| Necromancer Skills | |
|---|---|
This skill tree houses the Necromancer's direct damage spells. These are not as powerful as those of the Sorceress, and must be paired with Curses and used strategically to kill effectively.
Poison
Poison damage in Diablo II is listed as damage over time, and the actual damage done per second can be virtually impossible to calculate with the damage stacking from skills, weapons, charms, etc. Poison damage does not stack with multiple attacks, but resets each time to the most recent poison-based attack. Poison damage can kill, but it's not especially useful for that in large games, or past normal difficulty. It is very useful to keep monsters from regenerating hit points, since they will not heal while poisoned.
Bone Spells
Bone spells (Teeth, Bone Spear, Bone Spirit) deal magical damage. There is no way for a player to raise resistance against magic, making these deceptively effective in PVP combat. Items that absorb magical damage do work against magical damage.
Teeth
Required Level: 1
Prerequisites: None
Synergies: Teeth becomes much more effective if a Necromancer specializes heavily in the related skills:
- Bone Wall: +15% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Spear: +15% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Prison: +15% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Spirit: +15% Magic Damage Per Level
Details: Each casting of this skill fires out multiple wriggling projectiles in a fan pattern. The targeting works just like the Amazon's Multishot; spreading wider when targeted nearer the Necromancer, spreading less when aimed further away.
- Only one of the individual teeth will hit each target, so this skill can not be used to do big damage at point blank range.
- Can be a very effective PVP skill if used wisely, since it's almost certain to hit the target at high levels.
- Necromancer's who specialize in this skill are called "Dentists," which is about the best variant name in the entire game.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 |
| Damage | 2-4 | 3-5 | 4-6 | 5-7 | 6-8 | 7-9 | 8-10 | 9-11 | 10-12 | 11-14 | 12-15 | 13-17 | 14-18 | 15-20 | 16-21 | 17-23 | 18-25 | 20-27 | 21-29 | 23-31 |
| # of Teeth | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
Bone Armor
Required Level: 1
Prerequisites: None
Synergies: Bone Armor is boosted by points in the following skills:
- Bone Wall: +15 Damage Absorbed Per Level
- Bone Prison: +15 Damage Absorbed Per Level
Details: An orbiting shield that absorbs a set amount of physical damage before vanishing.
- The number of whirling shields decreases as the spell absorbs damage. Reset it to full any time by recasting.
- Oblivion Knights commonly found in late Act Four cast this spell.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| Damage Shield | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100 | 110 | 120 | 130 | 140 | 150 | 160 | 170 | 180 | 190 | 200 | 210 |
Poison Dagger
Required Level: 6
Prerequisites: None
Synergies: This skill is boosted by points in the following skills:
- Poison Explosion: +20% Poison Damage Per Level
- Poison Nova: +20% Poison Damage Per Level
Details: Adds huge poison damage to melee attacks. Since poison damage attacks don't stack, and this one lasts a very long time, it's best used with minions to hide behind, or paired with curses such as Dim Vision or Terror.
- This skill must be used with a dagger-type weapon.
- Poison damage from charms and other equipment will stack with the skill damage.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost | 3 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 5.0 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.7 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 7.0 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.7 |
| Poison Damage | 7-15 | 13-23 | 20-32 | 30-43 | 40-56 | 53-70 | 67-85 | 82-103 | 104-126 | 129-153 | 155-181 | 185-212 | 216-245 | 250-281 | 286-319 | 325-359 | 374-410 | 426-464 | 481-521 | 540-581 |
| Over X sec. | 2 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 4 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.6 | 6 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 8 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 9.6 |
| Attack Rating Bonus % | 30 | 50 | 70 | 90 | 110 | 130 | 150 | 170 | 190 | 210 | 230 | 250 | 270 | 290 | 310 | 330 | 350 | 370 | 390 | 410 |
Corpse Explosion
Required Level: 6
Prerequisites: Teeth
Synergies: None.
