Build Pros
- Scales well into the end-game
- Very easy to manage due to simplicity of mechanics
- Great league starter with budget gear for lower content
Build Cons
- Early game is a bit slow
- Not very Budget Friendly at end-game with optimal gear
- Clear speed isn’t the best, so Incursions can be annoying
Passive Tree(s)
Recommended Tree and Gear (Level 90): https://pastebin.com/J2f6KDHp
Passive tree on website: poeurl.com/bWbU
20 points: poeurl.com/bQat
40 points: poeurl.com/bQak
60 points: poeurl.com/bQau
80 points: poeurl.com/bQav
100 points: poeurl.com/bQaw
Final: poeurl.com/bQax
Pantheon
Farming maps: Gruthkul, Lunaris (Pretty much any Gods will work though)
Bandits
Kill All
Ascendancy skill points
Necromancer
Leveling Items and General Tips
https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Violent_Dead To increase zombie DPS.
https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Mark_of_the_Red_Covenant For buffs to SRS.
https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Bloodbond Gives an HP boost to booth you and your minions.
https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Redblade_Band This one can make your Golem a decent off-tank in mid-levels.
https://pathofexile.gamepedia.com/Matua_Tupuna Great choice to give +2 to minion gems.
Avoid these map mods:
- Reflect (All Maps)
- No Leech/Regen (All Maps)
- Extra Elemental Damage Mod types (High-Tier)
- Poison on Hit (High-Tier)
Level using the trees as a guide, with a hybrid of SRS and skellies as your main skills. Once you get that third Ascendancy, transition to Skeleton Warriors completely and begin end-game gearing process. Always have Bone Offering and Desecrate in rotation to increase DPS.
Wait to use the rest of the Curse setup past Temporal Chains until the end-game Red Maps.
Skill Gem Setup
6L Summon Skeleton: Summon Skeleton + Minion Speed + Minion Damage + Multistrike + Melee Splash + Maim
Summon Skeleton > Melee Splash > Minion Damage > Multistrike > Minion Speed > Maim
Swap Splash for Melee Physical Damage on high HP Bosses. The above is your main priority most of the time though.
4L: Curse on Hit + Desecrate + Ball Lightning + Vulnerability
4L: Temporal Chains + Hatred + Generosity + Blasphemy
2L: Bone Offering + Increased Duration
2L: Animate Guardian + Minion Life
1L: Clarity Lvl 1 (Ring)
1L: Summon Stone Golem (Ring)
Build Uniques / Example Rare Gear
Tip: Click on the item to view it on PoE Wiki or to view similar rare items in poe.trade.
In this section you will find all the suggested items for this build. We always try to include optional gear in our listing, or try your own assuming you get similar stat rolls. Aim for high-quaity Rares if you’re replacing Uniques.
The goal here is to buff your Skeleton as much as possible, with a secondary focus on survivability.
Staff
Femurs of the Saints is an absolute must have for this build to really shine. A Four-link of this isn’t too pricey though No real replacement for it in end-game. Other setups like those with Reverberation Rod require too much a tree rework to grab Necromantic Aegis, which is necessary for 1H+Shield summoning builds.
Helmet
Any Rare with Life+Res rolls and Minion buff mods like +2 to level and increased minion damage is a fine choice.
Min. requirements:
70 Maximum Life
Any Uncapped Resistances
Increased Minion Damage
Optional affixes:
Maximum Energy Shield
% Increased Energy Shield
Body Armor
Kaom’s Heart is a huge necessity for the survivability of this build. Until you can afford it. Bloodbond should be used until you can afford Kaom’s.
Belt
Abyss Belts with Life and Resistances are a good option for end-game. Other Rares might do in a pinch, but not having good rolls can make you a lot more squishy than is tolerable.
Min. requirements:
70 maximum Life
40 maximum Energy Shield
Optional affixes:
Elemental Resistances
Attributes
Gloves
Grip of the Council is a good choice due to the added survivability to minions.
Min. requirements:
60 maximum Life
Decent tri-Elemental Resistance Rolls
Optional affixes:
Minion Buffs
Boots
Rare boots with max rolled Life, Resists and Movement Speed are BIS.
Min. requirements:
50 maximum Life
30% increased Movement Speed
25% Fire Resistance
25% Lightning Resistance
25% Cold Resistance
Amulet
Attributes will need some help, so get a corrupted Amulet with as many stats as possible. Getting good Life rolls can help with survivability.
Min. requirements:
50 maximum Life
Attributes
Maximum Mana
15% increased maximum Energy Shield
Optional affixes:
Resistances
Rings
The Pariah is a great unique due to the increased overall buffs, assuming good corruptions and you’re in Standard. Rare Unset Rings with the following mods are a good bet in other cases. Increased Minion Movement Speed (crafted) is also OK here.
Praxis can be good for leveling.
Min. requirements:
70 Maximum Life
15% All Elemental Resistances
Optional affixes:
Attributes
Maximum Mana
Flasks
Quicksilver (+increased speed)
Rumi’s Concoction
Catalyzed Life (+ bleed removal)
Instant heal Life (+ freeze removal)
Basalt (+freeze removal)
You can swap the mods around the life and basalt if needed due to RNG.
Jewels
From Dust – This is critical to Mana Sustain, get ASAP.
To Dust
Recommended affixes:
% increased maximum Life
% increased Minion Damage
Optional affixes:
% increased Minion Life
% increased Maximum Energy Shield
X if you’ve used a Minion skill recently
