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The Best Necromancer Build for Season 12 - Diablo 3 Patch 2.6.1

The Best Necromancer Build for Season 12 - Diablo 3 Patch 2.6.1

The best Necromancer build for Season 16 and Patch 2.6.4. Top Tier Necro for high GR pushing

Pestilence Corpse Lancer
Necromancer build
Diablo 3 Patch 2.6.4

Patch 2.6.4 redefined the entire Diablo 3 end-game tier lists. Currently, Necromancer appears to be overall the weakest of all the classes, where the currently Top Necro build is nearly ten Greater Rift's levels below other classes. Pestilence Set was one of the best in the previous Patch, and hence, received no buffs in 2.6.4 letting other classes surpass it. However, Pestilence Lancer is still a very enjoyable build to play and can reach Greater Rift level 110 and higher with proper gear.

To check the full list of our Best Diablo 3 builds visit: The Best Diablo 3 builds by Odealo

Pestilence Necromancer Set

Table of contents

  1. General information
  2. Recommended items
  3. Recommended skills

General information

The entire build is based on the Pestilence Master's Shroud set which provides the following bonuses:

  • Each corpse consumed by any skill fires a Corpse Lance at a nearby enemy (2/6)
  • Each enemy hit with a Bone Spear, Corpse Lance or Corpse Explosion reduces the Necromancer's damage taken by 2% for 15 seconds, stacking up to a maximum of 50% (4/6)
  • Each corpse consumed by any skill grants an Empowered Bone Spear charge that increases the damage of the next Bone Spear by 3300%. Corpse Lance and Corpse Explosion damage is increased by 1650% (6/6)

After the major redesign of Pestilence set which made it empower Corpse Lance and Corpse Explosion skills, Pestilence became the best Necromancer build for solo GR pushing. While it can be potentially powerful with all the skills, Corpse Lance gives the best results and the provides the highest DPS Output.

The mechanics of this build are rather simple. Use Corpse Lance to kill enemies; you can also consume corpses with Devour skill to regain some Life, which with the Pestilence set first power, will also cast a Corpse Lance. When facing Elites and Bosses pop Land of the Dead and Simulacrum for immense damage bonuses. Extra corpses can also be generated by Blood Rush with the Molting rune.  


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Equipment

Pestilence Mask
Head - Pestilence Mask
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Critical Hit Chance
4) Secondary res.
Socket: 
Pestilence Robe Chest - Pestilence Robe
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Increased Corpse Lance damage
4) Reduced damage from elites/Life%+Secondary res.
Sockets: 
Pestilence Incantations

Pants - Pestilence Incantations
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Armor
4) Secondary res.
Sockets: 

Pestilence Gloves Gloves - Pestilence Gloves
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Critical Hit Damage
3) Attack Speed
4) Area damage% / Vitality
5) Secondary res.
Pestilence Battle Boots Boots - Pestilence Battle Boots
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Armor
4) All elemental res.
Pestilence Defence

Pauldrons - Pestilence Defence
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Cooldown Reduction
4) Armor
5) Area Damage
6) Secondary res.

Nemesis Bracers Bracers - Nemesis Bracers
Stat priorities:
1) Cold damage%
2) Intelligence
3) Vitality
4) Critical Hit Chance
5) Secondary res.
Special power:
Shrines will spawn an enemy champion
Traveller's Pledge Amulet - Traveller's Pledge
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) Critical Hit Damage
3) Cold damage%
4) Intelligence
5) Attack Speed
(Part of the Endless Walk set)
Set bonuses:
  • While moving, all damage taken is reduced by up to 50%
  • While standing still, all damage dealt is increased by up to 100%
Compass Rose Ring - Compass Rose
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) Critical Hit Damage
3) Attack Speed
4) Area damage%
5) Intelligence
6) Vitality
(Part of the Endless Walk set)
Convention of Elements

Ring - Convention of Elements
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) Critical Hit Damage
3) Attack Speed
4) Area damage%
5) Intelligence
Special power:
Gain 150–200% increased damage to a single element for 4 seconds. This effect rotates through the elements available to your class in the following order: Arcane, Cold, Fire, Holy, Lightning, Physical, Poison