Details: One of the messiest and most fun skills in the game, Corpse Explosion detonates fallen monster corpses in messy sprays of bone and blood, striking all nearby enemies for substantial fire and physical damage.
- The damage is based on the hit points the monster had when alive, and it scales up to remain effective in Nightmare and Hell. (Though not as effective as it was in earlier versions of the game; shortly after release this skill was insanely overpowered.)
- Corpse Explosion deals 50% fire and 50% physical damage. Pair it with Amplify Damage or Lower Resistances, depending on the monster's resistances. (Amplify Damage is usually the better choice.)
- This skill is most effective when numerous monsters are in range, since a domino effect can be achieved. The standard technique is to Iron Maiden a pack so they all take some damage, single one out for special attention from Bone Spirit/Spear, Curse everything with Amplify Damage once a body hits the floor, and start bombing.
- Corpses can only be used by one corpse skill, so a Necromancer can find himself competing over corpses with his own various summoning skills, Barbarians with Find Item, Druid's with their vine skills, Paladins using Redemption, etc.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Radius (yards) | 2.6 | 3 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 4 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 5 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 6 | 6.3 | 6.6 | 7 | 7.3 | 7.6 | 8 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 9 |
| 60-100% of Corpse Hit Points |
Bone Wall
Required Level: 12
Prerequisites:Bone Armor
Synergies: Bone Wall is boosted by points in the following skills:
- Bone Armor: +10% Life Per Level
- Bone Prison: +10% Life Per Level
Details: This skill calls a durable wall of bone up out of the ground. The wall serves as a barrier, and will draw monsters to attack it, killing themselves if they're cursed by Iron Maiden.
- Bone Wall stats scale up considerably in Nightmare and Hell.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost: 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Normal Hit Points | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 39 | 44 | 49 | 54 | 58 | 63 | 68 | 73 | 77 | 82 | 87 | 92 | 96 | 101 | 106 | 111 |
| Duration (seconds): 24 |
Poison Explosion
Required Level: 18
Prerequisites: Teeth, Corpse Explosion, Poison Dagger
Synergies: The damage is boosted by points in the following skills.
- Poison Dagger: +15% Poison Damage Per Level
- Poison Nova: +15% Poison Damage Per Level
Details: Like Corpse Explosion, but with poison damage. It's not much of an upgrade, and in fact has considerably lower killing power in large games, thanks to the damage not scaling up with hit points, as Corpse Explosion does.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost: 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Poison Damage | 28-86 | 43-112 | 60-140 | 80-172 | 103-206 | 129-244 | 158-284 | 189-327 | 242-392 | 301-462 | 366-539 | 436-620 | 512-708 | 594-801 | 682-901 | 775-1006 | 905-1146 | 1043-1295 | 1189-1454 | 1345-1620 |
| Over X sec. | 2 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 4 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 5.2 | 5.6 | 6 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 7.2 | 7.6 | 8 | 8.4 | 8.8 | 9.2 | 9.6 |
Bone Spear
Required Level: 18
Prerequisites: Teeth, Corpse Explosion
Synergies: Bone Spear receives substantial damage bonuses from points in various other skills.
- Teeth: +7% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Wall: +7% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Prison: +7% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Spirit: +7% Magic Damage Per Level
Details: Bone Spear fires a straight shot of magical damage bone that can pass through any number of targets. It does less damage to each target than Bone Spirit (until very high levels), but can hit multiple enemies, and is very effective against large mobs, or in narrow hallways, such as inside the Maggot Lair. HK's edit: (copied from bone spirit's info and pasted here for bone spear) Their damage is magical, and they can be made more effective by the use of the Lower Resistance (HK's edit: or decrepify, according to the wiki page on necro curses, it also lowers magical resistance) curse.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost | 7 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 8 | 8.2 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 9 | 9.2 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 10 | 10.2 | 10.5 | 10.7 | 11 | 11.2 | 11.5 | 11.7 |
| Damage | 17-25 | 25-34 | 34-42 | 42-51 | 51-59 | 59-68 | 68-77 | 77-85 | 86-95 | 96-104 | 105-114 | 115-124 | 125-133 | 134-143 | 144-153 | 154-162 | 166-176 | 179-190 | 192-204 | 205-218 |
Bone Prison
Required Level: 24
Prerequisites: Teeth, Bone Armor, Corpse Explosion, Bone Wall, Bone Spear
Synergies: Bone Prison is boosted by points in the following skills:
- Bone Armor: +8% Life Per Level
- Bone Wall: +8% Life Per Level
Details: Bone Prison functions like Bone Wall, but creates a small circle of bone posts, instead of a long, straight wall. This skill can be targeted at a monster, imprisoning it within the prison. Monsters will target the walls and beat them into splinters, but only if they can not get to the Necromancer or his minions without destroying the bone obstacle first.
