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Death Nova

Death Nova

Active Skill · Secondary · Necromancer

  • 5 Runes
  • From level 12

Effect

Cost: 20 Essence

Unleash a Nova that deals 350% weapon damage as Poison to all enemies within 25 yards.

Runes

5 Runes

  • Unstable Compound

    from level 18 · Poison damage · Proc coefficient 0.2

    Each cast increases the radius of your next Nova by 5 yards up to 2 times.

  • Tendril Nova

    from level 23 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.2

    Now heals you for 1% of your health per target hit and reduces damage dealt to 225% weapon damage as Physical.

  • Blight

    from level 35 · Poison damage · Proc coefficient 0.2

    Leave a lingering patch of blight on the ground slowing enemies by 60% and causing them to deal 15% less damage for 1 second.

  • Bone Nova

    from level 48 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.25

    Spines radiate outward and deal 475% weapon damage as Physical within 12 yards.

  • Blood Nova

    from level 57 · Physical damage · Proc coefficient 0.2

    Spend 10% health to unleash a Blood Nova that deals 450% weapon damage as Physical to all nearby enemies within 25 yards.

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.

Death Nova

Death Nova unleashes a wave around you that hits every nearby foe, paid for with essence. As a high-pressure primary damage source it shines in pack fights, where you plant yourself among the enemies and fire the nova in rhythm with your resource. It rewards tight, aggressive positioning and a steady supply of essence.

Rune choice changes the feel considerably. Bone Nova converts the damage into physical bone spikes and slots perfectly into bone builds that stack supporting items. Blood Nova sacrifices a slice of your life for harder physical hits and is favored in blood setups that already budget for life costs. If you need reach, Unstable Compound lets you grow the radius step by step, while Tendril Nova brings in lifesteal for added survivability.

Runes with levels and values

Unruned, Death Nova costs 20 Essence and hits everything within 25 yards for 350% weapon damage as Poison.

  • Unstable Compound (level 18): each cast enlarges the next Nova by 5 yards, up to 2 times.
  • Tendril Nova (level 23): heals 1% of your health per target but lowers the damage to 225%.
  • Blight (level 35): leaves a patch that slows enemies by 60% and cuts their damage by 15%.
  • Bone Nova (level 48): 475%, but only within 12 yards.
  • Blood Nova (level 57): costs 10% health and hits the full radius for 450%, the dominant pick in practice, followed by Blight.

Iron Rose and Bloodtide Blade

The phylactery Iron Rose makes every Siphon Blood attack cast a free Blood Nova. On top of that, Death Nova gains 40–50% more damage for 60 seconds each time you have cumulatively lost 10% of your maximum Life, stacking up to 10 times. Life costs such as Blood Nova's feed into this.

The two-handed scythe Bloodtide Blade increases Death Nova's damage for every enemy within 25 yards, up to 10 enemies, so the denser the pack, the stronger the Nova.

Death Nova with Swift Harvesting and Simulacrum

Swift Harvesting raises the attack speed of Siphon Blood, which with Iron Rose means more free Novas. Simulacrum duplicates your Secondary skills, Stand Alone and Bone Armor keep you alive without minions, and Frailty and Blood Rush add a curse and mobility.

by eRnstl