Dr. Bones 2.0 Necromancer BUILD for Diablo IV [RDY-4-Launch]

(Dr. Bones imprisons & makes their foes vulnerable before showering them with spears & splinters)

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Diablo IV launches on June 6th, 2023 for PC (Battle.Net), XBOX, & PlayStation with a 4 days Early Access (no wipe) for pre-orders (so kind of really launching June 2nd).

Diablo IV‘s Launch is almost upon us and it’s time for some Ready-For-Launch full Builds/Theorycrafts that should be good for both ‘fresh-into-endgame’ characters as well as late endgame. I also plan to evolve them further when the game is released & keep them updated when we get rebalance updates. This is one such build for the Necromancer Class called Dr. Bones 2.0.

I’ve also made spreadsheets for those builds (see the links below) that have shortlisted the active and passive skills + legendary aspect + unique item + gems & sockets + suggested stat rolls + paragon boards that work well with the build which you can use to tinker. Alternatively, I’ve added build calculator links (mostly needed for the paragons)

This build will be updated post-launch to a new & expanded version when I have more in-game information as reference.

Video Version:

Skill Trees

Below you’ll see ONLY the Active & Passive skills that were selected for this build. For additional skills that can be taken + alternative skill options, you can check my RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Dr. Bones 2.0) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

Basic Skill (Resource Generator/Builder) (Required Points: 0 )

Core Skill(s) (Resource Spender) (Required Points: 2 )

Macabre Skills (Required Points: 6 )

Corruption Skills (Required Points: 11 ) Not taking an Active skill here

Summoning Skills (Required Points: 16 )

Ultimate Skills (Required Points: 23 )

Specializations (Required Points: 33 )

Book of the Dead (Class Mechanic):

This build is all about creating as many corpses as possible and getting Fortify for each corpse generated, while consuming them with Corpse Explosion. On top of that we can keep spamming Bone Spear as long as we keep consuming the corpses as that gives us Essence. Since the build has a ton of Vulnerable and Crit related bonuses we’re Sacrificing all minions and take such bonuses for Sacrificing our Minions as well.

I’d advise taking Zero Minions for this build & Sacrifice the Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, & Golem. The types sacrifices are:

• Skeletal Skirmishers: Sacrifice so that we get extra Crit Chance
  • Description: Your critical strike chance is increased by 5%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors.
• Cold Mages: Sacrifice is amazing to get extra DMG to Vulnerable enemies
  • Description: You deal 15% (multiplicative) increased damage to Vulnerable enemies, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
• Iron Golem: Sacrifice so that we get extra Crit Damage
  • Description: You deal 30% (multiplicative) increased critical strike damage, but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.

Unique Item:

In Diablo IV apparently (I have multiple sources that confirmed this) we can equip more than one unique item at the same time (not so ‘unique’ if we can get decked out in full uniques I guess). It seems that the one unique per build idea that Unique inherited from the Mythical gear they supposedly replaced was scrapped even before the closed beta tests. My top pick will be the following one but check the notes under the Aspects list for some additional picks:

Deathless Visage (Helm)

Bone Spear leaves behind echoes as it travels that explode, dealing N damage.

+[0.031 – 0.073] Armor
+[0.07 – 0.14] Physical Damage
+[14 – 21]% Critical Strike Damage
+[16 – 24] Maximum Essence

“Rathma is endless. He was the first Ancient, and will remain at the end. He is the master of the Great Cycle of Being. When Death comes for him, why should he fear it?” – Vauntus, Acolyte of Rathma

Sockets & Gems

There are various possible good/viable choices for the gem slots. I’ve shortlisted what works by slot. I’d recommend picking one of those:

Weps: Emerald, Amethyst, Diamond, Saphire, Ruby, or Skull.
Armor: Ruby, Saphire or Skull.
Jewelry: Diamond unless you need specific resistance more than all.

Legendary Aspects / Powers

I will only list the Legendary Aspects that have been selected for the build and the slots in which I advise putting those. For in-depth information you can check my RDY-4-Launch Builds spreadsheet on this link. This build (Dr. Bones 2.0) is one of the builds on that spreadsheet.

