ESO Necromancer Build [2023]

So you want to unleash your wrath on the enemies by assuming the role of a Necromancer? Raising the Dead and bringing them back to life so that they can work by your side can be a phenomenal strategy. However, many amateur players encounter different complications related to the  Elder Scrolls Online Necromancer build primarily due to the numerous options that have various effects on your character. Choosing a balanced combination for your build can be difficult. However, this guide provides detailed solutions for such problems.

Beginner Necromancer Builds 

This section gives a detailed description of all four roles related to ESO Necromancer Build. A key fact to remember here is that these builds are for beginners. You can always upgrade them to an advanced level which would be a piece of cake once you have information about relevant armor, weapons, jewelry items, enchantments, and rotations associated with each role.

These builds are based on four roles- Stamina, Tank, Magicka, and Healer. The following section contains the prime combinations of Weapons, Armor, Accessories, Skills, and Rotation associated with each role.

Before getting into more detail, here is a summarized look at every Necromancer Build for ESO:

Magicka Necromancer

Mastering the rotation associated with Magicka builds can be a hard row to hoe as it has a definite Learning curve. However, we have mentioned a balanced combination of different skills that you should consider while building your character. This unique combo will help you with your Rotations.

Additionally, pairing the Magicka role with the Breton race can be a good strategical approach while going for a solid Magicka build.

The screenshot describes the general statistics for a beginner-level Magicka Necromancer.

Skills

There are two sectors where you can slot your skills-Front Bar and Backup Bar. Each bar has Five slots for Normal abilities and One Slot for Ultimate ability.

• Front Bar: The front bar which contributes to the main damage should have Hungry Scythes, Stalking Blast Bones, Inner Light, Force Pulse, Mystic Siphon, and Pestilent Colossus Ultimate.
• Backup Bar: Unstable Wall of Storms, Necrotic Potency, Inner Light, Skeletal Arcanist, Avid Boneyard, and Thunderous Rage Ultimate are considered the best choices for the Backup bar of Magicka Necromancers.

Armor Set

Mother Sorrow armor is considered the ideal option as it offers the best resistance for an amateur build. It adds significant points in Spell critical and enhances the maximum Magicka as well if you have paired it with Magicka Enchantment. You should also get your hands on Valkyn Skoria’s Helm because you can summon a meteor that deals with a tremendous amount of Flame damage.

Overwhelming Necklace and Rings are excellent picks for accessories as they add considerable points in Magicka Recovery, Spell Damage, and Maximum Magicka. It can also deal Shock damage to enemies. You can keep your rings with Arcane or you can pair them with Bloodthirsty to increase the overall damage.

Weapons

Overwhelming Lightning Staff can be your trustworthy associate in the battle arena as it deals an enormous amount of Magic damage and restores Magicka as well. It also gives tons of Spell damage and increases the Maximum Magicka. Just like an Overwhelming Necklace and rings, it can also deal Shock damage.

Rotation

As stated earlier, the rotation related to Magicka builds can be tough but we have simplified it by arranging the abilities in a specific order. Following is the ordered combination of skills that is considered a challenging rotation for your opponents as it allows you to deal a huge amount of damage.

• Skeletal Mage
• Boneyard ability(Your teammates can pair it with Grave Robber synergy)
• Wall of element
• Blighted Blastbones
• Force Pulse(3 Times)
• Mystic Siphon
• Switch bars

Repeating the above-mentioned steps can do wonders for you while you are playing with a Magicka Necromancer.

Healer Necromancer 

Necromancer Healer is one of the best Necromancer Builds as it can be paired with the Living Death Skill line to achieve insanely positive results.

Moreover, due to the simplified rotation strategy, Healer Necromancer is usually preferred by ESO players.

This screenshot describes the general statistics for a starter Healer Necromancer.

Skills

The following skills are of prime importance for Healing necromancers:

• Front Bar: You should integrate Healing Springs, Combat Prayer, Blood Sacrifice, Energy Orb, Enduring Undeath abilities, and Renewing Animation Ultimate ability in the Front Bar.
• Backup Bar: A blend of Blockade of Storms, Elemental Drain, Intensive Mender, Necrotic Potency and Unnerving Boneyard abilities and Glacial Colossus Ultimate ability can prove a lethal threat for your enemies.

