Necromancer

Army of the Dead Necromancer Build

Bones of Rathma · Set build · Necromancer

  • Tier S in Season 40
  • 12,811 views
  • 3 variants

Bones of Rathma Army of the Dead for the Necromancer: tier S, Season 40, with gear, cube powers, gems and 3 variants.

As of Season 40 · by eRnstl · updated

Changes since Season 39

  • The fourth cube slot is gone (Season 39 only).

Active Skills

  1. L Siphon Blood Rune: Power Shift Poison
  2. R Command Skeletons Rune: Frenzy Physical
  3. 1 Bone Armor Rune: Dislocation Poison
  4. 2 Army of the Dead Rune: Death Valley Physical
  5. 3 Decrepify Rune: Borrowed Time
  6. 4 Revive Rune: Personal Army

Passive Skills

  • Rathma's Shield
  • Final Service
  • Spreading Malediction
  • Grisly Tribute

Equipment

9 set pieces · 4 legendary items

  • HelmRathma's Skull HelmSetDiamond
  • ShouldersRathma's SpikesSet
  • AmuletSquirt's NecklaceLegendaryZei's Stone of Vengeance
  • ChestRathma's Ribcage PlateSetTopazTopazTopaz
  • GlovesRathma's Macabre VambracesSet
  • BracersBonds of C'LenaLegendary
  • BeltCaptain Crimson's Silk GirdleSet
  • PantsCaptain Crimson's ThrustSetTopazTopaz
  • BootsRathma's Ossified SabatonsSet
  • Ring 1Krysbin's SentenceSanctifiedLegendaryBane of the Trapped
  • Ring 2Convention of ElementsLegendaryEsoteric Alteration
  • Main HandJesseth SkullscytheSetEmerald
  • Off HandJesseth SkullshieldSet

Kanai's Cube

  • WeaponFunerary PickLegendarySiphon Blood drains blood from 2 additional targets. Each target takes 300% increased damage from you unless there is only 1 target, then it gains double the increased damage. The bonus from Siphon Blood - Power Shift is now 20% per stack and benefits all skills.
  • ArmorFate's VowLegendaryArmy of the Dead deals an additional 250% damage and gains the effect of the Unconventional Warfare rune.
  • JewelryRing of Royal GrandeurLegendary

Gear Stats

  • Rathma's Skull Helm

    Helm

    Diamond
    • +626–750 Intelligence ancient +825–1,000
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • +626–750 Vitality ancient +825–1,000
    • Socket
  • Rathma's Spikes

    Shoulders

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
  • Rathma's Ribcage Plate

    Chest Armor

    Topaz Topaz Topaz
    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +559–595 Armor ancient +654–775
    • Socket
  • Rathma's Macabre Vambraces

    Gloves

    • +626–750 Intelligence ancient +825–1,000
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
  • Bonds of C'Lena

    Bracers

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    Army of the Dead deals 75–100% increased damage or double this bonus against an active target of Command Skeletons.
  • Captain Crimson's Silk Girdle

    Belt

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • +373–397 Armor ancient +436–516
    • +10–15% Life
  • Captain Crimson's Thrust

    Pants

    Topaz Topaz
    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +559–595 Armor ancient +654–775
    • Socket
  • Rathma's Ossified Sabatons

    Boots

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +373–397 Armor ancient +436–516
    • +91–100 Resistance to All Elements ancient +110–130
  • Squirt's Necklace

    Amulet

    Zei's Stone of Vengeance
    • +71–80% Extra Gold from Monsters
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 51–100%
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Socket
    While not taking damage, damage dealt is increased by up to 100% and damage taken is increased by up to 50%.
  • Krysbin's Sentence

    Ring 1

    Bane of the Trapped
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Attack Speed Increased by 5–7%
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Socket
    You deal 75–100% increased damage against slowed enemies or triple this bonus against enemies afflicted by any other type of control-impairing effect.
  • Convention of Elements

    Ring 2

    Esoteric Alteration
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    • Socket
    Gain 150–200% increased damage to a single element for 4 seconds. This non-static effect rotates through the elements available to your class in the following order: Arcane, Cold, Fire, Holy, Lightning, Physical, Poison.
  • Jesseth Skullscythe

    Main Hand

    Emerald
    • Increases Attack Speed by 5–7%
    • +(981–1,199)–(1,175–1,490) Damage ancient +(1,318–1,560)–(1,609–1,940)
    • +18–20 Maximum Essence
    • +6–10% Damage
    • Chance to Deal 16–24% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Socket
  • Jesseth Skullshield

    Off Hand

    • +626–750 Intelligence ancient +825–1,000
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • Increases damage against elites by 5–8%
    • +18–20 Maximum Essence
    • Reduces all resource costs by 5–8%.
Enchantress

