Top 5 Hardcore Necromancer Guide

Necromancer Top 5 Hardcore Guide

1. Trag'Oul's Avatar Set (Death Nova) Level 113+

The top Necromancer build goes to the Trag'Oul's Avatar Necromancer which is capable of clearing well above 100 Greater Rifts safely with a decent amount of paragons in Vitality for survival.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Trag'Oul's Avatar

(2) Set Bonus:

Blood Rush and Siphon Blood gain the effect of every rune and life skills no longer cost essence.

(4) Set Bonus:

While at full life your healing from skills increases your maximum life by up to 300%.

(6) Set Bonus:

Your life spending abilities deal 6,250% increased damage and your healing with skills is increased by 100%.

Weapon: Funerary Pick

Blood Siphon drains blood from two additional targets. Each target takes 300% increased damage which doubles if there is only one target. The damage bonus from Blood Siphon Power Shift is increased to 20% per stack and now affects all of your skills.

Phylactery: Blood Rose

Attacking with Blood Siphon has a 100% chance of casting a free Blood Nova. After losing 10% of your life the damage of Death Nova is increased by 50% for 60 seconds stacking up to 10 times.

Belt: Dayntee's Binding

Gain an additional 50% damage reduction when an enemy is afflicted by a curse.

Bracers: Ancient Parthan Defenders

Each stunned enemy within 15 yards increases your damage reduction by 12%.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: Krysbin's Sentence

Slowed enemies take 100% increased damage and the bonus is tripled for enemies under crowd control effects.

Amulet: Haunted Visions

Simulacrum now drains 1% health per second, last forever, and Simulacrums can now duplicate Grim Scythe.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% additional Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for increased life percent and toughness.

Powers

Weapon: Bloodtide Blade

Death Nova deals 400% increased damage for every enemy within 25 yards for up to 10 enemies.

Armor: Aquila Cuirass

While above 90% primary resource gain 50% damage reduction.

Ring/Amulet: Convention of Elements

Rotates through damage types and gives an occasional 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Life Percent

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Life Percent

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Life Regeneration

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Life Percent > Life Regeneration

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Physical Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > Life Regeneration

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Bones of Rathma Tips

1. Make sure to keep Bone Armor up at all times for survival.

2. Bane of the Trapped triggers the 100% damage increase on the Krysbin's Sentence ring and Bone Armor with the Dislocation rune and Ice Golem both trigger the 300% damage increase on Krysbin's Sentence.

3. You can switch the Final Service passive which gives a cheat death for Blood Is Power which gives 20% reduced cooldowns after losing a total of 100% life on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Trag'Oul's Avatar Set Necromancer is capable of 113+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

2. Bones of Rathma Set (Army of the Dead) Level 110+

The second place Necromancer build goes to the Bones of Rathma Army of the Dead Necromancer which is better at survival than Trag'Oul's but deals less damage.

Diablo 3 Rathmas Army of the Dead (3).pn

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Masquerade of the Burning Carnival

(2) Set Bonus:

Simulacrums no longer take damage, gain all runes, and their cooldown is refreshed when you die.

(4) Set Bonus:

While you have a Simulacrum your damage is reduced by 50% (yes damage, not damage taken) and your damage taken is split with your Simulacrums.

(6) Set Bonus:

Bone Spears cast by you deal 5,500% increased damage. Simulacrums gain triple this bonus.

Set: Captain Crimson's Trimmings

(2) Set Bonus:

Regenerates 6000 life per second and reduces cooldowns and resource costs by 20%.

(3) Set Bonus:

Damage dealt is increased by your percentage of cooldown reduction and damage taken is reduced by your percentage of resource cost reduction.

Weapon: Scythe of the Cycle

Your secondary skills deal 400% increased damage while Bone Armor is active and reduce the remaining duration of Bone Armor by 4 seconds.

Phylactery: Lost Time

Your cold skills reduce enemy movement speed by 30% and increase your speed by 10% stacking up to 5 times.

