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Army of the Dead

Army of the Dead

Active Skill · Necromancer

  • 5 Runes
  • From level 22

Effect

Cooldown: 120 seconds

Raise a massive skeletal army to pummel the targeted location dealing 12,000% weapon damage as Physical in a 15 yard radius.

Runes

5 Runes

  • Blighted Grasp

    from level 26 · Poison damage · Proc coefficient 0.15

    Skeletal hands raise from the ground damaging enemies within 15 yards for 14,000% weapon damage as Poison. Lasts 5 seconds.

  • Death Valley

    from level 34 · Physical damage

    The skeletal army knocks all affected enemies towards the center.

  • Unconventional Warfare

    from level 42 · Physical damage

    Skeletons will rise from the ground and attack random targets for 50,000% total weapon damage as Physical over 4 seconds.

  • Frozen Army

    from level 46 · Cold damage

    Raise a massive skeletal army to pummel all enemies in a line dealing 12,000% weapon damage as Cold.

  • Dead Storm

    from level 54 · Physical damage

    Cost: 20% health

    Raise a storm of the dead that surround you damaging enemies for 15,500% weapon damage as Physical over 5 seconds.

The proc coefficient scales the chance of on-hit effects (e.g. legendary powers, gems, Life per Hit) for each hit of the skill. Game files, version 2.8.0.

Army of the Dead

Army of the Dead is the necromancer's ultimate damage bomb: at the press of a button you raise a skeletal army that crashes down on the target location and deals enormous area damage. Because of its long cooldown it is not a sustained tool but a targeted burst against packs and bosses, often combined with cooldown reduction to reload it as often as possible. In high Greater Rifts a single use can pulverize entire groups.

Unconventional Warfare is a strong rune for pure damage, since it unloads a massive block of physical damage over a short window that suits boss burst beautifully. If you want lasting area control instead, Blighted Grasp keeps a carpet of poison damage on the ground for several seconds. Which variant fits better depends on whether you want to bundle damage into one blow or spread it across an area and over time.

The runes compared

  • Blighted Grasp (level 26): skeletal hands deal 14,000% Poison damage over 5 seconds.
  • Death Valley (level 34): the army knocks every enemy hit toward the centre – the most common pick in practice.
  • Unconventional Warfare (level 42): 50,000% over 4 seconds against random targets.
  • Frozen Army (level 46): 12,000% Cold damage in a line instead of a circle.
  • Dead Storm (level 54): costs 20% health and unleashes 15,500% around you over 5 seconds.

Fate's Vow frees up the rune slot

The helm Fate's Vow gives Army of the Dead the Unconventional Warfare effect and raises its damage by 200–250%. That leaves the rune slot open for a second effect – for example Death Valley, which pulls enemies together. The bracers Bonds of C'Lena add 75–100% damage, doubled against the active target of Command Skeletons.

Bones of Rathma: turning 120 seconds into a rhythm

The 120-second cooldown is the skill's main problem. The Bones of Rathma set solves it at 2 pieces: every time your permanent minions deal damage, the cooldown drops by 0.50 seconds. With 6 pieces, each active permanent minion raises the damage by 1750%, up to 31,500%. That is why Command Skeletons and Revive appear next to it so often, with Grisly Tribute a frequent passive companion.

by eRnstl