Enchantress

Eirena

Equipment

  • HelmMempo of Twilight
  • ShouldersHoming Pads
  • Chest ArmorTal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
  • GlovesGloves of Worship
  • BeltThe Witching Hour
  • PantsCain's Habit
  • BootsIce Climbers
  • AmuletThe Flavor of Time
  • BracersNemesis Bracers
  • Ring 1Unity
  • Ring 2Oculus Ring
  • Main HandThunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
  • Off HandEmpty
  • Enchantress FocusEmpty

Skills

  1. Level 15
    • Betören
    • Temporaler Impuls (selected)
  2. Level 20
    • Verstärkung
    • Prophetische Harmonie (selected)
  3. Level 25
    • Energieschild (selected)
    • Erosion
  4. Level 30
    • Aufschub des Schicksals (selected)
    • Konzentrierter Geist

Gameplay

The configuration

This setup is stored as a complete build — gear, skills, runes and cube powers work together and are not assembled from individual statistics.

  • Set: Bones of Rathma
  • Rating: tier S across all classes
  • Kanai's Cube: Funerary Pick, Fate's Vow, Ring of Royal Grandeur
  • Skills: Siphon Blood (Power Shift), Command Skeletons (Frenzy), Bone Armor (Dislocation), Army of the Dead (Death Valley), Decrepify (Borrowed Time), Revive (Personal Army)
  • Passives: Rathma's Shield, Final Service, Spreading Malediction, Grisly Tribute
  • Variants available: GR push, Speed farming, Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts
Use the variant switcher above to move between the versions. What changes between them is spelled out below — read it before you rebuild.

What the set does

This build wears Bones of Rathma. These bonuses apply once the matching number of set pieces is equipped — the damage multiplier hangs on them, not on the individual stats of the pieces:

  • 2 pieces: Your permanent minions reduce the cooldown of Army of the Dead by 0.5 seconds each time they deal damage. Your skeletal warriors spawn faster, and your revived minions no longer expire.
  • 4 pieces: Your minions no longer take damage. You gain 1% damage reduction for 15 seconds each time one of your minions deal damage. Max 75 stacks.
  • 6 pieces: Each permanent active minion increases the damage of Army of the Dead by 1,750%, up to 31,500%.

How the variants differ

Measured against the push version. Anything not listed here stays the same:

  • Speed farming: swaps in skills Blood Rush (Potency).
  • Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts: swaps in skills Blood Rush (Potency), Frailty (Aura of Frailty), Army of the Dead (Dead Storm), Bone Armor (Harvest of Anguish); cube Messerschmidt's Reaver; gems Bane of the Powerful, Boon of the Hoarder.

Sockets and gems

The 3 legendary gems (Zei's Stone of Vengeance, Bane of the Trapped, Esoteric Alteration) belong in the jewellery slots (rings and amulet). Urshi can upgrade them after a Greater Rift whether they are socketed, in your inventory or in your stash.

The remaining 7 sockets are filled with regular gems: Topaz (5), Diamond (1) and Emerald (1).

On the season theme

In Season 40, Angelic Crucibles sanctify a legendary item: perfect Ancient-level stats plus one of three powers of your class at random. You can only wear one Sanctified item at a time. None of your class's three powers boosts a skill of this build directly. The Army of the Dead power works regardless of your skill bar. This build sanctifies Krysbin's Sentence, marked in the gear above. Since the power is rolled at random, a Sanctified item can be sanctified again with another Crucible. All powers are listed on the Season 40 page.

FAQ

How good is the Army of the Dead Necromancer build (Bones of Rathma) in Season 40?

Very good: it is rated tier S across all classes and is one of the strongest builds of the season. It ranks #1 of our 9 Necromancer builds this season.

Which skills does the Army of the Dead Necromancer build (Bones of Rathma) use?

The skill bar holds Siphon Blood, Command Skeletons, Bone Armor, Army of the Dead, Decrepify.

What goes into Kanai's Cube for the Army of the Dead Necromancer build (Bones of Rathma)?

Weapon: Funerary Pick, Armor: Fate's Vow, Jewelry: Ring of Royal Grandeur.

Which legendary gems does the Army of the Dead Necromancer build (Bones of Rathma) use?

The legendary gems are Zei's Stone of Vengeance, Bane of the Trapped, Esoteric Alteration.

Which variants of the Army of the Dead Necromancer build (Bones of Rathma) are there?

3 variants: GR push, Speed farming, Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts. Switch between them with the variant selector above; the differences are listed in the gameplay section.

Which follower suits the Army of the Dead Necromancer build (Bones of Rathma)?

Recommended follower: Enchantress, equipped with Mempo of Twilight, Gloves of Worship, Homing Pads, Cain's Habit.

Which stats matter for the Army of the Dead Necromancer build (Bones of Rathma)?

Prioritize these stats: Intelligence, Critical Hit Chance, Vitality, Critical Hit Damage, Armor, Area Damage.

What are the alternatives for the Necromancer?