Armor Gear

The Sanctuary armor should be preferred for a starter Healer build. It not only adds points to increase the Maximum Magicka but also increases the effects of the Mundus Stone when it is paired with Magicka Enchantment and Divines. Furthermore, it adds points in Healing abilities as well which are considered Core attributes for Healer builds. Additionally, you can use the Sentinel of Rkugamz’s Visage paired with Maximum Health Enchantment and Divines to gain extra Health-related perks.

Amulet and Ring of Winter’s Respite should be the obvious choices for the Accessory bar as they enhance the Maximum Magicka and Magicka Recovery if conjoined with the Magicka Recovery Enchantment and Arcane. These items also create a Healing Frost Circle that can heal you and your allies while you are inside this circle. That’s why it is a reliable choice for Healers.

Weapons

Restoration Staff of Winter’s Respite and Lightning Staff of Winter’s Respite are perfect picks for this role. They can be paired with Absorb Magicka Enchantment and Precise to achieve better statistics. Just like the relevant armor gear, these weapons add points in Magicka Recovery and Maximum Magicka. They also create a Healing Frost circle in a similar fashion that will restore Health while you and your allies are inside the rim.

Rotation

The rotation associated with the Healer build is quite simple. The following steps are a simplified order of skills that constitute a solid rotation for Healer Necromancers.

• Combat Prayer(This ability is obligatory throughout the rotation so it should be activated right away)
• Wall of Elements
• Unnerving Boneyard
• Intensive Mender

Repeat these steps to inflict a great amount of damage while utilizing limited resources.

Tank Necromancer 

Like the other two builds stated above, this build is going to be a Starter Tank build. It is one of the simplest builds due to the subtle rotation strategy of this role.

However, modifying it to an advanced level would not be difficult if you know what you are doing.

This picture describes the general statistics for an amateur Tank Necromancer. Following combo of skills, Weapons, Armor Gear, and Rotation are considered favorable for a solid Tank build.

Skills

A blend of the following abilities and Ultimate is considered an elite choice for Tank necromancers.

• Front Bar: You should have Pierce Armor, Silver Leash, Spirit Guardian, dAgony Totem, Hungry Scythe abilities, and Pummeling Goliath ultimate skill slotted in the front bar.
• Backup Bar: A fusion of Blockade of Frost, Empowering Grasp, Necrotic Potency, Beckoning Armor, Unnerving Boneyard skills and Glacial Colossus Ultimate skill can be your ideal choice for Backup bars.

Armor Gear

Once again the game throws at you several options but we will go with the best option. Leeching Armor Set would be the ideal choice for a starter Tank build provided that you have paired it with Maximum Health Enchantment and Divines. This unique combination will add points to your Maximum Health. It also forms a cloud that deals Poison damage and restores your Health depending upon the damage dealt.

Lord Warden Dusk’s Mask and Epaulets can be a nice addition to the above-mentioned gear. You can gain Maximum Stamina and increase the Armor value given that you have paired the Mask and Epaulets with Maximum Stamina Enchantment and Reinforced. It also creates a cloud that enhances the Spell and Physical Resistance of you and your teammates.

For Accessories, Amulet and Ring of Winter’s Respite are again the best choices due to the associated perks that have been mentioned in the former section of this guide.

Weapons

Sword and Shield of Winter’s Respite are the weapons that you should add to your arsenal if you want to build a steady Tank build. What’s more, pairing them with Maximum Stamina or Magicka Enchantment, Precise, and Divines will further add the relevant additional effects that have been described earlier.

Rotation

Following abilities used in an ordered form will constitute a sturdy rotation strategy that can deal considerable damage.

• Intensive Mender
• Agony Totem
• Empowering Grasp
• Wall of Elements
• Unnerving Boneyard

Repeating these steps will simplify the combat if you are playing as a Tank Necromancer

Stamina Necromancer

The unique combination of Skills, Weapons, Armor Gear, and Rotation related to a substantial Stamina Necromancer build is described in this section.

Stamina Necromancer has a slightly different Rotation that requires some practice.

The above-mentioned screenshot visualizes the general statistics for a beginner-level Stamina Necromancer.

Skills

The skill setup for Stamina builds is mainly based on the Damage over time effects so the following skills are best in this regard:

• Front Bar: This bar constitutes those skills that will be your Spam Buttons dealing a lot of damage over time. Ultimate Pestilent Colossus and abilities like Camouflaged Hunter, Brawler, Stampede, Blighted Blastbones, and Avid Boneyard are important skills for this bar.
• Backup Bar: Back Bar should have Arrow Barrage, Summoner’s Armor, Intensive Mender, Razor Caltrops, Skeletal Archer abilities, and Flawless Dawnbreaker Ultimate.

