The Dark Dilemma of Diablo 4's Necromancers and Their Minions

The Necromancer class in Diablo 4 has garnered a significant following during the beta and early access stages. Known for their ability to command an army of skeletal minions, the Necromancer has returned as a starting class for the first time since Diablo 2. However, players have observed that the rebalancing of the minions after the open beta and server slam has resulted in weaker skeletons, forcing players to either heavily invest in their minions or abandon them entirely. This is particularly evident during boss encounters where a single attack can wipe out all minions with no replacement available. As a result, players are left with the choice of either relying entirely on their minions or opting for an offensive Necromancer build centered around Corpse Explosion or other skills.

The Necromancer Class Doesn't Need a Buff, But Its Minions Do

During the initial days of the game's release, the Necromancer's Golem is currently the most viable minion option for successfully tackling boss encounters. Unless players invest all their character's skill points into minion-specific trees, the skeletons are weaker in Diablo 4 compared to previous versions of the game. However, the Necromancer can summon more skeletons in this latest installment. It's worth noting that Blizzard has been releasing patches since the game's early release, and hopefully, the next one will include a buff for the Necromancer's minions.

While some Necromancer builds that focus on blood or shadow-centric skill allotments may seem overpowered in the early game, those that prioritize controlling an army of the risen dead are much slower and difficult to make viable. As Blizzard continues to patch Diablo 4, they should consider buffing the skills related to the minions and the minions themselves. In particular, the skeletal skirmishers need a more substantial health pool to make them a more effective option.

Diablo 4's Roadmap Is Sure to Include Plenty of Rebalancing

Playing as the Necromancer in Diablo 4 currently demands players to carefully consider their character's specialization path. Fortunately, the game's option to respec characters is available at any time for a small amount of gold, allowing players to experiment with different skill trees without being locked in permanently. It's worth noting that Diablo 4 is still in its early release phase, and Blizzard is working to fine-tune the balance of each class through regular patches in the upcoming weeks. While the Necromancer in Diablo 3 was criticized for its "autopilot" gameplay, successful use of the class' minions now requires strategic planning and investment in minion-related buffs such as Skeleton Priest. Those who focus heavily on their undead army can effectively manage and prevent a minion-based Necromancer build from feeling underpowered. However, players who opt for a different skill path may find it more effective to forgo minions entirely and use them as mere cannon fodder. Hopefully, a future update will establish a happy medium for the Necromancer class.

Diablo 4 is available now in early access with its full launch coming June 6 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.