Dayntee's Binding Belt - Dayntee's Binding
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Life%
4) Armor
5) Secondary res.
Trag'Oul's Corroded Fang Weapon - Trag'Oul's Corroded Fang
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) High average damage
3) Increased max. Essence
4) Damage%
5) Intelligence
6) Attack speed%
Sockets: 
Special power
  • The Cursed Scythe rune for Grim Scythe now has a 100% chance to apply a curse and the Necromancer deals 150–200% increased damage to cursed enemies
Lost Time Off-hand - Lost Time
Stat priorities:
1) Cooldown Reduction
2) Increased Corpse Lance damage
3) High average damage
4) Intelligence
5) Vitality
6) Area Damage
Special power:
Cold skills reduce the movement speed of enemies by 30% and also, increase the Necromancer's movement speed by 8–10% for 5 seconds, stacking up to 5 times
Bonus Items for Season 16
(thanks to built-in Ring of Royal Grandeur power)
Leoric's Crown Head - Leoric's Crown
Stat priorities:
1) Socket
2) Critical Strike Chance
3) Intelligence
4) Vitality
Special power:
Increases the effect of any non-Legendary gem socketed into the helm by 75–100%
Kanai Cube powers
Reilena's Shadowhook Reilena's Shadowhook
Every point of Maximum Essence increases all damage done by 0.5%, and Bone Spikes generate 2–5 additional Essence for each enemy hit
Corpsewhisper Pauldrons Corpsewhisper Pauldrons
Corpse Lance damage is increased by 25–30% for 3 seconds when the Necromancer consumes a corpse, stacking up to 20 times
Krysbin's Sentence Krysbin's Sentence
Deal 75–100% increased damage against slowed enemies or triple this bonus against enemies afflicted by any other type of control-impairing effect
Legendary Gems
Bane of Trapped Bane of the Trapped
  • Increases damage done to enemies under the control-impairing effects by 15%
    Upgrade: +0.3% additional damage per Rank
  • Gain an aura that slows the movement speed of enemies within 15 yards by 30% (Requires Rank 25)
Zei's Stone of Vengeance Zei's Stone of Vengeance
  • Damage dealt to each enemy hit is increased by 4% for every 10 yards between you and the enemy hit. Maximum 20% increase at 50 yards. Upgrade: +0.08% additional damage for every 10 yards, and +0.40% maximum damage bonus (at full range) per Rank
  • 20% chance on hit to Stun the enemy hit for 1 second (Requires Rank 25)
Molten Wildebeest Gizzeard Molten Wildebeest Gizzard
  • Regenerates 10000 Life per Second. Upgrade: +1000 additional Life per Second
  • After not taking damage for 4 seconds, gain an absorb shield for 200% of your total Life per Second (Requires Rank 25)

You might pick Bane of the Powerful or Bane of the Stricken for lower tier rifts. For high GR pushing the extra sustainability provided by this gem might be necessary to survive.

Recommended skills

Active Skills

Corpse Lance
Corpse Lance
Targets an enemy to summon bone projectiles from nearby corpses that cause 1750% damage as Physical to the target
Brittle Touch
Increases the chance of critically hit enemies by 5% for 5 seconds each time they are hit with Corpse Lance. This effect stacks, but does not refresh the timer. Turns into Cold.

Your main DPS skill. Cold rune provides the highest DPS output and lowers the increased Critical Strike Chance stat's priority on your gear
Blood Rush Blood Rush
Sheds mortal flesh to reappear up to 50 yards away
Molting
Leaves a corpse at the caster's original location

The main necromancer's mobility skill. It is essential to pick the rune that adds the extra corpse
Decrepify Decrepify
A curse that reduces the enemy movement speed by 75% and reduces their damage by 30% for 30 seconds
Borrowed Time
You gain 1% cooldown reduction for every cursed enemy (by up to 20%)

You need to have at least one enemy affected by your curse to gain the Dayntee's binding special power buff. Also cursing enemies greatly lowers your cooldown (
Devour Devour
Consumes all corpses within 60 yards to restore 10 Essence per consumed corpse
Cannibalize
Each consumed corpse will also heal you for 3% of your maximum Life

Used to replenish missing Life. With the Pestilence set equipped you will also be casting Corpse Lances when consuming corpses using this ability
Land of the Dead Land of the Dead
Allows to freely cast all corpse skills for 10 seconds
Frozen Lands
Freeze all enemies for the duration

This skill grants the Necromancer insane damage burst allowing to spam Corpse Lances regardless of the number of corpses available. Land of the Dead effect synergies exceptionally well with Brittle Touch rune and Simulacrum ability. Use when facing Elites and Bosses, or when you have some enemies stacked
Simulacrum Simulacrum
Creates a Simulacrum made of blood that will duplicate all Secondary Skills cast by the Necromancer for 15 seconds
Reservoir
Increases the Maximum Essence by 100% for the duration

Use in combination with Land of the Dead for an extreme damage boost. The Reservoir rune will also multiply the effect of Reilena's Shadowhook scythe
Passive Skills
Blood is Power Blood is Power
After cumulatively losing 100% of maximum Life, all skill cooldowns are reduced by 20%. This effect cannot reduce  cooldown more than once for each time the skill is used
Final Service Final Service
Upon taking lethal damage, Necromancer doesn't die. Instead, he is rendered immune to all damage for 4 seconds. Also sacrifices all Player's minions, healing the Necromancer for 10% of maximum Life each, up to full Life
This effect cannot occur more than once every 60 seconds
Overwhelming Essence Overwhelming Essence

Increases the maximum Essence by 40

Stand Alone Stand Alone
Increases Armor by 100%, reduced by 10% for each summoned minion


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We hope you will enjoy this build as much as we did. And see you soon in the world of Sanctuary.

If you have any ideas on how we could improve this build, or if you believe that some other Necromancer build is better, feel free to share it with us. We will make sure to make a guide about it and credit the author

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Blizzard Entertainment.