Detonate Dead
Necromancer Build

Updated for Patch 3.20

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Detonate Deat is a Skill that we've already covered some time ago, it was one of the most popular builds in the game back then but was played mostly by Elementalists. This is a Necromancer version, which is nowadays the new meta pick. It works on the same principles - causing Ignite via Corpse Explosion, and converting damage to Chaos via Blackflame. Remember that the damage conversion only applies to the Ignite Damage specifically. It's a Fire Damage over Time caused by a Hit - the corpse's explosion in this case. The downsides of not picking Elementalist are mitigated, but still noticeable, this ascendancy was quite good with ensuring that each Hit would ignite, but it can be easily provided by many passives, skills, and affixes. It has also a direct damage boost to this type of damage. As a Necromancer, you have easy access to the four very impactful Keystones: Essence Glutton, Plaguebringer, Corpse Pact, and Mistress of Sacrifice. These are immensely useful for a corpse-consuming "caster" type of playstyle. Shaper of Flames or Mastermind of Discord (this one is slightly worse) can still be obtained via Forbidden Jewels, these are the only good ones that would really impact your DPS.

It can be played as a Life, Energy Shield, or as is in this case - hybrid Build. Energy Shield can be regenerated via Essence Glutton and Ghost Dance, with some investment into Evasion Rating. It has naturally a lot of resource Regeneration, allowing you to comfortably spam your Skills without worrying about running out of Mana. It can reach around 7k of combined Life and ES, and with Corrupted Soul, it's actually one of the best hybrid builds. You will have a lot of Armour and Maximum Elemental Resistances, up to 85%. It is needed as the build requires you to go into the crowd first, make direct contact, and then make the explosions. It results in creating one of the tankiest builds that there is out of necessity. As for damage - you can deal a lot of it. Scale up your Minon's Life, Ignite, and Chaos Damage. Find Spectres with a lot of Life, and spawn them via Desecrate in large quantities to make sure your Ignites will be at their best. Don't hesitate to create a big pile of corpses before detonating them during boss fights - if the game detects that you caused a more powerful Ignite, it will replace the existing one with it resetting its duration. It's useful, as you will have only a 15% chance of spawning the desirable high-life Spectral Corpse of your choice.

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1. Gameplay

To consistently deal damage, you need an equally consistent source of corpses. Corpsewalker Unique Boots are just what you need as these create corpses with each step, allowing you to just walk into a pack of enemies. If you prefer a ranged playstyle you will have to often use Desecrate. The build performs especially well within maps of high mob density. the corpses created by your enemies are your ammo after all, and you can use them to initiate a chain reaction lasting for some time. The Auras which you're using are Discipline, Determination, Defiance Banner, and Malevolence. Use Spectres with a lot of Life and boost them with Support Gems to be even more sturdy. As for the Offering we recommend Bone Offering for a high Block Chance. For a Curse use Despair, your movement Skill - Flame Dash, Guard Spell - Molten Shell. 

2. Build's PROS & CONS

3. Leveling tips

As a necromancer dealing Fire Damage, via corpses explosions we can recommend Raging Spirits with Minion Instability Keystone for a Start. With some investment into Minion Life, you will easily stroll through the acts. After some time you will have to switch to Detonate Dead, and here's an important difference - Detonade Dead is your Spell and you deal the damage now (but Spell Damage won't affect it), not your Minions. You will be able to start investing in your own damage (mostly Burning Damage), which is only based on Minion's Maximum Life. First, ensure that your Ignite Chance is high, then allocate some passives granting you Fire, and Ignite Damage, equip Blackflame, and start sculpting your final form.

