Necromancer - Core Condition

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

Focused on: Condition damage

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

Difficulty:

TBD

This build was last updated on January 14, 2023 and is up to date for the March 19, 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.

Template Code

Power version

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Condition version

[&DQgnPTI1AhWbACgP5ABAAXYAdwFwAYEAlQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA=]

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Skill Bar

Dagger/Warhorn

Axe/Focus

Utility

• Condition version: use scepter and dagger. On the second set you can use staff, or warhorn, or focus.

Specializations

Condition version

• This build doesn't really make much use of any of the first 2 major traits of Curses. Insidious Disruption and Terror make it worth to cast Doom and Reaper's Mark for DPS, specially since the damage of Terror scales with condition damage.
• Parasitic Contagion - large loss of damage in exchange for a little healing. Not that great after the nerf with End of Dragons.
• Corrupter's Fervor - more defense. Great option when you won't be killing trash mobs to summon more Jagged Horrors.

Blood Magic Variant

In either version, you can replace Soul Reaping with Blood Magic for extra sustain.

• 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
Berserker

Shoulders
Berserker

Chest
Berserker

Hands
Berserker

Legs
Berserker

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

• You could use Rune of Superior Rune of the Eagle instead of Thief plus Sigil of Superior Sigil of Accuracy instead of Air, at a minor dps loss if flanking is impractical.

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

Warhorn
Viper

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.

Consumables

Food

• Any ascended food is superior to any other food you could use. Steak for power, flatbread for conditions. Budget versions of these foods exist and are acceptable.
• - farming
• , - power DPS
• , , - condition DPS

Utility

• (and variants) - farming
• , - power DPS
• - condition DPS

Usage

Power damage version

• Ghastly Claws is your highest damage skill. Spinal Shivers is also very good for damage, especially if the enemy has boons.
  • Ideally, open with Soul Grasp to inflict 5 Vulnerability and regain some life force, followed by Spinal Shivers and Ghastly Claws. 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.
• Use your axe-focus set for damage, and the dagger-warhorn for utility.
• 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.
• Unholy Feast deals low damage but can be used when fighting groups of enemies. If you are only fighting one enemy, only use Unholy Feast when the enemy is below 25% health, to trigger the extra explosion. Otherwise, axe auto attacks deal more damage.
• 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 - immobilize.