- Trap monsters within the wall and use Iron Maiden to hurt them as they fight free.
- Bone Prison can capture other players in PVP.
- Diablo's similar spell has a much cooler graphic.
- The Bone Prison hit points scale up considerably in Nightmare and Hell Difficulty.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Normal Hit Points | 22 | 26 | 31 | 36 | 41 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 60 | 64 | 69 | 74 | 79 | 83 | 88 | 93 | 98 | 102 | 107 | 112 |
| Duration (seconds): 24 |
Poison Nova
Required Level: 30
Prerequisites: Poison Dagger, Teeth, Corpse Explosion, Poison Explosion
Synergies: Poison Nova's damage is boosted by points in the following skills:
- Poison Dagger: +10% Poison Damage Per Level
- Poison Explosion: +10% Poison Damage Per Level
Details: Poison Nova sends out an expanding circle of toxic bolts, poisoning everything within range, and virtually everything on the screen. The damage of this skill is inflicted over just two seconds, so it can be fairly powerful, but must be used repeatedly, and is not useful just to poison everything in sight to keep them from healing over the course of a long battle.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost: 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Poison Damage | 52-93 | 67-108 | 82-123 | 97-138 | 112-153 | 127-168 | 142-183 | 157-198 | 176-217 | 194-236 | 213-254 | 232-273 | 251-292 | 269-311 | 288-329 | 307-348 | 337-378 | 367-408 | 397-438 | 427-468 |
| Over 2 Seconds |
Bone Spirit
Required Level: 30
Prerequisites: Teeth, Corpse Explosion, Bone Spear
Synergies: The damage of each Bone Spirit is boosted by points in the following skills:
- Teeth: +6% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Wall: +6% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Spear: +6% Magic Damage Per Level
- Bone Prison: +6% Magic Damage Per Level
Details: Bone Spirits are slow-moving, homing missiles that will track targets for quite a distance off the screen. Their damage is magical, and they can be made more effective by the use of the Lower Resistance (HK's edit: or decrepify, according to the wiki page on necro curses, it also lowers magical resistance) curse.
- Bone Spirits will home relentlessly after the monster, player, or minion you target.
- If not targeted directly, Bone Spirits acquire the target that's nearest to where your cursor is when you click them.
- If a target dies before the Bone Spirit reaches it, the spell will not acquire another target, but will instead pass harmless off the screen. It's therefore best not to shoot more than you'll need to kill a given target.
- Since these fly slowly and Necromancers can cast very quickly, it's possible to have quite a few (more than a dozen) Bone Spirits tracking the same enemy.
- Bone Sprits are useful in PVP, but can fairly easily be outrun, so must be used strategically.
| Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mana Cost | 12 | 12.5 | 13 | 13.5 | 14 | 14.5 | 15 | 15.5 | 16 | 16.5 | 17 | 17.5 | 18 | 18.5 | 19 | 19.5 | 20 | 20.5 | 21 | 21.5 |
| Damage | 22-33 | 40-52 | 58-71 | 76-90 | 94-109 | 112-128 | 129-147 | 147-166 | 166-187 | 185-207 | 204-227 | 224-247 | 243-267 | 262-287 | 281-308 | 300-328 | 320-349 | 340-370 | 360-392 | 380-413 |