Suggested leveling Gem setups:

Detonate Dead setup
	Summon Raging Spirit - Use it at first, by casting multiple Raging Spirits you can progress very fast
	Concentrated Effect Support - use it for more Spell Damage and less Area of Effect
	Infernal Legion Support - It helps you with lowering Minion's Life to low and to deal additional damage
	Controlled Destruction Support - more Spell Damage, but much less Critical Strike Chance

Detonate Dead setup
	Detonate Dead - You can start using Detonate Dead after investing in Damage over Time and your own Spell Damage
	Burning Damage Support - increased Ignite Damage you can cause
	Efficacy Support - more Damage over Time, and increased Skill Effect Duration
	Unbound Ailments Support - more Damage with Ignite, and increased Ignite Duration

Specters setup
	Raise Spectre - As you started using Detonate Dead you should already have some good specters to pick from
	Minion Life Support - increases Minion's Maximum Life and decreases Damage

various gems
	Flammability - the Curse that significantly lowers Fire Resistance
	Malevolence - an Aura for you to use to deal increased Damage over Time
	Desecrate - spawns Corpses to Detonate or to use as an Offering

Bandits:

Kill all three bandits for two additional Skill Points

Leveling Skill Trees:

35 Points Passive Tree (Raging Spirits)
Take Minion Instability, increase your Minions and your own Maximum Life

33 Points Passive Tree
Head for the Fire Damage Cluster in such a way as to pick some Maximum Life and other useful stats

67 Points Passive Tree
Get Searing Heat, Acrimony, Holy Fire, and Divine Judgment for Damage. Purity of Flesh and Devotion are used to increase your Maximum Life.

Recommended leveling items:

Le Heup of All - Grants more Damage, Attributes, and Elemental Resistances, it is all useful.

Adds 1 to 4 Physical Damage to Attacks +(10-30) to all Attributes (10-30)% increased Damage (10-30)% increased Rarity of Items found +(10-30)% to all Elemental Resistances

Goldrim - This Helmet grants you tons of Elemental Resistances.

+(30-50) to Evasion Rating 10% increased Rarity of Items found +(30-40)% to all Elemental Resistances Reflects 4 Physical Damage to Melee Attackers Level Requirement reduced by 100 (Hidden)

Tabula Rasa - Allows you to six-link a setup from the start.

Item has no level requirement and Energy Shield (Hidden) Item has 6 White Sockets and is fully linked (Hidden)

Berek's Respite - Useful Ring to enhance your Clear Speed by inflicting Ignite more efficiently, use with Detonate Dead only.

+(12-16)% to Fire and Lightning Resistances Adds (20-25) to (30-50) Fire Damage to Spells and Attacks (25-30)% increased Lightning Damage +(30-40) to maximum Mana When you Kill a Shocked Enemy, inflict an equivalent Shock on each nearby Enemy When you Kill an Ignited Enemy, inflict an equivalent Ignite on each nearby Enemy

Ashcaller - Although Spell Damage won't affect Detonate Dead Damage, it's great with Summon Raging Spirits, and increases your burning damage anyways.

(18-22)% increased Spell Damage 10% chance to Trigger Level 8 Summon Raging Spirit on Kill +(15-25)% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier Adds (4-6) to (7-9) Fire Damage to Spells (20-30)% increased Burning Damage (16-22)% chance to Ignite

4. Final Skill Tree, Ascendancy Points, and Pantheon

Final Skill Tree:

120 Points Final Passive Tree (doesn't include Cluster Jewels)
121 Points Path of Building (PoB) link

Ascendancy points:

Preferably in that order:

1. Essence Glutton
2. Plaguebringer
3. Corpse Pact
4. Mistress of Sacrifice

Pantheon:

Major God: Soul of Lunaris: 1% increased Movement Speed for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%; 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each nearby Enemy, up to 8%

Minor God: Soul of Gruthkul: 1% additional Physical Damage Reduction for each Hit you've taken Recently up to a maximum of 5%

