Necromancer - Core Condition

The community gave this build a rating, making it second-tier: Good

Focused on: Power damage and Condition damage

Designed for: Open World, Open World General and Open World Core

Difficulty:

Easy

This build was last updated on August 25, 2023 and is up to date for the October 8, 2024 patch.

Overview

A good open world starter Necromancer build for those who do not have access to expansions. This is a simple minion master build that features moderate damage and high defense.

There are two variants of this build: a power and a condition damage version.

• The power damage version is easier to gear and can be used while levelling.
• The condition damage version is much harder to gear and said gear cannot be obtained while levelling. It does, however, do more damage.

For players that wish to play without minions, the power build can use Well skills, while the condition build can use Corruption skills.

Template Code

Power version

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Condition version

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Skill Bar

Power version

Dagger/Warhorn

Axe/Focus

Utility

Condition version

Scepter/Dagger

Staff

Utility

Specializations

Power version

• If levelling up, unlock the specializations in this order: Spite, Death Magic, Soul Reaping.

Condition version

• If levelling up, unlock the specializations in this order: Curses, Death Magic, Soul Reaping.
• Curses is taken because Lingering Curse is a massive damage gain. Unfortunately, this build doesn't make much use of any of the other major traits, we take Insidious Disruption and Terror to make Fear from Doom and Reaper's Mark inflict damage, especially since the damage of Terror scales with condition damage.
• Corrupter's Fervor - more defense. Great option when you won't be killing trash mobs to summon more Jagged Horrors.
• Parasitic Contagion - large loss of damage in exchange for a little healing.

Blood Magic Variant

Blood Magic can be used in either build for extra sustain at the cost of damage. Replaces Soul Reaping, which lowers your shroud damage and life force generation.

• Transfusion - revive potential when playing in groups.

Equipment

Power version

Ascended gear and stat infusions are not required

This build uses gear similar to Build:Reaper_-_Power_DPS, making it ideal for general PVE.

Head
Assassin

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Assassin

Feet
Berserker

Backpiece
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Accessory
Berserker

Amulet
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Ring
Berserker

Dagger
Berserker

Warhorn
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Axe
Berserker

Focus
Berserker

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

• If you want to maximize your DPS, use Berserker stats leg armor instead of assassin, plus 6 precise agony infusions.
• For a simple budget set, full Berserker stats gear is acceptable.
• Rune of Superior Rune of the Eagle is an acceptable alternative to Rune of Superior Rune of the Scholar

Condition version

Ascended gear and stat infusions are not required

This build uses gear similar to Build:Scourge_-_Condi_Scourge, making it ideal for general PVE.

Head
Viper

Shoulders
Viper

Chest
Viper

Hands
Viper

Legs
Viper

Feet
Viper

Backpiece
Viper

Accessory
Viper

Accessory
Viper

Amulet
Viper

Ring
Viper

Ring
Viper

Scepter
Viper

Dagger
Viper

Sigil

Sigil

Staff
Viper

Sigil

Sigil

Rune
x6

• You could use Rune of Superior Rune of the Lich for less damage but more life (and life force) and one extra minion.
• If you need more defense you can use Trailblazer.

Usage

Power damage version

• Use your axe-focus set for damage, and the dagger-warhorn for utility.
• Your highest damage skills are Ghastly Claws, which deals extra damage for each stack of Vulnerability that the enemy has; Spinal Shivers, which deals extra damage if the enemy has boons; and Unholy Feast, which triggers an additional strike against enemies below 50% health.
  • Ideally, open with Soul Grasp to inflict 5 Vulnerability and regain some life force, followed by Spinal Shivers, Ghastly Claws and Unholy Feast. Then, enter shroud and use Tainted Shackles and Life Transfer, followed by shroud auto attacks Life Blast. This skill pierces enemies, so position yourself accordingly.
• Go in and out of shroud periodically to trigger Soul Barbs and Awaken the Pain. Though, ideally, you would only stay out of shroud to use your high damage skills and regain some life force, before going back into shroud, as Shroud has a stronger autoattack.
• Your biggest sourcess of life force are Ghastly Claws, Soul Grasp, and dagger auto attacks Necrotic Bite. Nearby deaths also provide life force, but finish off enemies outside of shroud, since you don't gain life force from nearby deaths while inside shroud.
• Use Locust Swarm for Swiftness. Its damage is extremely low but can be okayish when fighting a group of enemies in melee range, while providing a little life force.
• You have a lot of boon removal. Prioritise using Spinal Shivers for that, due to its high damage, but know that you also have Unholy Feast and Dark Pact.
• If you don't need crowd control, you can use Haunt and Rigor Mortis for more damage.

Condition damage version

• Ideally, open up with Haunt and Grasping Dead to quickly inflict 5 conditions and maximize the Torment application of Devouring Darkness/Feast of Corruption.
• Your damage skills are Grasping Dead, Devouring Darkness/Feast of Corruption, Dhuumfire, Dark Path, and Tainted Shackles.
• Your sources of life force are nearby deaths, Devouring Darkness/Feast of Corruption, Haunt, and Locust Swarm. Finish off enemies outside of shroud, since you don't gain life force from nearby deaths while inside shroud.
• You can swap to staff and cast Mark of Blood and Chillblains before entering shroud. But don't stay on staff for long because it has very low damage over time. Only if you're severly starved for life force you can consider staying in staff for some seconds using Necrotic Grasp.

Defense

• Against the majority of enemies, your minions should be able to draw enemy aggro and tank for you. Remember that you can always sidestep and walk or dodge out of enemy attacks. Not taking damage is always the better option because it lets you conserve life force.
• You have a lot of toughness thanks to many traits in the Death Magic specialization.
• You will be almost inmune to conditions thanks to Necromantic Corruption. Beyond the Veil also helps. You can also use Deathly Swarm if using dagger off-hand.
• If you need more defense you can use Corrupter's Fervor.
• Haunt can be used to blind enemies.
• You take 33% reduced damage inside Death Shroud, consider it as a second health bar.

Sustain

• Summon Blood Fiend gives you a little sustain. The power version can also use Life Siphon. While the condition version can use Parasitic Contagion.
• If you desperately need more sustain, you can replace Soul Reaping with the Blood Magic specialization to lower your damage but gain some sustain through Vampiric, Vampiric Presence, and Transfusion. This is slightly worse for the condition damage version as you lose Dhuumfire.

Crowd Control

• Wail of Doom - fear.
• Charge (necromancer) - knockdown.
• Doom - fear.
• Dark Path soff cc through chill.
• Haunt - soft CC through chill, weakness, blind.
• Rigor Mortis - soft CC through immobilize.