Necromancer

Death Nova Necromancer Build (No Set)

No set · Necromancer

  • Tier S in Season 40
  • 3,247 views
  • 3 variants

Legacy gem build Death Nova 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 Death Nova Rune: Blood Nova Physical
  3. 1 Bone Armor Rune: Dislocation Poison
  4. 2 Frailty Rune: Aura of Frailty
  5. 3 Blood Rush Rune: Transfusion
  6. 4 Simulacrum Rune: Blood and Bone

Passive Skills

  • Spreading Malediction
  • Stand Alone
  • Swift Harvesting
  • Final Service

Equipment

1 set piece · 12 legendary items

  • HelmLeoric's CrownLegendaryAmethyst
  • ShouldersMantle of ChannelingLegendary
  • AmuletHaunted VisionsLegendaryBane of the Stricken
  • ChestAquila CuirassLegendaryTopazTopazTopaz
  • GlovesStone GauntletsLegendary
  • BracersAncient Parthan DefendersLegendary
  • BeltThe Witching HourLegendary
  • PantsBlackthorne's Jousting MailSetTopazTopaz
  • BootsSteuart's GreavesLegendary
  • Ring 1Krysbin's SentenceLegendaryBane of the Trapped
  • Ring 2UnityLegendaryLegacy of Dreams
  • Main HandFunerary PickSanctifiedLegendaryEmerald
  • Off HandIron RoseLegendary

Kanai's Cube

  • WeaponBloodtide BladeLegendaryDeath Nova deals 400% increased damage for every enemy within 25 yards, up to 10 enemies.
  • ArmorDayntee's BindingLegendaryYou gain an additional 50% damage reduction when there is an enemy afflicted by any of your curses.
  • JewelryConvention of ElementsLegendaryGain 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.

Gear Stats

  • Leoric's Crown

    Helm

    Amethyst
    • +626–750 Intelligence ancient +825–1,000
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Increases Death Nova Damage by 10–15%
    • Socket
  • Mantle of Channeling

    Shoulders

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +10–15% Life
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    While channeling Siphon Blood, Whirlwind, Rapid Fire, Strafe, Tempest Rush, Firebats, Arcane Torrent, Disintegrate, or Ray of Frost, you deal 20–25% increased damage and take 25% reduced damage.
  • Aquila Cuirass

    Chest Armor

    Topaz Topaz Topaz
    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +559–595 Armor ancient +654–775
    • Socket
    While above 90–95% primary resource, all damage taken is reduced by 50%.
  • Stone Gauntlets

    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.
    Getting hit increases your armor by 50%, but reduces your movement speed by 15% and attack speed by 20%. This effect stacks up to 5 times.
  • Ancient Parthan Defenders

    Bracers

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    Each stunned enemy within 25 yards reduces your damage taken by 9–12%.
  • The Witching Hour

    Belt

    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50% ancient 51–100%
    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +10–15% Life
  • Blackthorne's Jousting Mail

    Pants

    Topaz Topaz
    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +559–595 Armor ancient +654–775
    • Socket
  • Steuart's Greaves

    Boots

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • Increases Death Nova Damage by 10–15%
    • +373–397 Armor ancient +436–516
    You gain 75–100% increased movement speed for 10 seconds after using Blood Rush.
  • Haunted Visions

    Amulet

    Bane of the Stricken
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 51–100%
    • +71–80% Extra Gold from Monsters
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Socket
    Simulacrum now drains 1% of your maximum life every second and lasts forever. They can now duplicate Grim Scythe and can no longer cast Skeletal Mage.
  • Krysbin's Sentence

    Ring 1

    Bane of the Trapped
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Attack Speed Increased by 5–7%
    • 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.
  • Unity

    Ring 2

    Legacy of Dreams
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Damage against Elites
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Socket
    All damage taken is split between wearers of this item.
  • Funerary Pick

