%] after [10.0] seconds. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Aldurwood (Map) Scosglen Necromancer Aspect of Serration Offensive The Ossified Essence Key Passive also increases the Critical Strike Damage of your Bone Skills by [1.0%] per Essence above [50.0], up to [30-40%]. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Shielding Storm Defensive Each time that Bone Storm damages an enemy, gain a Barrier equal to [2-5%] of your Base Life for [10.0] seconds. Helm, Chest, Pants, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Swelling Curse Offensive Bone Spirit deals increased damage based on distance traveled, up to [15-25%]. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Hive (Map) Scosglen Necromancer Aspect of the Damned Offensive You deal [30-40%] increased Shadow damage to enemies afflicted by both Decrepify and Iron Maiden. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Uldur's Cave (Map) Kehjistan Necromancer Aspect of the Embalmer Defensive Consuming a Corpse has a [20-30%] chance to spawn a Blood Orb. Helm, Chest, Pants, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of the Void Utility Blight's defiled area, when spawned, Pulls in enemies around the affected area. Helm, Chest, Gloves, Boots, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Torment Resource Critical Strikes with Bone Skills increase your Essence Regeneration by [20-30%] for [4.0] seconds. Ring Black Asylum (Map) Fractured Peaks Necromancer Aspect of Ultimate Shadow Offensive Bone Storm and Blood Wave are also Darkness Skills, deal Shadow damage, and gain additional effects: Enemies damaged by Bone Storm take [] Shadow damage over [2.0] seconds. Blood Wave desecrates the ground it travels over, dealing [X] Shadow damage over [4.0] seconds Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Aspect of Untimely Death Offensive Each percent of your Maximum Life you Heal beyond [100.0%] grants you [0.5%] bonus Overpower damage on your next Overpowering attack, up to a [20-60%] bonus. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Blighted Aspect Offensive You deal [50-120%] increased damage for [6.0] seconds after the Shadowblight Key Passive damages enemies [10.0] times. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Akkhan's Grasp (Map) Hawezar Necromancer Blood Getter's Aspect Utility Your maximum number of Skeletal Warriors is increased by [2]. Helm, Chest, Gloves, Boots, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Blood Seeker's Aspect Offensive Blood Lance deals [15-25%] increased damage to its primary target per lanced enemy. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Mercy's Reach (Map) Fractured Peaks Necromancer Blood-bathed Aspect Offensive Blood Surge’s nova echoes again after a short delay, dealing [60-70%] less damage. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Hoarfrost Demise (Map) Fractured Peaks Necromancer Blood-soaked Aspect Offensive Blood Mist leaves a trail that lasts for [4.0] seconds and deals [] Shadow damage per second to enemies who stand in it. Your Movement Speed is no longer reduced while Blood Mist is active. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Cadaverous Aspect Offensive Consuming a Corpse increases the damage of your next Core Skill by [5-10%], up to [25-50%]. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Coldbringer's Aspect Utility Every [10.0] seconds, your Cold Skeletal Mages cast a blizzard that deals [] Cold damage and continuously Chills enemies for [48.0/6.0%] over [6.0] seconds. Helm, Chest, Gloves, Boots, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Fastblood Aspect Resource Blood Orbs reduce your Ultimate Cooldown by [0.5-1.0] seconds. Ring Iron Hold (Map) Hawezar Necromancer Flesh-Rending Aspect Resource After Decompose spawns a Corpse, gain [10-20] Essence. Ring Nostrava Deepwood (Map) Fractured Peaks Necromancer Hulking Aspect Resource Your Golem has a [1-4%] chance to reduce its active Cooldown by [2.0] seconds and a [0.5 - 2%] chance to spawn a Corpse each time it damages an enemy with its normal attack. Ring Sepulcher of the Forsworn (Map) Kehjistan Necromancer Osseous Gale Aspect Offensive Bone Storm consumes up to [8] Corpses to increase its duration by up to [1-2] seconds. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Requiem Aspect Resource You gain [3-5] Maximum Essence per active Minion. Ring Vault of the Foresaken (Map) Scosglen Necromancer Rotting Aspect Offensive Decompose can chain up to [2.0] additional targets. When Decompose spawns a Corpse, it has a [30-60%] chance to spawn a Corpse under all afflicted targets. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Sacrificial Aspect Offensive Your Sacrifice bonuses are increased by [15-25%]. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Ruins of Eridu (Map) Hawezar Necromancer Splintering Aspect Offensive Bone Spear's primary attack makes enemies hit beyond the first Vulnerable for [1.5-2.5] seconds. Bone Shards from Bone Spear deal [50-100%] bonus damage to Vulnerable enemies and pierce them. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Tidal Aspect Offensive Blood Wave fires two additional waves, each dealing [50-60%] less damage than the previous. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer Torturous Aspect Utility Enemies afflicted by your Iron Maiden have a [15-25%] chance to be Stunned for [1.0] second when they deal direct damage. Helm, Chest, Gloves, Boots, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Deserted Underpass (Map) Kehjistan Necromancer Unyielding Commander's Aspect Offensive While Army of the Dead is active, your Minions gain [70-100%] Attack Speed and take [90%] reduced damage. Gloves, Offhand, 1H Weapon, 2H Weapon (+100%), Ring, Amulet (+50%) Faceless Shrine (Map) Hawezar Necromancer Viscous Aspect Utility Your maximum number of Skeletal Mages is increased by [2]. Helm, Chest, Gloves, Boots, Shield, Amulet (+50%) Extraction Necromancer

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths	Weaknesses
Ideal class if you love summoning minions	Positioning is key while minions do their work in battle.

Necromancer History

As might be expected, the devotees of magic are a segregated lot. They are as leery of students of rival disciplines as a layperson is of all arcane practitioners. None, however, are so widely maligned and misunderstood as the Priests of Rathma.

As with most users of magic, the priests of the cult of Rathma hail from the far Eastern Jungles. They reside in a vast underground city located deep within those jungles. Their specific geographical locale is particularly secluded, however, preventing their assimilation into a formal mage clan. But it is this same isolation that has allowed them to pursue their distinct kind of arcane science.

For it is through the teachings of Rathma, as well as through years of research and physical experimentation, that these men have come to understand and hold sacred the delicate balance of life and death and are able to twist the line that borders the two. For although the minions of Hell have long possessed this power, among mortals the knowledge to reanimate and control the dead belongs to these priests alone. It is this practice that has led outsiders to refer to them as Necromancers. They truly comprehend the balance of all things,and understand and accept their place in what they refer to as the Great Cycle of Being.

Their culture has subsisted in the shadow of the great mage clans from the earliest days, and in most ways their practice reaches back to a time before magic was formalized into strict disciplines. Although their art is considered “dark”, and the people of the outside world shun the priests who practice these arts, these mysterious cultists never suffered the epidemic of corruption that plagued the ancient mage clans.

Pragmatists in the truest sense, they are above temptation. They see death merely as a natural part of life and do not seek to deny its arrival. Their singular knowledge of the unknown allows them to face death without fear. These ideals, coupled with an understanding of the natural balance between Order and Chaos, explain why they have not fallen prey to the influences of evil.

Their desire to uphold this balance has brought the Necromancers forth from the isolation of their remote, dank homeland to destroy Diablo and his brethren. The mere presence of these Prime Evils on the mortal realm upsets the natural symmetry of not only the mortal realm, but also the Great Cycle of Being itself. The followers of Rathma seek to right the balance by ridding the mortal realms of nonmortal intervention altogether. They resent any force that would treat humans as pawns in a cosmic game, though they apparently are willing to ally with the forces of Order, but only until such time as the balance is restored.