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.
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Table of contents
- General information
- Recommended items
- 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 |
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Head - Pestilence Mask
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Critical Hit Chance
4) Secondary res.
Socket:  |
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Chest - Pestilence Robe
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Increased Corpse Lance damage
4) Reduced damage from elites/Life%+Secondary res.
Sockets:  |
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Pants - Pestilence Incantations
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Armor
4) Secondary res.
Sockets:
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Gloves - Pestilence Gloves
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Critical Hit Damage
3) Attack Speed
4) Area damage% / Vitality
5) Secondary res. |
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Boots - Pestilence Battle Boots
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Armor
4) All elemental res. |
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Pauldrons - Pestilence Defence
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Cooldown Reduction
4) Armor
5) Area Damage
6) Secondary res.
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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 |
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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%
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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) |
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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
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Belt - Dayntee's Binding
Stat priorities:
1) Intelligence
2) Vitality
3) Life%
4) Armor
5) Secondary res. |
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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
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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) |
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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 |
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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 |
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Corpsewhisper Pauldrons
Corpse Lance damage is increased by 25–30% for 3 seconds when the Necromancer consumes a corpse, stacking up to 20 times |
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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 |
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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)
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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)
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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.
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Recommended skills
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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.
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