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D4 Necromancer Leveling Build & Guide (UPDATED L50+)

Looking to level up quickly and easily? Welcome to our Diablo 4 Necromancer Leveling Guide! The important most important chunks of info here are:

This is designed to be used TOGETHER WITH:
D4 General ALL CLASSES Leveling Guide.

Updated: Jun-16-23': Added links to Fresh Level 50 Guide (ALL CLASSES). (prev) Updated the build up to 58 (max) Skillpoints. Shifted from Sever into Blood Surge - some notes still rough

Planned updates: Better ways to present info, more tips like aspects etc...


Leveling Build by Skillpoint:

While there are other decent skills... this one is absurd. You'll see...
Chance to fire 5 projectiles? They can all his the same target for no pentalty. Amazing.
I choose Blood Surge over Sever in my original build since there's an amazing Aspect for it in Fractured Peaks, right outside Kyovashad!
Gives a very high vulnerability chance per projectile on Bone Splinter... well... That's just too much value to pass up.
Guaranteed Overpowers are absurd. The other option is also ok if you have lots of Fortify synergies.
The active skills in this tree are kinda meh. This, however, is godly. Stronger skeleton warriors, please.
Level up Skeletal Warrior Master to Level 2.
Level up Skeletal Warrior Master to Level 3.
YOUR EMERGENCY CORPSE GENERATION SKILL. USE AGAINST BOSSES. While this may not be necessary later on, it's good to have. Feel free to unspec this down the line, but it's smart to have this now.
Pretty worthless, but we want the connected node.
Although the curse tree is unlocked, we don't want anything there yet (or in the foreseeable future).. This helps a bunch now.
Level up Imperfectly Balanced to Level 2.
Level up Imperfectly Balanced to Level 3.
You might not have them unlocked yet, but you will very soon if ever. Improves your other minions. Nothing else to say.
Level up Skeletal Mage Mastery to Level 2.
You unlock Corpse & Macabre tree here, but this node is still better. Level up Skeletal Mage Mastery to Level 3.
Might as well upgrade this now...
Might as well upgrade this now...
Might as well upgrade this now...
Might as well upgrade this now...
Might as well take it. Great for replenishing your troops once upgraded.
Minion healing! Need this.
Minion Survivability! Need this too.
Minion Survivability! Need this too.
Minion Survivability! Need this too.
More insurance for dying minions...
More insurance for dying minions...
Minion healing! Need this.
Minion healing! Need this.
Attack speed is an amazing stat for minions.
While you can utilize either, Kalan's Edict is a little better IMO for bosses, elites, and other tough enemies. You overpower "enough" with your Blood skill.
Attack speed is an amazing stat for minions.
Attack speed is an amazing stat for minions.
Some minion damage is never bad.
Some minion damage is never bad.
Some minion damage is never bad.
Buff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs.
Buff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs.
Buff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs.
Decent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range...
Decent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range...
Decent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range...
Change your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses!
Change your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses!
Change your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses!
Can't complain with more corpses...
Can't complain with more corpses...
Can't complain with more corpses...
Can be anything, really...
Can be anything, really...

I will implement a visual limitation on these soon, maybe the previous and next 3 are only shown.

Reminders by level:

A skill that handles many of your minion summons. For now, that means Skeleton Warriors (Default cap of 4). If all other skeletons are summoned, you summon a skeletal priest that heals and buffs them.
So you won't see many "this skill vs that skill" notes here. But you will be seeing lots of unlock reminders, haha.
You unlocked a new type of Skeletal Warrior - Skirmishers. Use the upgrade which gives you an extra one, increasing the cap to 5! The crit one ain't bad either - it doesn't matter.
You unlock a new type of Skeletal Warrior, Defenders. Useless for now... requires too many synergies to be more useful than the default.
You will eventually switch to this subclass, using the 2nd pasive. Generating corpses is a real issue and goes well with our build later on. Switch now or later, doesn't really matter.
Skeleton Mages can only be summoned once you summon all your basic skeletons. It has a default cap of 3. They're summoned using the same button. As you can imagine, they're a ranged magical version of your skellies.
The default Skeleton Mage type, also unlocked at 15. The upgrade which gives an extra attack is probably best for now.
You unlock a new type of Skeletal Mage, Cold. The essence generting passive is useful... Optional wether you want to switch or not.
You unlock a new type of Skeletal Mage, Bone. The self-damage one is a HUGE upgrade to DPS, but you have to be mindful of their health (by summoning priests). Thankfully, you should be generating lots of corpses...
The proximity quest "Necromancer: Call of the Underworld" unlocks Golems, another minion type. Sadly, this one uses a skill slot. They're basically your huge tanky minion.
You unlock a new type of Golem, Blood. rough notes for now - will refine soon.
You unlock a new type of Golem, Iron. rough notes for now - will refine soon.
I simply can't update any more notes, haha. I'll add and refine very soon!