Armor

Dagon’s Jack Armor Gear is the most suitable armor for this build that can be coupled with Maximum Stamina Enchantment and Divines to achieve even better outcomes. It offers enhanced Weapon damage and Maximum Stamina.

Thurvokun’s Mask in association with Stamina enchantment and Divines can increase the Maximum Stamina and impact of the Mundus Stone. It can also add points to the Maximum Health and can afflict Disease damage to enemies. Additionally, it reduces the Health Recovery Rate and Damage done by your enemies making it a substantial pick for a complete Armor Gear.

Necklace and Ring of the Vicious Ophidian are desirable accessories for this build as they can be paired with Robust Recovery Enchantments to increase the Maximum Stamina and Stamina Recovery. These accessories provide numerous other perks as well. For instance, they increase your Weapon Critical, add points to your Weapon Damage, and reduce the Cost of Stamina abilities.

Weapons

Maul of the Vicious Ophidian paired with Absorb Stamina Enchantment and Precise can be your best option here as you can deal markedly enhanced damage. It restores your Stamina and increases the Weapon and Stamina Critical. The Maelstrom’s Perfected Bow can be another alternative if you pair this weapon with Absorb Stamina Enchantment and Infused.

Rotation

The combination of various abilities that are of prime importance in rotations are listed in the following steps:

• Skeletal Archer
• Arrow Barrage
• Razor Caltrops
• Switch Bars
• Avid Boneyard
• Blighted Blastbones
• Brawler(3 times)

Repeat and practice the above-mentioned rotation strategy for optimal outcomes.

Skill Lineage of Necromancer Class

Skills are associated with Class, Weapon, Armor, World, Guild, Alliance War, Racial and Craft. However, in this section, we will discuss the Skill Lineage of Class only. There are three Skill lines related to the Class- Bone Tyrant, Living Death, and Grave Lord Skill lines. These Skill Lines further constitute Active, Passive, and Ultimate abilities.

Bone Tyrant Skill Line

This skill line should be your main focus if you are going for a Tank Necromancer build. There are a lot of options available when you have to select a particular set of abilities for Necromancers. Nevertheless, we will list only those abilities that are considered best for rotations.

Active abilities

There are five active abilities that are considered ideal for the Necromancer class.

Death Scythe

It can be morphed into Hungry Scythe or Ruinous Scythe. Hungry Scythe not only deals 3460 Magic Damage but also gives additional Health-related bonuses.

Ruinous Scythe, on the other hand, deals 3498 Physical Damage as well as provides extra Health Perks. 

These two abilities are extremely important for Solo Necromancers especially for Tank Builds.

Bone Armor

Like Death Scythe skill, this ability can be morphed into Beckoning Armor or Summoner’s Armor. Beckoning Armor adds 5498 points to your Physical and Spell Resistances. This ability offers an extra corpse as well after the completion of its effect.

Summoner’s Armor has similar effects and provides an additional reduction in the cost of Blastbones, Skeletal Mage, and Spirit Mender by 12%.

This ability is especially crucial for Healer Builds because you get to use the Spirit Mender a lot while playing as Healer.

Bitter Harvest

This ability is usually considered one of the best abilities for these builds. You can invest your skill points either in Deaden Pain or Necrotic Potency.  Necrotic Potency utilizes the potential of corpses to provide you 6 Ultimate as well as 2300 Health. It also decreases the damage taken by 3% while it is activated. This ability can be used for Healer and Tank Builds. This attribute is especially important for Trials and Dungeons.

On the contrary, Deaden Pain offers 2 Ultimate only and can decrease the damage received by 10% when the Heal Effect is active.

Necrotic Potency is preferred over Deaden Pain by most ESO players.

Bone Totem

Two morphs of the Bone Totem are the Agony Totem and Remote Totem. Agony Totem is yet another ability that is arguably one of the best abilities for the builds, especially for the Tank role. It causes a reduction in damage taken by you and your allies by 5%. Furthermore, your allies can pair it with the Pure Agony synergy that will in turn deal 6186 Magic Damage to your enemies. It can also increase the vulnerability of your enemies by 5%. It is especially favorable for Tank builds.

Remote Totem is rather cheap but you can’t use the Pure Agony synergy with it.

Agony Totem is usually preferred over Remote Totem. 