Bracers: Gelmindor's Marrow Guards

Bone Spears cast from Simulacrums deal 400% increased damage.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: Ring of Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Amulet: Haunted Visions

Simulacrum now drains 1% health per second, last forever, and Simulacrums can now duplicate Grim Scythe.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Topaz

Provides a toughness increase when using the Captain Crimson's Trimmings Set with the added offensive benefit of having resource cost reduction.

Powers

Weapon: Maltorius' Petrified Spike

Bone Spear now costs 40 Essence and deals 700% increased damage.

Armor: Dayntee's Bindings

Gain an additional 50% damage reduction when there is an enemy afflicted by any of your curses.

Ring/Amulet: Krysbin's Sentence

Slowed enemies take 100% increased damage and the bonus is tripled for enemies under crowd control effects.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Reduced Damage From Elites

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Critical Strike Damage > Vitality

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Resource Cost Reduction > Area Damage

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Armor > Vitality

Waist: Intellect > Armor > All Resistance > Vitality

Bracers: Intellect > Armor > Critical Strike Chance > Poison Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Movement Speed > Armor > % Damage to Bone Spear

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Masquerade of the Burning Carnival Tips

1. Make sure to keep Bone Armor up at all times for survival.

2. The Rigor Mortis passive provides the 100% damage increase from the Krysbin's Sentence ring and Bone Armor with the Dislocation rune provides the 300% damage increase on Krysbin's Sentence.

3. Bone Spear is considered a projectile skill and some enemies such as Malthael, Dune Dervishes, and Sand Dwellers can reflect projectiles back at you so be very cautious around these enemies on Hardcore or your character could die in a few short casts of a projectile skill.

4. The Unity ring which provides a 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Masquerade of the Burning Carnival Set Necromancer is capable of 108+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

4. Necromancer Legacy of Dreams (Grim Scythe & Skeletal Mage) Level 105+

The Legacy of Dreams Grim Scythe and Skeletal Mage Necromancer is the strongest Necromancer build defensively when you are not at very high paragons and takes the number four spot.

Legendary Gems

Legacy of Dreams

Legendaries increase damage and reduce damage taken without sets equipped. Double this effect for Ancients.

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Weapon: Trang'Oul's Corroded Fang

The Cursed Scythe rune for Grim Scythe now has a 100% chance to curse and deals 200% increased damage.

Phylactery: Leger's Disdain

Grim Scythe deals an extra 80% damage per Essence it restores.

Helm: Leoric's Crown

Doubles the effect of gems socketed in this item.

Chest: Aquila Cuirass

While above 90% primary resource gain 50% damage reduction.

Shoulder: Razeth's Volition

Skeletal Mage gains the effect of the Gift of Death and Singularity rune. You gain 50% damage reduction if your essence is not full.

Bracers: Ancient Parthan Defenders

Each stunned enemy within 15 yards increases your damage reduction by 12%.

Hands: Stone Gauntlets

Getting hit increases your armor by 50% stacking up to 5 times. Negative effects negated by Ice Climbers.

Legs: Depth Diggers

Primary skills that generate resources deal 100% increased damage.

Belt: Dayntee's Binding

Gain 50% damage reduction when there is an enemy effected by a curse.

Boots: Ice Climbers

Immune to freeze and immobilize effects.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: Convention of Elements

Rotates through damage types and gives a 200% damage increase for 4 seconds.

Amulet: Haunted Visions

Simulacrum now drains 1% health per second, last forever, and Simulacrums can now duplicate Grim Scythe.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Intellect increases All Resistance which makes Armor more valuable for Intellect characters. The Bottomless Potion of the Tower heals you and provides 20% increased Armor for a large toughness increase.

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for increased life percent and toughness.

Powers

Weapon: Nayr's Black Death

Each poison skill you use increases your poison damage by 100% for 15 seconds.

Armor: St. Archew's Gage

The first time you are damaged by an elite pack gain a shield for 150% of your health for 10 seconds.