Since there are so few right now, I'll just make them all visible by default...


NEXT UPDATES

Yeah, I'm adding more segments to each leveling guides. Mostly build info, aspects to get per area, etc... It's gonna be worth it I promise!

Summary, Related Links, What Next?

I'll surely add more to this in time. But in its current form I hope our Diablo 4 Necromancer Leveling Builds and Guide helped you out!

Done with the leveling process (Hit level 50?) or campaign?
See our Fresh Level 50 Guide (All Classes) on how to transition into endgame.

Some important related links for D4 necromancer:

Good luck! Now get out there and level up your Necromancer!

Some other related reading:


I'm placing the "summary" up here above these "plain text dumps" as the below info isn't really important or new, simply another way to view the info already presented above.


Necromancer Important Notes by Level (plain text)

Here are the level by level notes presented plainly. Obviously this will expand over time as we can level to max. Note that these are for Necromancer specifically, and the general notes are found in the general guide.

LevelReminderNote
1Raise SkeletonA skill that handles many of your minion summons. For now, that means Skeleton Warriors (Default cap of 4). If all other skeletons are summoned, you summon a skeletal priest that heals and buffs them.
2Necro is super powerful...So you won't see many "this skill vs that skill" notes here. But you will be seeing lots of unlock reminders, haha.
5Book of the Dead Unlocked (Skirmishers)You unlocked a new type of Skeletal Warrior - Skirmishers. Use the upgrade which gives you an extra one, increasing the cap to 5! The crit one ain't bad either - it doesn't matter.
8Skeletal Warriors - DefendersYou unlock a new type of Skeletal Warrior, Defenders. Useless for now... requires too many synergies to be more useful than the default.
12Skeletal Warriors - ReapersYou will eventually switch to this subclass, using the 2nd pasive. Generating corpses is a real issue and goes well with our build later on. Switch now or later, doesn't really matter.
15BotD: Skeleton Skeleton MagesSkeleton Mages can only be summoned once you summon all your basic skeletons. It has a default cap of 3. They're summoned using the same button. As you can imagine, they're a ranged magical version of your skellies.
15Skeletal Mages - ShadowThe default Skeleton Mage type, also unlocked at 15. The upgrade which gives an extra attack is probably best for now.
18Skeletal Mages - Cold unlockedYou unlock a new type of Skeletal Mage, Cold. The essence generting passive is useful... Optional wether you want to switch or not.
22Skeletal Mages - Bone unlockedYou unlock a new type of Skeletal Mage, Bone. The self-damage one is a HUGE upgrade to DPS, but you have to be mindful of their health (by summoning priests). Thankfully, you should be generating lots of corpses...
25BotD: Golems (Needs a quest)The proximity quest "Necromancer: Call of the Underworld" unlocks Golems, another minion type. Sadly, this one uses a skill slot. They're basically your huge tanky minion.
28Golems - Blood unlockedYou unlock a new type of Golem, Blood. rough notes for now - will refine soon.
32Golems - Iron unlockedYou unlock a new type of Golem, Iron. rough notes for now - will refine soon.
33Hands tired...I simply can't update any more notes, haha. I'll add and refine very soon!

Necromancer Leveling Build (plain text)

Here's the leveling build presented plainly. As a side note I will probably add at least one variant per build, or maybe more once your reach key passive levels.