Grave Grasp

It is another ability that is favorable for Tank Necromancers. You can invest your skill points either in Empowering Grasp morph or Ghostly Grasp morph. Empowering Grasp stuns and immobilizes your enemies. It also increases the damage and healing power of your Skeletal Mage and Spirit Mender by 40%. This Morph can be your best ally if you are going for Tank and Healer builds as it makes your enemies susceptible to damage, empowers your allies, and gives additional strength to your Skeletal Mage and Spirit Mender.

Ghostly Embrace morph comes with some similar effects but it doesn’t provide additional perks for Skeletal Mage and Spirit Mender.

Empowering Grasp is a better alternative as compared to Ghostly Embrace.

Ultimate Ability

Bone Goliath ultimate ability morphs into Ravenous Goliath or Pummeling Goliath. Practicing these morphs in public is considered a crime and the justice system of ESO will act accordingly. Pummeling Goliath enhances your maximum health by 30,000 and instantly recovers 30,000 Health. What’s more, it restores health with successive Light and Heavy attacks. Moreover, your Bash attacks can hit numerous opponents and deal striking damage of 3618. These all perks make this ultimate ability an obvious choice for Necromancer builds.

On the other hand, Ravenous Goliath offers similar effects except for Bash ability. It deals 3411 Magic damage instead.

Both ultimate can be devastating depending upon the circumstances.

Passive Abilities

Death Gleaning ability restores Stamina as well as Magicka.

It is favorable for all roles. Disdain Harm can reduce the damage taken by 15%. 

Health Avarice can scale up your Health depending upon the abilities slotted in the Bone Tyrant skill tree. This ability is beneficial for Tank and Healer roles.

Lastly, the Last Gasp ability increases your maximum health by 1250.

These four Passive abilities are frequently used by the ESO players.

Living Death Skill Line

This is one of the most important skill lines as it plays a pivotal role to support the necromancer class. It is especially suitable for Healer builds.

Active Abilities

There are five Active abilities belonging to the Living Death Skill line that you should slot in the Skill bars especially if you are going for a Healer Necromancer. However, Spirit Mender ability is considered a crime, if practiced in public.

Render Flesh

You can spend your skill points either in Blood Sacrifice morph or Resistant Flesh. The Blood Sacrifice ability can heal your ally by adding 10034 points in the health bar. However, this act of benevolence comes with a hefty cost as your health recovery rate is reduced.

Resistant flesh, as evident from the name, provides additional resistance to your ally as well.

Resistant Flesh is better because it provides additional resistances as well.

Expunge

This ability can be divided into two morphs- Hexproof and Expunge & Modify. Hexproof removes the influence of four negative effects.  Additionally, it also decreases the cost of all abilities by 3% while it is active. On the contrary,

Expunge and Modify removes two negative effects instead of four and restores Magicka and Stamina.

These abilities should be the focal point for Healer Builds only as it costs Health.

Life Amid Death

Like all other active abilities, this ability is also divided into two morphs- Enduring Undeath and Renewing Undeath. Enduring Undeath restores health over a period of time and this particular timespan can be increased by consuming more corpses.

Renewing Undeath offers restoration of health and it removes negative effects as well.

Most ESO players prefer Renewing Undeath over  Enduring Death. 

Spirit Mender

Practicing this ability is a criminal offense and it is further subdivided into two morphs: Intensive Mender and Spirit Guardian. Intensive Mender gives birth to a spirit that heals you and your associates for a certain time span. It is especially crucial for Healer and Tank builds.

The Spirit Guardian not only restores health in a similar fashion but also reduces the damage taken by 10%.

These two abilities are frequently used in Rotations

Restoring Tether

It can be morphed into Mortal Coil and Braided Tether. Mortal Coil utilizes the corpse to restore Health and Stamina.

Braided Tether adds additional points in the health bar of your allies but it doesn’t restore the Stamina.

The detailed stats of both abilities have been described in the above screenshots.

Ultimate Ability

The Reanimate Ultimate is one of the best Ultimate affiliated with the ESO Necromancer Builds. It can be subdivided into Animate Blastbones and Renewing Animation. Animate Blastbones can revive up to three allies at a time. Additionally, you can use 3 Blastbone abilities for each corpse consumed.

Renewing Animation not only revives three allies but also restores 5000 Magicka and Stamina for each ally resurrected.

Animate Blastbones is usually preferred over Renewing Animation for Aggressive gameplay.

Passive Abilities

Curative Curse increases the healing effects by 8% when you are suffering from a negative effect.

Near-Death Experience causes an increase in the Critical Hit chance and Healing abilities by 20%.

