PoE: Detonate Dead Necromancer Build Guide

Due to the nature of the nerfs that Detonate Dead has already established, we‘ve shifted this build to become an excellent mapper but no more want to suggest that it’s a passionate “boss killer”. The investment you need to become able to reliably kill those just isn’t warranted anymore. You’ll be in a position to do most normal bosses (as much as likes of Shapers & Elders) however in no way is build likely to take on an uber fight.

Pros and Cons

Pros

+ Strong build with amazing clear

+ Requires no uniques to work whatsoever

+ Therefore SSF viable – League starter viable

+ Loads of HP Pool / Block Chance to allow for a smooth playstyle

Cons

– You don’t make use of this build until after Act 10

– Pretty heavy on buttons to press (2 Button Build + Buffs)

Map Modifiers to Become Avoided

No regeneration can be quite annoying to operate, as you’re counting on life/mana/es regeneration a great deal. If you insist upon doing it anyhow, you have to bring an Enduring mana Flask to repair your Mana Regeneration. Otherwise, Elemental Reflect is a no-go. Even though the Corpse Explosion a part of Detonate Dead is unable to become reflected for you, the lesser spell part will certainly still kill you. If you’re running Physical Reflect maps, that’s fine, however, you have to either un-socket your Wave of Conviction Wave of Conviction or swap inside a Level 1 version from the Gem not to die to its reflect.

Playstyle, Mechanics & Strengths

Since Detonate Dead Detonate Dead scales mostly off from the monsters it detonates, you’re researching ways to create monsters with just as much Health as you possibly can since the corpse detonation is dependent on monster Health. This is why so many people are confused once they see Detonate Dead players run around with specters that initially seem useless. The underlying story here's that those specters, while seemingly random, are specially summoned simply because they have a through-the-roof % increased Heath modifier. If you have certain monsters as specters the Desecrate Desecrate gem will add those specters to the monster pool significantly helping the average Health your detonated corpses may have, thus vastly increasing your damage output.

Comparatively, if we’re taking a look at random monsters we encounter hanging around, the typically increased life modifier you’ll find is about 80%. If you target summon-specific specters, you can go as much as 750% (or even more in specific scenarios). This means a 500% more damage multiplier for Detonate Dead and Vaal Detonate Dead and is an important part of your damage. Additionally, Necromancer scales corpse life by a significant amount and you’re obtaining increases for your spawned corpses’ Health within the tree to make it so Detonate Dead has such high base values to visit off of that you will don’t need any gear damage.

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