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:
- Necromancer Leveling Notes by Level.
- Necromancer Leveling Build by Skillpoint.
- IMPORTANT: D4 World Tier 1 or World Tier 2 for leveling?
- Other imporant notes to follow!
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.
- D4 General Leveling Guide and Process for EVERY CLASS
- Necromancer Class Basics / Overveiw Guide - Should I play Necromancer?
Good luck! Now get out there and level up your Necromancer!
Some other related reading:
- Wanna know more about classes? See: All classes overview - What class to play?
- Find out each and every way you can Customize your Build and Character in D4!
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.
| Level | Reminder | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raise Skeleton | 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. |
| 2 | Necro 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. |
| 5 | Book 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. |
| 8 | Skeletal Warriors - Defenders | You unlock a new type of Skeletal Warrior, Defenders. Useless for now... requires too many synergies to be more useful than the default. |
| 12 | Skeletal Warriors - Reapers | 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. |
| 15 | BotD: Skeleton Skeleton Mages | 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. |
| 15 | Skeletal Mages - Shadow | The default Skeleton Mage type, also unlocked at 15. The upgrade which gives an extra attack is probably best for now. |
| 18 | Skeletal Mages - Cold unlocked | You unlock a new type of Skeletal Mage, Cold. The essence generting passive is useful... Optional wether you want to switch or not. |
| 22 | Skeletal Mages - Bone unlocked | 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... |
| 25 | BotD: 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. |
| 28 | Golems - Blood unlocked | You unlock a new type of Golem, Blood. rough notes for now - will refine soon. |
| 32 | Golems - Iron unlocked | You unlock a new type of Golem, Iron. rough notes for now - will refine soon. |
| 33 | Hands 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.
| Skillpoint | Node | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bone Splinters | While there are other decent skills... this one is absurd. You'll see... |
| 2 | Enhaned Bone Splinters | Chance to fire 5 projectiles? They can all his the same target for no pentalty. Amazing. |
| 3 | Blood Surge | I choose Blood Surge over Sever in my original build since there's an amazing Aspect for it in Fractured Peaks, right outside Kyovashad! |
| 4 | Acolyte's Bone Splinters | Gives a very high vulnerability chance per projectile on Bone Splinter... well... That's just too much value to pass up. |
| 5 | Enhanced Blood Suge | |
| 6 | Paranormal Blood Surge | Guaranteed Overpowers are absurd. The other option is also ok if you have lots of Fortify synergies. |
| 7 | Skeletal Warrior Mastery | The active skills in this tree are kinda meh. This, however, is godly. Stronger skeleton warriors, please. |
| 8 | Skeletal Warrior Mastery | Level up Skeletal Warrior Master to Level 2. |
| 9 | Skeletal Warrior Mastery | Level up Skeletal Warrior Master to Level 3. |
| 10 | Decompose | 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. |
| 11 | Unliving Energy | Pretty worthless, but we want the connected node. |
| 12 | Imperfectly Balanced | Although the curse tree is unlocked, we don't want anything there yet (or in the foreseeable future).. This helps a bunch now. |
| 13 | Imperfectly Balanced | Level up Imperfectly Balanced to Level 2. |
| 14 | Imperfectly Balanced | Level up Imperfectly Balanced to Level 3. |
| 15 | Skeletal Mage Mastery | You might not have them unlocked yet, but you will very soon if ever. Improves your other minions. Nothing else to say. |
| 16 | Skeletal Mage Mastery | Level up Skeletal Mage Mastery to Level 2. |
| 17 | Skeletal Mage Mastery | You unlock Corpse & Macabre tree here, but this node is still better. Level up Skeletal Mage Mastery to Level 3. |
| 18 | Blood Surge | Might as well upgrade this now... |
| 19 | Blood Surge | Might as well upgrade this now... |
| 20 | Blood Surge | Might as well upgrade this now... |
| 21 | Blood Surge | Might as well upgrade this now... |
| 22 | Gruesome Mending | |
| 23 | Coalesced Blood | |
| 24 | Army of the Dead | Might as well take it. Great for replenishing your troops once upgraded. |
| 25 | Bonded in Essence | Minion healing! Need this. |
| 26 | Death's Defense | Minion Survivability! Need this too. |
| 27 | Death's Defense | Minion Survivability! Need this too. |
| 28 | Death's Defense | Minion Survivability! Need this too. |
| 29 | Prime Army of the Dead | More insurance for dying minions... |
| 30 | Supreme Army of the Dead | More insurance for dying minions... |
| 31 | Bonded in Essence | Minion healing! Need this. |
| 32 | Bonded in Essence | Minion healing! Need this. |
| 33 | Inspiring Leader | Attack speed is an amazing stat for minions. |
| 34 | Kalan's Edict > Rathma's Vigor | 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. |
| 35 | Inspiring Leader | Attack speed is an amazing stat for minions. |
| 36 | Inspiring Leader | Attack speed is an amazing stat for minions. |
| 37 | Hellbent Commander | Some minion damage is never bad. |
| 38 | Hellbent Commander | Some minion damage is never bad. |
| 39 | Hellbent Commander | Some minion damage is never bad. |
| 40 | Golem Mastery | Buff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs. |
| 41 | Golem Mastery | Buff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs. |
| 42 | Golem Mastery | Buff up the golem, he's gonna be a beast after all the general minion buffs. |
| 43 | Death's Embrace | Decent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range... |
| 44 | Death's Embrace | Decent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range... |
| 45 | Death's Embrace | Decent little two-way buff, since we're in Blood Surge Range... |
| 46 | Coalesced Blood | |
| 47 | Coalesced Blood | |
| 48 | Drain Vitality | |
| 49 | Drain Vitality | |
| 50 | Drain Vitality | |
| 51 | Necrotic Carapace USE REAPERS | Change your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses! |
| 52 | Necrotic Carapace USE REAPERS | Change your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses! |
| 53 | Necrotic Carapace USE REAPERS | Change your Skeletal Warriors into the Reapers that generate corpses! |
| 54 | Hewed Flesh | Can't complain with more corpses... |
| 55 | Hewed Flesh | Can't complain with more corpses... |
| 56 | Hewed Flesh | Can't complain with more corpses... |
| 57 | Tides of Blood | Can be anything, really... |
| 58 | Tides of Blood | Can be anything, really... |