Corpse Consumption can produce 10 Ultimate when you use an ability on the corpse. As a healer, you can pair this ability with Necrotic Potency and as a result, you can regenerate numerous Ultimate at a time.

Undead Confederate increases the Magicka and Stamina Recovery rate by 200 if your favorite abilities like Blastbones, Skeletal Mage, and Spirit Mender are active.

These screenshots have detailed statistics of four passive abilities of the Living Death skill line.

Grave Lord Skill Line

It is the third skill line that is compatible with the Necromancer class. The abilities of this skill line are regularly included in the Skill Bar because they offer markedly enhanced damage over time.

Active Abilities

These abilities are specified as a core component of rotations associated with all Necromancer Builds. Nevertheless, practicing most of these abilities in the general public should be avoided at all costs as they are considered Criminal Acts.

Flame Skull

Ricochet Skull and Venom Skull are the two morphs of this active ability. Ricochet Skull deals a significant amount of Flame damage to a particular enemy and other enemies nearby.

Venom skull deals a notable amount of Poison damage to the targeted enemy and the impact of damage increases on the 3rd cast by 20%.

However, this ability has an associated learning curve that requires some practice.

Blastbones

This is another potent ability related to the ESO Necromancer build and can be subdivided into Stalking Blastbones and Blighted Blastbones. However, it is a criminal act to practice this ability in public places. Stalking Blastbones raises a skeleton from the ground that becomes a capable threat for your enemies as it explodes and deals a considerable amount of Flame damage to all enemies nearby.

Conversely, Blighted Blastbones deals Disease Damage with an explosion of a similar skeleton. It also reduces the Healing Recovery rate by 16%.

Blighted Blastbones is one of the best abilities for rotations.

Boneyard

Boneyard is one of the most frequently used abilities by the ESO players as it is considered a ‘’Panic Button” that can save you from misery in certain situations. It further comprises two morphs-Avid Boneyard and Unnerving Boneyard. Avid Boneyard deals Frost damage and it can increase the base level damage by 50% upon corpse consumption. Additionally, your teammate can activate and pair the Grave Robber synergy to increase the amount of Frost damage.

The Unnerving Boneyard skill additionally decreases the Physical and Spell resistance of enemies.

Both abilities are commonly considered favorite picks for rotations.

Skeletal Mage

This is another Necromancer skill that has consequences if you use it in public. It has two forms- Skeletal Arcanist and Skeletal Archer. While the Skeletal Arcanist is active, you can raise a mage from the ground that can serve you by dealing Shock damage to your enemies.

Nevertheless, Skeletal Archer deals Physical damage.

This damage scales to a higher value upon every successful hit.

Shocking Siphon

This ability can be morphed into Detonating Siphon and Mystic Siphon. Detonating Siphon deals Disease damage to your enemies to all the enemies surrounding the corpses. It increases your base damage by 3% while it is activated. When the Siphon ends, the corpse explodes to deal a huge amount of damage, making this ability another bad omen that can bring about the demise of your adversaries.

Mystic Siphon deals Shock damage instead of Disease damage.

It restores a considerable amount of Magicka as well.

Ultimate Ability

Frozen Colossus is the relevant ultimate of Grave Lord Skill Line of ESO Necromancer Builds and you can invest your skill points in Pestilent Colossus or Glacial Colossus. This is yet another ultimate that you can use to wipe the floor with your enemies. However, it has a drawback as legal action will be taken against you if you use this ultimate in public. Pestilent Colossus smashes the ground three times dealing markedly enhanced Disease damage each time. It also increases the vulnerability of your enemies to damage by 10%.

Glacial Colossus has similar effects however it deals Frost damage instead of Disease damage.

Additionally, the enemies are stunned by the third blow.

Passive Abilities

Reusable Parts reduces the cost of your next Blast Bones, Skeletal Mage, and Spirit Mender by 50% given that you have already used these abilities before.

Death Knell increases the critical hit chance by 4% per Grave Lord ability slotted for enemies with health below 25%. It can be your worthy accomplice in the final sections of any battle.

Dismember increases the Spell and Physical penetration by 1500 provided that the Grave Lord ability is active.

Rapid Rot increases the damaging impact by 15%.

Briefly speaking, Necromancer uses the assets of dead creatures to dominate the battle arena. Three main Skill Lines are considered superlative for the Necromancer Class. The Starter ESO Necromancer Builds of all four roles with their relevant rotation for each role have been described earlier.