5. Final Gems links

[DPS] Detonate Dead setup
	Vaal Detonate Dead - The source of all your Damage. Ignites you're causing are converted to Chaos Damage. It scales up with Minion's Maximum Life.
	Swift Affliction Support - more Damage over Time, but less Ignite Duration
	Burning Damage Support - the best way to increase your Burning Damage
	Inspiration Support - Used mostly to cope with the high Mana Cost of Detonate Dead but it also increases your Elemental Damage. Can be swapped for  Deadly Ailments Support or  Cruelty Support if you can withstand the Mana Cost of this setup.
	Efficacy Support  - Efficacy extends the duration of DoT effects and increases its Damage of it. can be swapped for  Ignite Proliferation Support for comparable damage and much better clear speed
	Unbound Ailments Support - more Damage and Duration for Ignite, and increased Shock Effect

[UTILITY] Animate Guardian and Raise Spectre setup
	Animate Guardian - Creates a Minion that requires you to equip it with some expensive items such as Mask of the Stitched Demon and Kingmaker. If you don't want to use this Skill, use  Elemental Army Support instead.
	Raise Spectre - High Lithomancer (found in Primordial Blocks Map) and Stoneskin Flayer (found in Primeval Fortress Map) are the two best Spectres with the highest Maximum Life
	Minion Life Support - Increases Maximum Life for the Minions in the setup
	Meat Shield Support - keeps Animated Guardian with Kingmaker close to you which is important

[UTILITY] Desecrate setup
	Desecrate - Creates Corpses - some of which can be the Specters that you can later detonate
	Cast when Damage Taken - casts linked Spells, it's optional
	Withering Step - applies Withered Debuff on enemies increasing Chaos Damage they receive, and makes you Elusive
	Despair - a Curse that reduces Chaos Resistance and makes Damage over Time more potent

[UTILITY] Offering and Mobility setup
	Bone Offering - Block Chance for you and your Minions with some Life Regeneration after Block
	Arcane Surge Support - Arcane Surge increases your Mana Regeneration, keep it at a low level
	Flame Dash - Teleports you over a short distance leaving a trail of Burning Ground

[UTILITY] Auras setup
	Malevolence - you deal more Damage over Time and your Skill Effects last longer
	Determination - you have increased and additional Armour
	Discipline - Grants Additional ES and Recharge Rate. It's a Hybrid build os  Tempest Shield can be an Alternative to it, used for more Spell Block Chance.
	Enlighten Support - lowers Mana Reservation Cost for Linked Skills

[UTILITY] Defiance Banner setup
	Defiance Banner - increased Armour and Evasion Rating, it reduces enemies' Crit Chance as well

[UTILITY] Molten Shell
	Molten Shell - mitigates a portion of incoming Hit damage, it scales up with your Armour

6. Gear Setup

The Unique Items which are mandatory are Corpsewalker and Blackflame. We've also used Aegis Aurora with The Brass Dome and Melding of the Flesh for the impenetrable Elemental Resistances and Armour. Remember that your character must be very resilient. Glorious Vanity shall give you the Corrupted Soul for more Energy Shield. You won't need any Spell Damage - it has no effect on Detonate Dead's Damage. To increase your damage invest in Burning Damage and Chaos Damage alongside Minion's Maximum Life. The "Ignite deals Damage faster" mods are particularly useful. Your Maximum Life and Energy Shield will also be very important, especially the ES sourced from Life, as is the case with Corrupted Soul. Cast Speed is not particularly useful as one enemy can be affected by only one Ignite. The build requires a lot of Strength (for The Brass Dome and Determination) and Dexterity (for Swift Affliction).

Our recommended items will:

1. Cap your resistances at 75%
2. Provide you with enough DPS and Life to start mapping

(Helmet) Rare Helmet - there's not much here to look for, except a lot of Maximum Life and Resistances. Depending on the base type it can also get you the important Attributes.

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life +80% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Dexterity/Strength Armour Ignites you inflict deal Damage faster Nearby Enemies have -#% to Chaos Resistance

(Helmet) Crown of the Inward Eye - As you really need Armour and Energy Shield, this Helmet will fit you nicely - it grants both.