    Main Hand

    Emerald
    • +626–750 Intelligence ancient +825–1,000
    • +(981–1,199)–(1,175–1,490) Damage ancient +(1,318–1,560)–(1,609–1,940)
    • +6–10% Damage
    • Chance to Deal 16–24% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Socket
    Siphon Blood drains blood from 2 additional targets. Each target takes 250–300% 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.
  • Iron Rose

    Off Hand

    • +626–750 Intelligence ancient +825–1,000
    • Physical Damage (Weapon)
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 8–10%
    • Increases Death Nova Damage by 10–15%
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    Attacking with Siphon Blood has a 100% chance to cast a free Blood Nova. After cumulatively losing 10% of your maximum Life, your Death Nova deals 40–50% increased damage for 60 seconds. This effect stacks up to 10 times.
Templar

Templar

Kormac

Equipment

  • HelmLeoric's Crown
  • ShouldersHoming Pads
  • Chest ArmorTal Rasha's Relentless Pursuit
  • GlovesGloves of Worship
  • BeltVigilante Belt
  • PantsCaptain Crimson's Thrust
  • BootsCaptain Crimson's Waders
  • AmuletThe Flavor of Time
  • BracersNemesis Bracers
  • Ring 1Unity
  • Ring 2Oculus Ring
  • Main HandThunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker
  • Off HandWall of Man
  • Templar RelicEmpty

Skills

  1. Level 5
    • Heilen (selected)
    • Einschreiten
  2. Level 10
    • Treue (selected)
    • Einschüchtern
  3. Level 15
    • Ansturm
    • Offensive (selected)
  4. Level 20
    • Inspirieren
    • Wächter (selected)

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: no class set — Legacy gem build
  • Rating: tier S across all classes
  • Kanai's Cube: Bloodtide Blade, Dayntee's Binding, Convention of Elements
  • Skills: Siphon Blood (Power Shift), Death Nova (Blood Nova), Bone Armor (Dislocation), Frailty (Aura of Frailty), Blood Rush (Transfusion), Simulacrum (Blood and Bone)
  • Passives: Spreading Malediction, Stand Alone, Swift Harvesting, Final Service
  • 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.

How the variants differ

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

  • Speed farming: swaps in skills Devour (Satiated), Blood Rush (Metabolism); cube St. Archew's Gage, Squirt's Necklace; gems Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard.
  • Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts: swaps in skills Bone Armor (Harvest of Anguish), Devour (Satiated), Blood Rush (Metabolism); cube Krelm's Buff Belt, Krysbin's Sentence; gems Boon of the Hoarder.

Sockets and gems

The 3 legendary gems (Bane of the Stricken, Bane of the Trapped, Legacy of Dreams) 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), Amethyst (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. For this build the Death Nova power applies, because it uses that skill. The Army of the Dead power works regardless of your skill bar. Which item is sanctified depends on the version: Funerary Pick (GR push), Scythe of the Cycle (Speed farming) and Echoing Fury (Torment 16 / Nephalem rifts). 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 Death Nova Necromancer build without a set 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 #3 of our 9 Necromancer builds this season.

Which skills does the Death Nova Necromancer build without a set use?

The skill bar holds Siphon Blood, Death Nova, Bone Armor, Frailty, Blood Rush.

What goes into Kanai's Cube for the Death Nova Necromancer build without a set?

Weapon: Bloodtide Blade, Armor: Dayntee's Binding, Jewelry: Convention of Elements.

Which legendary gems does the Death Nova Necromancer build without a set use?

The legendary gems are Bane of the Stricken, Bane of the Trapped, Legacy of Dreams.

Which variants of the Death Nova Necromancer build without a set 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 Death Nova Necromancer build without a set?

Recommended follower: Templar, equipped with Leoric's Crown, Gloves of Worship, Homing Pads, Captain Crimson's Thrust.

Which stats matter for the Death Nova Necromancer build without a set?

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

What are the alternatives for the Necromancer?