Ring/Amulet: Krysbin's Sentence

Slowed enemies take 100% increased damage and the bonus is tripled for enemies under crowd control effects.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Life Per Second

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Grim Scythe

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Grim Scythe > Armor

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Life Per Hit > Critical Strike Chance

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Life Per Second > % Damage to Skeletal Mage

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Cooldown Reduction > Vitality

Legacy of Dreams Poison Scythe Tips

1. The Ice Climbers boots negate all of the negative effects on Stone Gauntlets.

2. The Rigor Mortis passive provides the 100% damage increase from the Krysbin's Sentence ring and Bone Armor with the Dislocation rune provides the 300% damage increase on Krysbin's Sentence.

3. The Unity ring which is defensive can be switched to the Circle of Nailuj's Evol ring which makes you cast two skeletal mages instead of one on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Legacy of Dreams Grim Scythe & Skeletal Mage Necromancer is capable of 105+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

5. Grace of Inarius Set (Grim Scythe & Skeletal Mage) Level 103+

This Grace of Inarius Set was buffed back in Season 30 offensively but has somewhat low toughness which makes it fifth for the Necromancer Hardcore rankings.

Legendary Gems

Bane of the Trapped

Increase damage against enemies under the effect of crowd controlling effects and gain a 30% slow aura.

Bane of the Powerful

Gain a 20% damage buff after killing an elite and 15% increased damage/reduced damage taken against elites.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Bones of Rathma

(2) Set Bonus:

Your permanent minions reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead each time they deal damage, your skeletal minions respawn faster, and your revived minions no longer expire.

(4) Set Bonus:

Your minions no longer take damage. You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage stacking up to 75 times.

(6) Set Bonus:

Each permanent active minion increases the damage of your Army of the Dead by 1750%, up to 31,500%.

Weapon: Jesseth Skullscythe

Set: Command Skeleton targets the next nearby enemy once the target has been killed and increases all damage by 400%.

Shield: Jesseth Skullshield

Set: Command Skeleton targets the next nearby enemy once the target has been killed and increases all damage by 400%.

Belt: Dayntee's Binding

Gain an additional 50% damage reduction when an enemy is afflicted by a curse.

Bracers: Bonds of C'Lena

Army of the Dead deals 100% increased damage and double that amount on the target of Command Skeleton.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: The Compass Rose

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Amulet: The Traveler's Pledge

Set: While standing still gain up to 100% increased damage and while moving gain up to 50% damage reduction.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for increased life percent and toughness.

Powers

Weapon: Trang'Oul's Corroded Fang

The Cursed Scythe rune for Grim Scythe now has a 100% chance to curse and deals 200% increased damage.

Armor: Fate's Vow

Army of the Dead deals 250% damage and gains the Unconventional Warfare rune.

Ring/Amulet: Krysbin's Sentence

Slowed enemies take 100% increased damage and the bonus is tripled for enemies under crowd control effects.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Armor

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > Life %

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance > Physical Damage %

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Movement Speed > Armor

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Bones of Rathma Tips

1. Make sure to keep Bone Armor up at all times for survival.

2. The Rigor Mortis passive triggers the 100% damage increase from the Krysbin's Sentence ring and Bone Armor with the Dislocation rune and Ice Golem trigger the 300% damage increase on Krysbin's Sentence.

3. This build is vulnerable when you first enter a new Greater Rift without the damage reduction from Bone Armor, Dayntee's Binding, and Revive minions so be extremely cautious when you enter a new zone.

4. The Unity ring which provides 50% damage reduction can be switched to a Convention of Elements which provides an occasional 200% damage increase on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Bones of Rathma Set Necromancer is capable of 110+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

3. Masquerade of the Burning Carnival with Captain Crimson's (Bone Spear) Level 108+

The Masquerade of the Burning Carnival set bonuses received a damage decrease in Season 30 which makes this build come in at third place for Hardcore Necromancers.