SkillpointNodeNote
1Bone SplintersWhile there are other decent skills... this one is absurd. You'll see...
2Enhaned Bone SplintersChance to fire 5 projectiles? They can all his the same target for no pentalty. Amazing.
3Blood SurgeI choose Blood Surge over Sever in my original build since there's an amazing Aspect for it in Fractured Peaks, right outside Kyovashad!
4Acolyte's Bone SplintersGives a very high vulnerability chance per projectile on Bone Splinter... well... That's just too much value to pass up.
5Enhanced Blood Suge
6Paranormal Blood SurgeGuaranteed Overpowers are absurd. The other option is also ok if you have lots of Fortify synergies.
7Skeletal Warrior MasteryThe active skills in this tree are kinda meh. This, however, is godly. Stronger skeleton warriors, please.
8Skeletal Warrior MasteryLevel up Skeletal Warrior Master to Level 2.
9Skeletal Warrior MasteryLevel up Skeletal Warrior Master to Level 3.
10DecomposeYOUR EMERGENCY CORPSE GENERATION SKILL. USE AGAINST BOSSES. While this may not be necessary later on, it's good to have. Feel free to unspec this down the line, but it's smart to have this now.
11Unliving EnergyPretty worthless, but we want the connected node.
12Imperfectly BalancedAlthough the curse tree is unlocked, we don't want anything there yet (or in the foreseeable future).. This helps a bunch now.
13Imperfectly BalancedLevel up Imperfectly Balanced to Level 2.
14Imperfectly BalancedLevel up Imperfectly Balanced to Level 3.
15Skeletal Mage MasteryYou might not have them unlocked yet, but you will very soon if ever. Improves your other minions. Nothing else to say.
16Skeletal Mage MasteryLevel up Skeletal Mage Mastery to Level 2.
17Skeletal Mage MasteryYou unlock Corpse & Macabre tree here, but this node is still better. Level up Skeletal Mage Mastery to Level 3.
18Blood SurgeMight as well upgrade this now...
19Blood SurgeMight as well upgrade this now...
20Blood SurgeMight as well upgrade this now...
21Blood SurgeMight as well upgrade this now...
22Gruesome Mending
23Coalesced Blood
24Army of the DeadMight as well take it. Great for replenishing your troops once upgraded.
25Bonded in EssenceMinion healing! Need this.
26Death's DefenseMinion Survivability! Need this too.
27Death's DefenseMinion Survivability! Need this too.
28Death's DefenseMinion Survivability! Need this too.
29Prime Army of the DeadMore insurance for dying minions...
30Supreme Army of the DeadMore insurance for dying minions...
31Bonded in EssenceMinion healing! Need this.
32Bonded in EssenceMinion healing! Need this.
33Inspiring LeaderAttack speed is an amazing stat for minions.
34Kalan's Edict > Rathma's VigorWhile you can utilize either, Kalan's Edict is a little better IMO for bosses, elites, and other tough enemies. You overpower "enough" with your Blood skill.
35Inspiring LeaderAttack speed is an amazing stat for minions.
36Inspiring LeaderAttack speed is an amazing stat for minions.
37Hellbent CommanderSome minion damage is never bad.
38Hellbent CommanderSome minion damage is never bad.
39Hellbent CommanderSome minion damage is never bad.
40Golem MasteryBuff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs.
41Golem MasteryBuff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs.
42Golem MasteryBuff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs.
43Death's EmbraceDecent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range...
44Death's EmbraceDecent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range...
45Death's EmbraceDecent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range...
46Coalesced Blood
47Coalesced Blood
48Drain Vitality
49Drain Vitality
50Drain Vitality
51Necrotic Carapace USE REAPERSChange your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses!
52Necrotic Carapace USE REAPERSChange your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses!
53Necrotic Carapace USE REAPERSChange your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses!
54Hewed FleshCan't complain with more corpses...
55Hewed FleshCan't complain with more corpses...
56Hewed FleshCan't complain with more corpses...
57Tides of BloodCan be anything, really...
58Tides of BloodCan be anything, really...