The Book of the Dead is a unique Necromancer-specific skill mechanic in Diablo 4 that allows the player to customize the Necromancer's minions, how minions are deployed, which minions the player can have, and how they behave. Book of the Dead unlocks once Necromancers reach level 5.
There are three categories in Book of the Dead: skeletal warriors and mages, and a golem. Each summon has three variants to choose from. And each variant has three modifications: two Upgrades (only one may be active at a time) and Sacrifice, which disables summoning that minion in exchange for conferring a permanent buff to the Necromancer.
NOTE: The following changes are applied to Book of the Dead in Patch 1.1.0a:
- Necromancer's minions will now automatically re-summon after respawning during a World Boss fight.
- Skeleton Warrior Defenders Upgrade Thorns inherited increased from 40% to 50%.
- Shadow Skeleton Mage Upgrade attacks required for an additional shadow bolt reduced from 5 to 4.
- Bone Skeleton Mage Upgrade Fortify amount increased from 11% to 20%.
- Iron Golems Upgrade attacks required for Slam attack reduced from 5 to 4.
Necromancer Book of the Dead in Diablo 4
In Diablo 4, each class comes with a Unique Class Mechanic that offers additional ways to customize your gameplay experience. The Necromancer's Unique Class Mechanic is the Book of the Dead, a powerful ability that allows you to dominate the battlefield with deeper customization of your undead army than ever before.
The Book of the Dead enables you to summon three different types of undead: Skeletal Warriors, Skeletal Mages, and the Golem. Each of these summons can be specialized in one of three ways. When Necromancers reach level 5, they automatically learn Raise Skeleton, which allows them to create their Skeleton army to do their bidding.
For instance, Skeletal Warriors can be Skirmishers, Defenders, or Reapers. Skirmishers are standard warriors but have increased damage and reduced health. Defenders have bonus health. Reapers have slower attacks, deal damage in an area-of-effect in front of them, and have a special wind-up attack that deals a high amount of damage.
To further enhance your undead army, each specialized minion has unique upgrades available to them that can change their overall playstyle. Additionally, the Book of the Dead allows you to sacrifice the ability to summon a specific unit in exchange for a personal, permanent buff. This means you can mix and match having none, some, or all the possible summoned units while still having relevant options to enhance your build.
Necromancers can have a chosen "Class" for Skeletal Warriors, 1 for Skeletal Mages and one for the Golem. Also, they can select one of two available upgrades or, a sacrifice mechanic. Upgrades, grant additional bonuses but players can only select one. Sacrifice, on the other hand, nullifies the ability to summon that type of minion, but grants the Necromancer a permanent boost.
Skeletal Warriors
Skeletal Warriors act as standard skeletons and they attack enemies at close range with their weapons. Necromancers can initially summon 4 Skeletal Warriors at a time, some Legendary Aspects may increase this number. Necromancer's minions will now automatically re-summon after respawning during a World Boss fight. There are three different types of Skeletal Warriors players can select:
Skirmishers
Sword-wielding skeletal minions that deal 30% increased damage but have 15% reduced life. Unlocks at level: 5
Upgrades & Sacrifice
You can raise one additional Skirmisher warriorEach time you critically strike, your Skirmishers Warriors' next attack Critically Strikes and deals 50% bonus Critical Strike damage. Can only happen every 3 seconds.
Your Critical Strike Chance increased by 5%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors
Defenders
Durable Shield-bearers with 15% increased Life. Unlocks at level: 8
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Every 6 seconds your Skeletal Defenders negate the next instance of direct damage they would takeIncrease the amount of Thorns that Defender Warriors inherit from you by 50%. You gain 15% Physical Resistance, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors
Reapers
Wields a powerful scythe that has a special wind-up attack, dealing heavy damage every 10 seconds. Unlocks at level : 12
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Reaper attacks against enemies who are Immobilized, Slowed, Stunned or Vulnerable reduce the cooldown of the powerful wind-up attack by 2 seconds.Reapers have a 15% chance to carve the flesh off enemies, forming a Corpse. You deal 10% increased Shadow Damage, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Warriors
Skeletal Mages
Skeletal Mages bombard enemies with spells at range. Necromancers can initially summon 3 Skeletal Magess at a time, some Legendary Aspects may increase this number
Shadow
Shadow Mages wield power from the beyond dealing moderate Shadow Damage. Unlock at level: 15
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Shadow Mage attacks have a 10% chance to Stun for 2 seconds. This cannot happen on the same enemy more than once every 5 seconds.Shadow Mages fire an additional Shadow Bolt every 4th attack. Your Maximum Essence is increased by 15%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
Cold
Cold Mages attacks will chill enemies eventually freezing them in their tracks. Unlock at level: 18
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Each time your Cold Mages damage enemies with their primary attack, you gain 2 Essence.Enemies who are frozen by or damaged while Frozen by your Cold Mages' primary attack are made Vulnerable for 4 seconds. You deal 15% increased damage to Vulnerable enemies, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
Bone
Bone Mages use their own bodies as projectiles, dealing heavy damage at the cost of their own life. Unlock at level: 22
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Reduce the Life cost of your Bone Mages' attacks from 15% to 10%. After being alive for 5 seconds, Bone Mages deal 40% increases damage.Each time a Bone Mage dies from its own attack, they leave behind a corpse and Fortify you for 20% of your base life. Your overpower damage is increased by 40%, but you can no longer raise Skeletal Mages.
Golems
To unlock the Golem, Necromancers have to complete the priority quest Call of the Underworld. Golems are massive, hulking, and intimidating creatures. Necromancer's minions will now automatically re-summon after respawning during a World Boss fight.
Bone
A horrid protector that taunts enemies, forcing them to attack the Golem: 25
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Each time your Bone Golem takes up to 20% of its Maximum Life as damage, it sheds a corpse.Your Bone Golem gains 10% Maximum Life and the amount of Thorns they inherit from you is increased from 30% to 50% You gain 10% increased Attack Speed, but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.
Blood
Drains Life from nearby enemies to heal and bolster itself. Unlock at level: 28
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Your Blood Golem absorbs 15% of damage you would take.While Healthy, your Blood Golem gains 25% Damage Reduction and 50%[x] increased damage. Your Maximum Life is increased by 10%[x], but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.
Iron
An amalgamation of steel that slams the ground and Stuns enemies. Unlock at level: 32
Upgrades & Sacrifice
Every 4th Iron Golem attacks causes a shockwave, dealing X [30%] damage to the primary enemy and to enemies behind them.Your Iron Golem's slam attack also makes enemies Vulnerable for 3 seconds.You deal 30%[x] increased Critical Strike Damage, but you lose the ability to summon a Golem.
Anonymous
I haven't seen my Iron Golem make enemies vulnerable, can someone tell how often that should happen?
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