Necromancer

Death Nova Necromancer Build (No Set)

No set · Necromancer

  • Tier S in Season 40
  • 2,776 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 Frailty Rune: Aura of Frailty
  2. R Death Nova Rune: Blood Nova Physical
  3. 1 Bone Armor Rune: Dislocation Poison
  4. 2 Devour Rune: Satiated
  5. 3 Blood Rush Rune: Metabolism
  6. 4 Simulacrum Rune: Blood and Bone

Passive Skills

  • Life from Death
  • Stand Alone
  • Blood for Blood
  • Fueled by Death

Equipment

1 set piece · 12 legendary items

  • HelmAndariel's VisageLegendary
  • ShouldersRazeth's VolitionLegendary
  • AmuletHaunted VisionsLegendaryMolten Wildebeest's Gizzard
  • ChestAquila CuirassLegendaryTopazTopazTopaz
  • GlovesStone GauntletsLegendary
  • BracersStrongarm BracersLegendary
  • BeltDayntee's BindingLegendary
  • PantsBlackthorne's Jousting MailSetTopazTopaz
  • BootsSteuart's GreavesLegendary
  • Ring 1Krysbin's SentenceLegendaryBane of the Trapped
  • Ring 2Briggs' WrathLegendaryLegacy of Dreams
  • Main HandScythe of the CycleSanctifiedLegendaryEmerald
  • Off HandIron RoseLegendary

Kanai's Cube

  • WeaponBloodtide BladeLegendaryDeath Nova deals 400% increased damage for every enemy within 25 yards, up to 10 enemies.
  • ArmorSt. Archew's GageLegendaryThe first time an elite pack damages you, gain an absorb shield equal to 150% of your maximum Life for 10 seconds.
  • JewelrySquirt's NecklaceLegendaryWhile not taking damage, damage dealt is increased by up to 100% and damage taken is increased by up to 50%.

Gear Stats

  • Andariel's Visage

    Helm

    • +626–750 Intelligence ancient +825–1,000
    • Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Increases Attack Speed by 5–7%
    • +141–160 Poison Resistance ancient +176–210
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    Attacks release a Poison Nova that deals 350–450% weapon damage as Poison to enemies within 10 yards.
  • Razeth's Volition

    Shoulders

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • Reduces all resource costs by 5–8%.
    • Chance to Deal 10–20% Area Damage on Hit.
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    Skeletal Mage gains the effect of the Gift of Death and Singularity runes. You gain 35–50% damage reduction if your Essence is not full.
  • 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
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • 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%
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • Attack Speed Increased by 5–7%
    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.
  • Strongarm Bracers

    Bracers

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • Physical skills deal 15–20% more damage.
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    Enemies hit by knockbacks suffer 20–30% increased damage for 6 seconds.
  • Dayntee's Binding

    Belt

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • +10–15% Life
    • +373–397 Armor ancient +436–516
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    You gain an additional 40–50% damage reduction when there is an enemy afflicted by any of your curses.
  • 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
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • Socket
  • Steuart's Greaves

    Boots

    • +416–500 Intelligence ancient +550–650
    • +416–500 Vitality ancient +550–650
    • Increases Gold and Health Pickup by 1–2 Yards.
    • 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

    Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard
    • 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
    • Attack Speed Increased by 5–7%
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • 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.
  • Briggs' Wrath

    Ring 2

    Legacy of Dreams
    • Critical Hit Chance Increased by 4.5–6%
    • Critical Hit Damage Increased by 26–50%
    • Physical Damage (Weapon)
    • Socket
    Uncursed enemies are pulled to the target location when a curse is applied to them.
  • Scythe of the Cycle

    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
    • Increases Attack Speed by 5–7%
    • Socket
    Your Secondary skills deal 350–400% additional damage while Bone Armor is active but reduce the remaining duration of Bone Armor by 4 seconds.
  • 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%
    • Reduces cooldown of all skills by 5–8%.
    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.
Enchantress

Enchantress

Eirena

Equipment

  • HelmLeoric's Crown
  • ShouldersHoming Pads
  • Chest ArmorGoldskin
  • GlovesCain's Scrivener
  • BeltSage's Ribbon
  • PantsCain's Habit
  • BootsIce Climbers
  • AmuletThe Flavor of Time
  • BracersNemesis Bracers
  • Ring 1Hellfire Ring
  • Ring 2Oculus Ring
  • Main HandPig Sticker
  • Off HandEmpty
  • Enchantress FocusEmpty

Skills

  1. Level 15
    • Temporaler Impuls
    • Betören
  2. Level 20
    • Verstärkung
    • Prophetische Harmonie
  3. Level 25
    • Erosion
    • Energieschild
  4. Level 30
    • Aufschub des Schicksals
    • 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: 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 Frailty, Death Nova, Bone Armor, Devour, Blood Rush.

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

Weapon: Bloodtide Blade, Armor: St. Archew's Gage, Jewelry: Squirt's Necklace.

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

The legendary gems are Molten Wildebeest's Gizzard, 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, Pickup Radius, Vitality, Physical Damage, Critical Hit Damage.

What are the alternatives for the Necromancer?