Diablo 3 Masquerade of the Burning Carnival Necromancer (2).png

Legendary Gems

Simplicity's Strength

Increase the damage of your primary skills and cause them to heal you for 4% of your maximum health.

Bane of the Stricken

Enemies hit by your attacks suffer a stacking damage taken increase. Damage against bosses increased by 25%.

Esoteric Alteration

Gain non-physical damage resistance and while below 50% health increase elemental resistances by 75%.

Equipment

Set: Grace of Inarius

(2) Set Bonus:

Bone Armor damage is increased by 1000%.

(4) Set Bonus:

Bone armor gains an additional 3% damage reduction per enemy hit.

(6) Set Bonus:

Bone Armor activates a swirling tornado damaging nearby enemies for 1000% weapon damage and increases the damage they take from the Necromancer by 19,000%.

Weapon: Trang'Oul's Corroded Fang

The Cursed Scythe rune for Grim Scythe now has a 100% chance to curse and deals 200% increased damage.

Phylactery: Leger's Disdain

Grim Scythe deals an extra 80% damage for each Essence it restores.

Belt: Dayntee's Binding

Gain an additional 50% damage reduction when an enemy is afflicted by a curse.

Bracer: Ancient Parthan Defenders

Each stunned enemy within 12 yards reduces damage taken by 12%.

Legs: Depth Diggers

Primary skills that generate resources deal 100% increased damage.

Ring: Unity

Splits damage with your follower when they are equipped with a Unity and a "follower cannot die" relic.

Ring 2: Ring of the Royal Grandeur

One less set item to complete sets.

Amulet: Haunted Visions

Simulacrum now drains 1% health per second, last forever, and Simulacrums can now duplicate Grim Scythe.

Potion

Bottomless Potion of the Tower

Helm Socket

Flawless Royal Amethyst

A Flawless Royal Amethyst is recommended for a higher life percent and additional toughness.

Powers

Weapon: Nayr's Black Death

Each poison skill you use increases your poison damage by 100% for 15 seconds.

Armor: Razeth's Volition

Skeletal Mage gains the effect of the Gift of Death and Singularity rune. In addition, you gain 50% damage reduction when your essence is not full.

Ring/Amulet: Wisdom of Kalan

Increases the maximum number of Bone Armor stacks by 5.

Item Stat Priority

Helm: Intellect > Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Body: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > Armor

Hands: Critical Strike Chance > Intellect > Critical Strike Damage > Vitality

Shoulders: Intellect > Vitality > Area Damage > Life Regeneration

Legs: Sockets > Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Grim Scythe

Waist: Intellect > Vitality > % Damage to Grim Scythe > Life Regeneration

Bracers: Intellect > Vitality > Life Per Hit > Critical Strike Chance

Feet: Intellect > Vitality > Armor > % Damage to Skeletal Mage

Amulet: Socket > Vitality > Critical Strike Damage > Critical Strike Chance

Rings: Socket > Intellect > Vitality > Critical Strike Chance

Grace of Inarius Tips

1. Make sure to keep Bone Armor up at all times for survival.

2. The Grace of Inarius set requires you to deal damage inside your Bone Armor tornado for its damage increase which means you should cast your Skeletal Mages inside the area of effect of your Bone Armor.

3. The Wisdom of Kalan amulet increases the defensive power of the Inarius four set bonus and should be used or the set can be too weak defensively for Hardcore.

4. You can switch the Unity ring which reduces your damage taken by 50% for Krysbin's Sentence which gives a large damage increase when enemies are slowed and/or stunned on the final push for rankings.

Note: The Grace of Inarius Set Necromancer is capable of 103+ without a full offensive setup and before augmenting ancient items.

Recommended Mercenary

Templar

Weapon: Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker

Slows enemies attacks and movement speed.

Templar Relic: Enchanting Favor

Follower cannot die.

Shield: Freeze of Deflection

Blocks have a chance of a 1.5 second Freeze.

Helm: Blind Faith

Chance of Blinding enemies on hit.

Shoulders: Homing Pads (Emanates)