Path of Exile Necromancer Build Guide: Spectres and Zombies

In Path of Exile, the Necromancer class excels at commanding an army of the undead, with two of the primary skills being Raise Spectre for summoning powerful minions from the fallen and Raise Zombie for creating durable front-line defenders. This guide will help you effectively acquire and utilize both Spectres and Zombies in your Necromancer build.

Acquiring and Using Spectres

1. Raising Spectres
– Skill Acquisition: You can obtain the Raise Spectre skill gem during the early stages of gameplay. This skill allows you to revive specific dead monsters as Spectres from corpses scattered throughout the game world.
– Choosing Spectres: The types of Spectres available depend on the location in which you raise them. Some highly regarded Spectres include:
– Flame Sentinels: Great for area damage.
– Forge Frostbearers: Excellent for freezing enemies.
– Host Chieftains: Robust and capable of high damage output.
– Creating Corpses: In areas where corpses are scarce, the spell Desecrate can be invaluable for generating corpses to summon Spectres.
– Re-summoning Spectres: You can easily replace existing Spectres by targeting new corpses with the Raise Spectre skill, allowing you to adapt your army to changing circumstances or optimize for higher-level enemies.

2. Spectre Utility
– Skill and Scaling: Spectres utilize their own abilities, and their damage and survivability can be enhanced through support gems (e.g., Spell Echo, Minion Damage) and passive abilities from the skill tree.
– Supplementing Your Army: Consider incorporating additional minions, such as Animate Guardian or Carrion Golem, to bolster your overall damage and utility.
– Role in Your Build: Depending on your specific build, Spectres can act as either primary damage dealers or provide utility, such as debuffing enemies or controlling crowds.

Acquiring and Using Zombies

1. Raising Zombies
– Skill Acquisition: The Raise Zombie skill gem allows you to animate corpses into Zombies, which serve as robust melee fighters.
– Scaling with Passives: As you level up (especially at levels 18-20 with notable passives like Sacrifice), you can shift towards a Zombie-centric build.
– Zombies’ Characteristics: Zombies possess considerable durability and can be enhanced with physical damage supporting gems. They can be summoned in larger numbers with the right passive nodes.

2. Zombie Utility
– Tank Role: Zombies excel at absorbing damage, allowing your ranged Spectres or other minions to focus on dealing damage safely from a distance.
– Buffing Zombies: Employing buffs such as Flesh Offering will enhance their speed and damage output. Additionally, using supports like Melee Physical Damage, Multistrike, and Brutality will significantly elevate their combat effectiveness.

General Tips for Necromancer Summoner Builds

Gem Links
– Spectres: Link Raise Spectre with supportive gems such as Spell Echo, Minion Damage, Elemental Damage, and any relevant damage-enhancing supports.
– Zombies: Use Raise Zombie in conjunction with Melee Physical Damage, Multistrike, and various auras to maximize their potential.

Passive Tree Focus
– Prioritize nodes that enhance minion life and damage. Key ascendancy nodes for Necromancers include:
– Commander of Darkness: Buffs your minions and yourself.
– Invoker: Helps generate additional Spectres.
– Soul Weaver: Provides additional life and damage for your minions.

Utility Minions
– Augment your strategy by incorporating additional minions such as Summon Carrion Golem for buffs, Summon Skitterbots for added damage, and Animate Guardian for extra tankiness and enhancements.

Corpse Management
– Proper corpse management is crucial. Utilize Desecrate in areas lacking adequate corpses to ensure you can maintain a steady output of Zombies and Spectres.

Summary
– For Spectres: Use the Raise Spectre skill to summon from corpses, always opting for stronger options as you progress. Adapt your army to include the best Spectres available in your current area.
– For Zombies: Employ the Raise Zombie skill to create resilient frontliners that can absorb damage while your other minions do the heavy lifting.
– Buff Your Minions: Enhance your minions with appropriate support gems, auras, and carefully chosen ascendancy points.
– Utilize Corpses Wisely: Ensure you have a steady supply of corpses through Desecrate and always aim to replace your minions when necessary.

By following this detailed guide, you can optimize your Necromancer build in Path of Exile, making effective use of both Spectres and Zombies to dominate the challenges that lie ahead.