333% increased Armour and Energy Shield (9-21)% increased maximum Life, Mana and Global Energy Shield Transfiguration of Soul Transfiguration of Body Transfiguration of Mind

Helmet enchantments: 40% increased Detonate Dead Damage

(Weapon) Rare Wand or Sceptre - a weapon that increases your Burning Damage by at least 100% and has some of the additional Damage over Time Multiplier mods is sufficient

Min. requirements: +1 to Level of all Fire Spell Skill Gems Recommended affixes: +1 to Level of all Spell Skill Gems Fire Damage over Time Multiplier Chaos  Damage over Time Multiplier increased Damage over Time increased Burning Damage increased Fire Damage increased Elemental Damage

(Off-hand) Aegis Aurora - Grants you a lot of Maximum Cold Resistance, Energy Shield on Block, Armour, Energy Shield, and Elemental Resistances. Definitely use with Melding of the Flesh.

(300-400)% increased Armour and Energy Shield +10% to all Elemental Resistances +5% to maximum Cold Resistance +6% Chance to Block Replenishes Energy Shield by 2% of Armour when you Block (10-20)% increased Elemental Damage with Attack Skills

(Off-hand) Rare Shield - Rare Shield is good for when you need more Maximum Life, Elemental Resistances, and other utility bonuses such as Mana Reservation Efficiency.

Min. requirements: +80 to maximum Life +60% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Socketed Gems have 30% increased Reservation Efficiency Attributes increased maximum Life

(Body Armour) The Brass Dome - It provides you with a lot of Armour, Maximum Elemental Resistances, and you take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes.

(350-400)% increased Armour +(1-5)% to all maximum Elemental Resistances Strength provides no bonus to Maximum Life Take no Extra Damage from Critical Strikes

(Body Armour) Incandescent Heart - Use it for Extra Damage. It also grants Maximum Life, but besides these stats, there's not much in there.

(220-240)% increased Armour and Energy Shield +(80-90) to maximum Life (0.8-1)% of Attack Damage Leeched as Life Gain (10-20)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage 25% of Elemental Damage from Hits taken as Chaos Damage (20-30)% increased Light Radius Light Radius is based on Energy Shield instead of Life

(Body Armour) Rare Body Armour - Seek the most regular modifiers - a bunch of Maximum Life ane Resistances of all kinds.

Min. requirements: +100 to maximum Life +80% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Armour Attributes Chaos Resistance increased maximum Life

(Boots) Corpsewalker - It constantly creates Corpses, these can be your Specters - the chance of spawning them is 15%, the same as with Desecrate. It also regenerates your Life and Movement Speed.

Triggers Level 20 Corpse Walk when Equipped (80-120)% increased Evasion and Energy Shield 25% increased Movement Speed (20-40)% increased Damage if you have Consumed a corpse Recently For each nearby corpse, Regenerate 0.25% Life per second, up to 3%

(Gloves) Rare Gloves - Gloves are good for Life and Resistances. The only other mods are Attributes and Damage over Time Multiplier.

Min. requirements: +80 to maximum Life +70% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Fire Damage over Time Multiplier Dexterity Armour

(Belt) Rare Belt - As most rare items in this build are there only to grant more Life and Resistances, the same goes for a Belt. Additionally, seek Strength as it's a very common affix.

Min. requirements: +100 to maximum Life +70% to Elemental Resistances Strength Optional affixes: Armour increased Attributes increased Maximum Life

(Amulet) Rare Amulet - Increasing the Gem Level of Detonate Deat is your best option for more DPS, that's why you can also use Ashes of the Stars if you have one. Life, Resistances, and some other minor affixes should also be present.

