Necromancer Support Build With Pestilence

Last updated on Oct 22, 2024 at 09:00 by Deadset 11 comments

Welcome to our build guide for Support Necromancer in Diablo 3. Here, you will learn everything you need to know to play this build at the highest level. This build is updated for Patch 2.7.8 and Season 33.

1.

Introduction

Specifically created to accommodate the steep resource needs of LOD Singularity Necromancers in GR speed runs, the Support Necromancer has become a staple in the Paragon farming meta. This health globe generating, crowd control-heavy build is strictly multiplayer oriented, a zero DPS spec that plays part of a composition with other damage dealing party members.

2.

Quick Reference

2.1.

Skill Setup

The basic skill setup of the Support Necromancer is displayed below. Read the dedicated Skills page for detailed information on choices, alternatives and build customization.

Active Skills
Left Mouse Button Death Nova Icon Death Nova Blight Blight Right Mouse Button Blood Rush Icon Blood Rush Metabolism Metabolism 1 Devour Icon Devour Cannibalize Cannibalize 2 Land of the Dead Icon Land of the Dead Frozen Lands Frozen Lands 3 Corpse Lance Icon Corpse Lance Brittle Touch Brittle Touch 4 Frailty Icon Frailty Aura of Frailty Aura of Frailty
Passive Skills
2.2.

Gear Setup

The required gear setup for the Support Necromancer is listed below. Check the Gear page for detailed information on choices, alternatives, gemming, Kanai's Cube and Paragon distribution.

2.3.

Season 33 Theme — 4th Kanai Slot

With this Season's addition of a 4th slot in Kanai's Cube as a theme, your ideal setup will be:

2.3.1.

Altar of Rites

The former Season 28 theme, the Altar of Rites, has been revised and re-added to Diablo 3 as a permanent character progression mechanic. — For virtually all builds and players of all skill levels — from casual to advanced — we recommend progressing through the Altar tree using the path outlined below. The suggested path is geared towards maximum quality of life first, then amplifying damage, and then mopping up the tree with defensive and edge case utility nodes.

Note that while they require reaching them with a Seal, Legendary Potion Powers are not part of the Seal cost system; Potions unlock with a separate resource called Primordial Ashes, obtained from salvaging Legendary or Set items of Primal (red bordered) quality. Upgrade them as soon as possible, and in the order shown below (courtesy of Caleko's Altar of Rites planner).

Altar of Rites Planner

You can read more on the Altar of Rites, Seals and Legendary Potion Powers in our dedicated Altar of Rites Mechanics guide.

2.4.

Legendary Gems

2.5.

Kanai's Cube

3.

Changelog

  • 22 Oct. 2024 (gear page): Added Season 33 advice for 4th Kanai slot.
  • 22 Oct. 2024 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 33.
  • 22 Oct. 2024 (this page): Added Season 33 advice for 4th Kanai slot.
  • 10 Jul. 2024 (gear page): Added Season 32 advice for ethereal weapons.
  • 10 Jul. 2024 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 32.
  • 10 Jul. 2024 (this page): Added Season 32 advice for ethereal weapons.
  • 10 Apr. 2024 (gear page): Added Season 31 advice for the unbound Kanai's Cube slots.
  • 10 Apr. 2024 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 31.
  • 10 Apr. 2024 (this page): Added Season 31 advice for the unbound Kanai's Cube slots.
  • 10 Jan. 2024 (gear page): Revised guide for the permanent addition of the Altar of Rites, and added Season-specific Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 10 Jan. 2024 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 30.
  • 10 Jan. 2024 (this page): Revised guide for the permanent addition of the Altar of Rites, and added Season-specific Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 13 Sep. 2023 (gear page): Added Season 29 Paragon Cap and Gearing recommendations.
  • 13 Sep. 2023 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 29.
  • 13 Sep. 2023 (this page): Added Season 29 Paragon Cap and Gearing recommendations.
  • 22 Feb. 2023 (gear page): Added Season 28 Altar of Rites recommendations.
  • 22 Feb. 2023 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 28.
  • 22 Feb. 2023 (this page): Added Season 28 Altar of Rites recommendations.
  • 26 Aug. 2022 (gear page): Added Season 27 Angelic Crucible recommendations.
  • 26 Aug. 2022 (skills page): Skills and passives reviewed for Season 27.
  • 26 Aug. 2022 (this page): Added Season 27 Angelic Crucible recommendations.
  • 14 Apr. 2022 (gear page): Guide reviewed for Season 26.
  • 14 Apr. 2022 (skills page): Guide reviewed for Season 26.
  • 14 Apr. 2022 (this page): Guide reviewed for Season 26.
  • 08 Dec. 2021 (gear page): Added Season 25 Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 08 Dec. 2021 (skills page): Reviewed for Season 25.
  • 08 Dec. 2021 (this page): Added Season 25 Soul Shard recommendations.
  • 22 Jul. 2021 (gear page): Added S24 Ethereal recommendation.
  • 22 Jul. 2021 (skills page): No changes required for Season 24.
  • 22 Jul. 2021 (this page): Added S24 Ethereal recommendation.
  • 01 Apr. 2021 (gear page): No changes required for Season 23.
  • 01 Apr. 2021 (skills page): No changes required for Season 23.
  • 01 Apr. 2021 (this page): No changes required for Season 23.
  • 19 Nov. 2020 (gear page): Revision of base item recommendations, alongside advice for Season 22 changes.
  • 19 Nov. 2020 (skills page): No changes necessary for Season 22.
  • 19 Nov. 2020 (this page): Revision of base item recommendations, alongside advice for Season 22 changes.
  • 02 Jul. 2020 (gear page): Minor fixes and clarifications for Season 21.
  • 02 Jul. 2020 (this page): Minor fixes and clarifications for Season 21.
  • 12 Mar. 2020 (gear page): Updated gear recommendations to fit the current meta.
  • 12 Mar. 2020 (skills page): No changes necessary for Season 20.
  • 12 Mar. 2020 (skills page): No changes necessary for Season 21.
  • 12 Mar. 2020 (this page): Updated and reintroduced the guide for Season 20.
  • 22 Nov. 2019 (gear page): Reviewed for Season 19.
  • 22 Nov. 2019 (skills page): Reviewed for Season 19.
  • 22 Nov. 2019 (this page): Reviewed for Season 19.
  • 12 May 2019 (gear page): Guide was archived for Season 17 to reflect it falling off the meta.
  • 12 May 2019 (skills page): Guide was archived for Season 17 to reflect it falling off the meta.
  • 12 May 2019 (this page): Guide was archived for Season 17 to reflect it falling off the meta.
  • 18 Jan. 2019 (gear page): Information was reviewed and approved for Season 16 with no changes required.
  • 18 Jan. 2019 (skills page): Information was reviewed and approved for Season 16 with no changes required.
  • 17 Jan. 2019 (this page): Guide was reviewed and approved for Season 16.
  • 20 Sep. 2018 (this page): Guide was reviewed and approved for Season 15.
  • 14 Jun. 2018 (this page): Guide was reviewed and approved for Season 14.
  • 26 Nov. 2017 (this page): Added the guide.
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