• Helm: Aspect of The Protector / Deathless Visage OR Harlequin Crest (see notes below)
• Amulet: Aspect of Serration
• Chest: Aspect of Shielding Storm / Blood Artisan’s Cuirass (see notes below)
• Pants: Aspect of the Embalmer
• Gloves: Osseous Gale Aspect
• Boots: Exploiter’s Aspect
• Ring 1: Aspect of Ultimate Shadow
• Ring 2: Aspect of Exposed Flesh / Splintering Aspect (see notes below)
• 1H Weapon: Splintering Aspect / Black River (see notes below)
• Off-hand: Aspect of Swelling Curse / Aspect of Shielding Storm (see notes below)
• 2-H Weapon (if you decide to use one): Splintering Aspect (see notes below)

NOTE 1: Aspect of The Protector goes in the Helm slot ONLY until you get the Deathless Visage Unique Helm.
There are three other alternative picks for Uniques you could use if you get those first: Blood Artisan's Cuirass (Chest Armor), Harlequin Crest (Helm), & Black River (Scythe)
See the notes below for more info:

NOTE 2: How to re-arrange if using any of the alternative Uniques:
- For Blood Artisan's Cuirass (Chest Armor): Aspect of Swelling Curse gets removed from the Off-hand slot. You also need to remove the offensive Off-hand and replace it with a Shield off-hand. Aspect of Shielding Storm goes in the newly equipped Shield Off-hand to make room for the Unique Chest Armor.
- For Harlequin Crest (Helm): Aspect of The Protector gets removed from the Helm slot to make room for the Unique Helm.
- For Black River (Scythe): Aspect of Exposed Flesh gets removed from the Ring 2 slot & Splintering Aspect replaces it to make room for the Unique Scythe.

Paragon Boards:

Use the links below to check the paragon boards selected and the nodes I’ve taken. One link is for what the boards will look like at lvl 90 without any paragon points from renown (so more paragon points will be obtained on the way to 100 as well as from renown). The other link will be what the boards will look like when fully maxed out on paragon points.

• LVL 90 & no Points from renown: Click THIS LINK
• MAXed out points (1 spare point left): Click THIS LINK

Suggested Gear Rolls to look out for (NOT in complete order of priority):

I’ve shortlisted 44 different affixes that work well with the build of almost 300 total. I’ll highlight in Orange the ones I think should get higher priority

Bonus to All Damage

Critical Strike Chance / Critical Damage Bonus

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Shadow/Physical/Darkness/Bone Skills

Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Core/Macabre/Corpse/Basic/Ultimate Skills

Damage with Core/Macabre/Corpse/Corruption/Basic/Ultimate Skills

Lucky Hit Chance

+ X Ranks to Bone Spear/Corpse Explosion/Bone Storm/Bone Spirit/Bone Prison

+ X Ranks to Core/Macabre/Corpse/Corruption/Basic Skills

Lucky Hit Chance with Shadow/Physical Damage

Shadow/Physical Damage Bonus

+ % Critical Chance / Critical Damage with Shadow/Physical Damage

Resistance to All Elements

+ % Shadow/Physical Damage to Elites

+ % Critical Strike Chance with Shadow/Physical Damage Against Elites

+ % Damage for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction for X Seconds After Killing an Elite

Damage Reduction from Elites

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Close Enemies

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Crowd Controlled Enemies

Vulnerable Damage

Damage / Critical Chance / Critical Damage Against Vulnerable Enemies

Fortify Generation

Damage while Fortified

Chance When Struck to Fortify for X Life

+ % Damage Over Time

+ % Shadow Damage Over Time

+ % Shadow Damage Over Time Duration

Overpower Chance

Overpower Damage with Bone Spear/Corpse Explosion/Bone Storm/Bone Spirit/Bone Prison

Overpower Damage with Core/Bone/Darkness/Macabre/Corpse/Basic/Ultimate Skills

Damage to Slowed/Stunned/Immobilized Enemies

Critical Strike Chance Against Slowed/Stunned/Immobilized Enemies

+ All Stats

Damage while Healthy

Damage vs Healthy Enemies

Damage vs Injured Enemies

Weapon Damage (not sure if there are any bonuses to that as rolls)

Essence Generation

Essence Regeneration

Essence On Kill

Movement Speed

Attack Speed

Intelligence

Resource Cost Reduction

Useful Links (Spreadsheets & more):

For all of my Diablo IV RDY-4-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

For my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Class Skill Trees (can be used as mini-calculator): This Spreadsheet

For all of my Diablo IV Pre-Launch Theorycrafts/Builds: This Spreadsheet

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This concludes the Dr. Bones 2.0 Necromancer Build for Diablo IV. If you’re interested in the game below are links to the various platforms where one can buy it (you can just click the links to open a new tab):

PC (Battle.Net)

XBOX

PlayStation

Official Website