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life +70% to Elemental Resistances +1 to Level of all Dexterity/Fire Skill Gems Optional affixes: Dexterity Strength Damage over Time Multiplier Non-Channelling Skills have -7 to Total Mana Cost (crafted)

Recommended Anointments: Searing Heat Dirty Techniques Prismatic Skin

(Ring) Blackflame - You need one Blackflame Ring to "convert" your Ignite Damage to Chaos, it also makes your Withered debuff non-expirable. It's the core element of the build.

+(17-23)% to Chaos Resistance +(8–12)% to Fire Damage over Time Multiplier 50% reduced Ignite Duration on Enemies (10–15)% chance to Ignite Enemies Ignited by you take Chaos Damage instead of Fire Damage from Ignite Withered does not expire on Enemies Ignited by you +(20–25)% to Fire and Chaos Resistances

(Ring) Rare Ring - If you can't bother with casting Despair manually get the "Despair on Hit", otherwise get the Life and Resistances. Other mods are not very useful, but Recouping damage might be good since you take damage quite often.

Min. requirements: +60 to maximum Life +60% to Elemental Resistances Optional affixes: Strength Dexterity Damage taken Recouped as Life Curse Enemies with Despair on Hit increased Fire Damage Non-Channelling Skills have -7 to Total Mana Cost (crafted)

(Jewel) Rare Jewels - Prioritize the "Damaging Ailments deal damage faster", otherwise seek Life, Resistances, and Attributes.

Recommended affixes: increased maximum Life Attributes Fire Damage over Time Multiplier Damaging Ailments deal damage faster increased Chaos Damage

(Jewel) Transcendent Mind - You can socket one near Instability, it will increase your Damage over Time Multiplier.

-1 Intelligence per 1 Intelligence on Allocated Passives in Radius +3% to Damage over Time Multiplier per 10 Intelligence on Unallocated Passives in Radius 3% increased Mana Recovery Rate per 10 Intelligence on Allocated Passives in Radius 2% reduced Mana Recovery Rate per 10 Intelligence on Unallocated Passives in Radius

(Jewel) Glorious Vanity - A Doryani variant can transform your Divine Shield or Mind over Matter Keystone into a Corrupted Soul granting you ES sourced from your Maximum Life.

Bathed in the blood of (100-8000) sacrificed in the name of Doryani Passives in radius are Conquered by the Vaal Historic

(Jewel) Forbidden Flame & Forbidden Flesh - The best Keystone which you can get is Shaper of Flames from Elementalists' Skill Tree. It can increase your total damage by around 40%.

Allocates <<Random Ascendancy Notable>> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flame Allocates <<Random Ascendancy Notable>> if you have the matching modifiers on Forbidden Flesh

(Jewel) Watcher's Eye - "Damaging Ailments you inflict deal Damage faster while affected by Malevolence" and "Damage over Time Multiplier while affected by Malevolence" are the two best mods to look for on Watcher's Eye.

(4-6)% increased maximum Energy Shield (4-6)% increased maximum Life (4-6)% increased maximum Mana <Two or Three random aura modifiers>

(Jewel) Small Cluster Jewels - Enduring Composure increases your Armour and is a source of Endurance Charges, Uncomproisming is for increased Mana Reservation Efficiency for Determination.

Recommended affixes: 1 Added Passive Skill is Enduring Composure 1 Added Passive Skill is Uncompromising

(Flask) Atziri's Promise - It grants you extra Chaos Damage, Chaos Resistance, and Life Leech.

+35% to Chaos Resistance 2% of Chaos Damage Leeched as Life during Flask effect Gain (5-8)% of Physical Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect Gain (5-8)% of Elemental Damage as Extra Chaos Damage during effect

Suggested Flasks: Mana Flask with Bleeding immunity/removal Life Flask with random ailment removal Quicksilver Flask with random ailment removal Basalt Flask with random ailment removal Jade Flask with random ailment removal (when you don't meet the requirements for Ghost Dance)

If you have any other build requests please leave that in the comments below. We are always open to suggestions and constructive feedback.

Pictures used in this article are the intellectual property of Grinding Gear Games.