Necromancer

Everything within this guide should ultimately only be treated as suggestions, as there are many ways to play and I encourage you to experiment and find your own playstyle.

AVAILABLE ON: Eden, Blackthorn, Live (in name only, see Occultist for info)

When the Lord of the Underworld, first sent forth his servants to aid the people of Albion, it was fortunate that it was the Reavers who first met the Britons, for had it been the Necromancers then there might not have been any alliance. Through much deliberation (and protestation from the Church of Albion) it was eventually decided that the Necromancers of Arawn would be allowed to use their grisly magics in aid of the realm but only with the Church’s consent, and only through the resurrection of the corpses of outlaws, brigands, thieves, deserters and the like. At least then they would serve the greater good of the realm, if not in life, then in un-death.

Perhaps the most unique of all pet spellcasters, Necromancers are entirely dependent on their pets. Rather than behaving like traditional pets, the Necromancer’s minions are more akin to foci through with the Necromancer acts. The Necromancer by himself is incredibly weak until he summons his undead minion and transforms into an invincible shade in the process. Now the Necromancer can cast his most damaging spells through his pet and apply a small selection of different spells which are “stored” on the enemy target until the minion hits them.

Unique to Eden and Blackthorn, the Necromancer referred to here refers to a version of the class which no longer exists on Live. For the reworked version of the Necromancer, see the Occultist class.

PvE

Necromancers are incredibly strong when played solo in PvE, though also easily overwhelmed. While no single enemy will hardly ever pose a danger to the necromancer, a second or third definitely will. Stay aware of your surroundings and you will do just fine.

In groups, Necromancers are there to provide de-buffs, power transfers* and damage. If playing with melee damage dealers, make sure to de-buff the enemy’s arm or factor. If playing with magical damage dealers, make sure they do not run out of power and add your damage to theirs.

*through the Deathsight Mastery skill line

RvR

Due to their incredibly high sustain, Necromancers are considered a high tier duellist and, like in PvE, are hard to kill in a one-versus-one but offer little resistance against two or three enemy players.

A Necromancer’s strongest addition to an RvR group is the ability to de-buff not just an enemy’s armour factor but also their constitution, making the enemy take much more damage while having a lot less health. This creatures strong windows in which the melee damage dealers of the group can secure kills against the enemy. This makes it important that the Necromancer coordinates with their group who is being de-buffed, so that the entire group can converge upon that target.

Racial differences

Character planners

Eden: https://eden-daoc.net/charplan?c=Necromancer

Blackthorn: https://blackthorn-daoc.com/class/Necromancer

Stat allocation

15 Dexterity / 10 Intelligence

Class skills

50 Deathsight, 19 Painworking, 7 Death Servant (Standard / Levelling / Solo / Group)

44 Painworking, 31 Deathsight, 4 Death Servant (Point-blank area-of-effect damage-over-time focus)

50 Death Servant, 20 Painworking, 4 Deathsight (point-blank area-of-effect direct damage focus)

50 Deathsight, 20 Death Servant (Farming)

Realm skills

Long Wind 1

Purge

Ichor of the Deep

Mastery of Concentration

Wild Power

Passives to fill stat gaps (Augmented Str, Dex, Con, Mastery of Parrying etc.)

Champion skills

Holy Benediction

Holy Blessing

Shield of the Soul

Shield of the Elements

Shield of War

Mystic Web OR Enervate Strength

Web of Force OR Banish Resolution

Field of Force

Dismiss Resolution

Diseased Spirit