The Ultimate Guide to Dominating with Necromancer AOE Skills in Diablo 4

Players can choose from a variety of classes in Diablo 4, each with its own strengths and playstyle, all aimed at defeating Lilith and her army in Sanctuary. The Necromancer, in particular, has proven to be a popular choice for solo play, with its ability to summon the undead and access a range of other skills. While the top Necromancer skills have already been discovered, many players still question which area of effect skills are the most effective to include in their arsenal.

7 Blood Wave

Blood Wave is one of the three Ultimate Skills that players can choose from, and it packs a punch by conjuring a wave of blood that deals damage and pushes back enemies. However, due to its cooldown time, it's important to strategically select an Ultimate that will result in the highest amount of damage. While Blood Wave can hit multiple enemies in front of the Necromancer, there are other Ultimate Skills that may be more effective in dealing greater damage. Despite its usefulness as an AOE skill, Blood Wave may not be the best choice as an Ultimate Skill.

6 Enhanced Bone Splinters

Players can access Bone Splinters, a Base Skill, right from the start of the game when they unlock their first perk point. While Bone Splinters can hit multiple enemies with its three projectiles, Enhanced Bone Splinters takes the damage up a notch. With the purchase of Enhanced Bone Splinters after acquiring the Base Skill, players can fire an additional two Bone Splinters with a 25% chance if they have fifty or more Essence. This ensures that players can handle multiple enemies without using up too much Essence, which can be reserved for more potent abilities.

5 Bone Spirit

As we delve deeper into the Bone Skills for Necromancers, it's worth noting that the Bone Spirit is a must-have AOE skill that can be acquired with perk points. With this skill, players can summon an undead companion that charges towards enemies and explodes, dealing a whopping five hundred and twenty-two damage to the target and its surrounding adversaries.

It's important to exercise caution when using this skill, as it doesn't require a fixed amount of Essence. Instead, it uses whatever Essence the player has remaining, with the damage output increasing by 3% for every point of Essence utilized.

4 Blight

Blight is a unique Core Skill in the Necromancer's arsenal that inflicts both immediate and lingering damage on enemies. For a cost of twenty-five Essence, Blight unleashes two hundred and seven damage before leaving behind a tainted patch of land that deals an additional five hundred and fifty-three damage to any enemy who crosses it. When paired with other Shadow damage skills, Blight can create a devastating AOE build.

3 Bone Storm

The defensive capabilities of Necromancers in Diablo 4 are limited, but players can rely on the powerful Ultimate Skill, Bone Storm, to both protect themselves and inflict significant damage on their enemies. Upon casting, a swirling vortex of bones surrounds the player and their golem (if they have completed the Necromancers quest), dealing over a thousand points of damage to any foes within range for a duration of ten seconds. It's worth noting that equipping Bone Storm precludes the use of any other Ultimate Skills, meaning players must choose between the AOE Blood Wave skill or the defensive power of Bone Storm.

2 Blood Surge

Blood Abilities play a crucial role in the success of numerous Necromancer builds, thanks to their ability to heal the player through skills such as Blood Surge. Additionally, the Core Skill of Blood Surge is a potent damage dealer, capable of inflicting a significant amount of harm.

This skill not only siphons blood from nearby foes, dealing 173 damage, but also unleashes a Blood Nova that deals an additional 434 damage. It is important to note, however, that using Blood Surge requires 30 Essence, and as such, players must exercise caution when relying on this powerful AOE ability.

1 Corpse Explosion

One of the most powerful AOE abilities a player can possess doesn't require any Essence to create. Corpse Explosion simply needs a Corpse on the ground to detonate and inflict damage on any enemies within its radius. Given the likelihood of facing hordes of enemies, corpses are often abundant and readily available for use. To maximize its effectiveness, players can increase the explosion radius, trapping even more enemies in the blast.

Diablo 4 is available now on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.